Silent Reading

Silent Teaching

The idea of a Year of Silence was hardly new to me when I began thinking to take it up, last year. The practice, although uncommon, is very old and widespread. Many monks and fakirs and yogis have gone through extended periods of silence over the ages. Layperson have spontaneously taken to the process. In recent times, Meher Baba, an Indian mystic of Persian descent, gave up talking for 44 years and became a leader and teacher of thousands in the second half of the last century. Some consider Meher Baba an avatar.

But what tripped the switch for me, besides gradually spending more time in meditation in recent years, was to read a book on the life of Apollonius of Tyana (first century AD). Following in a pattern set by the even greater sage, Pythagoras (c 570-500 BC), Apollonius eventually became a renowned teacher.

Students committed to the teachings of Pythagoras were expected to spend two to five years practicing silence. Philostratus says that Apollonius completed five years completely mute while learning “to maintain a conversation by the expression of his eyes, by gestures of hand and nodding his head.”

Through his disciplines, he was also able to say, “I understand all languages, though I never learnt one.”

Apollonius traveled Asia Minor and studied and taught with the elite of the times in many countries as far as India. Some thought he would die at the hands of Nero and others whom he threatened by his mere presence in a country. All that even though he never offered a political message, but rather taught truth as he had discovered it.

The passage of years in silence at an early age surely helped set the stage for his entry into deeper awareness and knowledge. Apollonius has been favorably compared with Jesus of Nazareth many times over the ages for his feats of casting out demons, healing the sick and performing so-called miracles. Apollonius is reputed to have lived past the age of 100 on a diet largely of vegetables, fruit and honey.

Silent Reading

The following books read during my Year of Silence come from more modern times than the ancient Greeks. You will see that they all are related to silence.

Planetwalker was written and lived by John Francis. Francis is a one-of-a-kind American who took to walking to make a statement about fossil fuels, oil spills and the like. Eventually, he added silence to his curriculum vitae as he began a long, long trek across the USA. Before returning to speech and using automotive transportation, Francis kept silence for 17 years and walked for 22 years. His tale is very engaging. But, he never explains how he paid his bills.

The Mountain of Silence is one of several books I have read by Kyriacos Markides, a sociology professor who teaches in the USA but hails from Cyprus. This book tells about the rejuvenation of Greek Orthodox religion through the work of Father Maximos in building monasteries and church communities on the island. Orthodox spirituality came to life for Markides and did for me as well. I recommend this book along with two others by the author: The Magus of Stravolos and Fire in the Heart. The latter are narratives on works of a modern-day Cypriot magician.

The Voice of the Silence by Oonagh Shanly-Toffolo attracted me because of the title and the subtitle: The Remarkable Story of Princess Diana’s Spiritual Guide. The author led a fine life and wrote a worthy book. But, the focus of Silence faded quickly as she left her work as a sister and nurse to marry and live in the ordinary world. She counseled Lady Diana after caring for the Duke of Windsor in his latter days. Oonagh revealed more about the latter than the former royal. The titling was a little misleading.

The Voice of the Silence by Helena Blavatsky is a wonderful little book translated from an ancient east Indian tongue. Though small, it is a book of great depth and reveals layers of meaning when read and re-read over the years. I highly recommend it for all who consider themselves on a spiritual path.

Spiritual Reading

Spiritual Reading relates to the work of meditation of which I have increasingly involved myself. I started forty-some years ago and now regularly spend two to three hours a day silently practicing meditation. I do not say I meditate. I am still practicing, but am making some progress.

One way to look at meditation is as listening for the small, still voice and/or endeavoring to perceive the “thoughts of God - the Higher Self.” Spiritual Reading is one of three aspects of inner work which I understand we all will be called to do one day. I thereby suggest that we all live many, many lifetimes.

Besides Spiritual Reading, we are also called to devotion to the Christ/Buddhic principle (called Ishvara in the East) and fiery aspiration which includes the call to serve others.

Thus:

1) Spiritual Reading or Meditation.

2) Devotion to the Higher Self.

3) Fiery Aspiration which manifests in Service.

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Seven Months of Silence

It has been over seven months now since I have uttered a word to another human being. I have to admit I mutter to myself on occasion, to the landlord’s cat who visits from time to time, and to my resident Pooh bears. But, I have been speechless around human beings.

In some ways, this project has been relatively easy. The way life runs lately, there are only a few people I run into on a regular basis. Workers at the grocery, post office and credit union. They have gotten used to my silence once I presented my “Mum is the word card” to them. 

