3 ms·
It's worth pointing out at least that there is a qualitative difference between silence in isolation, and being around people who are intentionally being silent
by zdragnar 2mo ago
It's worth pointing out at least that there is a qualitative difference between silence in isolation, and being around people who are intentionally being silent.
I live in a rural area and don't get much noise at all other than wind and animal noises when I'm home alone. It is comfortable precisely because it isn't artificial. Going to a silent retreat means being around people who are intentionally suppressing their desire to speak and being expected to fit in. It is an intentional change in behavior, which starts out uncomfortable.
- nephihaha 2mo agoYes, I couldn't have said it better. Plus the thing is that I went on the retreats to escape Christmas. So I'd go for a week or two, the first day would be everyone yapping (almost too much of the reverse), the second would be what I was after, then I got several days of this enforced silence... Until the last day. I think some of these people were coming from noisy workplaces and homes. But I live on my own and my area is reasonably quiet (not completely peaceful, there is a lot of low level sound.) I don't have children running around. But it also reminded me of being punished as a child. Because if they couldn't catch someone at school we had to go around in silence as a punishment. I would prefer the noises of nature. Which is precisely what I did. I headed to the local nature reserve near the retreat centre. Not noisy but somehow less prisonlike.