barefootlifeblog.com: Into Great Silence

a barefoot life
stumbling towards enlightenment...

Into Great Silence

In times of agitation or feeling unsettled, I have learned to retreat....into silence. So this week I will spend some days in silence. I do this when I have lost myself in the world, in the things of form, in order to re-connect with stillness and peace, and find my clarity.

I have done this retreat several times in my life, but not since moving to Sao Paulo. This city, it seems, is challenging for even thinking about it. But at this moment I now have the opportunity with less classes and the house to myself for a few days.

What prompted or reminded me to do this was an article I read in the NY Times recently called, "The Joy of Quiet." I was completely fascinated by the studies mentioned in the article on how much information we consume and how it's actually changing our brains and the way think. So fascinated that I bought the book, "The Shallows" mentioned in the article to learn more. (More about the book in a later blog.)

In the article, he mentions that the more we have to connect, the more desperate we are to unplug. Is it true? Are we desperate to unplug? I don't see that. As an introvert, I naturally resist connecting, but it seems to me that many are addicted to being "connected," and maybe don't even realize it.

So, this week I will dis-connect - from phone, TV, internet, conversations - anything that distracts me from my inner voice and my ability to listen to it. I'll let you know what waits on the other side....