Key Insights from Volunteering at a Silent Retreat
I did a 10-day silent retreat a few years back (known as ‘Vipassana’), which is a very special experience that I often refer to as both the best and worst thing I’ve done. (More about that in another post!) These particular silent retreats are free of charge and therefore dependent on previous attendees to volunteer (to support the running of them i.e. cooking, cleaning, organising, gardening, etc). So I decided it was my turn to give back.
When I got there, I realised that as a server/volunteer, you are expected to practice almost the same level of silence as the retreat participants and cut yourself off from the external world. So I handed in my phone and surrendered to the experience.
As the days passed I started to notice the effects of the absence of all the things I normally fill my day with. And here’s what I take with me as reminders:
1️⃣ Reduce the noise in your life to feel more free
Being more mindful about what I include in my life. The more things you own and stuff you fill your calendar with the more complicated life gets and the more distracted you’ll be from what truly matters and makes you happy - which is often a lot less than what we think. To simplify life, practice more minimalism - creating physical and mental space.
2️⃣ Giving generously and freely is like a muscle
Selfless service: A few consecutive days of wholeheartedly offering time and effort to strangers without expecting recognition or anything in return is a good ego check and generates a surprising amount of internal goodwill, love and compassion for the world around. It’s like the mind gets a little more used to not putting you in the centre of everything, so the heart can give more generously.
3️⃣ Manage your phone, don’t let it manage you
Once you get passed the initial withdrawal symptoms involving obsessive thoughts about missing important calls, news, emails and messages, you will realise that:
a) you’re not missing anything important by not constantly checking your phone
b) how good you feel without it
c) that your productivity + creativity goes up
So here’s to time-bound phone usage (if you, like me, can’t engage responsibly). Currently using the app called Opal which shuts down all/selected apps during certain times + hiding my phone in a drawer / leaving it in another room at night or during focus time (studies show that it’s enough to see your phone for the mind to get distracted).
4️⃣ Practice ‘noble speech’
At the retreat center, when you’re not in silence, you’re practicing ‘noble speech’ - meaning no irrelevant chatter, divisive subjects, gossip etc. More than we realise, our words have an effect on the energy we create around us and the quality of our thoughts and actions. Generating more of the same. Before speaking, asking yourself - Is it true? Is it useful? Is it kind?
Hope this inspired something! What are your current commitments?
Rooting for you,
Emma
