Peace of Mind: The Circle of Positive Energy - Silence

By ARUNA JETHWANI

Western writers tend to describe silence in negative terms. We grow up with images of "the eerie silence of the night", "the disturbing silence of the graveyard", "the hollow sounds of loneliness". The fright and fear associated with silence make us avoid it. This negative perception of silence creates a feeling of blankness, emptiness and loneliness. But silence need not be negative. Silence is positive - it heals, uplifts and rejuvenates. Silence is 'hibernation"which brings forth all the vital energies required for a 'new one". Silence is the best cosmic make-up anyone can hope to have.

In the East, silence is synonymous with bliss. Whether one is visiting an isolated temple on a hilltop, or at the samadhi of a saint, one gets a feeling of peace and harmony. Silence is of two types. The external silence, which is the absence of the hustle and bustle of crowds and noises of all kind - people shouting, machines whirring, and vehicles speeding. Such silence can be easily created in a sound-proof room. It is the other, the internal silence, which is difficult to achieve. The silence within stills the mind since it drives out desire, frustration, and attachment to material objects. Silence within comes with the emptying of trash from the mind.

'Silence' is said to combine the joys of being and non-being, which is neither reflection nor will, which is above moral and intellectual existence. Silence, whatever its nature, is power. British poet Longfellow recognised the healing power of silence: "Let us then, labour for an inward stillness,/ an inward stillness and inward healing;/ That perfect silence where the lips and heart are still,/ and we no longer entertain our imperfect thoughts and vain opinions..."

Silence is to mind what sleep is to the body. Silence cures all afflictions caused by stress and strain, tensions and troubles, anxiety and confusion. Silence clears the cobwebs. Sadhu T L Vaswani wrote: "Silence purifies us. Silence also vitalises us; it gives us strength which can be spent in the service of others. Silence is a purifier. In silence flow into you nature'shealing forces, and you become strong." Silence is the best tranquilliser one can have in today'snoisy world.

There is another dimension to silence. It facilitates communion with God. It is in the deep silence of the night that Jugnasu communicates with his Guru, his Mursheed, his beloved. In silence, the soul is linked with God. The Bhagavad Gita says that "self-realisation is felt in the silence of the soul".

Silence has great spiritual value. Today, psychologists have rediscovered the value of silence - both internal and external. The external silence, because noise pollution is testing human endurance, especially in the metros. But silence is not mere absence of noise. It is not passive. Silence is active. That'swhen your powers of intuition unfold, and you become the recipient of many subtle energies. In silence you become creative and this enhances your true nature. Great artists like Michelangelo received 'creative flashes"in silence, while walking or sleeping.

Silence helps you to realise your true personal identity. In silence emerges your true Self, you become aware of consciousness and you are able to see yourself as 'you". According to Sadhu Vaswani: "When you sit in silence, the circles of positive energy are formed. When you sit in silence, you are surrounded by rings of positive energy, healing both body and mind." This positive energy works wonders, when the external and the internal silence merge. For then the mysteries are revealed and you witness the great divine phenomenon.

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See also: Peace of Mind, Peace on Earth, Life and Beyond, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)