The Sounds of Silence

During my weekend with Pema Chodran, she asked us from 9:00PM on Friday night to 5:00PM on Saturday to remain as silent as possible.  I had never been in silence with 550 people and even more people counting the Omega staff.  Of couse, you could ask a question or talk if needed, but the goal was to try to avoid talking.  Instead, focus on listening to what you are telling yourself and how you are feeling. 

While I have spent time annually the last several years at a monastery on a silent retreat, there are few people to talk to so the temptation is less.  Some people at Omega even wore small signs around their necks indicating that they were in silence.

What I discovered is that everyone was respectful of everyone's space and there was no sense of competition.  There was plenty of everything for everyone.  In fact, since I went to Omega alone, operating in silence took away any pressure of having to talk to people I did not know or to try to make "friends." 

The status symbols disappear.

No one really cares who you are, what you do, or what's your story. 

No one has more influence than anyone else. 

Since there are no titles, the sense of privilege does not exist because we were all privileged to be there.

When the voices were gone, everyone was just a person.  The focus was on who you think you are and what is going on in your own heart.  My observation was that most people felt comfortable in that silence and cherished the time away from the busyness of life.  We liked being disconnected in order to reconnect with what was important in our life.

As I continue to process the experience, I will share what I am learning.  Please let me know what you are thinking as you read these posts.  It was different, but really special.