Introduction
- The Tibetan word for retreat is “tsam” and means, “boundary”.
- The reason we create a boundary is to minimize negative actions and kleshas, and get more time for virtuous activities.
- Negative emotions continue due to three causes:
- Ego-clinging - internal cause
- The object is nearby - environmental cause
- Motivational factor - relationship between above causes
- Without transforming yourself, you cannot transform the world.
- If you embody what you say, then even if you just say one word, the influence becomes very strong and will benefit others.
Setting Up a Retreat
- The best is to find balance between retreat and daily practice — then they will really support each other.
- In the beginning, it is very important to do short, high quality retreats.
- You can use the same schedule for retreats of different lengths.
- Stick to the meditation structure, within that structure, change the meditation methods.
- Alternating meditation methods supports the methods themselves.
- Keep the sessions in retreat between 1-3 hours each.
- If you do retreat at home, create a supportive environment.
- Every month, try to do one weekend retreat.
- Doing retreat is a very precious and valuable thing to do in the world.
- Retreat is not an escape, but rather a way to benefit others.
The Mind & Retreat
- The waterfall experience is a good sign that your meditation is progressing.
- The waterfall experience will make it look like your negative emotions increase, but suddenly it will change, you will feel very happy — this is a good sign.
- Meditation experience going up and down are both good:
- Down experiences are good for realization
- Up experiences are good for inspiration
- The signs of meditation are:
- Equanimity and inner peace
- Awareness
- Kindness and Compassion
- Wisdom
- Since meditation experience goes up and down, do not look for improvements day-by-day but focus on the long-term.
- Realization develops little by little, so you cannot track it day-by-day.
- A warning sign is becoming attached to experiences; they then turn into a boost for your ego.
- If the ego becomes stronger and you become more arrogant, that means you are off track.
- Experience always changes, but realization is enduring.
- Appreciate even tiny transformations that take place in retreat.
- Let go of expectations, focus on the motivation, and do not give up.
Example: Cow Dung on the Wall
In India, people often dry cow dung on the walls of their home and use the dried cow dung for cooking fires. This is used as an example for the waterfall experience. When the cow dung has dried it does not look so bad and it does not smell much. But if you put water onto it in an effort to clean it off the wall, it becomes very dirty and smells really bad. Similarly, we may not notice our thoughts and emotions as much when we are not paying attention, but when we begin to meditate we begin to see them more clearly.
Example: Fish in a Muddy River
If a river becomes muddy, you cannot see the fish in the river. But when the river becomes clean and pure again, you can see the fish in the river. This does not mean that the river gets more fish, you are simply just able to see them because the water is clean. Similarly, before practicing meditation you were one with your thoughts and emotions and therefore could not see them. Now, however, you begin to recognize your thoughts and emotions and can see them because your mind has become more calm and peaceful.
Example: Traveling from Eastern to Central Tibet
In old Tibet, if you wanted to travel from eastern Tibet to central Tibet you had to walk through the mountains. Whether you were going up or down the mountain, you were continuously getting closer to your destination. Similarly, for a meditator, experience goes up and down and both the ups and downs of experience bring you closer to the goal.