Has anyone attended a buddhist or zen weekend retreat?

Question

Assuming that this category includes all religions/spiritual beliefs, my question is for those who study either buddhism or zen.....I'd like to know what your experience was/what it was like if you have ever attended a spiritual retreat in either of the two.
Thank you.

Answer 1

I have attended a few weekend retreats. My experience have been positive. I think it's a great way to find out a lot about oneself--one's limit in patience, tolerance, physical ability to sit still for so many minutes/hour, discipline (to name a few examples)---by knowing these things about ourselves---we are then able to improve on what we need improving on.

I also find it helpful to sit with others during a retreat, the energy that others bring help "boost" my own enthusiasm to continue to practice. We give each other support by being in a meditation hall practicing together. It's also a good opportunity to ask experienced teachers questions regarding the practice.

If you're thinking about attending a retreat, ask the centre/temple if they can give you a schedule of what the retreat will entail. You can then try applying the schedule at home to "practice." For example, do they require all retreatrants to get up at 4am sharp for meditation? (If you're not a morning person...this might be something you can practice at home first so to get used to it.)

I consider myself a newbie and another reason I go to these weekend retreats is to prepare myself to attend longer ones which I hope to do later this year. I tend not to get overly gung-ho about these things, it's best to gradually learn---one of the things I've found out about myself. ;-)

I'm not a Zen practitioner but I love Zen stories, one of my favorites is called "How Long":

'A martial arts student went to his teacher and said earnestly, 'I am devoted to studying your system. How long will it take me to master it." The teacher's reply was casual, 'Ten years.' Impatiently, the student answered, "But I want to master it faster than that. I will work very hard. I will practice everyday, ten or more hours a day if I have to. How long will it take then?" The teacher thought for a moment, '20 years.'"

Heh! ;-)

Answer 2

I went to two retreats in two different parts of the country.

The first place I went was very big and also very corny. There was a very superficial and "on the surface" appreciation of practice. It was very disheartening.

The second place I went, a few years later, was so much more (and less) than I expected. I stayed for 4 months. I am so thankful, more thankful than I could ever have been before.

Answer 3

Just came back from a weekend retreat;honestly speaking,to get result a weekend retreat is not enough.The first two days was to settle down,only by the third day you get to relax and really experience the benefit of the meditation.Best is to go for a one month retreat.

Answer 4

nicely, i'm not Buddhist, yet i'm Taoist, it somewhat is very similiar, and that i do meditate. Unfortunatly, I even have not long gone to a sort of retreats. yet i will inform you what i comprehend approximately meditation. Its like showering or brushing your tooth, in case you do it as quickly as a week, its somewhat ineffective. Meditation is something you will desire to do daily. in any different case, its "consequences" or much less efficient. Dont difficulty approximately going to a retreat, basically meditate on your guy or woman. Dont shop it for one weekend, as a results of fact its somewhat ineffective. a minimum of, thats my opinion

Answer 5

You attend teachings and meditate. Surely you don't expect a Buddhist to reveal any realizations they've had or anything... that's just not done.