Silence
The practice of Silence (Mauna) has been around for thousands years. It is one of the most powerful tools of transformation because it simply brings you to you more than anything else.
Silence is an immense teacher in itself.
Your vital energy is a current that flows through your body-mind system 24 hours. When outside stimulus are consciously left out, that same energy starts to work in a different way. When you consciously decide to save yourself from talking, looking out, judging what you see, what you hear, thinking about the next meeting, stop the flow of endless connection with the outside and others, the Silence teacher starts to influence you. The energy that is saved from engaging with others turns into a healing force.
Silence periods can release more emotional tensions and past related issues that almost any other practice. Silence increases inner awareness and the mind becomes more present, greatly enhancing the ability to absorb yoga and experience meditation.
We have introduced many people to the practice of silence and although most of them have never tried it before, most people experience the space with a big sense of relief to not have to connect and have the permission to be quiet.
“Soon silence will have passed into legend. Man has turned his back on silence. Day after day he invents machines and devices that increase noise and distract humanity from the essence of life, contemplation, meditation. . . . Tooting, howling, screeching, booming, crashing, whistling, grinding, and trilling bolster his ego. His anxiety subsides. His inhuman void spreads monstrously like a gray vegetation.” - Jean Arp
We do not recommend to practice Silence on your own for the first time. It is important to receive initial guidance and be in a supporting and holding environment for the Silence to be contained.
But if you really want to try on your own, please write to us with your questions and explain the environment you will be practicing Silence in. The only requirement for you to experience a Silence practice period is your commitment to the guidance given.
The general guidelines for the Silent period during the YOSSUM Retreats are:
1. There is no talking, reading or listening to music.
2. If you really need an outlet, write a diary of your own experience. The writing should not be a planning for the future, or relating past experiences.
3. No eye contact with people you cross. Sun-glasses are very helpful.
4. The Meditation and classes times are to be fully respected. They become the grounding anchor during the Silence period. The teachers will not talk to you directly outside of the instructions in class.
5. If you find yourself in a particular emotional state that is taking too much of your energy, have a shower.
6. Respect others. They may not feel at any time to ‘have a break from silence’ and not follow the guidelines. Do not impose yourself on others.
7. During meal times, find yourself a lovely spot where you can enjoy the food by yourself.
8. If you really must communicate, please write a note, sign your name and leave on the designated place. One of the teachers or assistants will attend to it.
9. Experience Silence as a period of REST. An opportunity that allows you to experience relaxation in a total new light.
10. Above all, enjoy your time by yourself.
“I have never been spiritual in the sense that you understand the word. I have never gone to the temples or the churches, or read scriptures, or followed certain practices to find truth, or worshipped God or prayed to God. That has not been my way at all. So certainly you can say that I was not doing anything spiritual. But to me spirituality has a totally different connotation. It needs an honest individuality. It does not allow any kind of dependence. It creates a freedom for itself, whatever the cost. It is never in the crowd but alone, because the crowd has never found any truth. The truth has been found only in people's aloneness.” - Osho
