The Power of Silence

 

by Smt. Mandira Lahiri

During my childhood, my father who was a man of few words, harped on observing silence for a few minutes each day.  This, he said, would give us a feeling of peace. When I was a kid, I used to be a real chatterbox and loved to talk all the time. My father schooled me to talk less. Silence, he would say brings joy, brings peace, brings wisdom, brings contentment. Unnecessary talking does no good.  By maintaining silence, you conserve your energy.

When my children were growing up, I would use silence to show my disapproval of something that they had done which was not up to my liking.  It worked wonders.  Sri Sri Anandmayee Maa also advocated observing silence to a large extent. My mother-in law who was an ardent devotee of Mother, used to observe silence for an hour every day. Her face told me that she enjoyed every minute of it.  At times she would also use it as a tool to avoid unnecessary arguments.

Among Muslims during Janazaa time, there is pin-drop silence. No wailing, no sobbing - just quiet mourning…. accompanied by an acceptance of Allah’s Will.

You are supposed to observe silence when you go to a place of worship, a library, any class, or a place where last rites are performed.  You don’t even want to talk; you just want to be quiet.  In the beginning when you try to observe silence, the mental chatter continues, but slowly and steadily all distractions vanish.  Peace and joy prevail.

Now I will present before you the observations of great souls and eminent writers on silence.

Mother Teresa in her book “Love, Joy and Peace” reiterates — “The most important thing is silence. Souls of prayer are souls of deep silence. We cannot place ourselves directly in God’s presence without imposing upon ourselves interior and exterior silence.  That is why we must accustom ourselves to stillness of the soul, of the eyes, of the tongue.

God is the friend of silence. We need to find God, but we cannot find him in noise, in excitement. See how nature, the trees, the flowers, the grass grow in deep silence. See how the stars, the moon and the sun move in silence.

The more we receive in our silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life. Silence gives us a new way of looking at everything. We need this silence in order to touch souls.”

Mr. M.K. Gupta in his book “How to Remain Ever Happy” writes — “Try to find some time daily when you are in solitude and in silence.  Devote this time solely for yourself.  Try to do self-introspection in this time so as to know in which areas you need improvements and strengthening, in which areas you are slipping.  By this self-analysis, give necessary suggestions to yourself to improve.

Through silence you conserve mental energy. Always speak less, speak in low and sweet voice and to the point. Avoid gossips, unnecessary arguments and discussions. Aimless talking should always be avoided.”

In the book “The Art of Happy Living”, Shri G.D. Budhiraja writes — “Silence is a positive force that can transform people from within, since it is in silence that one meets one’s Self authentically. And only an authentic encounter with one’s Self can lead one on the path of renewal.

Silence has always been an integral part of spiritual tradition. The story of the Buddha is captivating. He spent many years in silence and meditation, after which he got enlightenment. Jesus Christ is said to have spent forty days in the desert in silence, fasting and praying before he realized the Supreme Truth and then embarked on his mission.

Silence is at the heart of all realities. All growth takes place in the hush of silence:  a seed opens itself in the depths of silence, a bud blossoms in silent moments, the growth of an animal takes place in a silent manner, as also the growth of a child. It is silence that dominates in all forms of life and growth; that is why sages and enlightened souls always recommend silence as a pre-requisite for Self-realization.”

In the book “Talks”, Sri Ramana Maharshi says — “Silence is never-ending speech. Vocal speech obstructs the other speech of silence. In silence one is in intimate contact with the surroundings. The silence of Dakshinamurti removed the doubts of the four sages. ‘Mouna Vyakhya Prakatita Tattvam’ (Truth expounded by silence). Silence is said to be exposition. Silence is so potent.

For vocal speech, organs of speech are necessary, and they precede speech. But the other speech lies even beyond thought. It is in short transcendent speech or unspoken words, Paravak.”

Sri Bhagwan further points out that Thayumanavar mentions ‘Mouna’ (silence) in numerous places but defines it in only one verse. Mouna is said to be that state which spontaneously manifests after the annihilation of the ego. That state is beyond light and darkness, but is still called light since no other proper word could be found for it.

Maharshi states “When Sita was asked who was her husband among the rishis (Rama himself being present there as a rishi) in the forest by the wives of the rishis, she denied each one as he was pointed out to her, but simply hung down her head when Rama was pointed out.  Her silence was eloquent.

Similarly, the Vedas also are eloquent in ‘neti’ - ‘neti’ (not this - not this) and then remain silent. Their silence is the Real State. This is the meaning of exposition by silence. When the source of the ‘I thought’ is reached it vanishes and what remains over is the Self.”

Maharshi says that Dakshinamurti revealed this Truth that Reality is all-pervading; thus, Ishwara pervades the Jiva; therefore, the Jiva has Eternal Being. His knowledge is not limited. Limited knowledge is only imagined by him. In truth, his is Infinite Knowledge. Its limit is silence.

Once a visitor asked Maharshi — What is Mouna (silence)?

Maharshi — That state which transcends speech and thought is Mouna.

Visitor — How to achieve it?

Maharshi — Hold some concept firmly and trace it back. By such concentration silence results. When practice becomes natural it will end in silence. Meditation without mental activity is silence.  Subjugation of the mind is meditation.  Deep meditation is eternal speech.

Visitor — How will worldly transaction go on if one observes silence?

Maharshi — When women walk with water pots on their heads and chat with their companions, they remain very careful, their thoughts concentrated on the loads on their heads. Similarly, when a sage engages in activities, these do not disturb him because his mind abides in Brahman.

Prajnanpurush Sri Sri Babathakur says, ‘You must first try to be silent with calmness, for that will help to control the senses and mind as well as it enables one to see Divine everywhere, in everything at any moment— in the midst of contradictions. In that way one learns to keep mental equanimity, tranquility, serenity and equilibrium within. Silence, in that way, also helps one to accept all, embrace all and to overcome all opposites such as pleasure/pain, success/failure, gain/loss, happiness/misery, virtue/vice, good/evil, positive/negative, yes/no etc. with equal spirit. From silence you can realize your Self, realize all in your Self, and your Self in all. That is the perfect unification and identification— the true aim of life.’

The dictionary meaning of silence is — complete absence of sound.  Whereas, Prajnanpurush Sri Sri Babathakur has given the meaning of silence as ‘Nirav Mouna’, that is the language of the Absolute.

Divine Sadguru, help me to dwell little more each day on this magical power of silence, so that I am able to experience That Ultimate Peace and Joy which we all yearn for.