Tonight I begin my first silent retreat. For the next three days I’ll sit, swim, meditate and practice yoga but I won’t talk. I won’t read either – or go online, or listen to music. I’ll limit output and intake to offer my body, mind, spirit an opportunity to cleanse.
I picked up the kitchen copy of Tao Te Ching a few moments ago and found this morsel:
Those who know don’t talk
those who talk don’t know.
Close your mouth
block off your senses
blunt your sharpness
untie your knots
soften your glare
settle your dust.
This is the primal identity.
Be like the Tao.
It can’t be approached or withdrawn from,
benefitted or harmed,
honored or brought into disgrace.
It gives itself up continually.
That is why it endures.
I offered a dribble of apricot juice to the page, in thanks.