Every morning, Johann Forfang does the same. Before he eats or exercises, before he checks his mobile phone and before the dog Ringo gets his walk. One of Norway's best ski jumpers hand-brews coffee. In silence.

At her mother's home in Ørsta, the Norwegian Bhikkhu is back where he grew up. "My family has been very supportive of the change in my life. Over a cup of tea, I am reminiscing about the time when Ajahn Nitho was Bjørge Berg.

Many of us avoid silence because we don't want to be in touch with our own thoughts and feelings. But silence is more important than we might think.