What is a Silent Retreat?

A retreat is an opportunity to get away from the stresses and busyness of your daily life. A silent retreat can last anywhere from a day to a long weekend. Some, more intense, retreats even continue on for a week or more. A silent retreat is basically just that. You are to remain silent throughout the event. 

As part of the 8-week MBSR Course we do a silent retreat day together some time towards the end of the course. In our courses this day is held in Mutton Lane Yoga Studio. We come together for a whole day of practice, working in all the ways we have learned in the course so far and guided by the teacher. 

For some people even the thought of having day without speaking can feel daunting and bring up a lot of anxiety. We all have previous experience of silence, some of which may have been positive, but it is possible that some of it may have been difficult for us and may have left negative associations. The suggestion is to bring a kind, curious approach to whatever arises for you, as best you can, knowing you have the support of the teacher if you need it. 

The intention for the day is to nurture yourself, to notice what arises for you as we move through the day and to begin the attitudes of kindness and friendliness to yourself and your experiences. 

On our silent days in Mutton Lane Yoga Studio we go out to lunch in nearby Hazel House Cafe. We break our silence for the meal and resume silence afterwards. On many silent day retreats the invitation is to continue silence throughout lunch.

The benefits of silence. 

1. More than just being silent the retreat gives you an opportunity to reflect inwardly and process your thoughts in a calm, constructive way. We notice the liking, disliking, wanting and not wanting, the running commentary, the story telling and so on and as the mind settles this narrative starts to settle. 

2. A silent retreat helps us notice the energy you usually devote to communication and interaction with others. 

3. We become aware of our habitual modes of communication and impulses to talk.

4. We may find we can meet ourselves more fully even if this means acknowledging and processing more uncomfortable and usually undiscovered thoughts and feelings. The teacher is here to support you in this. 

During the MBSR Course the participants get lots of practice of being in silence, this day is really about exploring that with some time and space in a supportive, nurturing environment. Once you have done an MBSR course you will be invited back to these silent retreat days in the future.

If you are curious about the MBSR course you can read more here.

Autobiography in Five Chapters.

1
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
I am lost … I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes me forever to find a way out.

2
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in the same place
but, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

3
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in … it’s a habit.
my eyes are open
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

4
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

5
I walk down another street.

by Portia Nelson