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.
