The Illusion of External Silence

For the longest time, I equated silence with the absence of sound. A quiet library, a serene forest, the hush of dawn – these were my associations with silence. I believed it was something external, a condition of the environment, a temporary reprieve from the cacophony of the world. I sought it out, craving moments of peace amidst the constant noise that bombarded my senses. I would retreat to quiet corners, hoping to find solace in the absence of external stimuli.

The Awakening: Discovering Inner Silence

However, I soon realized that this external quietude offered only a fleeting sense of peace. The true source of silence, I discovered, resided within. It was not about silencing the world, but rather about stilling the incessant chatter of my own mind. The mind, I learned, is a relentless generator of thoughts, a constant stream of worries, desires, and judgments. This internal noise, far more pervasive than any external sound, was the true obstacle to experiencing true silence.

The Origin: Returning to Source

As I delved deeper, a profound realization dawned upon me: silence is not something I need to acquire, but rather a state of being that I am inherently connected to. Before I entered this material world, before the veil of illusion descended, my soul existed in a state of pure consciousness, a realm of profound stillness and peace. It was a state of being beyond thought, beyond time, a timeless expanse of pure awareness. In this primordial state, there was no need for silence, for there was no noise to silence. It was a state of absolute and eternal peace.

The Veil of Illusion: The Mind's Constant Chatter

However, the descent into the material world brought with it a veil of illusion. The senses, awakened by the vibrant tapestry of the material realm, began to dominate. The mind, captivated by the allure of the senses, became a prisoner of its own creation. It began to weave a complex web of thoughts, emotions, and desires, pulling the soul away from its true nature. The constant stream of thoughts, like a relentless inner dialogue, drowned out the whispers of the soul, obscuring the innate peace that lay beneath.

The Path to Stillness: Cultivating Inner Peace

Recognizing the mind as the primary obstacle to experiencing true silence, I began to cultivate inner peace. It was a gradual and often challenging process. I started with simple practices like mindfulness meditation, focusing on the present moment without judgment. I learned to observe the rise and fall of my thoughts, watching them come and go without getting caught up in their currents. I began to cultivate a sense of detachment, observing my thoughts as fleeting clouds passing across the sky.

Gradually, I began to experience glimpses of stillness, moments where the mental chatter subsided, and a profound sense of calm washed over me. These were precious moments, fleeting yet powerful, offering a taste of the peace that lay beyond the mind.

The Divine Connection: Seeking the Source

However, I soon realized that these fleeting moments of silence were not enough. I yearned for a deeper, more lasting connection to the source of all peace – the Supreme Soul. I began to explore spiritual practices that could help me connect with the divine, practices such as prayer, contemplation, and selfless service.

I came to understand that the Supreme Soul is the ultimate source of all peace, the ocean of consciousness in which the individual soul is immersed. Connecting with the divine is like returning to the source, merging with the ocean of consciousness and dissolving into the boundless peace that lies within.

Confronting the Fear: Embracing the Void

Initially, the prospect of silence was daunting. I feared the void, the emptiness that might arise when the mind ceased its incessant chatter. I clung to the familiar noise of my thoughts, afraid of the unknown that lay beyond.

However, as I continued to practice, I began to realize that the void was not something to be feared, but rather a space to be embraced. It was a space of infinite potential, a canvas upon which the divine could paint its masterpiece. It was in this stillness, in this quietude, that I began to experience a deeper connection to my true self, to the essence of my being that transcends the limitations of the mind.

The Language of Truth: Unveiling the Hidden

Silence, I have come to realize, is not merely an absence of sound; it is a language. It is the language of the soul, a language that transcends the limitations of words and intellect. In the stillness of my mind, I began to hear the whispers of the soul, the subtle undercurrents of truth that had been obscured by the noise of the mind.  

The mind, with its constant chatter, often distorts reality, creating illusions and projecting its own fears and desires onto the world. In the silence, these illusions begin to dissolve, revealing the true nature of reality. I began to see things as they truly are, without the filter of my own biases and prejudices.  

The Journey of Healing: Reclaiming My True Self

This journey into silence has been a profound process of healing. As I connect with the Supreme Soul, I feel a deep sense of peace and liberation. The negative patterns that once held me captive, the anxieties, the fears, the judgments, begin to dissolve, replaced by a sense of peace, joy, and profound connection to the divine.

BK Guddi Geiger 
Brahma Kumaris, Germany