I have somewhat unknowingly found two pretty effective ways to distance people. One by going silent. Few people want to deal with my scribbling on a pad of paper while they talk and have to wait when I am writing. I must also admit that I find it a difficult way to communicate and that I don’t go looking for “conversations.”

[My time of silence has caused me to reflect on “conversations” in general. I have to say that it seems that we are all caught up in our own worlds and that many conversations are empty of content.]

The other way I have found to distance people is to ask for them to do a book review. Most of those I have asked, after readily agreeing to write a review, have become invisible as well as non-communicating. 

I was asked by a 90+ year-old friend in a letter – remember those – a few days ago about my silence project. One thought I shared with her was that silence is another language we all might want to learn. I don’t expect television, telephone or the internet on the other side - heaven or whatever it is. Nor do I think we will be talking. To communicate, we will use telepathy or thought projection or something similar. Some people can do it now. Maybe we all can communicate telepathically when we have great need or desire.

So then, learning silence should have “long-term” value. When we silence our mouths and settle our minds – which is even harder, we will surely have better potential for “speaking silently” and with meaning.

Sound and speech have much greater power and value than we give them. Part of a simple and useful life might well include speaking less and sharing more. When we do speak, our words will have more value and force.

What do we presently create when we often speak without thinking and just say whatever comes out of our mouths? We would like to suppose that “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks,” but that may often be the case.

May we think, speak and act with goodwill to all.

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Seven Weeks of Silence

A Year of Silence? Ah, the idea is a bit unusual to people when they first hear of it or encounter it. Most people shrug or give me a positive sign or say, "Right on." Still, I suspect most of them really don't know what to think.

Why be silent, when you have vocal apparatus? Was one response.

Isn’t being silent then disrespectful to people who talk? Or wasteful? Or who knows, unnatural? 

I will admit that not speaking in the modern “civilized” world is rather unusual. Unless one is deaf and dumb, or has a really bad case of laryngitis. But, I think the other responses are off the mark.

• Disrespectful? 

Actually, silence opens the possibility of greater respect, better listening. Refraining from idle talk and gossip and negative words which all of us are prone to express. Often without even realizing our intent or effect.

Silence allows us time and space from so much mind to open to more heart. Maybe the Year will bring more heart to bear in my interactions with others. I already realize that once people recognize I am being Silent by choice, I don’t have to come up with conversation. I potentially can be more present. 

On the other hand, I am still getting used to the situation and so are others I meet. Time will tell. 

• Wasteful? 

Well, I believe firmly that we waste lots and lots of energy with words. 

It has been suggested to me that I may lose my voice during a Year of Silence. That suggestion holds little concern for me. I have talked for 68 years, I am not likely to forget how to talk. Nor is the body going lose the ability. Besides, I chant three times a day with my meditations. 

But, that aside, I do think that my voice and words will be more valuable and potent at the end of a Year of Silence than before. My old friend Jim Kinerk used to call me Boomer. I have not the slightest concern about “losing my voice.” I think it more likely that I will come closer to expressing my Real Voice after the Year.

I will learn a bit from having listened better to my fellow beings, from observing the nature of words and sounds, and maybe even from developing the ability to hear the Inner Voice. Besides, Actions speak louder than Words. If we talked less, maybe we would have more time to do positive things. We can then exemplify rather than tout ourselves and our beliefs.

• Unnatural? I think not. Maybe unhabitual, if there is such a word. How often do we speak without thinking, just pouring words out by habit, unconsciously, with little or no awareness sometimes of what is rolling off our lips? 

I believe Nature and God speak with deliberation and power. Rhythmically, sonorously, and healthfully. They know what They are "talking" about. Humans - including myself - too often do the opposite. How often have we wished to take back vain words and comments and complaints and mouthings dribbled from our lips? 

I might add that I have, in recent times, communicated with a number of people from my past - sometimes distant past. I have tendered several of them apologies - sometimes making amends - for the wrong words or words wrongly spoken. My former wife used to say, “It’s not what you say, but how you say it.” 

I am still learning that lesson, maybe a Year of Silence will help me come closer to completing that rather difficult learning.

There is another version of my ex-wife's adage: "It's not what you do, but how you do it." Just being silent is only part of the process. The other part - an more important - I am learning is how to be silent.

Every moment, past present and future is an opportunity for learning. Hopefully I eventually will learn to emulate Mahatma Gandhi who is said to have mouthed these words wonderful words: 

“SPEAK only to improve the SILENCE.”

Comments are welcome below or by email at theportableschool at gmail dot com.

If you are a mind, take a look my other blog called The Healing Post.

Have Jolly Holiday, silent or otherwise.

Robert