By: Chirya Risely
Source: The Daily Guardian 
Dated: October 19, 2024

“Silence is not the absence of thought – it is a state of pure thought”

Silence is the best language for communication. Silence is the language of God. It helps us understand the eternal truths about the self, God and the world. Behind all creation is silence. It is a power in its own right. The artist starts with a blank canvas – silence. The composer places silence between and behind the notes.  

All our thoughts come from silence. A seed grows with no sound, but a tree falls with a huge noise. Destruction has noise but creation is quiet. Growth is silent. This is the power of silence. Before speaking, create an atmosphere of silence. The way to silence is through meditation where virtues of compassion, kindness and peace emerge. Silence is not the absence of thoughts,but it is a state where the mind is engaged in pure elevated thoughts that nurture these values deep within. 

Awareness of yourself means you do not miss what is within. Knowing yourself is vital to being comfortable with yourself. Be aware of the quality of your thoughts and feelings, of how you sometimes give your power to others, how your self-esteem occasionally fluctuates. As my thinking goes, so follow my actions and experiences in life. By going within, I touch the stillness and pure love at the core of my being, and every thought I create is of benefit to myself and to humanity. The soul creates and chooses the thoughts. Thus, the power of silence develops all mental and spiritual powers needed to tackle various situations successfully. Everyday fill yourself with peace, love and joy. The more our habits and personality are full of these three qualities, the more our thoughts, words and actions will be the same. Learn to stop, take a minute, and listen to the silence within you today.

However, Individually and as a society we are taught speed is important in order to accomplish more in less time. Therefore, we do not always let life move at a slower pace, and do not have patience for people who are not our way. Driving and travelling are situations where our urgency and impatience take over. Create positive and calm thoughts as you travel today. Even if traffic on the road takes time to clear, the traffic of thoughts in your mind should not pile up. Teach your mind the art of remaining calm even in chaos. Finish the vocabulary of Irritation. The energy of peace and patience created will go with you as you enter your workplace or home. 

When we add the energy of being busy to our vocabulary, we radiate a message of having too much to manage and are not available for people. Being ‘Easy’ or ‘Busy’ indicate opposite states of your mind, that have nothing to do with the amount of work you do. Replace busy with easy and see the difference it makes to your emotional health. You will no longer hurry yourself or other people and create panic. Radiate vibrations of peace to your mind, health to your body, harmony to your relationships and happiness to your environment.

Take a moment to be silent to teach your mind to go with the flow today instead of getting stressed about things which it cannot control. When you arrive in your own silence you will know true freedom and real power.

Chirya Risely 
is a Rajyoga meditation teacher 
based at The Brahma Kumaris 
Peace Village Retreat Center, USA.