Retreat as an opportunity

by Kai Romhardt

Every retreat represents a process of insight and transformation—both individual and collective—from which we can benefit on various levels.

In the following, I will outline seven key dimensions of the impact of retreats: the retreat theme, continuous mindfulness practice, the personal process, the experience of community, inspiration drawn from monks, nuns, and other practitioners, the growth of commitment and collective action, and finally, the element of surprise—the unexpected.

Furthermore, I will share the voices of participants who have experienced healing and transformation.

The Retreat Theme

For some participants, the theme serves as the primary motivation for signing up. They wish to deepen their understanding of a specific aspect of their lives or their practice. The theme acts as the gateway; yet, as we delve deeper, we inevitably touch upon every other facet of our lives as well.

“I work as a management consultant, and I originally came here to explore the Buddhist perspective on ‘business’ and economics. Intellectual curiosity—along with a personal recommendation—had led me to the EIAB. However, by the second day, my focus had completely shifted. I became acutely aware of just how mercilessly I treated myself—how I constantly drove myself internally, even going so far as to mentally ‘scream’ at myself whenever I made a mistake. My primary practice then became ‘Breathing and Smiling.’ Whenever my inner critic began to rear its head, I would simply return to my breath and smile. It was that simple! I haven’t felt this alive in years.”

Continuous Mindfulness Practice

Mindfulness requires continuous practice and strengthening. The EIAB is an ideal place for this, as we immerse ourselves in a collective field of mindfulness—one built through the continuous practice of the community living here. As a course facilitator, I can physically feel this effect. Throughout the day, various mindfulness bells and rituals remind us to return to the present moment. From this, insights naturally emerge.

“It happened during a walking meditation. I simply sat there, listening to the soft clinking and the sounds of the Sangha eating. There was nothing to do. I had arrived. Nothing was missing. I ate, and tears streamed down my cheeks.”

The Personal Process

It is not uncommon for crises to be what lead us to the practice. Losses, uncertainties, the need for reorientation, fears... Or perhaps we are seeking inspiration—searching for a fresh path and for people with whom we can share these experiences. Each of us is at a different point in our journey and brings our own questions along. Some of these questions act as ballast—baggage that tends to hinder us rather than help us move forward.

A retreat deepens our connection with ourselves; we begin to see ourselves more clearly—both the beautiful aspects and the not-so-beautiful ones. We become less prone to self-deception. And we open ourselves up. Sometimes it is a single sentence in a Dharma talk that resolves our long-standing questions. Sometimes it is the tears or the joy of another person that sets us on a fresh trail. Perhaps we spend a sleepless night, or feel something deep within our body begin to loosen and shift.

“It happened during a Dharma exchange session. A participant shared some painful experiences she had endured within her family of origin. It felt as though she were speaking directly from my own heart—as if she were giving voice to something that had been limiting my inner freedom for years, indeed for decades. She articulated something that, in doing so, allowed me to finally understand it within myself. She dissolved something that I had been unable to see on my own.”

Experiencing Community

In our daily lives, many of us experience very little true community. In many social settings—and particularly in many workplaces—competition and rivalry dominate; we encounter a great deal of friction, judgment, and evaluation. However, when we come together in mindfulness, our judgments and thoughts begin to settle, and we naturally create a space of deep connection.

For many participants, it is a profoundly healing experience to be accepted—warts and all—to feel a sense of belonging, and to feel truly heard and seen. This feeling does not always arise instantaneously, nor does it necessarily manifest for everyone. Yet, through this process, we have the opportunity to realize how we ourselves—through our thinking and our state of mind—actively generate our own sense of separation or connection. Sometimes, as if in slow motion, we witness ourselves falling from a state of connectedness into one of separation. A retreat serves as a social laboratory where, through the practice of mindfulness, we can experience a more connected way of relating to one another.

“I am a sociologist by training, and I observed our group process from that perspective as well. I simply cannot fathom how we managed to coalesce into a cohesive group with such remarkable speed. Mindfulness seems to introduce an entirely new dimension to our social interactions. And I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to experience this firsthand.”

**Inspiration from Monks, Nuns, and Fellow Practitioners**

In our daily lives, we are rarely surrounded by a practicing community—a group that has made it their life’s purpose to cultivate compassion and understanding, and to serve all sentient beings. For many of my participants, this encounter proves to be profoundly inspiring. We begin to recognize the immense degrees of freedom available to us as human beings: *Where do I wish to go? In what shall I take refuge?* Through the lifestyle and life paths of the brothers and sisters at the EIAB, it becomes vividly apparent that there is indeed a radically different way to live.

“The young monks and nuns, in particular, touched me deeply—their smiles, their sheer *joie de vivre*. One of them addressed me as ‘Brother,’ and I could feel, deep within, that this was no empty gesture. By calling me ‘Brother,’ he enabled me to recognize the ‘Brother’ within *him* as well—a realization that, over the course of my stay, gradually expanded to encompass more and more of the people around me.” The Unexpected

No retreat is without its surprises. If we view the retreat as a vessel for personal transformation, then we will see and experience things that are unfamiliar to us. One participant writes:

“It is—of all things—a Buddhist memorial ceremony for the deceased, held in the former foyer, that serves as the backdrop for my initial encounter with this veritable monster of concrete and stone. (...). And lo and behold, once inside, it happens. What my mind insists cannot be true feels—in my gut and soul—altogether different. The gentleness of the monks’ presence—their smiles, the breathing exercises, the meditation—dissipates much of the sense of menace I had felt, which was caused by the building and its shadows. I don’t feel exactly *comfortable* yet, but definitely better. The mere ability to endure gives way to something else; the instinct to flee recedes. All at once, I feel I understand what Thay means when he speaks of initiating—through the transformation of this very building—a transformation of all the pain stemming from two World Wars. For the people of Germany; for the people of Europe. And with that understanding comes the idea for a film. I even have a working title for it—right there, spontaneously: *Trans-Formations*.”

Cultivating Engagement and Commitment

The Network for Mindful Economy was born during a retreat in Berlin. In retreats, seeds are sown. Today, the Network for Mindful Economy gathers in eight regional groups and various initiatives and projects throughout the German-speaking world. Each of our retreats and mindfulness seminars offers an opportunity for individual transformation and sends out new seeds.

As we practice over time, we come to see that we never practice for ourselves alone. We recognize how supportive a Sangha can be—and that we can manifest a Sangha even in places where we might not initially expect it: in the economic sphere, within companies, and in our roles as investors and customers.

“The retreat encouraged me to take action myself, to act with greater courage, and to reveal more of my true self within my professional environment. I also intend to get involved with the Network for Mindful Economy—perhaps by organizing a ‘Mindful Coworking Day’ or a public walking meditation.”

The retreats held at the EIAB possess a truly unique quality; we are deeply grateful to everyone who supports and enlivens this wonderful place, helping to make it a true sanctuary for healing and transformation.

Dr. Kai Romhardt, *True Precious Practice*, is the initiator and coordinator of the Network for Mindful Economy.

Here is the German PDF: