Living in New York City can be hectic. Cars, people, kids, horns, the never-ending stream of construction projects, ice-cream trucks, fireman, police cars, delivery guys, irritable New Yorkers, the metro, the list can go on for days (feel free to insert your own list here). The busy chaos only increases with the lure of warm weather and sunshine.
So when a friend suggested I embark on a six-day silent meditation retreat with her I immediately said yes and then worried about the reality of the ordeal later. The main question on my mind was, “what will I do all day?” It’s not just a silent retreat but a meditation retreat. Will I sit crossed-legged like the Buddha meditating ALL DAY?
After I signed up I stopped worrying and decided that I would play it by ear (pun intended). With bags packed and survival first aid kit secure I hopped on the free bus from NYC to Barre, Massachusetts with a diverse group of young and older folks for the POC New York Insight Mediation Retreat. Brown, tan and olive skin tones of all hues and backgrounds littered the packed bus.
Barre, Massachusetts is a scenic small town with preserved forest land, farmland, wildlife and serene lakes. On several long walks I bumped in cows grazing, beautiful deer along the banks of the road, chipmunks eating sunflower seeds (that other yogis left him) at my feet, horses, dragonflies and more. The birds sang as my heart and mind relaxed.
But as one of our teachers stated during a Dharma talk (the Buddha’s teachings), “these retreats are not for sissies!” The day began at 5:15am with our first meditative sit at 5:45am. The mediation hall is a beautiful space with rows amongst rows of mats for the yogi’s who can brave the floor (of which I was determined) and chairs for those who needed a rest or prefer the chair. Breakfast is served at 6:30am and the day goes on from there with a combination of sitting meditation, walking meditation, a scrumptious lunch, an hour work period and talks by four outstanding teachers who donated their time and energy for the benefit of the participating yogis. The last sitting meditation ended at 9:30pm.
The only goal I had for this retreat was to come away glowing and looking relaxed like my friends who have done these retreats in the prior years. What I did not expect was the flood of emotions and burdens of suffering that I’ve been dragging around with me to come flooding to the forefront demanding to be dealt with and released. The retreat proved to be the kick start I needed for a true healing process to begin. As another yogi mentioned on our last day of the retreat, I feel as if my Buddhist practice of the last seven years is now just beginning all over again.
I am now home feeling fresher than ever, with my “Buddha Glow” as we’ve nicknamed it, ready to move on from burdens that have been weighing me down over the years. My handy-girl box is equipped with more tools than ever to help me live a more balanced life and to manage the never-ending obstacles that are a natural part of this existence.
With eyes opened wide, as wide as they be I’ll take each day as it may, in this life where nothing is permanent other than the simple fact that nothing remains the same regardless of how we’d like to will it.
Sounds like a retreat I need to take for a few days, and by the by, you do have a “Buddha Glow” I noticed it, you look great
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