One of the more common complaints of the modern world is that it is so hard to find peace and quiet. We’re constantly surrounded by noise and din. Loud music, traffic, the eternal buzz of the electronic equipment we just can’t seem to get away from, it all contributes to the sense of being overwhelmed by noise.
Desperate for some peace, many people try and find quiet places to go on holiday. They might rent a batch on a remote windswept beach, they might tramp miles into the forest and huddle under a tent, they might buy some good quality ear plugs. But even if they do manage to get away from it all, even the most extreme attempts to find a quiet spot in the world are often in vain because of the habit of humans to natter on all day and all night about whatever pops into their heads.
Sometimes it might seem like peace and quiet are out of reach, however there is a way to have a truly silent holiday, go somewhere where even speaking is forbidden, a monastery!
One such monastery, Mepkin Abbey, located in South Carolina, is home to Trappist monks who have taken a vow of silence. Each day, the monks rise at 3.00 am, and observe the Grand Silence until 8.30 am. Bed time comes quickly after a hard day of manual labor at 7.30 pm, when the Grand Silence begins once more.
Mepkin Abbey welcomes those seeking a quiet spiritual retreat, though there are a few conditions. All guests must partake in the same vegetarian fare as the monks, and all guests must also observe the same periods of silence. Married couples are welcome, as are single men and women.
Retreatants, as the monastery calls them may make payment for their accommodations by donation. Longer stays of up to thirty days are possible if you happen to be male. Becoming a long term guest means undertaking the physical labors of the monks and observing all spiritual rituals associated with the monastery, though there are no costs associated with this type of stay as the retreatant’s work is considered to be payment enough.
If you happen not to live or be holidaying in the vicinity of South Carolina (don’t feel bad if that’s you, the majority of the world’s population isn’t,) it doesn’t mean you can’t experience the quiet joy associated with speech being forbidden. Many religious institutions of various denominations and traditions welcome guests on a retreat basis. Local monasteries, convents, and yes, even Buddhist temples are all good places to start your inquiries.