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The Richness of Silence

Since I got back from my 3-month silent meditation retreat in Nepal, I have been asked (more times than I can count) “So how was it?”

Silent Meditation 1I’ve found that’s a question that’s really hard to answer briefly!  The experience of being silent, while watching, learning, and living within the external and internal worlds, is a rich experience indeed. There were some pretty tough moments (internally and externally) and some moments that were beyond blissful. Perhaps surprising to many, I can’t say that I was bored – even though all my days were filled with my mouth being shut in long sessions of meditation. Even the cooking, eating, resting and visiting with my Lama were not dull.

Perhaps that was because my inner world was a riot: my mind could take me from a deep dark place to the mountaintop of Nirvana and back to the hole, and back up again. These polarities were pretty intense and at times scary. I couldn’t run away from any of these experiences; I was in silence with myself by myself.  So I faced them, accepted them, and worked with them with the help of the practice, teachings and guidance from my teachers and community.

When these waves of experience passed, the experience of unwavering peace, stillness and internal silence took over my whole being. I just wanted to bathe in that peace all the time! It was steady, powerful and profound.

Silent Meditation 2Throughout my journey, especially through the tough moments, I kept reminding myself of Carl Jung’s observation: “Who looks outside – dreams, and who looks within – awakens.” I also remembered “with LOVE and PATIENCE everything is possible.”  And I frequently fell back on an affirmation I came up with on my own: “Don’t worry, don’t judge, don’t complain, don’t cling, don’t obsess and don’t fear!!! Listen!!!! Trust, accept, understand, forgive, let go, appreciate, LOVE and ENJOY!!!”

With all of these affirmations, I was able to transform a lot of my thought and belief patterns, reverse my emotions, and develop trust and ease and a sense of flow.  I am pleased to share these affirmations with you. Please use them or develop your own to help you overcome your own struggles. After all, each one of us has struggles, no matter how great our life may appear to be. In that way, none of us is alone.  You are not alone.  You are never alone – even in silence.

~Marina Lisjonok, MSW, E-RYT