Silence In The City

A self-directed daylong retreat offered by Wellington Insight Meditation Community

  • Saturday 17 July • 9.30am to 5pm
  • 31 Hobson Crescent, Thorndon, Wellington

Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts. – The Buddha

We are surrounded by noise – traffic noise, endless phone calls and emails, the chatter of people, and so forth. A silent retreat day is essentially a period of extended inward reflection, allowing you to achieve greater clarity of mind.

The retreat day will be one of noble silence and is for those who want to deepen their practice. More than simply not speaking, noble silence includes all ways of interpersonal communication, including looking others in the eye.

As no instruction or teachings will be offered, this retreat is not suitable for those who've not meditated before. It will be self-directed within a timetable marked by the gentle sound of bells, and include sitting and walking meditation/mindful movement and eating meditation (at lunchtime).

Silence will be broken at 4.30pm for people to share their experience of the day; those wishing to remain in silence are welcome to leave at that point.

What to bring

Participants should bring their own lunch to maintain the meditative atmosphere and concentration. Tea, milk and sugar will be provided and biscuits put out for afternoon tea.

It's also advisable to bring warm, waterproof clothing for use during walking periods, and yoga mats if you want to do yoga or other mindful movement instead of walking.

Some mats and cushions will be provided. If you have your own, please bring them. One person will be available for private discussion if for whatever reason you need to talk.

Cost

All costs for this retreat will be covered by Wellington Insight Meditation Community so there is no fixed fee to attend. There will be a bowl available on the day if people wish to give dana (a gift) to the community to cover the costs of future retreats and activities, enabling others to benefit from your generosity.

As WIMC is a charitable trust, a receipt will be given for donations put in envelopes on which people write their contact details. Taxpayers who send these receipts to the IRD will receive a tax rebate.

If you wish to give dana by internet banking, the WIMC account at Kiwibank is 38 - 9010 - 0244181 - 00. A receipt will be sent to you if you email one of the contact people.

Registration

Space is limited so if you do want to come along, you will need to register. To do so, contact:

  • Astrid Klein 021 405 517 | send an email, or
  • Vanessa Moon 04 388 8744 | send an email

About

There are a number of communities and individuals who practise insight meditation, as well as people who teach it, in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This website lets you know who they are and where they can be found, as well as where you can find sitting groups, learn to meditate, and sign up for retreats.

Contact the community or person nearest to you to find out more.

A Thought for Today

Right livelihood is not just a philosophical ideal. It is a practical, achievable reality. Finding and maintaining right livelihood does require regular, consistent action, but the steps are clear and the results immediate.

Finding your own right livelihood depends primarily on getting in touch with your "beginner's mind." Mindfulness challenges us to stay with things as they are and to change our lives through action that harms no one.

Working together, mindfully and compassionately, we can create a community in which all our livelihoods are "right."

— Claude Whitmyer, "Mindfulness and Meaningful Work"