In a world dominated by opinion and reach, the act of being quiet has become something of a lost art. But from a spiritual perspective, silence is still golden. Here are a few places where you can learn how to reduce your own noise in a variety of ways.
Dealing with Suffering
At the Fairfax-based Guhyasamaja Center, you can learn what it takes to keep your mouth shut in the Tibetan Gelug tradition, the same lineage as His Holiness the Dalai Lama. This Buddhist meditation center teaches disciples how to fulfill their potential by grounding them in the idea of our universal responsibility to treat all living things with respect. The belief that suffering comes from within is behind the center’s practice of exploring the mind to develop an understanding of how to overcome our own self-generated dissatisfaction. At the same time, you’re taught how to increase your own internal sources of happiness—like love, compassion, and patience. 10875 Main St., Fairfax
The Need for Love
Also in Fairfax is the Drikung Dharma Surya Center, where teachings are centered around the same concept of compassion. The basic idea: If the purpose in life is to be happy, we can reduce our own physical and mental suffering by caring for others. Events and programs at the center are taught by Buddhist masters and focus on the nature of the mind as related to our need for love that is foundational to the human existence and the ultimate way to happiness. Their practices focus on meditation about the nature of the mind itself. 5300 Ox Rd., Fairfax
Coping with Stress
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is an evidence-based approach to managing chronic pain, stress, and illness. The idea is that when dealing with circumstances beyond our control, we can use the practices of yoga and meditation by getting in touch with the thoughts and emotions we’re feeling right at that second. A Mindful Choice, serving the DC and NoVA area, offers a $300, eight-week online course on Wednesday evenings from January 12 to March 9. The course focuses on mindfulness and compassion to help you learn how to cope with ongoing sources of stress in your daily life.
Tuning Out the Distractions
If you’re one of those people who find it hard to meditate because you can’t “shut off” your thoughts, the salt float tank experience might be what you need. Since most of our thoughts come from the senses, the effect of sensory deprivation brought on by the tank aids in reaching a higher meditative state. At Williamsburg Salt Spa, you can isolate yourself in a tank filled with body-temperature, salt-infused water. The tanks are in private rooms and when you get in, they’re covered (or left open if you’re claustrophobic) to give the effect of sensory deprivation that mimics the sensation of floating. The experience eliminates contact points between your body and anything else, and reduces your muscle action, leaving you alone with whatever thoughts may come. 1111 Old Colony Ln., Williamsburg
Feature image, ChenPG/adobe.stock.com
This story originally appeared in the January issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to our monthly magazine.
