We eat breakfast and lunch together in silence and almost all retreats are held in silence. Noble Silence means no talking or non-verbal communication of any kind, except of course in emergencies, or for interviews or Q&A. If you feel it’s necessary, you may pass a short note to the Retreat Coordinator. Noble Silence applies not only to speech but also to any signals and written notes etc. as well as to external contact by telephone or Internet. The purpose of Noble Silence is to allow the mind to let go of outer distractions and to focus as much as possible on the inner world. In this regard it is also useful to minimize eye contact with other retreatants. Practicing restraint of the senses in this way provides an essential foundation for the powerful inner work that a meditation retreat facilitates.