The Sound of Silence

Back in February, I had promised I would write about my experiences at my first-ever silent retreat early that month at Sunburst Sanctuary. But at first, trying to put into words what was almost exclusively a sensory and spiritual experience felt profoundly unsatisfying, perhaps alsmost profane. Then time goes by, life resumes, challenges arise, columns get cluttered, and by now, sadly, even some of the most cherished practices I brought home with me – mainly, mindful eating (who knew that simple oatmeal was such an explosion of flavors, a comprehensive immersion in being present with every bite?) – have fallen off. 

So, it’s not only because the timing is right (the deadline for Sunburst’s next weekend experience is approaching) but also because I’m selfishly desiring to revisit that blissful state of deep gratitude and near non-duality that I’m offering a few thoughts. Here are a few thoughts about the three-day journey during a revelatory weekend known as “Dive into Silence”:

Let’s begin with my journal. The fact that I wrote in it at all proved more shocking to me than the fact that I could spend so many waking hours in silence – which was not remotely as challenging as I expected, once my mind surrendered to the rules. I just checked: there are 40 pages of prose, drawing, observations, and more in my little black book, which is about 39 pages more than I’ve ever written in a journal before. My drawing of the salamander I watched, silently, for more than half an hour on a Friday afternoon as clung to a wall in Sunburst’s garden, is side by side with my other favorite page, the one where I wrote, “Have I ever just looked at a plant (in the ground) before? My God! This huge chard is just gorgeous. Big, leafy, and green. It knows how to be just what it is…. And wow, I am not really thinking about anything else. Just noticing, appreciating, reverence.”

The book also chronicles the long, silent, solo hike later on Friday, up rolling hills, past so many cows – which at Sunburst are mostly there to simply graze and groom the land – all of them just watching me as closely as I watch them (I’m thankful I gave up eating beef more than 25 years ago). When I paused for just four bites of a protein bar, I noted how my self-critical thoughts had diminished dramatically. I wrote that I didn’t even care that my handwriting was a scribble!

“Dive into Silence” wasn’t as silent as I expected: the participants didn’t talk, but the leaders spoke to give yoga pose suggestions, or offer guided meditation, including counting breaths with a mala bead bracelet, a walking/chanting meditation to Sunburst’s Wheel of Life. I was shocked that I actually found those an intrusion as well as a respite.

On Saturday afternoon, I completed an 11×17 collage, putting together non-related images and words cut from old copies of Sunburst’s newsletter, kind of like a spiritual vision board. “Patience for inner strength,” “Pump up the gratitude!”, and “Love life – inhale it deeply” are among the quotes I pasted next to photos and drawings. It was buried under stuff on my desk, until I fished it out for this report. Gratitude for another, albeit all too brief, moment of simple presence.

Not only food, but life itself just tastes better when I am fully in the moment, aware of only what is happening now. How can I create a silent retreat in my own world, my life, my house, my head, whenever I desire?

Sunburst Seminars

“Dive into Silence” takes place only periodically, but there are several other programs and opportunities to visit the sanctuary, which is an intentional community, not the live-in commune it was in its days up in the hills of Santa Barbara decades ago. The next public weekend is “Sunburst Unplugged! A Family Friendly Campout”, which takes place Friday-Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, May 25-27. Families of any size are invited to get away from all the screens in your life and enjoy abundant outdoor fun as you recharge and get enlivened among kindred souls of all ages immersed in the pristine nature of Sunburst’s thousands of acres. Activities include hiking, solar oven baking, nature crafts, and more, plus the meals are served outdoors in the fresh, open air. Camp in a tent or sleep out under the stars, nestled amid the oaks and hills of Sunburst Sanctuary’s back country. All activities and meals are included in the sliding-scale donation ranges from $130 to $230 for each adult, $60 to $100 per child, including camping fees. Register by Wednesday, May 16, if possible. For additional options, including renting a tent from Sunburst for this event, please call or email.

Sunburst’s 2018 Karma Yoga Service Exchange Program also has its first offering this month, May 20-June 3. The work exchange offering lets guests experience living in cooperative community while you live, work, and meditate with the community for up to two weeks. The agreement asks participants to infuse daily actions with spirit while helping with varied activities such as cooking, gardening, cleaning, housekeeping, upkeep, and more. The flexible schedule lets visitors participate for just a few days or up to the full 11-day duration. Other opportunities take place July 13-22, and October 25-November 4.

Coming June 21-24 is the summer’s Kriya Initiation and Retreat, which employs scientific meditation practices in the lineage of Paramahansa Yogananda. Sunburst’s Healing Symposium, encompassing a dozen modalities, is slated for July 19-22, while August 11 brings the Summer Star Party Spectacular, during the peak period for the Perseid Meteor Shower (hint: It’s really dark at Sunburst at night).

Meanwhile, Sunburst’s ongoing Sunday Meditation Gatherings continue every week at 10:30 am in the meditation chapel near the main building/lodge. Gates open by 9:45 am, so you can acclimate to the natural surroundings before settling in for a 90-minute program of joyous, peaceful meditation that includes live, spirit-filled music, an insightful talk, and guided or quiet meditation followed by a delicious vegetarian brunch. A special children’s program offered for ages 4 and up. The themes for the next several weeks are God as Divine Mother (May 13), Conscious Speech: Compassionate Communication (May 20), Honoring Illumined Souls (May 27), Practicing Honesty & Truthfulness (June 3), Stilling the Mind (June 10), God as Divine Father (June 17), The Science of Kriya Yoga (June 24) and Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life (July 1). Admission is free, though donations for the brunch are accepted.

All are also welcome weekly at Sunburst’s Saturday Silent Meditation, which takes place 6 to 9 am. The non-guided event is an opportunity to deepen your practice in the healing energy of Sunburst, sitting and meditating in the sacred space of Sunburst’s chapel. No charge. Come and go quietly on the hour, and if you haven’t been before, call ahead for the gate code.

Elena and Emily in the Sunburst office are happy to help! Give us a call at (805) 736.6528 or email contactus@sunburst.org.