Last weekend I attended a spiritual retreat at lake Ontario lead by Ramana, a spiritual teacher from Buffalo, NY.
I have attended several Satsangs led by him over the past several years. Satsang is a Sanskrit word meaning “gathering for the truth” or “being with the truth.” It is meant to open the heart and quiet the mind. Ramana spoke of being present and living in the moment. Then we spent about one and one half hours in silence.
I, like several others, walked the beautiful property by the lake and just stayed silent. As I sat on a dock and watched and listened to the waves lapping up against the shoreline, I could feel the waves of feelings flowing through my body. They seemed to be calm and serene like the water, and vibrantly alive at the same time.
Then, sitting on a driftwood log, I played with the stones on the shore. As I held one russet and white colored stone in my hand, I thought about the fact that everything is made of atoms and atoms aren’t solid, they are mostly empty space. Every time I thought that thought, the smooth oval four inch stone seemed to pulsate in my hands. I could see the top of it pulse up and back down like the top of a soufflé.
Was it really moving enough for my eyes to see? It seemed that way. I want to believe the Universe was sending me a little bit of insight into Itself.
Silence is a rewarding way to spend a few hours and get in touch with our true selves (the peaceful part of us), beneath all the busyness of daily life.
I have attended several Satsangs led by him over the past several years. Satsang is a Sanskrit word meaning “gathering for the truth” or “being with the truth.” It is meant to open the heart and quiet the mind. Ramana spoke of being present and living in the moment. Then we spent about one and one half hours in silence.
I, like several others, walked the beautiful property by the lake and just stayed silent. As I sat on a dock and watched and listened to the waves lapping up against the shoreline, I could feel the waves of feelings flowing through my body. They seemed to be calm and serene like the water, and vibrantly alive at the same time.
Then, sitting on a driftwood log, I played with the stones on the shore. As I held one russet and white colored stone in my hand, I thought about the fact that everything is made of atoms and atoms aren’t solid, they are mostly empty space. Every time I thought that thought, the smooth oval four inch stone seemed to pulsate in my hands. I could see the top of it pulse up and back down like the top of a soufflé.
Was it really moving enough for my eyes to see? It seemed that way. I want to believe the Universe was sending me a little bit of insight into Itself.
Silence is a rewarding way to spend a few hours and get in touch with our true selves (the peaceful part of us), beneath all the busyness of daily life.
