A typical day for a working professional starts with chatter, is filled with chatter, and ends with even more chatter. And that’s just external noise. Add in the constant mental chatter and information overload, and there’s hardly a moment of stillness. We are so caught up in everything happening around us that we forget the simple joy of silence. When was the last time you sat still, without a screen, without an agenda, just letting yourself be?
Last weekend, I experienced true stillness and its effects lingered well into the week.
In the midst of all the chaos, finding time for silence feels like a luxury. But that’s exactly what made this one-day retreat by Pulse at Zorba the Buddha the perfect escape. It started with an organic, soulful lunch, where the group gathered before settling into our rooms. The setting itself was serene—an organic hut with bamboo roofs, mud walls, clay surahis for water, and the distant sounds of peacocks.
One of the most unexpected joys was talking openly in a room full of strangers. There’s something liberating about sharing your struggles without the fear of judgment. Everyone spoke about the roles that brought them stress. While we often assume women bear the brunt of it all, it was eye-opening to hear men talk about their own burdens. They feel the pressure of giving their families a comfortable life, often neglecting their own well-being in the process. Women, on the other hand, spoke about juggling motherhood, careers, caregiving and barely finding time for themselves.
With this realisation of how we rarely prioritise ourselves, we moved to sound healing. We lay down in a circle- the healers were using bowls and other instruments to create vibrations, creating a deep, almost meditative state. Some people even dozed off and were snoring. When we "woke up" from it, there was a collective sense of calm. The healers encouraged us to sit in silence daily, even if just for five minutes. "Let your mind wander, but make it a practice. Over time, you will learn to quiet the noise," we were told.
That retreat was a turning point. Since then, I have started appreciating the quiet moments I once overlooked. Where my mind used to be cluttered, I am now learning to clear it. It’s a long journey I am sure, but the biggest takeaway from this retreat is that silence isn’t empty, it is full of clarity, healing and peace.
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