About Indriya

Indriya Retreat is a new Dhamma and Meditation Centre established to take the opportunities of practising vipassana meditation to international travellers. We are located in the jungle off ‘Coconut Lane’, near the village of Srithanu on the island of Koh Phangan. Situated along a small stream and nestled amongst established fruit trees and tropical plants, the 2.5-acre (one hectare) site is secluded and peaceful. The meditation centre serves spiritual seekers arriving on the island in search of the Buddha’s Teaching. The residential retreats are conducted in English and Russian. Everyone is welcome to experience the Buddha’s Teaching.

The Venerable Ajahn Poh, Abbot of Suan Mokkh and disciple of Venerable Ajahn Buddhadasa, is the Spiritual Father of Indriya Retreat. Indriya Retreat and Anthony receive his confidence, support and guidance on a regular basis.

Vision Statement

The Vision of Indriya Retreat is:

  • to create an international meditation centre for the instruction and intensive practice of Insight Meditation (Vipassana) and Loving-Kindness (Metta).
  • to be a community for the long term study of the Pali Discourses (Suttas) to facilitate the training of teachers and instructors in the Vipassana and Metta traditions.
  • to develop and mature the five spiritual faculties (Indriya) – faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom – for the realisation of Stream Entry.

Mission Statement

Indriya retreat offers trainings in authentic Buddhist meditation techniques in 7-day, 14-day and 21-day meditation retreats. At present there is a real need for instruction that transmits the heart of the Buddha’s message in fluent and modern English to lay-meditators from around the world. Indriya’s commitment is to offer the inspiring teachings preserved in the monasteries of S.E. Asia to the modern spiritual seeker within an intensive retreat environment. Indriya Retreat operates in line with the Buddhist tradition of giving and generosity (dana).

  • Insight Meditation (Vipassana) retreats that systematically develop intuitive wisdom by freeing the mind through equanimity and by patiently ‘Noting, Knowing and Letting go’.
  • Loving-kindness and Compassion (MettaKaruna) retreats that open the heart to liberation through goodwill, acceptance, patience, contentment gratitude and empathy.
  • Pali Discourses (Sutta) retreats that allow meditators to examine the ancient discourses to gain reflective acceptance of the Teachings to inform both their own practice and to instruct others in the Dhamma.

Indriya Sangha

The Indriya Sangha is a residential and online community dedicated to personal, communal and societal growth through the Buddha’s Teachings. The retreat centre provides the facilities for long-term development by integrating the insights gained on retreat into positive foundations for practice in daily life. The Sangha support each other and work together to offer meditation retreats to the world. Service is an important aspect of our practice at Indriya Retreat.

Indriya Retreat offers opportunities to the international Sangha to stay for extended periods of personal retreat in a supportive environment. With meditation guidance and material necessities fully provided for, the retreat centre is conducive to Awakening and sharing the Dhamma.

Competent and well-practiced meditators are trained to become effective teachers and instructors capable of facilitating meditation retreats and workshops in their own right. Our training provides the skills, education, content and support for new teachers to continue giving the gift of Dhamma. New methods of instruction and support via online platforms are currently being developed.

Founder and Resident Teacher

Anthony Markwell is an Australian Dhamma teacher and meditation instructor who joyfully shares his knowledge and practice of meditation by leading vipassana retreats, and giving online talks and workshops. He is the founder and resident teacher at Indriya Retreat.

Anthony was ordained as a Buddhist monk for 10 years, beginning in 1995 at the age of 24. He was first instructed in vipassana by Ajahn Leua Pannavaro. His teacher subsequently took him to practice at Vivek Asom with Ajhan Charlee Jaruvanno (now Abbot of Sorn-Thawee Meditation Centre) and Ajahn Somsak Sorado (now Abbot of Wat Bhaddhanta), and to Wat Don Put under Luang Por Bhavanakitti. He was trained in Myanmar with strict personal supervision by Sayadaw U Pandita at Panditarama, and spent a year with Sayadaw U Acinna at Pa Auk Forest Monastery. Anthony spent three years on retreat, between 2002 – 2005, practicing satipatthana vipassana at Wat Pitsoparam with Luang Por Visarnkemakoon in North-East Thailand.

Anthony has studied Buddhist texts and Pali language through self-study and formally at the Buddhist University in Yangon for 30 years. He has compiled a selection of 1000 Pali text passages detailing the profound insights of the Buddha on the nature of reality. The book is titled Sahassapalisuttanta.

He returned to Thailand in 2013, and at the request of Ven. Ajahn Poh (Abbot of Suan Mokkh) led popular meditation retreats for thousands of meditators at Wat Kow Tham Insight Meditation Centre until November 2016. A book of transcribed talks from these retreats is available on this website.

To support Anthony’s personal expenses please consider becoming a Patron:

https://www.patreon.com/anthonymarkwell

Koh Phangan in the preseent moment

Anthony is currently raising funds, supervising construction and leading vipassana retreats at Indriya Retreat. The construction of 30 small meditation huts is ongoing. Vipassana retreats are held each month. Contact for details of the next retreat.