Could you hack 3 years, 3 months & 3 days of silence? September 20, 2009
Posted by James Shaheen in : General , trackback
Not many could and it’s not clear how many of Geshe Michael Roach’s students will. Still, dozens of them are going to try in the southern California desert, the Los Angeles Times reported earlier this month. Among them are an airline pilot, a dermatologist, a retired biochemist and a former television editor.
Not everyone’s impressed. One septuagenarian father is distraught (”I want to be a grandfather”) while the children of airline pilot Bill McMichael, 43, will not be seeing much of dear ol’ dad for a while. McMichael will see his children periodically but he will not be able to speak with them:
McMichael has tried to explain the retreat in terms the youngsters can understand, telling them that he is going to become an angel and reach heaven, and that he will show them how to become angels too. He sees a rare opportunity to bequeath them ancient wisdom.
“I can give them something that death can’t take away,” he said.
Practice and lay life aren’t always a seamless fit.
[Image: Geshe Michael Roach, 56, left, and Lama Christie McNally, 36 (Ricardo Dearatanha)]
Comments»
Yes, if I had the support for that, I could definitely hack it. But first I need to finish raising my children.
Also want folks to know that enlightenment is possible in ordinary life with shorter retreat time.
McMichael has tried to explain the retreat in terms the youngsters can understand, telling them that he is going to become an angel and reach heaven, and that he will show them how to become angels too. He sees a rare opportunity to bequeath them ancient wisdom.
sorry but that sounds delusional to me as well as grandiose, not to mention horribly neglectful…
I truly feel for those children.
Without the kids in the picture, I say go for it. Sounds great.
Enlightenment is just hanging out, doing what you need to do, to keep everything going, while you think about it and don’t get too stressed out! Enlightenment is just peace in the middle of life. What more can a person ask for???
practicing silence is great but how much of that will be left later when one need to bring all that into his daily life?
I wish him all the best - maybe he need some practice in short cuts first.
3 years is not really that long. If McMichael remains in contact with the children, via email or letters, he can be an inspiration to them: “My dad is engaged in this act of extreme discipline, whereas all I have to do is study a little and get through school.” Delusional? what could be more delusional than to think we’re just cogs in a big economic engine? What if he were a soldier who had been sent to Iraq? … and besides, I think he’s probably discussed this decision with the family and has their full support, don’t you think?
how is that different from those who go off to war to protect and defend which is seen as heroic - and may even die and never return?
double standards abound here. this is simply a not culturally acceptable here - but who here has not read the life of the Buddha and who has not seen the value of his actions for all people?
More children have been harmed by parents who were close by than those who were far away. Each one must follow the path set before them in life. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about it.
let me retract that statement.
it is my opinion on the subject of retreats BUT i don’t know this guy at all. and i don’t know anything about this retreat.
is there a delete button here?