Make Isolation A True Friend

When you can't go outside, go inside. Times of isolation can be the perfect opportunity to practice meditation in retreat. Get some tips on how to set up a retreat, and discover how isolation can be used to transform difficult times into the realisation of clear light mind.

Transcript

In times of isolation,

When we cannot go outside,

It is the perfect opportunity to go inside.

Outer conditions have given us a gift,

Which could be meditation in retreat.

A meditation retreat may mean different things to different people,

And I would like to share with you some of the retreat foundation practices which I learned in extended retreat.

This was a very powerful time for me,

Because I had to learn to let go of a lot of things,

Much like what we all might be doing during the pandemic of the COVID-19.

It might be helpful to have a few tips on how to go inside,

How to retreat,

And how to turn isolation into a true friend.

First of all,

We can regard this as a precious opportunity.

If you have ever wanted to really connect with a meditation practice,

But were unable to do so,

Now could be the time.

Half of the difficulty of meditation practice altogether is just getting to the meditation seat.

First,

We were too young to meditate,

Then we were studying too much to take time for meditation.

Then maybe we were too in love to practice meditation,

Then too busy with our career and family,

And then finally too old to meditate.

It often goes like that.

But now suddenly we find ourselves thrust into a whole new situation.

At the same time,

We might be feeling a lot of fear,

Or maybe anxiety,

Or even suffering.

It could be too overwhelming,

Even the idea of settling into some kind of isolation,

And then with meditation really going inside and looking at ourselves.

But meditation is a way that we can really meet ourselves,

Where we can give ourselves some space and good treatment.

So I would like to suggest that if you have indeed been forced inside,

As many of us have throughout the world,

Then first put lots and lots of effort into setting up your home for retreat.

While you're doing it,

You can have the intention to create a special environment for meditation practice.

That's how we did it years ago,

In long intensive retreat.

So here's a few recommendations I'd like to make,

Which you can find useful.

First of all,

Do a deep clean of your home,

Whatever that means to you.

And in particular,

Carefully prepare the room or corner where you will perform your daily meditation practice.

Take lots of time to set up a shrine or altar with a few meditation representations,

Such as water offering bowls,

Incense,

Candles,

A good sized crystal ball.

You can have a representation of a highly respected teacher,

Or the Buddha,

Or instead just a flower arrangement.

These are just my suggestions,

But the idea is to create a space with a beautiful and simple display,

Which will always be there to remind you of meditation practice.

You probably are well aware of the importance of a good meditation seat.

When we were in retreat down in Cape Breton,

Nova Scotia,

The main problem I found was not the waves of the St.

Lawrence Bay crashing the rocks,

Nor was it the incessant winds which blew in from every direction.

It wasn't the cold temperatures.

The main challenge was being comfortable in my seat.

So a good meditation cushion,

A zafu or gamden,

And a zabutan are indispensable.

Then when you work with your mind in meditation,

Your seat will gradually become more comfortable and workable.

You can also sit in a chair if you are not able to sit in cross-legged posture on the floor.

There is a kind of very romantic feeling being in retreat,

Even if you are in the middle of the city.

So if you can keep to a daily schedule that you draw up at the beginning,

Then this will likely bring along a sense of accomplishment,

And that you are doing something that is so good,

Wholesome,

And with long-term benefits.

You feel like you are doing the right thing.

And actually,

It may even have the feeling of like going to work every day.

Only your work is the discipline of the sitting practice of meditation.

And there is also a kind of ascetic quality in retreat,

Because you have reduced down so many things,

Entertainment,

Pleasure-seeking,

Business,

And so forth.

So it all feels quite romantic and good.

Fundamental to a successful retreat is to bring in plenty of study.

Depending on your style,

You may bring in more or less study,

Reading and contemplating books that deal directly with the understanding and practice of meditation.

These should be books that will help you with your meditation practice.

They could also include biographies from famous meditation masters,

Whose lives reflect the challenges and inspirations you have in isolation and retreat.

For example,

In the Tibetan tradition,

There is the life of Milarepa,

A story which is very human,

Very inspiring,

And which has many deep teachings.

