We live in a fast paced activity packed world. Everyone seems to be in a tearing hurry and wants to achieve much in a short time frame. It is a age of "instant" everything. This is especially true for urban and developed centers. For instance, I have seen people commuting in public transportation, listening to their music system and reading some magazine and texting messages at the same time.
When we tax and push our brains to the limit in this manner, it leaves us dizzy and stressed. We are overcome with fatigue but we fight it off with some medication. In the hope of living life to the fullest, we end up with health issues affecting body and mind. In such situations, is it a wonder that we become irritable and with low tolerance levels ?
Mahatma Gandhi used to observe silence one day a week. On such days, he would avoid verbal communication and used to write if there was a dire need. In silence, his entire system would slow down. This is like a combination of meditation and fasting. It gave him huge strength and courage to face the challenges of the world. Yet, it made him peaceful, calm and controlled. There is a free 10 day course on Vipassana Meditation, available in India and few other countries, which uses silence very effectively.
When we practice silence, we are really going deeply inwards. Our other senses get enhanced and we absorb much more. We start observing our thoughts as they arise without feeling the urge to do anything about it. When we practice silence, we learn to accept things as they are without being reactive. Silence is the process through which we communicate to God.
“In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after truth.” - Mahatma Gandhi
"It is better to be silent and be considered a genius, than speaking aloud and disclosing our ignorance" - Vishwanath Seshadri
6 comments:
Among all Great secrets, I am Silence!
- Shri Krishna
(in The Holy Gita.)
Speech is silver, Silence is Gold- An old proverb.
An unuttered word never goes wrong!
This is why I admire Gandhiji a lot. There is so much to learn from him.
The power of silence is phenomenal.That is why the sages and spiritual seekers often entered into long periods of speechlessness.If we review at the end of the day all the talk of ours during the day, we would find 95% need not have been spoken at all.Most are chaff, meaningless noises.
I am glad you hv highlighted this
Sometimes Silence can say it better than words.
Silence begins when one moves away from the noise around us in order to find inner peace.It is the rest which our minds need sometimes.
A very well written post..
Tyaagi.
"When we practice silence, we learn to accept things as they are without being reactive", very true.
"When nothing is done, nothing is left undone." -- Lao Tzu.
Allow the things to happen, be in the flow; live a life of inspiration, rather than of a motivation.
As defined, when a thought catch hold of one, he is INSPIRED. When one catch hold of a thought, he is MOTIVATED -- Dr. Wayne Dyer
When we quieten our mind, silence / peace prevails, rest all happens instictively, like breathing. We live life to our fullest.
Namaste.....
Growth occurs in silence....
I do not know how to meditate the traditional way. I do however know how to enjoy complete solitude and absolute stillness.
Very interesting, thanks for sharing
Good post and some cool comments too. It is in the depth of silence the voice of God can be heard...Baba. The sheer power of silence ( of mind/body/spirit) has to be experienced.
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