Sunday, October 1, 2000		Article

LISTENING to one’s voice of consciousness is a difficult, but not very difficult task. An easy method to communicate with consciousness is to observe silence. Sit quiet for a while, and note for how long, you can keep silent. You will be surprised to discover that you are seldom quiet. Talking or speaking is not done through words alone, it can be done even when you are silent. Even when you don’t utter a single word, you are speaking inwardly, speaking to your own self. Where do you have the time to listen to your consciousness when all the time you are engaged thus? Your inward talking is either with the mind or with the intellect. You don’t let the consciousness speak. It keeps quiet because it does not get any time for speaking. If you make both your mind and your intellect quiet for a while your consciousness will automatically start speaking.

Silence provides complete rest to human senses as the ‘corpse posture’ in Yoga does to all parts of the body. Your senses will get a new agility, a new vitality when you stop disturbing them. As long as you keep silent, your senses, particularly the perceptive senses, rest and a freshness descends upon you.

In the beginning, the practice of keeping silent would seem like an inward dialogue. Allow that to continue. Let the mind and the intellect speak till they tire out. When completely exhausted, the two will become silent. Thus would arise the state of silence. In this state nothing but the consciousness alone is awakened and whatever counselling it offers, is undoubtedly in your best interest.

Normally, people depend upon their mind and intellect. But both of these are embroiling elements in a human body whereas consciousness is absolutely uninvolved. It is, therefore, consciousness alone that is blessed with real wisdom. It provides a detached view of all our problems. It also tells us whether our actions are right or wrong. It may not necessarily sit in judgement, or enter into an argument with the mind but it does forewarn us if we are inclined to go wrong.

As many a physical ailment is cured through water therapy, the mind is cured through silence. Generally, we keep on throwing the stored water out of our body through perspiration and urine whereas our intake of water is much less in comparison with the outflow. It is particularly so in winters, when the normal intake of water becomes even less. Similarly, you keep on speaking all the twelve hours of the day and don’t let your organs be recharged. Keep silent for one hour and see how your speaking power increases and how wisely you speak.

Silence is also the meeting ground for you and your inner self. Every day, you meet a number of persons but don’t meet your own self. You have no time for that. Take a look at your everyday schedule. You get up in the morning, get ready for your office or shop, work there the whole day, talk with the visitors, attend telephone calls, visit or receive friends in the evening, again talk with them, have your supper and retire to bed. During the whole activity, when do you meet your self?

So, be with your own self at least for a few minutes a day. This will help ease many of your tensions, and will help you discover your own divinity.