“Listen to the silence, it has so much to say.” Rumi
How do you relate to silence? Is it something you relish or fear? Do you need background noise on constantly when home alone, or do you make the most of the peace and quiet? Do you have to fill the gaps with conversation when sitting with a friend or loved one? Or can you shift into a different kind of connection with them in the spaces between words?
As many of you know, we have just returned from retreat in Cyprus. It was a fantastic group that moved deeply and respectfully into all the practices – asana, pranayama, meditation, inner enquiry and group sharings. They had a lot of fun together whilst offering each other much support through what is always a transformational week.
On these retreat weeks, we always keep silence from the time we wake up until we go for breakfast at 9.30am. Silence is actually a key Yoga practice and we love our silent mornings on retreat. The environment is so peaceful, and we are awake and outdoors before most of the other guests in the hotel. It’s a beautiful thing, to be present to Mother Nature in this way, and to each other in silence.
We practice silence in the mornings on retreat, so that we can move into the morning practices more deeply, not distracted by conversations or interactions we have just had.
And yet invariably, silence becomes the practice which is most difficult for us to fully adhere to.
Of all the sense organs, the Yogis tell us that the tongue is the most troublesome! It creates trouble for us in two ways: it craves tastes, and it carries us into speech…often when we might have done better to “hold our tongue”! (We’ve all been there. )
It can be a challenging practice for any of us to keep silence even for 10-15 minutes, never mind a few hours as on retreat.
And this is because, whilst the mouth can easily be made quiet, and whilst there may be no outward speech, our minds still chatter relentlessly within. In fact, when we first start to practice silence, it can feel as if this inner chatter increases unbearably. People say things like “This silence business is terrible; it is making my mind crazy.” In truth, what is happening is they are simply becoming aware of just how restless the mind really is, once they are not following it’s lead into unnecessary chatter and outer interactions in our daily lives. ( We expend and waste so much prana this way!)
This is what makes the outer practice of silence so valued and worthwhile on the one hand, and uncomfortable and challenging on the other. In exposing the degree of inner noise to us, if we stay with the practice, outer silence can compel us to find a way through the inner discourse into a place untouched by all the noise. How wonderful would that be?! This is indeed the ultimate goal of all the practices.
In silence, we find our way to detach from the mind, which the Yogis teach us is made up of limiting concepts about ourselves and the world and which thereby covers the truth of who we really are, and how much potential we really have. Through such consistent practice, we can begin to glimpse that which is beyond the noise of the mind, that which has been called “the hidden treasure”. We hear the “soundless sound” within – the space and silence of true being: and in so doing, we discover that part of us which is untouched by the limiting and disturbing mental restlessness. We are liberated from the chains of mental disturbance and find a place within where we are freer, happier and consequently healthier.
In fact, modern day research has listed the following mental and physical benefits from a regular practice of silence:
(from healthline.com)
The good news is that as Yoga practitioners we have fantastic tools to create that same space and stillness in the mind. Through posture and breath, we steady the flow of prana (and nerve currents) and this has it’s impact on the mind. Yoga gives us a time-tested and comfortable way to arrive in a blissful inner silence.
Why don’t you try practicing daily Silence (or Mauna in Sanskrit) yourself? Discover the benefits it might bring to you.
A good way to start is to put aside even 10 minutes each day and vow to move into silence at that time. Start with such a short period of time so that it is enjoyable and you set yourself up for success. Then extend the duration as and when it feels easy and comfortable for you.
Early mornings are of course the best, otherwise find a time when you are regularly alone and schedule your own silent time. Maybe even whilst walking the dog, you can turn off the phone, music and podcasts, and just walk in silence, aware of Nature’s sounds and as mindful to the present moment as your 4-legged friend!
Take a little journal and make note each day of how your silence practice is going, and how it may be benefitting your health and well-being.
I’d love to know how you get on.
In the meantime, I leave you with these profound words of Dr David Frawley:
“Only through Mauna (silence) can we enter into the guha or secret cavern of the heart in which the entire universe dwells in its true luminous. In the end all words mean nothing or everything, true meaning and sound being our oneness with all”.
YOU CAN PRACTICE SILENCE WITH US ON THESE UPCOMING RETREATS:
The Yoga of Silence: A Yoga and Meditation Weekend in Herefordshire, November 18 – 20th, 2022
Early morning and afternoon Yoga classes with asana, mantra and pranayama, silent sitting and walking meditation, vegetarian foods and plenty free time and rest…and digital detox! Please contact me for further details.
Alchemy of Yoga Retreat Week in Cyprus Sept 2nd – 9th, 2023. It is filling up already with repeaters and there are just four spaces left. Please do let me know if you would like to join us. I’d be delighted to welcome you! Details are here: https://heart-of-ayurveda.com/alchemy-of-yoga-retreat/