Americans seeking relief from hectic daily lives are increasingly exploring a tactic monks and nuns and others have practiced for millennia: being quiet and listening.
Leaders from a variety of religious traditions — including Buddhism, Catholicism, Jainism and Judaism — said they are seeing a surge in demand for their silent retreats, in many cases from people who don’t identify with a particular religion.
Some of these spiritual seekers are weary from technology, stressed by their jobs or dealing with grief. The retreats themselves vary in length and style. Yet several retreat leaders offered the same explanation for the uptick in interest: It is a reaction to the upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
