Meditation Retreat: Arrival

12/16 – Arrival

It is 4:20, and I have unpacked in my room, selected a seat in the meditation hall (close to the far back corner, two pillows), and have been assigned my work task (8:15 AM dish cleaning). I am to be trained on dish cleaning at 5:15 PM. Meal is at 6:00 PM (talking still allowed), and the whole shebang starts at 8:00 PM.

I’ve turned off my phone.

I think I’ll read a while until everything starts. I’m a little tired, and my neck hurts from the pillow at my host’s place. Excited to see how this goes!

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9:30 PM – Noble silence has begun. I’m fairly excited about it actually. Already feeling some shift in perspective. I imagine things will change dramatically over the next few days. Turned off my Kindle. I guess reading would be bad? escapism?

Dharma talk was somewhat annoying to me – a little touchy feely within interjections about cultural issues – not too interested. Trying not to judge though.

Wish I had gotten one of the sitting chairs – oh well! Slight knee/back pain. No Ibuprofen though…

It was raining most of the day.

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Schedule for the week:

6:00 Wake Up
6:30 Sit
7:15 Breakfast
9:00 Sit (with instructions)
10:00 Walk
10:45 Sit
11:30 Walk
12:00 Sit
12:30 Lunch
2:30 Sit
3:15 Walk
4:00 Sit (Metta)
4:45 Walk
5:30 Dinner
7:00 Sit
7:35 Dharma
8:30 Walk
9:00 Sit
9:30 Sleep

Links in this series:
Arrival
Second Day
Third Day
Fourth Day
Fifth Day
Sixth Day
Seventh Day
Final Day
Reflections