Silence

SILENCE
There is a secret quiet space that substands this world of outer seeming, this world full of noise,
constant chatter and distraction. This inner space is governed by another quality, the Law of
Silence, a Law which can be cultivated as we learn to listen and observe—cultivating that still
small voice of the soul which lies back of all and which, if followed, can lead us into the realm of
the inner ashrams, our true home. We can learn then to synchronize our vibration to that point
wherein amidst the surface noise we find another current that is running deep to which we can
enter and become as the Buddha’s followers were called, “the stream enterers.”

We can take these moments of heightened spiritual opportunity, such as the upcoming Gemini
full moon five day period, to temporarily at least, make a concerted effort to free ourselves from
the over-activity and the noise and cultivate this inner listening. We do so while in this world
but yet remaining free from it and attuning ourselves instead within the subjective realities, the
planetary heartbeat. Through this means we can participate in the planetary alignment that is
occurring and in which we have the privilege of participating
Kathy Newburn

A few weeks ago we heard a presentation from Dot, Rebecca, and Wendy about the
Solstice Silent Minute initiative; and they invited Triangles workers to join them in
their efforts. I was inspired by their plans, and it occurred to me that it might
strengthen our contribution to this endeavor if we deepened our understanding of
silence.

First, let me begin with a short recap of the Solstice Silent Minute which is a
proposal for a global Shared Minute of Silence that is coordinated with
the December Solstice and the beginning of the Festival Week for the New Group of
World Servers on December 21, 2019. Its purpose is to pause “for a shared minute
in silence – the same minute everywhere – to cooperate with the Forces of Light” in
envisioning “a better world for all.” More information about this initiative can be
found on the Sydney Goodwill website.

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Noise might be the word that best describes our present-day society. Everywhere
there is the noise of our living: the noise of crowds, traffic, machines; the noise of
radio, television, the internet; the noise of worry and hurry. And certainly, the
noise of political babble: of too much talk, too many words that criticize, belittle,
vilify and separate. We know that excessive noise of any kind is discomforting and
can be physically and psychologically harmful. Noise can be so intrusive that it
hinders our ability to connect to the inner silence that is our true self and to attune
ourselves to that inner, silent core.

We know that silence is an important aspect of healing. Scientific studies have
proven the health benefits of silence, demonstrating for instance:
* cell growth in areas of the brain;
* the release of tension;
* improved sleep;
* heightened awareness. (https://www.medicaldaily.com/5-health-benefits-being-silent-your-mind-and-body-396934)

A healer knows that aimless, trifling talk tends to disturb and disperse healing
energies and to deplete the vitality of the patient. So a true healer learns to curtail
speech and to work in silence, conserving energy and inhibiting any distractions to
the healing process.

We know also the creative power of silence. Forms in process of becoming must be
created in silence if they are faithfully to materialize the envisioned design and
accurately to manifest their purpose. The esoteric maxim, “To will, to know, to
dare, and to be silent” expresses the process of transmuting lower energies into
higher, which occurs only when the lower forces are stilled.

There are various levels of silence. We are all familiar with the silence of the
physical world: that silence when the power goes out, when the clock stops ticking,
when the conversation lapses and no one speaks. Although this is an outer silence,
it can still impart a sense of inner calm. And it’s an easy type of silence to cultivate:
simply turn off the TV, unplug social media, mute the ringer on the phone.

Another level of silence involves turning off the mind. Sometimes the outer world is
quiet, but the mind is noisy, provoked by the chatter of the emotions or caught in
the vortex of mental analysis. Racing, unruly thoughts hold the mind captive with
the prattle of the unchecked personality. Then, we must strive to mute the mind
and to find the silence within.

When the individual takes himself in hand—through meditation, self-reflection, and
principled living—he begins to cultivate a deeper level of silence. This is a silence
that holds steady despite the clamor of outer circumstance, a stillness that persists
in spite of the world’s turmoil or the personality’s activities or the mind’s pursuits.
We understand it at first as the voice of conscience and we often wish it would be
silent! But we eventually come to recognize this as the voice of the soul—heard only
when the sounds of form life are silenced.

True silence is expressed by those individuals and groups who are watchful of their
words so that no word harms or separates. They “work with sealed lips,” for they
“have learned the secret of silence” (A Treatise on White Magic, p 631). And what is
that secret? The secret is love. These servers understand that true silence is
animated by a loving heart and an appreciation for the path and plight of others; so
there is no need to criticize, to intimidate or pressure—no need for the noise of
personality. Instead, through love they seek inclusiveness and work through the
heart with the silence of synthesis.

The Path of self-awareness is one of continuous experiment and assessment. Tests
confront those who walk this Path, who seek to pass from lower levels of
consciousness to higher, who move into ever finer vibrations of existence. The right
understanding and use of silence is a significant requirement for this rite of
passage, and the aspirant to higher beingness must prove his ability to be silent not
only in speech but also in thought, learning to abstain from certain lines of thinking
and to refuse thoughts that hinder service to a higher purpose.

There are many ways to cultivate silence. Meditation is an important one. In
meditation a quiet rhythm is established in the body, a silence that welcomes and
nurtures the higher energies of the soul. One can also develop silence by focussing
the attention on higher qualities, such as joy or beauty, and seeking to expand the
recognition of these qualities in one’s life. Another means of nurturing silence is to
detach from the energy and thoughts of others, for often these forces generate noise.
This can be a daunting task for those attached to social media or to the continuous
news feed of television and the internet; but it is a significant way to foster silence.
Another important technique for the cultivation of silence is self-forgetfulness—a
forgetful silence towards the personality—a major lesson for the spiritual aspirant
that is repeatedly emphasized. Ultimately, in whatever circumstances we find
ourselves, we are encouraged to simply pause. . . and in poised silence, wait. . . and
in that space of waiting to create a point of silence for all incoming energies to pass
through before they pour into our bodies and impact our lives.

The Great Ones also wait. We are told that They will become known to us “when
the silence of the outer life and of the personality has been achieved” (Discipleship
in the New Age, Vol. I. p. 525). Then we will know the true blessing of silence.
Julie Rudzinski