CLEAR THINKING The Sound of Silence Central to almost every spiritual or wisdom path is the understanding that we are spirit, not form, and that the heart of our being is silent and still. If it were not, our consciousness would exist in almost constant chaos. It is the still and silent core of our being that provides our strength and stability, much like the invisible foundations of a building that enable it to stand firmly and securely upon the ground. Just as we return home at the end of each day to rest and restore our energy, the central stillness and silence of our being is our spiritual home - a place where we can rest, refresh and reinvigorate our spiritual energy. While rejuvenating the body may require hours of rest and relaxation, the renewal of our being, which exists beyond time, can take as little as a few seconds or a few minutes. If we do not consciously return to this inner stillness - if we do not empty our awareness of all that captures and drains our energy - we will do so unconsciously in sleep. Most of us are unaware of this inner state of stillness and silence because we have become highly practised at seeking, creating and living in a constant state of distraction. We habitually fill our awareness with the noise of thoughts, emotions, experiences and desires. This noisiness appears to come from "out there" in the world around us, but it does not. It arises from what we do within ourselves with everything we bring into our awareness. Combined with the continual stimulation of our senses, this inner noise drowns out our awareness of our silent self, diminishing - if not destroying - our capacity to feel truly stable and secure. This is why we often long for inner peace. Yet, because of the myth of "outside in", we learn to search for it in the one place it can never be found. The practice of consciously entering silence - of emptying our awareness of every form of mental and emotional noise - is essentially the practice of meditation. Meditation is the pathway into silence. Silence is the foundation of mastering the mind, healing the heart and awakening the conscience. "Silence is the secret to sanity." — Astrid Alauda A Silent Mind Self-talk is the term often used to describe the incessant stream of inner conversations we have with ourselves and with others inside our own minds. The root cause is our forgetfulness of who we truly are. We create many identities based on what we do, where we live, who we are with, where we work and countless other external factors. It is the energy invested in these multiple identities that generates so many thought forms. Sometimes it can seem as though we have a crowd living inside our heads-complaining, judging and projecting one moment, then accusing, worrying, hoping or regretting the next. A silent self is someone who has realised that these conversations are not only a waste of time and energy but are also based upon an illusory sense of self. They have nothing to do with our authentic self, which is simply the "I" that says, "I am." To calm your mind, sit quietly in a peaceful place and practise observing your thoughts. Allow them to come and go. As they do, notice that you are the observer - the one who remains present while thoughts arise and disappear. Practise not attaching yourself to your thoughts or allowing them to carry you away. If you find yourself on a train of thought, simply notice that it has passed and gently return to the position of the observer. Then begin to notice the space between your thoughts. At first, it may seem very small, but with practice it gradually expands. Within that space lies the silent power of your being. A Silent Heart When the self knows itself simply as "I am" - which is no thing - it also begins to know what I am. You cease craving love in the form of attention, acceptance or approval from others when you realise that love is what you are. Love is the very heart of your being. With this awareness, the heart naturally returns to its original state - radiant, generous and self-giving. As it does, it becomes quiet. The noise of desire and attachment subsides, emotional upheaval dissolves, and the self naturally and silently shares itself with whoever is present, regardless of what is happening. Restoring the power of a silent heart is not difficult. Sit quietly and observe your feelings. Allow them to rise and fall without resisting or holding onto them. Then consciously invoke your peace. Choose to be peaceful. Choose to feel peaceful. As distracting thoughts and emotions arise, simply let them pass and gently return to your choice to remain at peace. Practise with great patience. Notice that when your heart - when you - are at peace, there is a subtle inner pulse: an intention to give, to share and to connect. This is the pulse of your spiritual heart. It is the pulse of love. A Silent Conscience "In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clarity. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth." - Mahatma Gandhi Most spiritual traditions also acknowledge that the deepest resource of the self - the spirit that we are - is an innate awareness of truth. Often referred to as conscience, it is the quiet voice that speaks from deep within, gently guiding us towards how we are meant to live. Only when the mind is calm and the heart is peaceful are we truly able to hear this voice and allow its gentle wisdom to shape our thoughts, choices and actions. Consulting your conscience - your inner teacher, your intuition - is not difficult. Sit quietly. Calm your mind. Allow peace to fill your heart. Then place a question before your conscience, before your innate wisdom. Let go, and simply listen. Once again, persistent patience is required. Practice is essential. The response will come - often when you have stopped searching for it and least expect it. It is difficult to place a value on silence and stillness because, when you are truly experiencing them, there is no need to evaluate or explain them. In theory, silence can seem like avoidance, emptiness or merely an attractive idea. In practice, however, it is the doorway to our truth, the window to our wisdom, and the state in which we discover how infinite, unlimited and powerful we truly are. Question Why might developing the capacity to be silent help you in: a) your decision-making? b) your relationships? Reflection "Soon silence will have passed into legend. Man has turned his back on silence. Day after day he invents machines and devices that increase noise and distract humanity from the essence of life, from contemplation, meditation... tooting, howling, screeching, booming, crashing, whistling, grinding, and trilling bolster his ego. His anxieties abide. His inhuman void spreads monstrously like a grey vegetation." - Jean Arp Action Practise each of the three levels of silent being once each day during the coming week. © Mike George