Silence
choosing slowly, being still
Being intentional seems to be the latest buzz word in the alternative and wellness worlds. Trust me, I’d know, as I use these very phrases again and again in the classes I teach. I understand that there is a mindfulness in these concepts.
If I’m intentional, then I am being mindful of the choices I’m making, the actions I’m taking, the thoughts that I’m thinking. But what is actually happening? Intentionality brings a sense of stillness. I am able to pause what I am doing and linger in the moments before making a decision, before making the next move. In that linger, everything has the possibility to stop, as though time itself is in limbo.
It’s in this pause where everything stills. We’ve all experienced this sensation. When everything in existence begins to fade away, and there is an utmost clarity that comes to us. We hear everything, our mind opens up, almost as though we can feel and hear the thoughts moving in our brain. This stillness is so much more than just stillness.
My teacher, when he talks about stillness, often talks about the space that is created in that moment. To find stillness is to allow yourself to be in a larger state than just the physical body. We allow ourselves to tap into a greater consciousness/universality that allows us an opportunity to find direct perception of what the Divine is trying to give us. That clarity allows us the opportunity to feel the sharpness and even intensity of direction of what is the next step. If we don’t allow ourselves opportunity to be in that stillness, then what if we miss the whispers of the Divine constantly beckoning in our ears?
To experience the stillness, requires us to be in a state of silence; an act that is really hard to do in an otherwise very busy and loud world in which we live. We may even experience that when we are out in nature, away from true sensory pollution, that we have a hard time being in that silence. It’s daunting, scary, eery and creepy. What are we afraid of in that moment? What makes the whole experience of being in silence so unnerving? Because it provides us an opportunity to be in that stillness—something that we may not be used to, especially if you are an active citizen of an otherwise very busy world.
Silence and stillness.
I’ve noticed that part of what plagues us in the human experience is the absolute need for us to be heard. To offer an opinion in all scenarios. To speak and talk in every circumstance given to us. One of my spiritual teachers talks about intentionality even in our speech. The Gita speaks of what kind of speech to use. In this whole study of silence, I am realizing that we don’t really give ourselves the opportunity to be in silence because we just want to hear ourselves. Even when we’re alone, what’s happening? Our mind is constantly running, preventing us to be in moments of silence.
Silence is so hard to maintain. Stillness is so hard to drop into. But maybe we can create these opportunities even once in a week? Maybe I take opportunities to not be an active talker in a conversation, but rather an active listener. Maybe I take a breath before deciding what to say. Maybe I just pause before I make any sort of decision. Maybe I choose to put myself in moments of silence intentionally, carving out time to just be with what is taking place.
The opportunities are always presenting themselves. The universe is always sending us messages. But are we creating the opportunity to actually hear.
Silence and stillness are so crucial to our path and journey of the human experience. Silence and stillness allow us to be in a space beyond the physical body. Silence and stillness allow us to be more in a space of energy, rather than physicality.
It’s not impossible to feel and hear the stars. We just have to be quiet.
xx, n