A 4-Year Silent Meditation Retreat, Pt. 1: How It Began

In November 2009, Bill and Susan Morgan, a couple from Boston, began what would become a four-year silent meditation retreat at the Forest Refuge, the Insight Meditation Society's center for experienced meditators seeking longer-term retreat practice. In this series of seven videos, Bill and Susan look back on their experiences at the Forest Refuge, sharing how they came to the idea to commit to such a prolonged period of practice, the challenges they faced along the way, and several profound insights they gleaned both about themselves as individuals, and as a couple, practicing side-by-side every day, without speaking, for four years.

[@rupeeking8138]

A teacher is a teacher is a teacher - no matter who. Nature wants you to be liberated all instances are there to teach you and to move towards liberation.

[@chiragandbuddha]

Beautiful. So many of things have to fall in place to be able to do something like this. And yet, when you have the right intentions, things automatically fall in place.

[@sheilakirwan9462]

fantastic …...

[@iminasamscar9432]

1:51 his reactions hahahahha

[@tmcdermottg]

I know I am cracking up. This guy was like we are NOT doing 5!

[@y9w1]

So... How free now? 🙏

[@TommyS61867]

How could he remain silent for 4 minutes?

[@anshuman5331]

Try solitude. You can achieve many fold benefit from it.

[@respectdhamma3645]

Solitude is important. Also the correct teacher is important. Mistakes of Pa Auk meditation state some common errors in anapanasati

[@bearllande]

she clearly wanted a 4yr break from him and was hoping for more hahaha

[@jadedspades]

I appreciate that these lovely folks are willing to share their experience. BUT how do these people afford this? Independently wealthy? This is just so "head in the clouds". Maybe getting into the real world would be more useful?

[@ChiannaNycole]

You’d be surprised at how many retreats offer free room and board. Look into vipassana meditation retreats my friend.

[@yonmoore]

Taboo subject but if you're middle class in America, you'd be surprised at how much you can cut down your expenses - imagine how much money you'd save if all you did was meditate all day with nowhere to go to spend money.
If you don't have to be close to a job, or your family - there are parts of this country where you could house yourself practically for free.