Noise is essentially disturbing. Even annoying. It isn’t like the chirping of birds, or the zephyr caressing us softly — to soothe our thoughts and souls. Yes, mechanical noise hits us most with its ‘rip-tide’ of agitation. It’s stress-causing, not relieving. This explains why a lack of quietness has made us quite unused to silence. Besides, we’re also awfully scared — of silence. It brings us a peculiar feeling — a feeling of almost being alone. Isn’t it a disgrace — because, in reality, silence is one of our best friends; more so because it can also have a powerfully beneficial outcome on us, thanks to its therapeutic effects?
Besides, we also ought to blame our present agitation in life to the ‘inner noise’ within us — the most serious consequence of our inner gibberish, and the noise and activity of the modern world, which separates us from our true selves. It isn’t a good thing at all. However, experiencing silence, or the ‘consciousness-in-itself”’ within us, can have a huge relaxing effect. It brings a sense of being firmly rooted in ourselves — of being truly who we are. It also brings us the divine inside everything else, just as well, since pure consciousness inside us is the same pure consciousness inside everything else, and the pure consciousness of our universe itself.
It is silence that holds the key to the attainment of knowledge. To remain physically silent is no great hardship to most of us; but, to attain silence in the metaphysical sense calls for something more than merely refraining from making a noise. It means the absolute stilling of all thought processes in our wakeful state. Sleep is a fascinating analogy to this kind of silence: as we all know, nature stills the mind to sense impressions periodically, by putting us to sleep. Silence, therefore, is as vital to our well-being as sleep.
We need to get in touch with this part of ourselves, right now, if we haven’t got a feel of it, so far — and, much more than any time before. How? Simple. Through meditation: of being one with the cosmos. Reason? Meditation is a relatively slow-paced and stress-free experience.
Meditation is one of the primal, major steps in attaining silence. It provides us with the energy to turn our mind inwards upon the self; to hold it as still as a placid lake. When you begin, there will be difficulties: little thought-ripples intrude upon your silence. Have patience: you’ll overcome their hold on your mind when you find the rhythms of soundlessness.
The best way to intercede is to meditate upon the Universal Mind, initially; in whatever familiar mode you construe it. The next step is visualisation: to visualise a force at work, and realise that the energy of the universe is a warm, co-operative energy, if only you understand the laws of the cosmos. For this, you must be receptive, just as you would be receptive to the laws of computer hardware in order to be a good computer technician.
There’s yet another credo you’d use. Think of meditation as the mode by which you tap into the currents along which the Absolute transmits creative vibrations. This leads you to the conclusion, naturally enough, that the laws of the Absolute always operate in the same way; that they allow us to attain our fullest perfection, once we understand them and flow with them.
Language today seems to have brought a profound balance, a wonderful analogy between Descartes and Einstein — and, also in its subtle metaphor, silence. What’s more, our language at present, does not, in anyway, reduce anything. Instead, it now includes everything — scientific, or not. Besides, we have got to accept that there is a peculiar dualism at work here, with its profound analogy being obvious. We are also now talking of concepts. We are talking of ideas. We are also talking of experiences, behaviours, sensations, intentions, feelings etc.,
Most importantly, we are also communicating ideas through our experiences, and stories. And, the idea — language as likeness of both mind and the body — is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, critical to us all. It’s, in other words, our own mind-body lexicon, with its own monumental feat of virtuosity, or vitality — a magical carpet of the narrative.
Example. Take a look at ancient societies, in spite of turbulence by way of war, or conquest; and/or how our philosophers, thinkers, and even the common man, went about their day-to-day activities, and it’d all make sense. There was a palpable sense of contentment. This may, perhaps, explain why native people still seem to possess a natural fulfilment we modern city residents don’t have, or seek. Furthermore, it may also be one reason why so many people today seem to live in a state of apathy — because, they have lost contact with the natural happiness inside themselves. Of natural happiness that has been put away beneath a gale of external stimuli, or what may be best described as the tempest of inward thought.
It’s high time for us to go all out to cultivate silence within ourselves, and figure it out — now. Because, we need silence and stillness to become our true selves. More so, to be truly happy, and find our own veritable self — or, the divine in ourselves — in the endless rush and agitation of city life.
Happy New Year!
