THE SILENT TEMPLE
Created and Facilitated by JR Askaryan
2023 - Ongoing
Quiet communal experiences for contemplative audiences.
The Silent Temple is an experiential project exploring the practice of communing in shared silence, removed from technology.
There were many motivations for this project, but the most direct and compelling one to me is this: shared silent experiences are disappearing, and I suspect we are losing something valuable. I was curious about what it would feel like to have more of those moments and what they could yield.
I design and facilitate intentional, communal quietude using ritual, light, space, and sound.
It’s not a snake oil scheme.
It’s not promising to heal you.
It’s simply an invitation to communally shut the f*ck up.
Phase 1 - Rituals for Shared Silence
Experimenting with different types of silent gatherings.
Starting in early 2024, I began hosting a weekly Sunday Silent Hour, with a focus on reading/writing, although participants have chosen to use this time to merely sit quietly or meditate. The results, so far, have included both the expected and surprising. The most curious one is the repeated use of the word “productive.”
Future programming includes but is not limited to silent walking, silent dinner parties, listening experiences, and “hard silence,” a term I use to refer to being in silent stillness with others, without any media at all.
Phase 2 - A place for Shared Silence.
Ultimately, I envision holding these in a location that is designed to provide public access to various types of silent experiences.
In the meantime, I’m working on designs and adapting to existing spaces.
Phase 3 - Growing Shared Silence
The whole purpose of this endeavor is to share the silence, reduce the noise, and invite audiences into unusual social experiences.
As I come to understand the value of these experiences, I am excited to build and share silent experiences with both the public and small groups to experience intentional time together without talking and tech.
If interested in participating email togethersilent@gmail.com