Do not try to recover what is lost;
it will return only if it is proper for it to do so.
(I Ching)
What is silence?
Silence occurs when the
mind becomes quiet and
still.
This process cannot be forced.
The mind must naturally settle and
relax.
Tai chi creates a situation where your
attention is absorbed with where you are and what you are doing,
so the mind becomes quiet automatically.
Unlike concentration, you allow the mind to open and become expansive.
You feel, hear and see everything around you.
The
chattering of your thoughts will begin to fade.
Not talking
It is good to talk, yet talking is also a problem.
If your mind is never still and quiet, you cannot possibly feel relaxed and
at peace.
For many people talking is a compulsive habit, serving to mask the silence
within.
Without the chatter, people feel alone and isolated.
Try this: become aware of your own need to talk.
When you feel the urge to speak arise, let it pass again.
Gradually, you become quieter inside and begin to notice more.
You speak when necessary but your sentences shorten, you are more succinct
and direct.
You feel calmer.
Quiet places
Most people have
minds that are like adverts chattering
noisily: worrying, flitting and unsettled.
By breathing deeply and naturally, you become quieter inside.
By moving slowly and calmly, you are aware of what is
happening as it happens.
There are quiet places in this world.
Places undisturbed by incessant noise.
Seek them out.
They will assist you in becoming quiet inside.
Walk along the surf at 6:00 AM.
Unplug the phone, sit in a quiet room and read
without disturbance.
Wander through leafy woods and fields.
Notice things...
Page created 18 July 2000