Silence Retreat 2011, Tihany,
Lake Balaton, Hungary
by Dea Frankó Csuba
I was looking forward to the silence retreat without expectations but with great enthusiasm. This was my second retreat at Tihany and indeed, last year’s silence was a true adventure.
The 7 day program started 2nd of July in Tihany, which is probably the prettiest spot at the northern shore of our beautiful Lake Balaton. The place itself has a unique atmosphere and a very special energy which instantly makes an impression as we arrive. The village is built on a hill that is surrounded by the greenish blue lake at one side and by stunning green fields, forests and a little pond on the other. The view from the hill is breathtaking, wherever you look. The Baroque church and convent of the Benedictine Abbey on top of the hill is the jewel of the village. Scent of lavender grown by the Benedictine monks is lingering in the air. A spot where you do not want anything, but be silent.
The retreat took place by the little pond at the Art Yard of the Hungarian University of Fine Arts. Comfy little traditional houses with a cool and airy room for yoga practice, a nice piece of land by the pond where practitioners have plenty of space to walk, relax, contemplate and enjoy the silence. On the field there is an old stone house to dry fresh lavender. The whole place is just cozy.
Our wonderful teachers, Swami Ritavan, Stoma Parker and Ashutosh Sharma arrived in the afternoon and started the program instantly. A short meditation and introduction of the weekly schedule and dinner was followed by a breathtaking presentation by Stoma. Lively conversations within the group just like when so long not seen family members get together to celebrate. Wonderful and inspiring people, warm friendly feelings. Again, the right place to just ‘be’.
As Stoma indicated at the opening of the program, this year we took a soft landing into silence. On the first day, Sunday we had some powerful practices to take us inside, but the silence ‘officially’ began in the evening.
Our daily routine starts in the morning with prayers and meditation. After the initial centering process, Ashu’s asana sequences follow - the asana sessions that are so smooth and soft, still so firm and steady. All the way through these sessions I have the feeling that it is not only the asanas. It’s the presence of Ashu that has such powerful effect. The resonance of this voice that invites us to turn inward, stay alert and experience. His gentle and caring presence protects and leads us into process that makes my body feel better and stronger day by day and that draws my mind to be more and more conscious of all that is inside. A wonderful experience that is deeper and more quiet every day.
After the asanas, it’s breakfast time and after breakfast just a short break to digest. It’s Swami Ritavan’s time to guide our transition. I sit right in front of Swamiji, and as he starts the short centering meditation, I feel like my body is melting into deep, motionless pause. Every cell of mine is letting loose all those thoughts and feelings that make my world tight and is soaking up the rejuvenating vibrations and fresh energy. Throughout these practices I feel secure. As I sit, stand, lie on the ground all I feel is that I am being held by a greater force, I am taken care of, I am safe. I just let the flow take me wherever I shall go.
I would say the kriyas held by Swamiji are the highlight of the week, but in fact the whole week is just a highlight itself.
In the afternoon lunch break we do digestive breathing, contemplative walk, and later a vigorous walk down to the lake. As I take a dip into the fresh clean water, I feel like it washes away the ashes burnt out by the fire of tapas.
Later in the afternoon it is Ashu’s turn again. Sun salutation with bija mantras. Stoma and Ashu are chanting the mantras and the whole group moves together with the vibrations of their voices. Then silence again, the group keeps doing sun salutation chanting the mantras mentally. The movements flow with the vibrations inside. And then I stop and stand still. I take a secret look around and see faces in tears and feel hearts opened up.
After dinner, it is Stoma to take us to his mysterious land of wisdom. He sits there with his clear face, shiny eyes and talks in that soft voice of his. Like grandpa telling fairytales to the children. I am carried away with his presentation, his jokes, his laughter, his wisdom. What he does is art with words. I enjoy how he paints a picture through his speech. Word by word, cultures, religions, personal stories and experiences are painted up on a large canvas to result in a beautiful picture called yoga. It is soothing for my soul even at the end of the most turbulent days of my silence.
The day is framed by evening prayers and I silently dwell into deep but interestingly alert sleep.
Wednesday night we start our 40 hour meditation with a special mantra, Akhanda mandalakaram. The part of the silence I was really looking for. At the evening gathering we get a kind of an initiation into the mantra, chanting it loud together 108 times. As we chant the mantra suddenly all goes really quiet. It’s the 4th day of the retreat, but I feel like the silence just began. At least I enter a much deeper silence, a clearer state of mind. Throughout the 40 hours we sit in couples and meditate. There are several group sittings where we all participate and every couple has 2 compulsory sittings to complete. Apart from these occasions, we may sit as much as we wish. Our beloved teachers are sitting there with us all way through.
By the end of the first 24 hours, the energy is getting really thick in the room. At dawn it is my time to sit with my sister for 2 hours. I find the timing perfect and look forward to meditate with my sister at this time of the day when energies are so pure, clean and strong. My body is getting tired of sitting and I have some concerns how I will manage, but I am excited and dedicated to complete the practice with all my devotion. As I sit down I pray for strength to be able sit firm for the next two hours. And for the first time in my life, I sit like a rock. No numb legs, no aches and pains. Just the mantra and me. Suddenly the door opens up and I hear the couple for the next turn to arrive. I do not want to believe it. Two hours have passed and it felt like two minutes. I completely lost my sense of time and space. I have nothing but the mantra in me. I am not ready to leave. I have to stay a bit longer with the mantra, so I stay up longer and keep chanting.
At the end of the 40 hour practice, the whole group sits together in the room. Swami Ritavan gives us instructions on how to do the transition and Stoma starts guiding the process with his voice. He starts singing on the clearest and most shiny voice I have ever experienced. I hear people crying, and I just don’t want this process to stop. Not ready to come out. Just move my lips silently for long minutes before voice starts to raise in my throat.
The last night is a wonder. The lively conversations with those lovely and inspiring people are back to my world. We have so much to share. We lie on our back outside in the park and watch the vast sky packed with brilliant stars. When the first shooting star appears, I feel like finally I am alive. We walk up to the church at dawn to enjoy the sunrise. The view to the lake is stunning, birds are tweeting around us, the wind is stroking our faces. As the upper edge of the vibrant pink sun appears on the horizon, the bells of the cathedral start ringing. I am reborn, I am free, I am alive.
Thank you Swami Ritavan, Stoma, Ashu. Thank you silence.
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