2 minute read
Dedication to Meditation: I Tried a Silent Retreat
Written by Sophia Blair | Designed by Shelby Mitchell | Photographed by Katey Cooney
On October 9, I attended my first meditation retreat, hosted by the Boston University Zen Club. I got into meditation during quarantine, having had an inconsistent meditation practice for about two years. Recently, I’ve delved deeper into my practice, as I’ve found a community to share my passion with at BU.
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The retreat was led by Rafa Borges of Dharma Gates, a nonprofit that conducts low-cost or donation-based retreats for young people. Selena Lee, President, and Jonas Kaplan-Bucciarelli, Vice President, opened their doors to host the retreat. In the past, the Cambridge Zen Center has held retreats every semester, but this was BU Zen’s first student-led retreat – and it was almost every attendee’s first experience.
What is meditation? According to Rafa, the essence of meditation is sustained attention. He presented us with the tissue simile; the concept that you should only put the amount of effort into your meditation as it takes to hold a tissue in your hand. Jonas says mindfulness is, “nonjudgmental present-moment awareness” – the non-judgment aspect being crucial. Selena expresses that meditation “cultivates patience and compassion towards yourself.”
Though most people embark upon their meditation journeys individually, a powerful sense of community is established through group meditation.
This retreat involved 4-hours of silence. We alternated between sitting and walking meditation, perched cross-legged on circular pillows. Throughout the process, I consciously focused on my breath and being present in the moment. In the end, Rafa offered us a loving kindness exercise: we focused on the thought of someone we love immensely, and then extended that warm feeling toward ourselves and those around us. It was a beautiful practice that made me feel emotionally rejuvenated and at peace.
I encourage everyone to explore meditation! BU students have free access to the app Headspace, and BU Zen is an open-hearted and open-minded community on campus.
