10 days of silence

What I recently learned from 10-day silent Buddhist retreat in Macedonia

Dec 13, 2024

Have you ever considered what would happen if you hit “pause” on everything—work, family, friends, your phone, even your voice? For 10 days, I did just that. I recently finished a Vipassana meditation course in Macedonia, a journey into silence and self-awareness, and what I experienced was nothing short of transformative. Don’t get me wrong—it was Mt. Everest-level hard to live like a monk for ten days.

Before the retreat, my life was like a browser with too many tabs open—every ping, task, and thought vying for my attention. So, I entered an experience where the only notification was the sound of a gong calling us to wake up at 4 a.m. to start our first of ten meditations or eat vegan meals twice daily. There was no talking, eye contact, reading, or writing, and 10 hours of meditation each day—just me and the practice of Vipassana.

Day 1: The Struggle is Real.
Let me be honest—the first day felt like running a marathon with no training. Sitting in silence for hours, observing the natural rhythm of my breath, my mind wandered like a kid let loose in a candy store. Thoughts of work, family, and even what toppings I’d put on pizza (pepperoni and onions, of course) pulled me away.

Day 3: The Noise Within
By Day 3, the chatter in my mind was deafening. You think silence is peaceful until you sit with your thoughts long enough to realize how loud they truly are. This is where the magic began. I started noticing patterns—old fears, stories I’d told myself, and judgments I carried. Vipassana taught me to observe them without attachment.

Day 4 Through 7: The Deep Work
The breakthroughs began in the middle of Day 4. Stripping away the layers of distraction and sitting with the raw essence of being human felt like polishing a mirror covered in years of dust. I wasn’t just meditating; I was decluttering my soul.

Day 10: A Quiet Revelation
When all 75 of us were finally allowed to speak to each other on the last day, the words felt like a gift. The silence taught me that the spaces between words—thoughts and actions—are just as vital as the words themselves.

Takeaways:

Trust the Process: Growth doesn’t always come in flashes of inspiration. Sometimes, it’s the slow, steady discipline of showing up—sitting down, breathing, and observing.
Suffering is Universal but Temporary: The aching knees, restless thoughts, and worries come and go. Learning to see them as temporary visitors rather than permanent residents was a game-changer.
Compassion Starts Within: Giving grace to others is hard when you can’t give it to yourself. Vipassana reminded me that self-compassion isn’t an indulgence; it’s a foundation.
Less Really is More: Ten days without devices, emails, or conversation taught me that most of what I “needed” wasn’t necessary.
Don't Quit Before the Miracle Happens: On Day 3, I wanted to leave. By Day 4, breakthroughs began to surface. The lesson? Growth often comes right after the hardest moments. Trust that the miracle lies beyond discomfort.
Impermanence is the Only Constant: Everything—aches, thoughts, emotions—came and went like waves. Vipassana taught me to stop clinging to the good or resisting the bad. Instead, I learned to sit with it all, knowing that nothing, good or bad, stays forever. Embracing impermanence was like unlocking a secret to peace.

What Now? Vipassana wasn’t just 10 days of silence; it was a reset button. I returned to life with clarity, focus, and a more profound sense of trust—not just in others but in myself.

I can't recommend it enough if you’ve ever thought about stepping away to recalibrate, even for a day. It’s not about finding something external; it’s about rediscovering what’s already inside you.

To stepping back to move forward.

Best,
Bryan

It would mean the world if you commented with a word or two on how this landed for you. -bryan

10 days of silence

What I recently learned from 10-day silent Buddhist retreat in Macedonia

Discussion about this post