The Meditation of Silence
In today's world, moments of silence and stillness have become increasingly rare and precious. These qualities continue to be cherished in various spiritual traditions and are absolutely essential in Buddhist meditation. Silence and stillness reduce anxiety, improve mood, and enhance concentration and memory. The way in which individuals devote themselves to these peaceful moments of silence varies and is primarily determined by their personal circumstances and the conditions of their lives.
However, all beings
possess the ability to cultivate stillness, which involves the
preservation of their precious mind. The mind is the source of all
actions, thoughts, virtues, and faults. The question of how to take care
of one's mind arises naturally and is answered by meditation, a skill
that is innate in every human being and has been passed down from
generation to generation by our ancestors who lived in caves, forests,
and deserts.
These people had discovered that stillness and silence were inherent to their existence and thus learned to embrace these qualities as a natural aspect of their human lifestyle, perfectly in tune with nature, of which they felt an integral part and which they revered with great respect as they traversed forests, mountains, caves and deserts.
These people had discovered that stillness and silence were inherent to their existence and thus learned to embrace these qualities as a natural aspect of their human lifestyle, perfectly in tune with nature, of which they felt an integral part and which they revered with great respect as they traversed forests, mountains, caves and deserts.
Unfortunately, in today's world, the pursuit of economic interests has come to dominate all aspects of human activity, seeking to obscure or, worse, to nullify all the natural values that once characterized our relationship with the natural world and nurtured the growth of our consciousness in conscious sharing, compassion and wisdom. It is therefore essential to rediscover silence, which is the defining element in keeping the mind in a state of clarity and purity. It is fundamental to recognize that silence is intrinsic to the mind, a process of self-empowerment, an infinite source within the mind itself, and an unlimited source of energy. The effectiveness of silence does not depend on specific places or structures; however, a harmonious environment certainly helps to find in relaxation the ability to experience its effectiveness and power.
It
is not necessary to remain rigidly focused on the external environment,
but rather to try to focus and connect with one's inner self. This
stillness, or inner peace, has been shown to have a profoundly positive
effect on the balance of the physical state in general and on the
well-being of the human body. It is fundamental to recognize that our
mind needs essential nourishment, first and foremost silence in a state
of mental tranquility without distraction, and to achieve this it is
certainly important to live in the silence and harmony of a healthy
environment.
The pressures of modern society, which focuses exclusively
on "doing" rather than "being" and requires us to be constantly active
and productive, interfere with the ability to experience the restorative
benefits of inner silence. In every field, spiritual, psychological,
scientific, and religious, the practice of silent contemplation has been
shown to have a positive effect on mental well-being. In particular, it
has been observed to reduce anxiety, improve mood, and enhance
concentration and memory.
This phenomenon can be attributed to the infinite potential of the natural world, which constantly reminds us of the need to take a break from the constant demands of modern life, allowing the brain to recover precious vital energies. The notion of silence is therefore not a state of absence, but rather a fertile space where solutions to various problems and unsuspected inner resources can be found.
This phenomenon can be attributed to the infinite potential of the natural world, which constantly reminds us of the need to take a break from the constant demands of modern life, allowing the brain to recover precious vital energies. The notion of silence is therefore not a state of absence, but rather a fertile space where solutions to various problems and unsuspected inner resources can be found.
The notion of mind, spiritual
stillness, or conscious silence corresponds to the concept of
"Niṣkāmakarma" disinterested action in Vedantic language, while "wu wei"
is referred to as "action without action" in the Confucian tradition,
while Buddhism refers to it as "renunciation," an attitude and
motivation of non-attachment, and in Christianity it is expressed by the
term "poverty," implying simplicity of life.
However, it is necessary to be aware that the ability to experience silence must be cultivated with serenity and patience, because there may be conditions in which individuals, although desiring silence, are hindered by anxiety or restlessness despite being in a quiet environment. However, these obstacles are easily overcome because the true essence of silence is an inner stillness, a state of mind free from the distractions of conceptual thoughts. This state of inner stillness is experienced by the mind itself, and it is in this sense that the concept of silent mind can be fully realized. The practice of self-absorption in this state is characterized by feelings of bliss, peace, and contentment, which are fundamental components of the practice itself.
However, it is necessary to be aware that the ability to experience silence must be cultivated with serenity and patience, because there may be conditions in which individuals, although desiring silence, are hindered by anxiety or restlessness despite being in a quiet environment. However, these obstacles are easily overcome because the true essence of silence is an inner stillness, a state of mind free from the distractions of conceptual thoughts. This state of inner stillness is experienced by the mind itself, and it is in this sense that the concept of silent mind can be fully realized. The practice of self-absorption in this state is characterized by feelings of bliss, peace, and contentment, which are fundamental components of the practice itself.
Noise
causes stress, especially when we have little or no control over it,
and the external noise inevitably feeds the internal noise of useless
mental chatter that damages attention and, in turn, undermines cognitive
abilities and memory.
The damage caused by noise is becoming increasingly evident, but it is necessary to take possession of silence, not only to counteract these harmful effects, but above all because the power of silence for the mind and body is actually something greater and deeper than the mere act of overcoming stress and annoyance.It is a simple but powerful idea: trying to listen in silence, the act of listening to silence, can in itself enrich our ability to think, to perceive intuitively, and to understand.
The damage caused by noise is becoming increasingly evident, but it is necessary to take possession of silence, not only to counteract these harmful effects, but above all because the power of silence for the mind and body is actually something greater and deeper than the mere act of overcoming stress and annoyance.It is a simple but powerful idea: trying to listen in silence, the act of listening to silence, can in itself enrich our ability to think, to perceive intuitively, and to understand.
The idea of learning to be
silent, of letting the silent mind listen and absorb silence in the
practice of its own meditation, is the first indispensable rudiment of
contemplation, the prerequisite of all wisdom. A meditation practice
that focuses on observing thoughts or breath while listening to silence,
simply paying attention to the symphony of silence that vibrates in the
heart, resonates, and becomes part of the mind.
Spending
some time in silence is a very simple meditation practice, listening to
the inner silence is giving yourself precious time to rediscover the
beauty of inner harmony that connects to universal harmony.
Geshe Gedun Tharchin
ROME: 03.01.2025
