{"id":1717,"date":"2024-07-04T08:46:33","date_gmt":"2024-07-04T14:46:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.planetmanuel.com\/dirk\/?page_id=1717"},"modified":"2024-07-04T09:21:16","modified_gmt":"2024-07-04T15:21:16","slug":"1717-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.planetmanuel.com\/dirk\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-query is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"wp-block-post-template is-layout-flow wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-1774 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-buddhism category-life tag-buddhism\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light has-custom-content-position is-position-bottom-left\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0;min-height:216px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#FFF\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-3c92af68 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-bottom:0px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-dark-gray-color has-white-background-color has-text-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-c862aae8 wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0\"><h1 style=\"padding-right:0;padding-left:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.planetmanuel.com\/dirk\/in-a-silent-way\/\" target=\"_self\" >In A Silent Way<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-gray-color has-text-color has-link-color has-bitter-font-family has-small-font-size wp-elements-baed71387c6d6daa44d1dde4605deb2f is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6ad1e561 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;border-radius:0px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;line-height:1.4\"><div style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:400;\" class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-06-19T19:56:47-06:00\">19 June 2025<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<p>| <\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:400;\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\">Dirk<\/div>\n\n\n<p>|<\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:400\" class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.planetmanuel.com\/dirk\/category\/life\/buddhism\/\" rel=\"tag\">Buddhism<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.planetmanuel.com\/dirk\/category\/life\/\" rel=\"tag\">Life<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"entry-content is-style-default wp-block-post-content is-layout-flow wp-container-core-post-content-is-layout-5dafc681 wp-block-post-content-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>A short while back, I had the opportunity to go on an 8-day meditation retreat. This was at the American Bodhi Center (ABC), which is affiliated with the Jade Buddha Temple which I regularly attend, and was led by visiting monk Venerable Kai Li. I thought it would give me the impetus to re-commit to my practice &#8211; especially meditation which, sad to say, I wasn&#8217;t doing regularly at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"496\" src=\"https:\/\/www.planetmanuel.com\/dirk\/images\/\/20241007_075544-1-1024x496.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1776\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.planetmanuel.com\/dirk\/images\/20241007_075544-1-1024x496.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.planetmanuel.com\/dirk\/images\/20241007_075544-1-300x145.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.planetmanuel.com\/dirk\/images\/20241007_075544-1-768x372.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.planetmanuel.com\/dirk\/images\/20241007_075544-1-1536x744.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/www.planetmanuel.com\/dirk\/images\/20241007_075544-1.jpg 1694w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The retreat was advertised as a &#8216;silent retreat&#8217;, so I took the opportunity to completely disconnect from work and social media, going so far as switching my phone off (which I&#8217;ll never do again, as AT&amp;T just stopped attempting to deliver texts during this period) and leaving it in my car. I even took off my smart watch and went with just a basic analog watch. It actually turned out that the retreat wasn&#8217;t <em>completely<\/em> silent, and you could talk to other attendees if you really felt the need &#8211; as long as it was dharma-related. Personally, I had already committed myself to the idea of a silent retreat, so I just stuck with that &#8211; and it was incredibly liberating! There was no (societal) pressure to say &#8220;Hello&#8221; when you see someone else on the retreat (I knew several of them from my Temple), or make small-talk during meals (for which everyone was actually asked to observe a vow of silence), or share information \/ say how you&#8217;re doing, at all. In fact, there wasn&#8217;t even the need to <em>acknowledge<\/em> someone when you passed them on a walkway; it was perfectly OK &#8211; and almost admired &#8211; to just keep your head bowed and not even make eye contact. Which is perfect for misanthropes like myself! There was obviously talking during the discussions, and Q&amp;A sessions, and that was enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So what were the days like? Mostly, they followed the same format:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>05:15<\/strong> Wake up, shower, and get dressed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>06:00<\/strong> Sitting meditation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>07:00<\/strong> Walking meditation in nature (the grounds were wonderful, with trees, lakes, deer, and the occasional possum) [1.5 hours]<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>08:30<\/strong>: Breakfast [30 minutes]<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>09:30<\/strong> Teaching from Ven. Kai Li<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>11:30<\/strong> Exercise (Yoga, led by another &#8216;retreatee&#8217;) [30 minutes]<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>12:30<\/strong> Lunch [30 minutes]<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>14:00<\/strong> Self-practice (meditation)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>15:00<\/strong> Dharma discussion [2 hours]<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>17:30<\/strong> Chores (we all had assigned tasks to keep the center clean; I volunteered to keep the communal toilets clean, as an act of humility)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>20:00<\/strong>: Posture meditation (which we did as lying meditation outside, looking up at the stars) [1.5 hours]<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>21:30<\/strong>: Bedtime<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re keeping count, that is 5 hours of meditation per day, which sounds like a lot, but in reality didn&#8217;t really seem like enough. It provided me with the opportunity to do some serious introspection, and to really ingrain some of those Buddhist tenets, and there were definitely sessions where I was deep into something and didn&#8217;t want to end. At first, I thought that sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion on the floor would be physically tough (on my notoriously-achy back and my legs), but you get used to it. I attended a lecture once where the speaker said they could sit and meditate for four hours straight. Interestingly, he said, &#8220;The pain is still there, but you learn to ignore it.