Perhaps, you’ve heard the sayings: “silence is golden” or “silence is our greatest teacher”. But, have you ever really stopped to understand the wisdom found in these words?

Probably not; because when it comes to silence the majority of us become very uncomfortable. For example, we think that when we are around people we must constantly be talking or saying something. And if we are out with someone & the other person suddenly gets quiet we think “oh no, the awkward moment!”

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Perhaps, it is because society gives us little opportunity to become acquainted with silence that we don’t comprehend it’s true benefits. This is a shame for there is great wisdom that can be discovered in silence. But, cultivating true silence in our world is a very difficult thing to do when we’ve been conditioned into being immersed in noise.

Most of us wake up in the morning by alarm clocks; we fall asleep at night to the sound of our televisions; we have music or tv’s playing in waiting rooms, elevators, our cars, kitchens, & bathrooms; if we aren’t walking with our cell-phones to our ears, then we are walking with music earphones in them; even when exercising or relaxing on the beach so many of us have some noise or sound plugged directly into our ears.

All of these things are barriers to the Voice within. All of these things are walls that are blocking us from the sound of our souls. When, if ever, do we give ourselves a chance to be still & quiet? If we don’t, then, how can we ever truly come to know who we are or what we’re really thinking in our minds?

Why is there the need to feel that we must cocoon ourselves within noises & sounds?Are we afraid of what our hearts might be saying to us? Are we afraid of what we might find in minds?

We shouldn’t be! For, it is the calling of our heart which is the voice of God. And it is in coming to know ourselves that we come to know God personally.

The great value of silence has been testified to by so many of the world’s great holy persons throughout the centuries:

• “It is good to wait silently for the LORD.” – Lamentations 3:26
• “Silence is everything” – Rumi
• “The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him.” – Habakkuk 2:20
• “Let silence take you to the core of life” – Rumi
• “We need to find God, and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence.” –Mother Teresa
• “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence.” – Psalm 62:5
• “Silence is the great teacher, and to learn its lessons you must pay attention to it.” – Deepak Chopra
• In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light” – Gandhi
• “The quieter you become, the more you can hear.” – Ram Dass
• “In order to hear the voice of God, one has to have silence in one’s soul; and not a gloomy silence but an interior silence.” – St Faustina
• “What we need most in order to make [spiritual] progress is to be silent” – St John of the Cross
• “In silence and quiet, the devout soul advances in virtue and learns hidden truths.” – Thomas Kempis, The Imitation of Christ
• “Silence is a source of Great Strength.” – Lao-Tzu

What all these verses are telling us is that silence is life’s greatest teacher.

Now, don’t think that silence means we aren’t hearing anything! In fact, as Thomas Moore once said: “Silence is not an absence of sound but rather a shifting of attention towards that which speaks to the soul.”

And those who practice meditation, contemplation, or any technique which enables the mind to disconnect itself from the senses, will experience the presence of an Indwelling Glory; which philosophies have termed the Self, the Soul, or God. It is written, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Therefore, it is in the void of silence that we come to meet with God. And it is in silence that we actually hear the voice of Truth within us!

However, beyond its spiritual benefit, taking the time to be quiet is a valuable tool with great physical & mental healing powers as well. Even if we just take five to ten minutes each day to get away from all noise, we will find the effect of being in silence to be profound. In the beginning, it may be difficult and we may feel that the time seeking silence is boring; but silence will aid us in balancing the inner and outer worlds. It removes us from the stress of our lives and helps us to detach from our ego.

Therefore, I encourage you to give silence a try!

“You may be surprised at what seclusion will do for your mind, body, and soul….Through the portals of silence the healing sun of wisdom and peace will shine upon you.” — Paramahansa Yogananda

God bless you always & remember to always – Heed the Spirit,

Anthony

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