The Power and Necessity of Retreating

by Mark Nunberg, Common Ground Co-Guiding Teacher

People are sometimes confused by the emphasis placed on retreat practice in our Insight Meditation community. Our gut tells us that running from the messiness of our lives cannot be a lasting answer to our problems. And of course, many of us have duties and responsibilities that are difficult to walk away from. How do we resolve this apparent contradiction?

One of the first lessons we learn when retreating, even if only for half a day, is that it is not an escape from life, but rather a turning toward our life as it is. When we are on retreat, we purposely set aside many of the ways we distract ourselves from our lived experience. It is this exposure to the activity of our mind and heart that makes retreating a challenging practice.

As long as we remain caught in our habits, our minds act out their usual patterns. Whenever we simplify our lives, even for a short period of time, the skillfulness and unskillfulness of mental activity becomes more clear. It is this clear non-judging awareness that is deeply liberating. With the enormity of our personal and communal problems, it is a rare gift to be able to retreat from our routines and responsibilities for a period of practice.

Wishing us all opportunities for retreating. May our learning to turn inward allow us to open and respond to all things with wisdom and compassion and become the good friend that our world needs!