The Importance of Retreats

In Buddhist traditions, retreats are considered essential for deep practice. Long retreats — sometimes lasting three years, three months, and three days — are still held in Tibetan lineages. During this time, practitioners live in seclusion, devoting themselves almost entirely to meditation, chanting and study. The purpose isn’t escape but immersion. When all external distractions fall away, the mind reveals its deeper patterns — attachments, fears and habits normally drowned out by the busyness of daily life.

Walking retreats have also been part of the tradition. Zen monks in Japan would undertake long pilgrimages, meditating with every step. Thích Nhất Hạnh later brought this practice to the West, teaching that walking slowly, with awareness of each foot touching the earth, is itself enlightenment in motion.

So why does retreat matter? Because uninterrupted time in practice creates space. Without phones, work, or constant noise, the deeper “roots” of the mind — unresolved memories, emotions and unconscious patterns — rise to the surface. It can be uncomfortable at first, but this is where the real work begins. As the Buddha taught, suffering comes from clinging and on retreat you begin to see clearly what you’re clinging to.

Modern neuroscience backs this up. Research shows that extended meditation retreats decrease activity in the default mode network — the brain system tied to rumination and self-criticism. Studies also suggest measurable improvements in emotional regulation, immune function and even telomere length, linked to ageing. In short, retreat doesn’t just change the mind — it changes the body too.

Of course, few of us can vanish for three years. But we can recreate the essence of retreat in modern life. A weekend of silence, an evening with no screens, or a day spent walking slowly in nature can all echo the same principles. The point isn’t how long you withdraw — it’s the quality of presence you bring.

For some, energy practices help create this container. A Reiki healing session, for example, can settle the nervous system so the mind naturally sinks into quiet. Many exploring Reiki Glasgow find it gives them the inner stillness to treat everyday life as a retreat, even without leaving home.

Ultimately, retreats remind us that peace isn’t found by adding more — it’s uncovered by removing what’s in the way. Put down the distractions, give the mind room, and the deeper truth always comes forward.