The Mindfulness Meditation Retreat: Your Most Powerful Tool for Spiritual Development

By Charles A. Francis

Have you ever wondered if there was a way you could speed up your spiritual development? I’m sure you know of some people who are so peaceful and serene that nothing seems to bother them. The secret of their success is actually quite simple. They’ve figured out what works, and they do it consistently.

Why the Slow Progress?

The reason many of us have trouble with our spiritual development is because we don’t avail ourselves of some simple tools that can be tremendously effective. In Buddhism, they have what is called the Noble Eightfold Path. If you’re not familiar with them, these are essentially basic practices that will help us achieve enlightenment, or freedom from suffering.

One of them is right effort, sometimes called right diligence. What it basically means is doing the things that will cultivate mindfulness, and doing them consistently. The problem many people have is that they’re diligent, but not necessarily using the most effective tools at their disposal. This is not surprising because there is so much confusion about what mindfulness meditation is exactly.

When it comes to getting the most from your meditation practice, it’s important to learn the proper techniques, and apply them consistently. Anything less, and your progress will be extremely slow.

The Energy of Mindfulness and the Power of the Retreat

Those who are advanced spiritually have discovered the power of the meditation retreat. They have attended one, and realized that it not only takes their spirituality to a higher level, but also greatly enhances their meditation practice, so they continue progressing at a much faster pace when they return home. Then they make attending retreats part of their routine.

One reason the mindfulness meditation retreat is so effective is because it combines the instruction of proper meditation techniques with the time necessary for applying them—that is, right effort. It is like a professional athlete training for his sport. He will excel much faster if he uses proper techniques and practices diligently.

There is also another reason for the retreat’s effectiveness. It is the energy of mindfulness. Our consciousness is made up of energy, which helps us see with clarity. The amount of mindfulness energy we’re exposed to, determines how clearly we can see the true nature of reality.

The energy of mindfulness is not necessarily confined to our bodies. In fact, it surrounds us like a magnetic field. Anyone who is near us, or aware of our presence, can feel its effects. So, when several people are meditating together, a synergy takes place where all participants are exposed to the ocean of spiritual nourishment that helps everyone grow. Buddhist monks and nuns know this, and it’s why they progress so quickly.

People who have had a profound spiritual experience have momentarily touched nirvana and been exposed to a tremendous surge of mindfulness energy. They are instantly transported to a higher level of consciousness, and are forever changed.

What Are the Possibilities?

As you can see, you can dramatically speed up your spiritual development when you apply the proper meditation techniques in a consistent manner. When our True Nature awakens, we can function at a much higher level:

• We’re more aware of the signals our senses are sending us.
• We can process information at a faster rate.
• We can see reality on a much deeper level.
• We can see our spiritual connection with others.
• And our sense of a separate self begins to diminish.

Athletes refer to this state as “being in the zone.” In other words, we begin using the full power of our body and mind, including the subconscious. When we’re in the zone, we feel awake and at peace with the world. We also feel a great sense of love. Imagine the implication of functioning on a higher spiritual level:

• You will be in greater control of your mind, body, and emotions.
• Your relationships will improve significantly.
• You will be healed from the wounds of your past.
• You will overcome stress, even in difficult situations.
• And when you lose the sense of a separate self, loneliness will disappear.

Overall, you will be at peace with yourself and the world around you. You will know a level of happiness and serenity that you never imagined possible. You will be in the zone much of the time.

If you are truly serious about your spiritual development, and want to begin progressing at a much faster pace, I would recommend you go on a mindfulness meditation retreat. You will literally make years worth of progress in just a matter of days. Once you experience the full power of the retreat for yourself, then you too will make it part of your routine.

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