Meditation Retreat

[gemstem]

I will be going on a 5 day silent meditation retreat later this year. I am excited but also anxious at the same time. I'm always talking, so I can't imagine myself not speaking for 5 days! Will it be a total meltdown or enlightenment?

 

Can anyone here advise me / tell me what I can expect? Thanks.

[tinktronik]

I will be going on a 5 day silent meditation retreat later this year. I am excited but also anxious at the same time. I'm always talking, so I can't imagine myself not speaking for 5 days! Will it be a total meltdown or enlightenment?

 

Can anyone here advise me / tell me what I can expect? Thanks.

 

My SO did a 2 day silent retreat a few years ago. It seemed like mostly just listening from what he described.

 

As a child I would go days sometimes without speaking just to see if I could and I think I made it 7 days once. I'm not much of a talker in the first place though.

[Trojan John]

The first day (or two) may prove hard for you if you are a talker and not use to meditation. The mind is very adaptable, though and you should get used to it after some time.

 

Whether you find enlightenment or not is up to you.

[Buddha]

I'm always talking, so I can't imagine myself not speaking for 5 days! Will it be a total meltdown or enlightenment?

 

Not talking opens up the possibility of listening - and if you're in an environment where no-one is talking, to whom will you be listening? Ideally, to yourself, as you work through the thoughts which will come up in your mind when you quieten down externally.

 

Being silent is a tremendous gift to yourself, so I wish you a wonderful retreat. I once endured seven days of enforced silence. On the eighth day... I was reluctant to give it up.

 

But neither meltdown nor enlightenment will happen unless you are open to them already.