A long-term meditation retreat is a radical act of self-care and self-healing, a radical act of self-discovery (and going beyond the self), and radical act of sanity. Most of all it’s a radical act of love.
I just completed a 7-day retreat. I aspire to do one of these each year. It is one of the more challenging and rewarding parts of my life. It is somewhat of an ordeal, like climbing a mountain or running a marathon, but different. Sore knees, stiff back, lots of boredom, tears of grief, and tears of joy. The schedule is primarily thirty-minute periods of meditation followed by ten minutes of walking meditation. There is some time for rest, work, and exercise and a talk by the retreat leader each day.
Here are some of the key reasons I appreciate and continue to return to these retreats:
Self-care and Self-healing. I sometimes compare the healing powers of meditation to the healing powers of sleep. There is tremendous evidence that while we sleep our bodies are undergoing fundamental repairs. And there is growing evidence that meditation plays a similar function, particularly in relation to our emotional centers. Experientially, long retreats allow me to take a serious pause from the demands of work, relationships, and technology – and sit in the middle of my life, with nothing to accomplish. It’s a way to take care of myself with every breath, with every period of meditation.
Self-discovery (and going beyond the self). Retreat for me is a way to completely remove all the usual daily distractions and just be quiet and simply bring attention to the body, breath, and mind – again and again, and just see what happens. My intention is to stay with all of the discomfort and pain and regrets, the appreciations and possibilities. It’s a way to explore what there is to learn, what patterns need to be dropped, what new ways of being are possible.
During my recent 7-day retreat, it was healing to reflect on my relationship with my parents who passed away many years ago. With lengthy retreats, there’s a way in which I become sick of myself. The usual channels and patterns of thought become too difficult to maintain, and something new opens up. My identification with the usual “self” lessens and at times melts away and something unexpected and surprising arises.
Radical Sanity to me is the practice of not doing harm, not being involved with politics, work, the pandemic, or checking my phone, emails, or texts. Nothing but putting my mind and body on the line. Just opening my heart. It’s an expression of care, a desire to explore, a way of being fully alive and sane.
Radical Act Of Love. My experience is that if I sit long enough the usual concerns, patterns, and identification with self loosens, and at times drops away. What’s left? Love. Throughout retreats I experience a feeling of gratefulness for being alive, for all of the gifts of relationships. The trees and flowers and stars look amazing. I feel lighter. Laughter comes easily. I feel deeply connected to myself, to my relationships, and to life.
I understand that to take time away from work and family can seem daunting or impossible. It helps to see this time as a “sharpening of the saw” — a way to renew, reset and refresh that can help you be more available for your family, work, and your life. I get that it’s a privilege that not everyone can do, but if you can, try it. See what happens. Start with a half-day, daylong, or go right for a 7-day retreat. For me, the trick is to put it on my calendar, well in advance. I’m often surprised how much support I feel from my work and family to take this time away.
Some resources for retreats:
Esalen
Garrison Institute
Hollyhock (BC, Canada)
Kripalu (for yoga enthusiasts)
San Francisco Zen Center
Spirit Rock Meditation Center
…. and there are many more!
Next best to a retreat, and a good preparation for one, is to work on developing or deepening a personal meditation practice. If you’re determined to make 2022 the year you take your meditation practice to the next level, then I invite you to join me in a 3-month practice period: Zen Wisdom for Modern Times. We’ll meet every Wednesday, starting January 5th for 90 minutes of meditation, teaching, and group discussion, and everyone is welcome, from beginners to those of you with a lifetime of meditation experience. Learn more here.
Some pics from Tassajara.
