The sound is necessary if we want to enjoy life. But in the noise, in the din of the world, most of us feel an emptiness or dissatisfaction inside. Because we are thirsty for the experience of inner life. There is an indescribable joy of finding a formula to reach something, to know something or to become something. To find this formula, there is an easy way. Find a quiet place, sit quietly and breathe quietly. There is a different pleasure in discovering yourself in this state of quiet awareness.
2. TAKE CONTROL...be the boss of that noisy mind.
Thoughts are extremely powerful. On average, each of us has thirty-six thousand thoughts per day, and this number increases as the day becomes more stressful. When you gain control over your thoughts, you can create beautiful, powerful, and pure thoughts.
The internal conflict between ourselves and our mind was a constant concern for Brahma Baba. To overcome this conflict, he propounded to keep the mind in silence at least for twenty minutes every morning ๐
and evening ๐ค. By practicing silence, we can gain control over the mind and control its rebellious thoughts.
3. START... face the challenge of the first step
When you decide to practice silence, your mind will immediately get distracted and tell you, 'This spiritual stuff makes no sense.'
In spite of the distraction, you must take the first step and try to grasp the new language of silence. The new language is the language of feelings and attitudes. Talk to your mind, direct it towards peace and stillness, and do not let it disturb you. Think, 'I am a peaceful soul.'
4.LEARN...the ABC of silence
When you learn any new language, you have to start with learning its basics, i.e. ABC of the language. The language of silence also has its own basics. You have to learn it in three stages:
Step A: Reflection
To settle into blissful meditation, it is necessary for you first to find your natural inner stillness. True reflection and concentration cannot be forced; they come naturally when you are calm within.
Step B-Concentration
Once you are still and meditative, try to go into a gentle and therapeutic state of mindfulness, reflecting on who you are and the peaceful soul you are. Then you will have concentration.
Step C-Connection
A concentrated state of mind creates an automatic connection with oneself as a spiritual being and with God, the source of our existence.
5. MAKE TIME... create the moments you need for silence
It is best to start by being still for a second. Once you have a second of stillness, the experience moves seamlessly to a second, and then a third, and soon those seconds turn into a minute or even an hour. Each of us can choose when and how long to remain in that state of stillness.
6. GET YOUR BEARINGS ... know where you can find peace
If you can have a specific dedicated place for your silence practice, you will find that your practice improves. Because if you sit in the same place every day, the vibrations of silence will gradually build up in that place. Of course, you will have to create that space within yourself through your practice because that physical space will not always be available. You can choose any place as your quiet place, whether at home or outside.
7. ANCHOR YOUR DAY...know WHEN you can find peace
Setting aside a specific time during the day to practice silence will help you feel as calm as possible. The beginning and the end of the day are good times to practice silence. You can practice silence when you wake up in the morning and before you go to bed. You may also want to do a short silence practice when you return home from a long day of work to recharge yourself.
8. TUNE IN... determine who you are and what you need
Silence calms the mind and stops the intellect from analyzing and categorizing. This gives clarity to your thoughts. We understand our thought processes better. We understand which concepts have conditioned our behavior. As the mirror of our beliefs comes into view, we can see in that mirror what we need to do for spiritual development.
When we stop thinking and rest in peace, the truth we are seeking begins to dawn upon us. Such moments of quiet light uplift us and create a tremendous sense of contentment and freedom from worldly and negative things. There is a feeling of having found what we were looking for. Such spiritual light creates a tremendous inner strength and confidence. In such a heightened state of mind, try to discover who you are, what you want.
9.CHOOSE WELL...decide what's really important
Knowledge can be classified into three types- primary knowledge, secondary knowledge and unnecessary knowledge. A brief description of these types of knowledge is given below:
Primary knowledge:
Primary knowledge is easy to understand and anyone can put it into practice at any time. This knowledge teaches us to know ourselves, to experience the truth. This knowledge helps us to know what changes we need to make in ourselves to make ourselves compatible with the society. This makes our position in society more respectable. Those who have elementary knowledge and use it are not necessarily the smartest or the most politically powerful people. People with primary knowledge work to create peace and tolerance in society.
Secondary knowledge:
Secondary knowledge includes the philosophies, theories, concepts, etc. that are necessary to put primary knowledge into practice. If this knowledge falls into the wrong hands, it can be misused.
Unnecessary knowledge:
Too much thinking, too much analyzing, too much reading and too much information are all unnecessary knowledge.
Today, primary knowledge is largely overshadowed by secondary knowledge and is further obscured by unnecessary knowledge. Silence is a great catalyst that helps us reach primary knowledge.
