Silent Tradition
When you hear the word silent, what do you think?
I think of silence in the depths of winter. Walking through the snow deep in the woods, all animals and other living beings tucked away to keep warm and snug.
I am drawn to this peaceful state where so much has been weeded out by the season, and what is left is a purity and innocence in the lack of everything else. It is when I can hear myself think best, when I feel most myself because I am not being influenced by external factors. The crunch of my feet on the snow seems a ridiculous intrusion in such an experience.
This is when I sit. When the sound of myself in this space seems too much to bear. I find either a tree to lean against, or plob right down in the downy comfort of a freshly fallen snow, and I close my eyes and listen.
This is when you can hear everything. When we become silent with our mouths, thoughts, and actions, is when we can truly hear and observe what is going on around us, because we make ourselves into empty vessels ready to receive. As much as we can truly hear what is outside of ourselves, when we are silent we can also truly hear our own inner thoughts that have been waiting patiently (or not so patiently) for this moment to finally be heard. Our own inner truths, waiting to be realized.
***This is a big step in the rewilding process. You can not know what is at your innermost core if you are not listening to your innermost core. (If you want to learn more about my thoughts on rewilding go here.)
If Thoreau said there was a lost art to walking, I propose there is a lost art to silence. When I speak of silence I mean in the context of becoming silent in your head, heart and soul, like described above.
When is the last time you intentionally choose to be silent and filter out your external experiences to turn inward? Maybe never.
Sure there may be times we are not talking but we are often taking in information in such a way that it cuts us off from our internal process. Even when in a state of listening the human mind is often formulating a response rather than even actually taking in the information presented.
If our lips are sealed we are scrolling, listening, or zoning out on Netflix. That is not really silence in the way I am radically proposing here.
Part of being on the yoga path is committing to silence. Swami Kripalu was silent for 10 years! Now we are not all meant to be a devout path such as that, but can you even begin to imagine what a 10 year vow of silence would be like? From time to time the good Swami would write something on a chalkboard that he carried around with him. It is even said that when he arrived at the ashram that was built for him in America he did not speak until he had been there for 6 months!
In a modern path as a yogi, with a job, and perhaps a family, being silent long term is not an option. However as the exercise for this week I will pose the question, where can you create true silence in your life? Perhaps you can eat a silent breakfast being fully present with the sensations of eating, drive silent to and from work, go for a walk and sit with your back against a tree, or take a quiet half hour before bed. Find ways to take the exercise and make it your own. You will not create long term change in your life unless it is something that speaks to you on a soul level, and something that can exist harmoniously with the goals you are setting for yourself. If this is something you are struggling with and want support with, or you love and want to dive deeper I am here to do the work with you. Reach out and start your Mindful Tradition Today.
