GEO Ready Faculty-Led Programs in Thailand - Experiential Buddhism and Mindfulness

About the program

Chiang Mai, Thailand, is an ideal setting for studying Experiential Buddhism and Mindfulness, offering deep-rooted Buddhist traditions, serene landscapes, and renowned academic expertise. Home to ancient temples and meditation centers, the city provides immersive opportunities to engage with practicing monks and mindfulness practitioners. Chiang Mai University, a leader in Buddhist and mindfulness studies, enhances this experience with expert faculty and research-driven insights. Surrounded by tranquil mountains and retreat centers, Chiang Mai offers a living classroom where students can explore Buddhism not just as a philosophy, but as a way of life.

Known as the “Rose of the North,” Chiang Mai dates back over 700 years and is located on the Ping River in Northern Thailand surrounded by high mountain ranges. The climate in the north—and especially in Chiang Mai—can be cooler, with rain and mist, but it still has tropical heat and humidity. A city of cultural, trading, and economic prominence for hundreds of years, Chiang Mai is host to many historical and cultural landmarks. There are more than 700 temples in Chiang Mai alone. Near the city, there are national parks and nature preserves.

Program options and components

The following are logistics and services that can be incorporated into the GEO Ready Faculty-Led program. Please note: Availability of services and activities listed are not guaranteed until confirmed and are determined based on length of stay.

Academic and co-curricular opportunities

• Classroom space: This program will have different classroom spaces, from a lecture room on Chiang Mai University campus (30-minute walk) to practice sessions at different monasteries in the Old City and outside of Chiang Mai city (15-minute to 1.5-hour drive).
• Up to three to four guest lectures or presenters. Topics to select from may include:
  
  • Foundations of Theravāda Buddhism in Thai Society
  • Mindfulness in Theory and Practice: From Monastery to Modern Life
  • Monastic Life and the Art of Simplicity
  • Buddhism, Nature, and Environmental Ethics in Thailand
  • Suffering, Healing, and Mental Wellbeing in Buddhist Psychology
• Up to four co-curricular activities or visits related to Buddhism and mindfulness. Examples include:
  
  • 3-hour mindfulness sessions at 3 different monasteries/meditation centers to learn different techniques of mindfulness in Thailand
  • 3-hour visit to learn about Theravāda Buddhist practices and ways of life at a monastery
• Courses: Course identified and taught by Institution's faculty. Course, academic content, syllabus, and credit determined by Institution. No USAC credit is given, and cost of instruction is not included in the program.

Cultural immersion and site experiences

Local site activities

• City tour led by a professional guide or USAC staff.
• 1-3 local site activities. Examples include:
  
  • Craft and culture activities (mulberry paper painting and celadon clay pottery)
  • Sunday Thapae Street Market
  • Campus tour with Thai Buddies

Optional add-on

As available within the course schedule. Examples include:

• Crash course on Thai Language for Survival (3-hour session)
• Elephant care and bamboo rafting day trip
• Hill Tribe Hmong Village day trip
• Trekking day trip

What's included