For the last couple of weeks my life has been consumed by stuff. My siblings and I are dividing the contents of my mom’s house now that she’s moved to a retirement community. Every horizontal surface is covered with dishes, linens, knick knacks and the souvenirs of a life well lived and it’s filling me with an overwhelming urge to move to a Zen monastery where my only possession will be my wooden begging bowl. If you, too, are feeling overwhelmed by the minutiae of life, perhaps it’s time to consider a vacation aimed at renewal, reflection or reconnection.
Retreats
There are plenty of places where I can fulfill my monastery dream-at least for a few days. The ancient Roman Catholic practice of retreat means that there are numerous monasteries and retreat houses around the U.S. where I could stay. My friend Vivian recommends Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Trappist abbey near her home in Oregon. Monastery stays generally require a strict regime of early rising, prayer or meditation sessions, and frugal and often vegetarian meals. Spiritual counseling is usually only on request but attendance at services is heavily encouraged. Many require at least part of the day to be spent in silence with no cell phones, internet or television or other distractions allowed. Forget live blogging your retreat. When staying more the just a day or two, visitors are often asked to participate in the work of the monastery with simple physical tasks that involve you in the life of the residential community. If you’re looking to disconnect from hassles and find inner peace, the strict discipline of monastic life can help.
Zen Buddhism also encourages retreats for concentrated practice. Here in Seattle, Blue Heron Zen center organizes regular weekend retreats and the Puget Sound Zen Center on Vashon even has a Zen family weekend coming up in May. That’s an unusual twist since most retreats are adults only.
My personal goal is to spend some time in Taizé, France, the home of the international prayer movement. I’ve been helping to run a local Taizé service for the last year and it would be a true joy to visit this ecumenical monastery and chant with the brothers. If you’d also rather travel abroad for your retreat, you’ll need to work harder to find information and probably employ your language skills. While it is possible to make a retreat in Europe or Japan, details are harder to come by. Most of the monastery lodging guidebooks are meant for just that, a place to stay. Happily, Liguori Publications has recently updated Europe’s Monastery and Convent Guesthouses, a guide to retreat opportunities in some twenty countries. Be prepared, however, to use your French, Italian or even Latin skills to book your stay or understand instructions when you arrive. Temples in Japan are even harder to find and less likely to have an English speaking monk. Try the website Temple Lodging in Japan to get started or contact your local temple or Zen center for suggestions.
Ashrams
Ashrams in the U.S., India and other places are so numerous and so varied they deserve a separate section. Here in the States ashrams usually highlight the practice of yoga. Some are minimalist, with strict practice requirements and spare vegetarian meals like Yosadhara in British Columbia. Others are more of a resort, offering ayurvedic and spa treatments along with meditation and classes. Ashrams in India are even more diverse with some being intensive religious experiences with a guru and others more like a healthy beach vacation. How do you know which to choose? If you’re already practicing yoga, you may want to look for ashrams associated with your particular form or your teacher’s guru. Guidebooks like Lonely Planet offer suggestions for ashrams in India. Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree has an active discussion board on the topic. This page at IloveIndia.com has useful information and enough pictures to give you an idea of what you’d be getting into.
Pilgrimages
If the thought of sitting in quiet contemplation for hours on end makes your blood run cold, perhaps a more active form of spiritual travel would suit you better. Consider following the ancient ritual of pilgrimage and being one of the millions of travelers who seek deeper knowledge by visiting significant places. Pilgrimages have the great advantage that you can make up the rules yourself instead of having to follow someone else’s. You can choose to follow a well-traveled route like Ron did when he walked the Camino de Santiago in 2005 or you can make your own path. Visit Mayan temples in Latin America or search for stone rings in Britain. Follow in the footsteps of the Buddha or of St. Paul. Visit trees sacred to Druids, Shintoists and Native Americans. Need some suggestions? National Geographic’s Sacred Places of a Lifetime provides 500 possible destinations. And Phil Cousineau’s classic book on the subject, The Art of Pilgrimage, can help focus your journey to bring you that sense of renewal that we so often seek in our travels.
More books:
Walking the Camino de Santiago Author Ben Cole will speak at Wide World on April 21st.
Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses
Sacred Places: Sites of Spiritual Pilgrimage from Stonehenge to Santiago de Compostela
The Singular Pilgrim: Travels on Sacred Ground
A Community Called Taize: A Story of Prayer, Worship and Reconciliation
Catholic Shrines of Western Europe: A Pilgrim’s Travel Guide
Tags: blue heron, camino de santiago, frace, monasteries, pilgrimages, puget sound, spiritual, spiritual travel, taize, travel, zen center
