silence

i am sleeping on a bamboo mat on a concrete bed with a wooden pillow under a mosquito net at a Buddhist monastery.  i've been asked to give up everything for 10 days and just be.  some of what i agree to for the next ten days includes ...only two vegetarian meals, silence, 4am - 9pm schedule, harm no living creature [this includes the mosquitoes and ants], bathing with a sarong, no lascivious thoughts or actions. everyone is both excited and nervous. day one starts tomorrow.

  

04.00  ***	Wake up                 *** = Monastery bell
04.30	Morning Reading
04.45	Sitting meditation
05.15	Yoga / Exercise - Mindfulness in motion
07.00  ***	Dhamma talk & Sitting meditation
08.00	Breakfast & Chores
10.00  ***	Dhamma talk
11.00	Walking or standing meditation
11.45  ***	Sitting meditation
12.30	Lunch & chores
14.30  ***	Meditation instruction & Sitting meditation
15.30	Walking or standing meditation
16.15  ***	Sitting meditation
17.00  ***	Chanting & Loving Kindness meditation
18.00	Tea & hot springs
19.30  ***	Sitting meditation
20.00	Group walking meditation
20.30  ***	Sitting meditation
21.00  ***	Bedtime (the gates will be closed at 21.15)
21.30  ***	LIGHTS OUT