Reflections on 10 Days in Silence
I recently completed 10 days in guided silence in the Himilayan Yoga Tradition while staying in an Ashram in Northern India. Here are my reflections.
The goal of practicing silence should be small changes over a lifetime, not big changes during one week. Silence is a stark contrast to our busy lives. You may feel quite different during the silence period, almost like you’re a new person. “Ahh, I’m so peaceful after those 10 days.” This is not the point. The point is — what can I uncover, and what intention or Sankalpa can I bring into my life to alter the trajectory of my reality?
Awakening happens in the real world, not in meditation. It’s easy to be peaceful and perfect when you’re contemplating consciousness all day and your basic needs are provided for. But how will you react to real problems when they arise? I was in meditation 4+ hours per day, but at one point I had to check my ego because of how I reacted to someone in my life over text. It was a reminder that I hadn’t changed as much as I thought, and there was plenty of integrative work to be done.
It helps to be guided during a silence journey. I’m grateful that we had countless experienced teachers. We were guided in meditation, yoga nidra, hatha yoga, contemplative walks, mindful eating, Q&A sessions, and more. Could I have just driven to the forest by myself, zipped my mouth, and learned some things? Of course. But I learned so much more by allowing myself to be guided.
Don’t force yourself. Our days were very structured, down to the minute. Sitting in meditation for hours can feel quite rigorous, especially after a few days. If it’s not working, it’s not working. I enjoyed most of the meditations, yet every once in a while, I had to get up, leave the room, and walk the ashram property instead. And I didn’t feel bad about it.
It’s worthwhile to enter silence with an intention and/or mantra. This is up to you, but it can act as an anchor when your mind inevitably goes to uncomfortable places. I think silence is a beautiful thing, whether practiced for a few hours or a few days. I’m motivated to ask myself to find pockets of silence and stillness within the regular days as I integrate back into my regular life in the coming weeks.
