In one week, I'll be heading to the
For generations, Buddhists have gone on retreat as a way to escape the demands and temptations of the everyday world in order to commit themselves to mindful, diligent practice. Retreats provide the opportunity to leave all the stress of normal work-a-day life behind and embrace the dharma. Viewed in this way, retreats sound great, almost like a 7 day - 6 night spiritual vacation.
But some of us love our Blackberries and some of us are huge fans of our Palm Pres. For my part, I'm pretty attached to my iPhone. Let's just say that if you see me anywhere at any time, my phone is probably not far from my hand. I like having the ability to check e-mail or surf the web at any moment, no matter where I am. The way I see it, my phone doesn't negatively affect my life in the least and so I don't consider it to be a part of the "stress" of daily life. If I'm honest with myself (and I'm pretty sure not alone), I don't see the iPhone as something I *want* to be rid of for a week.
But, for the retreat, I'll be leaving my phone at home and taking a basic cell phone for emergency purposes only... and my plan is to leave that turned off for the majority of my time on retreat. The thing is, retreats aren't spiritual vacations. Going on retreat offers us the chance to leave both the demands and the pleasures of normal daily life behind in order to commit to dharma practice full-time, and this means stepping away from both the those aspects of life that cause us the most stress and as well as those aspects that we enjoy. This is exactly why I'm looking forward to going on my first extended retreat. At home, I could turn off the television, the computer and iPhone but I wouldn't be able to commit myself to that level of practice for a full week, no matter how I tried. I've been trying to integrate dharma practice into my daily life for years, the chance to spend a week dedicated to meditation and mindfulness is one I couldn't easily pass up. And so, I'm happily leaving the iPhone at home and trading my 3G access for a more simple way of life, if only for a week.
I'm curious to see how others have dealt with this issue. In today's world of near constant access to entertainment and communication, do you choose to leave your smartphone (or ipod, or any other mobile device) at home when you go on retreat or do you take it along as one small piece of the "outside world" that you just can't give up?
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I take my iphone with me but keep it off until I leave. Even then I often don't make any calls right away or check e-mail. Something significant happens while I am away on retreat and I feel very protective of that when I return to my daily life. I live a pretty plugged in life and to most I am not sure they would notice a difference in my before and after retreat self - but, I do. Some do say I seem much more present.
The other thing about week longs (or longer) is the sense of sangha that happens. It is impossible to achieve that without the group. There is something very powerful about a group of people going through the experience together.
Much Metta on your venture
Thanks for the great feedback! I especially liked Eknola's statement that "Instant access doesn't require instant response." I think we often forget that in daily life... an email pops up and we feel like we've got to get back to the person ASAP when odds are, it can probably wait.
Thanks for sharing your experience on the return, coming back from retreat. I'll have to pay particular attention to how I approach my "re-connected" life when the retreat is done.
@marlena, you bring up a good point about the "sense of sangha." I've never had that residential experience of living and working in the zendo with other members of the group. That's another aspect I'm particularly looking foward to. I think a part of me has always wanted to taste the monastic life.
@Mu, I actually did consider heading down to Austin for retreat, but my local zendo is an affiliate of the Atlanta Soto Zen Center so I was thinking it would be a good fit for my first week-long retreat. Austin is closer to KS, maybe I'll make it down there some day and compare the two.
gassho,
Evelyn
best of luck to everyone doing retreat work or other spiritual work for Rohatsu!
as far as the communication thing goes...my personal suggestion is to leave the whole world behind as much as possible.
Further, I think that when you start to make that kind of effort...the way shows. Just as when, say, starting a jogging program...it is difficult in the beginning...but the work shows the way to make it function smoothly. So too, if you make steps towards withdrawing from the world, that process shows the way. And does so much more clearly than mere logical deduction could yield.
gassho
Oooooh, what a good idea yours! A seven day retreat is a most excellent idea. It will be interesting to read your post once you return, especially any insights about your(our) addictions to Etoys and the sense of boredom we feel when we don't have them.
We'll be waiting...
I believe the retreat will be mostly silent and you'll be asked not to read anything unless it is suggested. It will be very difficult to keep talking to a minimum. A retreat can be hard and can become very emotional. So...never give up. It's OK to leave the cushion if things get to rough but stay on it as long as you can. So not only was it a good idea to leave the iPhone at home, but you probably won't be able to communicate a whole lot in any manner.
Gassho,
Nento
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