Sometimes we need to step away from the busyness of everyday life and simply be. On Sunday, October 11, participants gathered at Wesleyan University’s Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies in Middletown for BFF’s Autumn Silent Simplicity Retreat. Overlooking the peaceful Shoyoan Teien Zen garden, the morning offered time to slow down, settle into silence, and experience the simple gift of being present.
Guided by Rev. G.R. Lewis, the 2.5 hour retreat included sitting meditation, walking meditation, and noble silence. Through stillness and mindful movement, participants had an opportunity to let go of everyday demands and give their attention to the moment at hand.
During the closing discussion, participants shared some of the familiar challenges of meditation: the restless monkey mind, sleepiness and heaviness, and the itchiness that tests our patience. Rev. Lewis offered practical suggestions for meeting these experiences with greater awareness and less resistance.
The conversation also touched on something deeper. What happens when we stop trying to control every experience, analyze every thought, or achieve a particular state of mind? In the stillness of practice, we may discover another way of being: allowing things to be as they are and finding a sense of peace within the larger unfolding of life.
The participants’ reflections expressed the spirit of the morning. One shared, “I feel so grateful for the opportunity to just be here and experience such peace.” Another said, “I really loved the walking meditation.” And one participant was already looking ahead, saying, “I am looking forward to the next one in January.”
The morning reminded us that meditation is not about achieving perfection or making the mind obey. It is a practice of returning, again and again, to the present moment with patience, openness, and a willingness to let go. We look forward to gathering again for our annual Beginning Anew Retreat in early January 2027.
