Retreat: Time Apart for Silence and Solitude

by Roger Housden

Roger Housden's beautiful introduction to the practice and philosophy of the spiritual retreat is a complete overview of the long and venerable tradition of withdrawing temporarily from the world in order to experience a return to oneself. Housden brings to the modern seeker a glimpse of the diverse and rich practices that through the ages have taught the spiritual value of solitude and contemplation. He shows us how, with the cultivation of silence and awareness, we can each find relief from the hectic and chaotic pace of the world and come alive to ourselves again.
With a broad perspective, Housden skillfully guides the reader through the ways to mindfulness as practiced by Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, indigenous cultures, nature lovers, and many others. Housden opens the way for many teachings to be integrated into an individual approach to seeking spiritual fulfillment. In this way, the reader can design a personal spiritual retreat determined by his or her own motivation and intention.
Retreat is an invaluable primer on the religions, institutions, and retreat centers that focus on the value of meditation, silence, and awareness as the path to our deeper natures. In addition to a skillful outline of the rich traditions that teach the contemplative path, Housden provides a wide range of methods and approaches to the practice of retreat - from a walk in the woods to a three-year silent retreat in the mountains of Tibet. He equips the novice with a full range of information, and masterfully introduces the five factors that set the retreat apart from the affairs of daily silence, mindfulness, meditation, the retreat community, and the retreat leader.

Genres: Spirituality

224 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1995

About the author

Roger Housden is the author of some twenty books of non fiction, including the best selling Ten Poems series. His new book, SAVED BY BEAUTY: ADVENTURES OF AN AMERICAN ROMANTIC IN IRAN, comes out on May 17 2011 with Broadway Books.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Roger Housden's beautiful introduction to the practice and philosophy of the spiritual retreat is a complete overview of the long and venerable tradition of withdrawing temporarily from the world in order to experience a return to oneself. Housden brings to the modern seeker a glimpse of the diverse and rich practices that through the ages have taught the spiritual value of solitude and contemplation. He shows us how, with the cultivation of silence and awareness, we can each find relief from the hectic and chaotic pace of the world and come alive in ourselves again.

"With a broad perspective, Housden skillfully guides the reader through the ways to mindfulness as practiced by Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, indigenous cultures, nature lovers, and many others. Housden opens the way for many teachings to be integrated into an individual approach to seeking spiritual fulfillment. In this way, the reader can design a personal spiritual retreat determined by his or her own motivation and intention.

" RETREAT is an invaluable primer on the religions, institutions, and retreat centers that focus on the value of meditation, silence, and awareness as the path to our deeper natures. In addition to a skillful outline of the rich traditions that teach the contemplative path, Housden provides a wide range of methods and approaches to the practice of retreat -- from a walk in the woods to a three-year silent retreat in the mountains of Tibet. He equips the novice with a full range of information, and masterfully introduces the five factors that set the retreat apart from the affairs of daily living: silence, mindfulness, meditation, the retreat community, and the retreat leader.

"Teaching the full value of spiritual retreat and showing that it possible for everyone, Housden assures us 'You are permitting a return to yourself, and in that return you will begin to see yourself and your life with fresh eyes. for that return is a foretaste of the inner place of retreat which in truth is n ever far away -- after all, it is none other than who you are.' "
~~ front & back flaps

This is an incredible book, absolutely beautifully photographed and laid out -- a joy to look at and read. It does indeed cover all types and varieties of retreats, and is informative about the different sects within a religion and about different religions themselves. I recommend this book to any one who is curious about the concept of retreat, or about the various components thereof.

[Bobby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basically a list and brief description of various activities one can do for "spiritual development." Examples include sweat lodges, various types of yogas, various Buddhist sects, and so on. Frankly, a bit too new age and superficial to be useful in my opinion. I suppose if one is completely clueless about these kinds of things, this book may be useful...but really, even in that case Wikipedia is a better source in this day and age. Not recommended.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple introduction to retreat opportunities and perspectives from major contemporary spiritual traditions. Interesting, informative, but not in-depth. More of an overview with short summaries than a definitive guide.