Dakshinamurthy Stotram - Post 4

In this post, we will go further deeper into the significance of “Mounam” for a spiritual seeker, after going through the significance of “Mounam” of a Guru.

We will see few profound words of wisdom on silence given to us by Avatar and few Masters.

All Joy Is Within

“All the joy you crave for is in you. But, like a man who has vast riches in the iron chest but who has no idea where the key is, you suffer. Hear properly the instructions, dwell upon them in the silence of meditation, practice what has been made clear therein; then, you can secure the key, open the chest, and be rich in joy."

(Swami, Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume IX)

 

"Sages say that the state in which the "I"-thought does not rise even in the least, alone is Self which is silence. That silent Self alone is God; Self alone is the individual soul. Self alone is this ancient world. All other knowledge are only petty and trivial knowledge; the experience of silence alone is the real and perfect knowledge. Know that the many objective differences are not real but are mere superimpositions on Self, which is the form of true knowledge."

(Ramana Maharishi)

Mouna of the Mind

Mouna of the mind is far superior to Mouna of Vak (speech). Mouna should come of itself. It must be natural. Forced Mouna is only wrestling with the mind. It is an effort. If you live in Truth, Mouna will come of itself. Then only will there be absolute peace.

What is wanted is natural Mouna and mental nudity. Physical nudity has no meaning. It is Tamasic Tapas of fools that is not countenanced by Sastras and reason. In a Jivanmukta or a liberated soul, nudity comes of itself as he is absorbed in Brahman, when he is in the Saptama Jnana-Bhumika (the seventh stage of knowledge)."

(Swami Sivananda)

 

"Oh Man, Enquire and be immersed in that inner Silence. Do all the work of this world to reach that goal, to attain that divine Silence. If you have already attained that Silence, do work for Loka – sangraha if you like so, just as the ocean is dancing, laughing, and roaring with its thundering waves, although the inner depth of it is always in perfect Silence and Peace."

(Swami Chinmayananda)

 

"To observe two hours of silence daily is very beneficial. If you are also able to observe silence one full day each week, it will greatly help your spiritual progress. You may ask, “But isn’t the mind busy with countless thoughts even if one is observing external silence?” Think of water stored in a dam. Even if there are waves in the water, no water will be lost. Similarly, when you are in silence, the loss of energy will be minimal, even though there may be thoughts in the mind. It is through talking that we lose much of our vital force. The life span of a dove, which always coos, is short, while the silent tortoise lives for a long time. Chanting the names of God is not an obstacle to the vow of silence. To be in silence is to avoid all worldly thoughts and conversation."

(Ma Amtranandaya mayi)

Dear Seekers,

Meditating on the gospel of the above Masters and Avatar Sri Sathya Sai Baba in silence itself would completely drill in you, the significance of silence in Spiritual sadhana.

After all, in temple during Arati, in Bhajan hall in any temple, in Parthi, even in your Sai center or any spiritual center, do we not observe absolute silence?

In our prayers, don’t we close our eyes and observe silence?. The closing of our eyes is our silence to the outer world and the silence we observe in silencing our inner instruments.

Are all these simple revelations not enough to prove to us that “God / SELF can be experienced only in silence”.

So, corresponding to our Guru’s silence, our shravanam, mananam and nidhidhyasanam, everything should be taking place in absolute silence, silence of speech and silence of Mind.

This “Mounam” is the foundation of this stortram which we are going to get deeper in the coming days and hence, this subject required an exclusive post today.

Love.