Communication
When you say "silent retreat" you don't really mean totally quiet, do you?
We will commence silence the night of August 18th and stay quiet until the afternoon of August 23rd. However, you will have the option to attend daily discussion groups where you will be allowed to speak just during the one hour group time in order to ask specific questions pertaining to your life issues. Geshe Michael of course will be talking during class, and the retreat director will make announcements as they are needed.
But what if I need something?
You may communicate with a limited number of written notes.
I have children, can I call them and or email them during the retreat?
Please understand that we need to keep our minds inside the retreat boundaries, so no outside communication will be allowed.
Are you seriously taking my very expensive laptop and cellphone?
Yes we are. Last retreat they were all kept in a secure location and returned to their owners in the end.
But my laptop and phone have priceless information on them.
We recommend that you leave them at home. Think of it as a vacation from busy-ness. If you bring them, we will take them from you at check-in and return them at the end of the retreat.
Can I leave the retreat to run errands, go to town, see my kids, etc.?
No. It would be a break of the retreat boundaries.
What if I don't want to hand over my laptop and cell phone?
If you insist on holding on to your electronic devices, you will not be permitted to attend the retreat.
We will commence silence the night of August 18th and stay quiet until the afternoon of August 23rd. However, you will have the option to attend daily discussion groups where you will be allowed to speak just during the one hour group time in order to ask specific questions pertaining to your life issues. Geshe Michael of course will be talking during class, and the retreat director will make announcements as they are needed.
But what if I need something?
You may communicate with a limited number of written notes.
I have children, can I call them and or email them during the retreat?
Please understand that we need to keep our minds inside the retreat boundaries, so no outside communication will be allowed.
Are you seriously taking my very expensive laptop and cellphone?
Yes we are. Last retreat they were all kept in a secure location and returned to their owners in the end.
But my laptop and phone have priceless information on them.
We recommend that you leave them at home. Think of it as a vacation from busy-ness. If you bring them, we will take them from you at check-in and return them at the end of the retreat.
Can I leave the retreat to run errands, go to town, see my kids, etc.?
No. It would be a break of the retreat boundaries.
What if I don't want to hand over my laptop and cell phone?
If you insist on holding on to your electronic devices, you will not be permitted to attend the retreat.