Cultivating Silence

In a recent program, we invited highly active and reflective people to spend 24 hours in silence.  It was quite a moving experience to hear the reflections afterwards: unnoticed things became noticed, ordinary became extraordinary, internal doors were opened and new spaces were discovered. 

Inviting people into silence is really inviting people into their own inner silence.  We can think of this inner silence as a space, a space that needs to be uncovered and maintained.  Each of us already has the inner silence space, we just need to find it and help it grow.  Meditation, yoga, walking in the woods, taking a hike in the mountains, looking at the ocean, listening to music are among the many ways we can enter into that space.  Sometimes we need to be a bit more active to create the conditions so that there is room for this inner silent space: not talking, unplugging, going to a different location without books and major distractions.  For many people it is easier to experience silence as part of a group rather than alone, especially initially.  Deep down we know what helps us cultivate our inner silent space and what distracts us from it. 

Initially this internal silent space may not be so silent given the million thoughts racing through our mind, but eventually things will quiet down a bit.  Then the silence becomes a space in which awareness is heightened.  We notice this through our senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch.  We experience the world around us in a different way than we normally do.  We may observe that there are indeed many shades of grey, we may give attention to sounds we normally tune out, we become more aware of what goes on around us, both being part of it and one step removed from it at the same time.  Our senses are heightened and our sense making also changes.  It is not unusual to get a different perspective on familiar situations and challenges.  Spending time in our inner silent space slows us down and helps us notice, it brings us to the core of our internal energy, our essence.  Spending time in our inner silent space is often healing and rejuvenating. 

An inner silent space that is well maintained and cultivated will serve as an inner garden where we like to spend time.  Eventually we can visit this space at any moment of the day, it will strengthen and console us, it will give us courage and hope, it will be a source of joy and energy.  Spending time in this inner silent space will also influence choices and decisions and help us stay close to our essence.