&#8221;. And I did. I learned how to see the pain as something that belonged to my body, and not to my consciousness, which could then observe and acknowledge it without <em>feeling<\/em> it. Which was a huge breakthrough. And the whole experience has led me to commit to meditating 30 minutes every day &#8211; which I have stuck to ever since, save a few scattered days when I&#8217;ve been traveling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may also note that there&#8217;s no &#8216;dinner&#8217; listed. As per Buddhist guidelines, there should be no food consumption after midday (stretched slightly here, as lunch didn&#8217;t start until 12:30). Again, I thought this would be tough, but it wasn&#8217;t. At all. Both breakfast and lunch were cooked meals, and that was certainly enough to sustain you through the day. In fact, the food was excellent! Nothing super-fancy, and 100% vegetarian, but incredibly tasty. If I could eat like that at home every day, I&#8217;d dispense with dinner there, too. It&#8217;s just that I don&#8217;t have a kitchen staff to prepare it for me at home, and I lack the time and skills to cook that level of quality food for myself every day, so&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The one problem I did have was that I took it upon myself to do without my morning coffee \/ afternoon Red Bull, and drink only water for the duration of the retreat. Which was a big mistake &#8211; at least to go &#8216;cold turkey&#8217; like that. The sudden caffeine withdrawal gave me <em>huge<\/em>, serious hangover-level headaches for the first three days &#8211; to the point where I&#8217;d consumed <em>all<\/em> my emergency supplies of Advil by midday on the second day. If (when?) I do it again, I&#8217;m going to take the week beforehand to wean myself off coffee, so I don&#8217;t suffer so much on the actual retreat. But as a bonus, I have successfully kicked my Red Bull habit and haven&#8217;t had a can since, which will no doubt please my mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, was it worth it? Absolutely! I feel it really helped get me back into my Buddhist studies &#8211; and to be more consistent about my practice. I&#8217;m reading more, meditating more, and as a result, hopefully being a better person for it. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. In fact, there&#8217;s a 10-day Vipassana Meditation Retreat over Christmas \/ New Year that I&#8217;m seriously considering attending. And even if I don&#8217;t make that, I&#8217;d consider taking a voluntary 10-day vow of silence \/ ignoring people over the same period! <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-primary-color has-light-gray-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-x-large-font-size wp-elements-60e3947b165d1475ce1221fdaf5b207e\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);font-style:normal;font-weight:700\">Latest from Instagram<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t<div id=\"instagram-gallery-feed-0\" class=\"instagram-gallery-feed\" data-feed=\"{&quot;id&quot;:0,&quot;account_id&quot;:&quot;8137562896287847&quot;,&quot;source&quot;:&quot;username&quot;,&quot;tag&quot;:&quot;wordpress&quot;,&quot;order_by&quot;:&quot;top_media&quot;,&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;gallery&quot;,&quot;limit&quot;:12,&quot;columns&quot;:6,&quot;spacing&quot;:10,&quot;lazy&quot;:false,&quot;responsive&quot;:{&quot;desktop&quot;:{&quot;columns&quot;:3,&quot;spacing&quot;:10},&quot;tablet&quot;:{&quot;columns&quot;:2,&quot;spacing&quot;:8},&quot;mobile&quot;:{&quot;columns&quot;:1,&quot;spacing&quot;:6},&quot;breakpoints&quot;:{&quot;tablet&quot;:768,&quot;mobile&quot;:480}},&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:{&quot;width&quot;:1,&quot;height&quot;:1},&quot;highlight&quot;:{&quot;tag&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;position&quot;:&quot;1,3,5&quot;},&quot;reel&quot;:{&quot;hide&quot;:true},&quot;copyright&quot;:{&quot;hide&quot;:false,&quot;placeholder&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;profile&quot;:{&quot;display&quot;:false,&quot;username&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;nickname&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;website&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;biography&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;link_text&quot;:&quot;Follow&quot;,&quot;website_text&quot;:&quot;Website&quot;,&quot;avatar&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;box&quot;:{&quot;display&quot;:false,&quot;padding&quot;:1,&quot;radius&quot;:0,&quot;background&quot;:&quot;#fefefe&quot;,&quot;profile&quot;:false,&quot;desc&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;text_color&quot;:&quot;#000000&quot;},&quot;mask&quot;:{&quot;display&quot;:true,&quot;background&quot;:&quot;#000000&quot;,&quot;icon_color&quot;:&quot;#ffffff&quot;,&quot;likes_count&quot;:true,&quot;comments_count&quot;:true},&quot;card&quot;:{&quot;display&quot;:false,&quot;radius&quot;:1,&quot;font_size&quot;:12,&quot;background&quot;:&quot;#ffffff&quot;,&quot;background_hover&quot;:&quot;#ffffff&quot;,&quot;text_color&quot;:&quot;#000000&quot;,&quot;padding&quot;:5,&quot;likes_count&quot;:true,&quot;text_length&quot;:10,&quot;comments_count&quot;:true,&quot;text_align&quot;:&quot;left&quot;},&quot;carousel&quot;:{&quot;centered_slides&quot;:false,&quot;autoplay&quot;:false,&quot;autoplay_interval&quot;:3000,&quot;navarrows&quot;:true,&quot;navarrows_color&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;pagination&quot;:true,&quot;pagination_color&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;modal&quot;:{&quot;display&quot;:true,&quot;profile&quot;:true,&quot;media_description&quot;:true,&quot;likes_count&quot;:true,&quot;comments_count&quot;:true,&quot;comments_list&quot;:false,&quot;text_align&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;modal_align&quot;:&quot;right&quot;,&quot;text_length&quot;:10000,&quot;font_size&quot;:12},&quot;button&quot;:{&quot;display&quot;:true,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;View 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