Three easy steps to finding time for retreat

1. READY

Queen Elizabeth said, "All my possessions for a moment of time."

One of the most common obstacles to getting into retreat typically sounds like this: "I don’t have enough time to do retreat."  

Time is our most precious possession in this life. It is an extremely rare resource that could end at any moment. None of us know how much of it we have and most of us think we never have enough. Because of this, our time is also the most valuable gift we have to give. However, we often struggle with the best way to give it.

The struggle between our obligation to worldly responsibilities and our obligation to spiritual responsibilities constantly forces us to ask, "What is most important in my life?" As spiritual practitioners, the answer is clear – to realize lasting happiness in order to help others reach happiness.

If you are straining to find time for retreat than some part of your mind simply does not understand why retreat is one of the fastest ways to permanently end your own and others’ suffering. Retreat is a radical act of compassion, specifically designed to increase your capacity to help others. It is a massive offering of time to all of humanity. It may seem paradoxical to say this about a silent and solitary action such as retreat. However, with the correct intention and understanding, you can do more for yourself and others by sitting alone and meditating for a few days than you could do "out in the world" in the same amount of time. To gain confidence in how this works, we must study and meditate on emptiness daily. Retreat creates powerful conditions to better your mind, which in turn betters the world. When we realize that our experience of the world is a reflection of past thoughts and actions, we begin to feel that everything is possible. 

Listen to emptiness teachings at http://www.aci-la.org/teach_marut_empty.html 

2. SET

Anne Frank said, "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." 

The rule to receiving is very simple. If you want something, give it away first. Therefore, once you have set your intention, the most efficient way to create time for your personal retreat is by helping others get into retreat.

This can be done in numerous ways; provide a retreat space, serve as caretaker, financially support a retreatant directly or by donating to a retreat fund. Perhaps most importantly, become a retreat cheerleader. Verbally and mentally rejoice in all the efforts of those around you who are making retreat a part of their lives.

In addition, become a walking retreat. Transform your body, speech and mind into a haven where people can rest their suffering. Simply begin to joyously move through the world as if you have vast amounts of spare time. Make others’ needs your main priority and whenever possible help those who ask. Then, remember to direct the powerful arrows of all those virtuous actions, all those good 'karmas', by dedicating every one of them towards your target of getting into retreat as quickly as possible. 

Listen to teachings on compassion and how to work the laws of karma:
http://www.aci-la.org/teach_marut_comp.html

3. GO

The African proverb says, "When you pray move your feet"

How do you know that you have prioritized and created the karma to do retreat?

In this culture of relentless business, take these revolutionary actions. Sit down, open your calendar and write "RETREAT" over three days, three weeks, three months, or three years. If there are other things occupying that same space, cross them out with glee. Hear yourself preparing your family and colleagues at work for your absence. When appropriate, see yourself compassionately explain to others why you believe retreat is so important. Consider that open space in your calendar as special. When things get hectic, peek at that magical vista of open space in the midst of a life scribbled over with ink, and feel happy. When your worldly commitments become anxious and try to elbow their way into that time, do not budge. When they get aggressive and start bullying you into giving up that time, do not budge. When they get down right nasty and threaten your very sense of self, still, with warrior like resistance, do not budge.

Desire desperately to ease the pain of those around you. Meditate on emptiness daily and deepen your realizations on why retreat could be the fastest way to help them. Then guard that retreat time with the ferocity and devotion of a bodyguard protecting the President. Soon you are no longer looking at that magical space in your calendar. You are in it. You are changing the world. And we are all celebrating.

Listen to teachings on the path to perfection at http://www.aci-la.org/teach_marut_being_perfect.html