Speaking of Silent Retreats...
How often do you make space for yourself just to be—to unplug completely from the distractions and stressors of daily life? For some time now, Inseus has created opportunities to do just that with our silent Vipassanā-style meditation retreats.
The literal translation for the Buddhist term Vipassanā is "special-seeing," but it’s also often translated as "insight." It’s the oldest of the Buddhist meditation practices, dedicated to increasing awareness and bringing more presence to all areas of life.
For our upcoming Virtual Silent Vipassanā Meditation Retreat, I’m thrilled to be leading alongside four other certified mindfulness teachers—Amanda Ryznar, Anuka Gazara, Stefanie Harris, and Stephanie Kaczynski—most of whom I’ve had the honor of teaching with before.
I’ve asked each of them to share a bit of insight into their experience with silent retreats and the importance of meditation in their own lives. And I’ve shared my own as well.
How has meditation impacted your life?
Amanda Ryznar: My meditation practice has enabled me to be more present with what I’m feeling in the current moment.
Anuka Gazara: Meditation has always been an experience for me to study, learn, care, and comfort my inner being. At first, it just gave me a break—a time to reflect and create joy and peace. Now, in the time of COVID-19, my meditation practice centers and balances me, which I find life changing.
Stefanie Harris: Meditation has helped me let go of the constant need to drive and do. It’s helped me realize that by not doing, I’m actually allowing things to be done.
Stephanie Kaczynski: I have discovered who I truly am from the inside out through my meditation practice. I’ve learned to take life moment by moment instead of getting caught up in future thoughts or dwelling in the past. I’ve learned to forgive myself often and to always keep an open mind.
Ashley Nelson: Meditation has transformed my view of life, this world, and my place in it. It’s taught me the importance of being more compassionate, empathetic, and grounded. It supports me as I navigate the joys, opportunities, fears, uncertainties, and pain always present in life; and it allows me to see more clearly and to speak more authentically.
Why do you teach?
Amanda Ryznar: Learning about meditation and mindfulness brings me joy and has changed how I navigate my life. I teach because I want to be of service to other people and to co-create the process of learning and deepening this practice together.
Anuka Gazara: I teach meditation and mindfulness because I truly believe it strengthens not just our physical bodies, but also our mental state. It helps us harness the power within ourselves to be more resilient and compassionate, increasing our capacity to work with more focus and motivation. And more importantly, it creates a positive systematic change for our relationships with ourselves and others.
Stefanie Harris: I teach because of the profound impact meditation and mindfulness has had on my ability to find more peace and joy in daily life, and to help when suffering is real. I want others to have the tools to help themselves deal with suffering and pain so that they can live with more peace and joy too.
Stephanie Kaczynski: I teach because there is so much suffering in the world, and as a teacher I have the ability to bring a sense of community, compassion, and kindness to one’s self through mindfulness meditation. It's a beautiful feeling to see the change within another person as they discover their true being.
Ashley Nelson: I teach because I want to serve others and by sharing this profound practice, I can, in my own way, help make this world a more productive and peaceful place.
Describe your first experience attending a silent retreat.
Amanda Ryznar: I didn't know what to expect before the retreat so I was nervous. I started to relax after the first hour or so, and enjoyed the opportunity to be fully present. After the retreat, I felt peaceful and grounded.
Anuka Gazara: My first silent retreat happened over a weekend when I was five years old. It was at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery of Theravadan, which was founded by Ajahn Sumedho. It’s in the lush green countryside of Hemel Hempstead in southeast England. I remember feeling mesmerized by the silence and feeling completely at peace with nature because all I could hear was the gentle breeze rustling through the large oak trees. I remember struggling to keep a still posture during the one-hour silent meditations—20 years on I still struggle at times! But then, and even now, I leave a silent retreat feeling a physiological change of spaciousness and lightness. My self-awareness always seems deeper and I feel more compassionate love for myself and others.
Stefanie Harris: Before—anxious and excited. During—amazed at how much I was able to see and be in the moment by just embracing the quiet and the practice. After—renewed and ready to commit to make these practices a part of my daily life.
Stephanie Kaczynski: At first, I was excited, but also anxious and scared because I was jumping into a full seven days of silence without my friends, family, or my phone! During the retreat, there were a lot of emotions present, but I leaned into them and discovered so much about myself. During and after the retreat, I was overwhelmed with gratitude and a deep appreciation for the group who made me feel at ease.
Ashley Nelson: My first experience was a seven-day silent meditation retreat at Spirit Rock in California. I was nervous and worried, but also open-minded and excited. As each day unfolded, I experienced a sea of emotions and a bit of unanticipated physical pain—it turns out sitting still for so many hours can be physically challenging. On day three, I was surprised to notice that I was playing a mental video of events over the course of my life of 40 years, many of which had remained deeply buried for decades. Unexpected emotions arose in my body and into the space that was created by just being. By day four, I felt open-hearted and able to see things about myself, others and this world that I had not been able to see before. And by the time of our closing ceremony on day seven, I was consumed with deep joy, gratitude, calm, and a gentle peace—for the community, the practice, and the experience. I brought back with me a new sense of purpose, insight, and kindness for my life at home and at work.
Why would you attend another silent retreat?
Amanda Ryznar: I intend to do multiple single-day retreats each year and will be going on a five-day silent retreat later this year. I believe setting aside time to simply be is so critical for me.
Anuka Gazara: Like most people, I have to manage many responsibilities and balance work and family life. And when frustrations and interpersonal challenges arise, it can be challenging to find time to cultivate a mindfulness practice that enables self-awareness and an understanding of feelings of suffering. So, I attend a silent retreat on a yearly basis to create that space for myself. I feel it is so important for deepening my practice and my self-awareness. I start to acknowledge my own vulnerability on a profound level and the experience gives me time to build and connect with my inner being and increase my capacity for equanimity.
Stefanie Harris: It’s a grounding experience that allows me to renew my commitment to my mindfulness practice and to be supported within a community of compassion.
Stephanie Kaczynski: I believe it's necessary to give myself the time to reflect on my life and well-being. It gives me the unique opportunity to slow down from my busy lifestyle.
Ashley Nelson: I attend several silent retreats every year, in addition to the retreats that I’m fortunate enough to host. They reconnect me to purpose, acceptance, insight, and community. They nourish in a way that is unlike any other.
I hope you’ve found these insights enlightening and perhaps they’ve even inspired you to be a part of our upcoming retreat. Registration is donation-based and all are welcome to attend—no meditation experience necessary. Join us for a day of unplugged togetherness!
Mindfully yours,
Ashley