10. FREE YOURSELF... ditch an illusion or two
An illusion is a false belief. We believe this false belief to be true and live according to it. These illusions create happiness in our lives and make us feel that our life has meaning. Believing that gaining money, prestige or position increases our value in society is an example of this illusion. Such illusions create an addiction. These illusions cause us to get what we need, especially in the eyes of others. Such illusions 'intoxicate' us into dependence, especially on the need for approval. If such illusions are not fulfilled, they can lead to negative emotions such as fear, jealousy, depression. Such illusions reduce our ability to reach the true roots of our being.
While concentrating in silence, search for your higher or wiser self and try to achieve the following:-
10.1 Getting rid of bad habits
10.2 Changing yourself
10.3 Reducing negativity.
11. GET HEALED... silence that anger
Anger is only superficial. When you go deep into silence, you realize the futility of such superficial things and try to go beyond them.
12. DETOX...time to cleanse, soften and stretch
Your body is full of toxins. Similarly, your senses are also full of toxins. These include useless and unnecessary thoughts, ego, anger, guilt, memories of injustice, etc.
Just as you cleanse or detox your body, detox or cleanse your senses when you are practising silence.
Your mind: wasteful and unnecessary thoughts that make it feel clogged and heavy
Your intellect: arrogant cleverness that blinds us to simple truths
Your heart: resentment, anger, blame and obsessive brooding on supposed wrongs, injustices and wounds.
When you detox your senses, you will experience a rare freshness in your life.
13. SILENCE THE SENSES... with generosity
A generous ear๐:-Listen and absorb only good things. When we absorb the truth, we understand what changes we can make to benefit others.
A generous eye ๐️:-Our physical eyes are very mischievous. Instead, use your third inner eye to look at others' virtues and special talents.
A generous heart ❤️: If you have a generous heart, you will never have wasteful thoughts, use unnecessary words, or be bombarded with extraneous noise.
Generosity is a great virtue. It will help you purify the senses as follows:-
13.1 Tongue๐ : The secret to controlling your words and actions is to remain calm, have self-respect and be aware of the self-respect of others. If you make such an effort, all your words will be sweet and thoughtful. Fill your words with meaning, benevolence and thoughts of service.
13.2 Ear๐:- Listen to and absorb only good things. When we absorb the truth, we understand what changes we can make in ourselves for the benefit of others.
13.3 Vision๐️:- Use vision to see the qualities of others.
13.4 Heart ❤️: If you do not allow useless thoughts to enter your heart, you will not use unnecessary words and no one will attack you with unnecessary words either.
14. WAKE UP...and be attentive
When you become awakened ๐️, go out into the world ๐ and become an instrument of peace. Because all living beings are in great need of true peace. When you focus on peace, the path to union with God ๐ฃ️ is always open. Then nothing can stop you on your journey to fulfill your purpose.
15. EMPOWER YOURSELF... gain strength through spiritual silence
We should respect the personal power that silence can bring us. Through silence, we learn the art of concentration, and then we learn to empower ourselves with peace and spiritual love. In silence, we respect fully use the energy of the mind to link with God, and so we become instruments-lighthouses-of God's peace, love, and light. Very little thinking is required to achieve such personal empowerment. We need only to connect with the spiritual self and its original resources and to link lovingly with God, the source of everything. Keeping only this one thought of connectedness in our awareness, we strengthen the self without being distracted by ego and possessiveness. Gradually, we come
to understand that, although we do need to make an effort, all things
that are to happen will happen, and they will happen in the right way.
A genuine connection with the divine is evident through peaceful and
respectful behavior and a selfless generosity toward all things.
16.REALIZE...living in silence
silence
THE UNIVERSE RUNS ON PRINCIPLES that maintain and sustain well-being. If we respect these principles, then everything-individuals, the community, and the Earth--will flourish. Practicing silence helps us to tune in to these guiding principles so that we all live in balance, health and happiness. At the end of your journey through this book, let's look at these guiding principles that help us to live in the spirit of silence. You can return to these eleven wise thoughts whenever your motivation for
silent practice begins to waver.
Principle 1: Live fully in the moment:
There is little point in entertaining memories that stimulate guilt, regret, or nostalgia.
Principle 2:Be aware of your inner resources:
Principle 3: Rejoice in generosity:
Principle 4: Learn from positive opposites:
Principle 5: Value yourself:
Principle 6: Keep connected:
Creating and maintaining a bridge between the inner and outer worlds facilitates genuine communication with others and helps us to maintain balanced and a happy life.
Principle 7: Tune in to each new moment:
We need to be careful not to get stuck in any formula of 'right' and 'wrong' conditioned by tradition, social custom or personal emotion. To perceive an appropriate response requires discernment rather than judgement. Judgements are dangerous; they reinforce mental and emotional barriers.
Principle 8: What goes around, comes around:
Whatever we throw out to the universe will rebound, sooner or later.Principle 9: A stitch in time saves nine:
Principle 10: Accentuate the positive:
Be in a good company and avoid the people who gossip
Principle 11: Space+Silence=Renewal:
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