Are Taraloka retreats silent?

It depends!

On an Introductory retreat, there might be short periods of silence, for instance between 9 at night and 9 in the morning, and perhaps a bit longer for Open retreats.  More sustained silent periods would be only part of the programme for Triratna Regulars level retreats and above.

If you are specifically looking for silent retreats, check out the retreat calendar for the Silent Retreat or Silent Weekend (Triratna Regulars level).

Why silence?

Silence is a traditional part of Buddhist retreats.  Its purpose is to support mindfulness, allowing us to go deeper into our direct experience.   It can be both relaxing and a relief to experience being with others without having to present a ‘social front’.  People often say they feel more connected in the silence than when they are chatting.

The team is always on hand, so if you start to find silence difficult, you can go and have a talk with someone.  However most people find they enjoy silent periods. 

Often, we start to notice more beauty in the world.  And we can relax into being exactly as we are at that moment, and we can allow others to do the same.