Once every week, I would go by the beach, all by myself. Beaches have always been my happy place, every fibre of my being hums with joy. Sometimes I’d journal or read a book. Other times, I would stare in silence, watch the setting sun and the waves hit the shore and fade away. In those moments, being silent and one with nature, made me grounded in a fragile but very beautiful way. For the longest time, the idea of silence didn’t feel appealing to me. Being into sports for almost ten years of my life made it very difficult for me to even sit for long hours. It would invoke sudden restlessness, an abrupt sense of discomfort. It took me a while to realize the reflective and powerful quality of silence.
“Noise has become our default setting, silence an ever more alien concept.”
We are always surrounded by needless chatter, with our gadgets, music, or the noise of some kind. There is a constant need to shy away from silence, finding all possible ways not to experience it. Finding words to fill up or even some activities. Studies indicate, people who live in consistently loud environments often experience chronically elevated levels of stress hormones. Silence is usually associated with boredom, an entrance into emptiness. People often get nervous or anxious because there is no defense for their anxieties, fears, and unpleasant memories. There is also an immense fear of facing yourself, acknowledging some parts of yourself that are deep down buried and too disturbing to even think of. We talk about uncomfortable silence, oppressive silence, dreading silence, but ever thought of delightful silence? A silence that is enjoyable, that gives a sense of peace. Silence is not merely just an absence of sound; it goes way beyond that- to get in touch with our inner selves.
The significance of silence is rooted in our ancient cultures. Vipassana, which is often known as insightful meditation, is an ancient practice followed in Buddhism. It was rediscovered by Gautama Buddha around 2500 BC. It is usually a 10-day retreat with a code of discipline where no talking is allowed. Vipassana focuses on the deep connection between the mind and the body for the process of self-transformation. Silence is also overall good for well- being of an individual. A 2013 study found that two hours of silence could create new cells in the hippocampus region, a brain area linked to learning, remembering, and emotions.
Silence is even appreciated in music and drama, which is entirely based on producing different sounds and noises. Actors insisted on the silences during scenes and artists talked about how pauses added immense value and meaning to their acts.
What is so precious about silence? Why should one practice it? Is there anything positive or useful in it?
Pure silence can lead us to recognize self-limiting beliefs, dysfunctional patterns that no longer serve us. In these moments of silence, everything is transparent, without any filters. There is no more sweeping under the carpet, instead of acknowledging our discomforts, with patience. It helps us to elevate, from restlessness to peace and desire to wisdom. To feed or grow silence within yourself, we should enable ourselves to trust the silence. Even at times, when the silence felt chaotic and overwhelmed, I chose to stay in it. To breathe. Instead of providing resistance, I decided to let it flow like I was observing my thoughts from a distance. This way, you don’t let your thoughts control you.
“Who am I? “
We seem puzzled by questions that hit rock bottom of our existence. We often describe ourselves from different roles we play in our lives, interests, hobbies, etc. Ever wondered what meaning our life holds beyond all these parameters? Aren’t you curious? True silence helps you rediscover yourself, helps us rise beyond our egos. It enables you to find out who you really are. All the truths that we come across in life are born in silence, all our learnings and insights. This, in turn, fosters creativity, helps us understand our strengths and potentials.
It also improves our communication skills by facilitating effective listening. When we converse with someone else, we often fall into a bad habit of listening more to what we are thinking about what the person is saying. We should look less to respond, more to understand, and hear the other person. This can make a difference in how the conversation continues. In some instances, shared silence can be a source of bonding. There is not a necessity to use words to interact. Silence can be comforting.
Sitting in silence
Despite all the reason to neglect silence, isn’t it worthy of considering having a space of your own, a sacred space in this world? So how does one practice silence? When I got acquainted and read about this concept, it seemed nearly impossible for me to digest. I remember fidgeting with my phone or getting distracted when I initially started to experiment. Starting with simple things, choose a spot in your room or house where you feel comfortable, cozy, or even a favorite spot in your home to begin the practice. Establish a practice of intentional silence for 5- 10 minutes. Primarily, it’s not essential to cease all activities while practicing silence. At times, when you are overwhelmed by work, practicing silence might also look like taking a 60-second vacation or even doing something that relaxes you like making a cup of coffee, showering, or even painting. Some of us are so used to stay in our heads; we often forget to be in touch with our feelings Make sure you are switching off all the gadgets to avoid any distractions. Nature is the core of silence, so go and observe nature. The changing colors of the sky, guess the shapes of the clouds, pet an animal, hug a tree, and listen to birds chirping. Just anything to connect with nature. On an ending note, I would like to quote Paramahansa Yogananda, “Through the portals of silence, the healing sun of wisdom and peace will shine upon you.”
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[…] from an ignorant judgement is a whole other thing. As I mentioned at the start of this write-up, my silence, or rather my quietness, have often been ascribed as arrogance or indifference. When in reality […]