26 Days of Silece

I'll be out of touch for the next month and check-in again early March. I'll be doing a 26 day meditation retreat which I am very much looking forward to. I think that this one isn't quite as strict as the last one that I did, and I'll have my own room which is nice. We also alternate between sitting and walking meditation, so it won't be so hard on the back. I'm also looking forward to it because it is at a Buddhist Monastary, so I'll get to take part in some of their rituals: there is an opening ritual, Buddha day rituals (which correspond to the moon cycle) and a closing ritual, so I'll have to bring candles, insence, and lotus flowers, and during the whole retreat, I wear white loose clothing. It should be interesting, certainly challenging. I'll be getting up at 4 am, the first meal of the day is at 6 am, and the second and final meal of the day is at 10 am... I understand that the last three days of the meditation that the mind is in such a great state that you meditate consistently, and don't sleep.