Enchanting Symphony of Silence

Enchanting Symphony of Silence

What is Silence

Silence, in common parlance, refers to the end of verbalisation, a no-sound state at physical level. It has, however, a very deep connotation in spiritual field. Silence, at a deeper level, implies complete cessation of thought origination and conceptualization. Mind taking a deep rest! Maharshi patanjali calls it “Chiita vritti nirodhah”, total annihilation of thoughts and its patterns.

Silence is Nectar

Silence is spiritual nectar; noise is a psychological disorder. Noise feeds on mental chattering of past events and future anticipations which exists just as images and imaginations in human memory. Silence, on the other hand, feeds on the present. Present is vertical and non-conceptual, a no-mind space. Mind, the centre of noise, lives in horizontal thinking and imaginations. That way it creates its own Parallel world of thoughts, ideas and concepts; and thus usurp on the cosmic prescriptions and divine plan. This creates a perennial conflict between WHAT IS and WHAT SHOULD BE. This gap measures the degree of human suffering. Bigger the gap, bigger the suffering! Smaller the gap, smaller the suffering! No gap, no Suffering! It is in this context that Buddha says “the world is full of suffering”.

Dawn of Silence

The unconditional acceptance of What IS or Here and Now is the origin of silence; the intellectual concept of What Should be, is the basis of noise. What Is refers to the totality of cosmic functioning at the present moment and its acceptance in totality is wisdom. Nanaka Says “What is the way to Truth? How to end the shackles of falsehood? The way lies in following the Divine Order”. This is true knowledge and true devotion. What should be, is an ego prescription. It runs on cravings and desires. Kabir rebuts the futility of desires in his own mystical way. He says “What can I ask for? The whole thing is so impermanent, so ephemeral! The whole world is the grip of flame”. Kathopanishad says “Na vittena tarpaniyo manusyo”, which means Money or wealth cannot give you the fulfillment. .

Gateway to Wisdom

Silence is the pre-requisite for knowledge. Sage Ashtavakra says “If you are not silent or empty, even the best of preceptors like Brahma, Vishnu or Mahesha will fail miserably in imparting you the wisdom”. A classic creativity flows from silence and in absence of individual presence. A small Zen story! A disciple goes to a master for wisdom. He was a great philosopher. The master welcomes him and orders for tea. The master starts pouring the tea in the cup and soon it started overflowing the brim. He continued pouring the tea. The disciple could live no further and said “It will take no more! It is overflowing, sir! The master said “This is your condition!” Wisdom seeps in silence. Flute gives magical sound in its serene emptiness.

Om Namah Shivay