The Sound of Silence

Do you sleep with the TV on? The radio? Does your arm automatically reach out to find the perfect radio station, slide in a CD or plug in an iPod on your drive home? Do you feel uncomfortable when experiencing a pregnant pause in conversation?

We have become so accustomed to the inundation of noise that having a quiet soundscape at times can seem unbearable. It's as though the other forms of pollution get all the attention-food, soil, air, water (all worthy of our awareness) but it's not until we experience stunning silence that we recognize how noisy our lives can be.


Many practices exist that bring us into better relationship with silence. It is not uncommon for monks and renunciates to live in silence for extended periods of time, not speaking at all hence becoming better acquainted with the skills of deep listening. Of course, many of us would find that extreme but we can begin to lessen our noise by setting the intention to unplug at times throughout the day. Can you use opportunities such as sitting in a waiting room, in the car, whilst cooking dinner or being outside as times in which to not engage in any other noise than what is naturally occurring? This means not flipping through a magazine, reading your book or checking your email but simply to be as still as possible and observe.


Although I haven't intentionally spent extended periods in silent retreat, a daily meditation practice is a great place to experience not only being quiet but an opportunity to feel stillness. As we sit quietly, we begin to discover how much sound is present...our breath, our stomach gurgling, a distant plane flying overhead, the neighbors dog barking and birds tweeting make up the noise of a seemingly quiet sitting.


Two auspicious times to meditate during the day are in the pre-dawn hours and at dusk. Nature knows the changes of the day and transitions from inactivity to activity and back again in an unspoken, natural cycle. It is during these change-overs that the world seems to be at its most peaceful. As the external world begins to awaken, we can more readily tap into the awakening of our internal world...in relative silence, in stillness and peace.


A practice for this week is to simply notice how much noise permeates your daily living. See if you can turn the volume down or completely off for a few minutes and begin to open the doorway to your own internal dialogue. That alone can become quite loud so remember to focus on the subtle element of your breath, over and over again...