10 wondrous things that I learned during the retreat
- The Guru (remover of darkness) is present within everyone of us at all times, revealed in the external world in people, things, animals, nature, in all creation to show us the way that we might become our best Self. The Guru could be any teacher in our lives that helps us to see the light and live peacefully. This is very personal meaning it could be anything or anyone from a flower to Christ, to anything or anyone else that brings peace to one's life.
- “Be humble but not shy, they are not the same thing.”
- When a disciple asked where can I find God, the master did not speak. However the disciple persisted with the question. Finally the master spoke, “I tell you again and again but you do not understand.”
- Silence is the language of the divine, the language of the heart, quiet the mind and you will understand.
- Science has found that an atom is not the simplest element of matter, but rather that which holds space for the atom is. Silence, space, void, ether is the basis of all elements, the foundation for all that fills the world.
- Even though the mind might be noisy, even though we might identify with the noise, we can not ignore our desire for the silence. This is evident in all the modes in which we try to bring what we believe is good into the world through our lives. Without silence, without space, there would be no foundation for the good, creation, or thought.
- What is temporal and what is eternal? Has there ever been a time when silence was anything but silence?
- What is the first thing that must happen for us to form a thought?
- Discord arises in the mind when we identify ourselves with an idea. Is there something that proceeds all ideas that we experience first? The heart knows, and yearns for this.
- Mantras are said to be energetic forms of the Divine. By hearing a mantra we might remember that we are part of the Divine. As everything is energy with a vibration, the Mantra AUM (the seed sound of all creation) might bring our vibration into the primal Divine energy more so depending on the purity of intention with which it is chanted.
I hope that some of these above mentioned personal notes on my part might offer you some insight into silence, and why we would want to allow more of it into our lives on a regular basis. Some of the activities that we did during the retreat to draw more silence into ourselves were:
- Studying the works of great teachers like Peace Pilgrim
- Peace Pilgrim is a saint who walk coast to coast for peace for twenty some odd years.
- She has a free book available which describes her mission and how one might align themselves with peace. https://www.peacepilgrim.org/to-receive-free-peace-pilgrim-book/
- Here are some of the insights she conveys in her “Steps Toward Inner Peace:”
- four preparations: the right attitude toward life, living good beliefs, finding one's life pattern, simplifying life
- purification of body, thought, desire, motivation,
- relinquishment of self-will, feelings of separation, attachments, negative feelings
- four preparations: the right attitude toward life, living good beliefs, finding one's life pattern, simplifying life
- Peace Pilgrim is a saint who walk coast to coast for peace for twenty some odd years.
- Studying great holy books like the Bhagavad Gita or “Song of the Lord”
- The Bhadavad Gita is a sacred text, which tells the story of Arjuna (The great Pandava warrior and leader.) and the conflict that arises in him because of a great conflict between the Pandavas (the clan which embodies virtue) and the Kauravas (the clan which embodies vice) that will soon occur. He feels sorrow from the prospect of going to war and seeing his loved ones on either side die. In order to have guidance during this time of conflict, Arjuna asks Krishna, the Lord, to guide his chariot.
- The chariot is symbolic for the physical body, the horses are the senses, the reins are the mind, the charioteer is the intellect, and the passenger is the soul. In order to live a peaceful and content life it is very important to have a charioteer that is a good guide. It is either God or the ego, the eternal or the temporary. Arjuna chooses God.
- The chariot is symbolic for the physical body, the horses are the senses, the reins are the mind, the charioteer is the intellect, and the passenger is the soul. In order to live a peaceful and content life it is very important to have a charioteer that is a good guide. It is either God or the ego, the eternal or the temporary. Arjuna chooses God.
- Krishna guides Arjuna back from fear to peace in the midst of this great conflict by revealing to him the Truth of the eternal (No one dies on the battlefield, they simply transition into new forms.) and practices that will allow him to strengthen his bound with the Truth.
- Kurukshetra is the battlefield, which represents the stage for all conflict between the eternal (virtue) and temporary (vice) that we experience moment by moment. The allegory of the Bhagavad Gita is a guide for all that seeks to align themselves with the Truth of the eternal.
- The Bhadavad Gita is a sacred text, which tells the story of Arjuna (The great Pandava warrior and leader.) and the conflict that arises in him because of a great conflict between the Pandavas (the clan which embodies virtue) and the Kauravas (the clan which embodies vice) that will soon occur. He feels sorrow from the prospect of going to war and seeing his loved ones on either side die. In order to have guidance during this time of conflict, Arjuna asks Krishna, the Lord, to guide his chariot.
- Chanting sacred like Aum, and similar to in the language of Sanskrit (A sacred and ancient language of spiritual alignment.) , which gives praise, thanks, and asks for blessing from the Guru.
- You might be thinking to yourself, chanting is not silent. At least I thought this to myself. I believe that you have to view silence from a sacred space. Some sounds and hymns resonate deep within me to actually bring me into a state of mind were I am at a great state of peace. These sacred sounds promote a silence/peace/communion with the divine as a result of their practice, and that is the reason I believe they are used in a silent retreat.
- You might be thinking to yourself, chanting is not silent. At least I thought this to myself. I believe that you have to view silence from a sacred space. Some sounds and hymns resonate deep within me to actually bring me into a state of mind were I am at a great state of peace. These sacred sounds promote a silence/peace/communion with the divine as a result of their practice, and that is the reason I believe they are used in a silent retreat.
- Meditation, literally sitting in silence, trying to see through the clutter of the mind to that divine home within, which allows one to remain at peace more and more as one becomes more accustom to this practice.
- Self study, similar to the first two points combine with meditation I believe. Is it possible for one's self to remain in peace in order to let knowledge flow in through reading, writing, and study of the masters and sacred text?
- Eating in silence. Is it possible to enjoy being at table with others, eating gentle natural foods, while remaining silent? I found myself uncomfortable sometimes, especially during eye contact. However, I found myself laughing inside and smiling to, thinking “how marvelous an experience this is! People are actually willing to volunteer to live in such a gentle peaceful way with one another!”
- The Peace Walk. In honor of Peace Pilgrim. I believe this gave us a chance to demonstrate our peaceful intentions to the world around us, and within at a deeper level.
Perhaps one of these practices spoke to you and inspired you in one way or another. As for me, I think it is a good practice to observe something I have listed here in my daily life a little more and a little more as time goes by...which is an illusion by the way :-) I believe it is more like there are habits that are good for us and not so good or bad for us and who we are, who we are meant to be that we learn about from listening to that still small voice within, revealed more and more as we move the better habits in and the not so beneficial habits out. I yearn to be one with that Truth within! How about you? I have learned it is important to do my best, to keep the momentum of good habits going, to remain in that stillness, in harmony with creation, at peace with all that is. As I experience this divine presence in my life, I find it foolish to want anything less, there is no nourishment that is better! So I keep doing my best to move with compassion and understanding, knowing that it takes time to adjust one's eyes to the light. And as my practice grows so does my vision of the Truth that all is in reality silence, love, connection between all living beings. Thank you for being wonderful you, my friend! May we all come to greater peace and understanding along the journey of life! Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. Om Peace, Peace, Peace. Love, Aaron :-)