A good daily schedule,

Which you might print up,

Is very helpful.

Now,

What that schedule looks like is really up to you.

Many of us might be in lockdown,

But still we need to work,

Take care of our families,

Go shopping and so forth.

My schedule this month looks like this.

I wake up at 6.

30,

Have a tea and prepare water offerings on the shrine.

Then I do an online sitting meditation for half hour,

Where I give guided instruction.

Then I have breakfast,

Then I practice a two hour meditation session.

Then I spend the day with work.

In the evening I do another meditation session and study.

Traditionally,

It is recommended to do four meditation sessions a day,

Early morning,

Mid morning,

Afternoon and evening.

Your sessions could be a half hour or two hours or more,

Whatever.

What's helpful is to keep to the schedule.

Also,

Traditionally,

One would establish the length of time for the retreat before you go in.

It would be some days,

Months or years.

There is also a retreat where you do not come out until you have achieved realization,

Or signs of realization.

Right now,

In March 2020,

It is an interesting moment because we do not know how long we must stay in isolation.

And so we can pick up on the spirit of this possibility of doing the retreat until we have accomplished realization.

And I think that kind of attitude will help us,

Because we are forced to give up something else,

Which is our expectation of being released from our retreat on such and such a date.

Letting go of anything and everything is what will help us approach the essence of retreat.

Letting go,

Then,

Is something that we can sit with and contemplate.

When we do let go,

Something comes,

Which is the discoveries we make as we learn to get used to being with ourselves.

Letting go,

Or giving and giving,

Begins to be our way of life,

A new direction for us because we've made isolation a true friend.

There is one more point I'd like to make about practicing retreat and isolation.

This is about the deeper meaning of isolation itself.

External isolation is obvious.

But isolation in meditation means,

In a certain sense,

Severing the ordinary connections we have to the sense perceptions.

Usually we are caught up in all the sights and sounds and tastes of our world.

And we are always on those objects,

Engaging,

Interacting,

Getting angry or impassioned.

In meditation we are separating ourselves from the usual objects of engagement,

So that the possibility of inner illumination,

Clear light mind,

Can arise.

Objects don't just disappear into a blank nothingness,

However.

So the glimpse of clear light mind,

Or you can say,

Appearance and emptiness inseparable,

Is a wondrous and marvelous discovery which comes from letting go completely in isolated retreat.

So of course you're going to need some good meditation instructions,

And to keep coming back to them again and again,

Maybe in each meditation session.

Then with some effort and a sense of being kind of tough,

You will make some new friends.

And you will see how these friends are the best friends you ever had.

So that's it for my retreat advice.

I personally often long for retreat,

And I'm now,

Not so secretly,

Happy to have this opportunity to work at transforming something which is so shocking and so difficult to even imagine this pandemic into something positive,

Where I can learn something further about life and our lives together.

So I wish that you will stay safe and be well,

And also your family and friends.

Please take care,

And I hope that your life in this time of isolation will flourish.

Please stay positive.

Thank you.

Reviews

Thank you 💜🙏

Still helpful and appreciated in June 2022. Thank you!

I enjoyed that, the transformative effect is a beautiful way to look at ways of isolation

Than you so much for this offering.
While it would take too long to go into my path.... I've been in almost complete isolation (as in no other heartbeats) for most of the past two years. Your description of retreat was beautiful and something that I will begin to embody.

Second, since my Awakening... I've had great trouble with the employee to Entrepreneur shift and find it difficult to understand "my work". When you described setting a regular time and setting it as "my work"... this was perfect and definitely a Divine message for me.

Namaste
🙏

Lama Brians lessons have been so helpful for me for a while. But this one in particular helped me decide when andnhow to start my retreat. My last retreat was unguided and transformed me. I am happy that I am once again close to being in another. Big thanks to this lesson.

I am having a hard time because of my inner critic, depression and anxiety. Can u give me a piece of advice how to go about it. Can you personally help me with your guided meditations. Could you share with me ur online meditation class timing so that I can also join.
Hoping for your cooperation.

Thank-you!! Very good suggestions & insight.