The Beauty of Silence
A few weeks ago, I gave myself the gift of a two-night silent retreat at a beautiful Jesuit retreat center along the Chattahoochee River, just north of Atlanta, Georgia. I say gift because stepping into extended silence with others opens one’s practice in extraordinary ways. The typical interpersonal pressure we sometimes feel when meeting new people is lifted by the commitment to silence. Meals are prepared and served by others. The schedule of sitting, listening to the teachers, doing yoga, and eating is pre-ordained by the teachers. I only had to decide whether to attend the offering, nap in my room, or hike in the woods. The lush hilly grounds had decks with seats placed along the paths at comfortable locations, nestled under a tree, perched atop a rock with a view of a roiling brook–all invitations to sit, listen, slow down, enter the present, and open.
We introduced ourselves on Friday night after dinner, and I was surprised at the number of new meditators in the room. Then the teachers invoked silence, and we walked quietly to bed, not looking at each other. We were instructed not only to be silent but also to take a break from our phones, computers, books, anything that distracted us from ourselves and the call to truly turn inward. I heeded the call. We gathered in the meditation hall in silence. We ate in silence. We took walks in silence. We showered in silence. We were wrapped softly in silence for two days. And, slowly, oh, so slowly, my mind settled; my body settled; my heart settled.
On the final morning, we broke the silence in pairs, whispering in each other’s ears, easing into talking. Then in the large group of 24, we each spoke of our experience over the two days for a few minutes. We listened with a new attention, seasoned by the days of marinating in quiet. Each person spoke from a heart softened by silence, receptive to what needed to be spoken from their heart into the room. Many participants spoke of being grateful to each other, our teachers, and those who supported us at the Center. We ate our final meal talking, sharing in a new, more thoughtful way. I left rejuvenated and ready for the long drive back to Orlando, relishing the gifts the silence had given me.
The two-night silent retreat was offered through the Mindfulness Center of Atlanta at the Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center in Atlanta. Mindfulness Center of Atlanta offers four two-night retreats a year and one longer retreat. For more information, visit the site here.