Retreat

Viac o knihe

Stepping back from the world is an ancient human impulse, and over the past year, many have been compelled to retreat. This trend has been growing, with mindfulness, meditation, wellness tourism, and yoga breaks becoming increasingly popular. The exploration of this obsession with solitude delves into neuroscience, psychology, and history, revealing why we seek isolation and what occurs in our minds and bodies during these experiences. It questions whether isolation helps us engage more deeply with reality or serves as an escape. The author, having felt the dual pull of solitude and companionship, embarks on retreats worldwide, engaging with yogic scholars, cognitive and social scientists, religious leaders, philosophers, and artists. The narrative is enlightening, skeptical, and open-minded, addressing the quest for happiness, fulfillment, and relief from stress and anxiety. It emphasizes that retreat is not limited to physical spaces like monasteries or caves; it can be a mental state accessible anywhere, whether in a bustling shopping center or amidst a crowd. Ultimately, it celebrates the richness of human encounters and the transformative potential of retreat.