Chapter 4


THE USE OF SILENCE
IN
MEDITATION

By
The Man Who Saw God Face To Face
Raphael Okechukwu Nweze


Meaning Of Silence
          Silence means a quiet environment, wherein the mind, is free to think positively. It does not mean idling away one’s time by being inactive. Silence is the Nature’s incubator, wherein great things design themselves, and when they are fully formed, they manifest and hold sway. It is in silence that one is able to stay still and think, and thought is the key to accomplishments.

Advantages Of Silence
          There are several benefits of silence. Some of them are stated below:
  1. The use of silent period is “everywhere” practiced by the wise and successful. The scientist isolates himself for experiment. The businessman confines himself in his bedroom to plan how to succeed. The creative artist stays alone to think, practise and improve. Some people observe their silent hour inside their study room. Others have special rooms built by them for that purpose. Some others do so in the woods (gardens or wilderness), while some observe theirs early in the morning or late at night. The author studied the life of the best students of a school. He discovered that they are usually quiet in their classrooms.

  2. In silence, there is no noise or distractions. We are then able to relax, and submit ourselves to God.

  3. In silence, we perceive the universal harmony. Thereby, inductively, we achieve peace of mind, a state so free and pleasant.

  4. In silence, our energy is replenished; our health, nourished; our breath, full; and our thinking, clear.

  5. A silent mouth conserves the spiritual energy of man. A loose mouth wastes this energy and leaves the body wretched. The efficiency of spoken word is very much dependent on timeliness and relevance; let us learn to talk less and love more.

  6. Action speaks louder than words, but silence, better than both.

  7. There is a distant voice: a seemingly imperceptible voice. It is the Voice of Silence, the Silent Voice, called the Still Small Voice. It is the voice of inspiration. It is best perceived and understood by those who are accustomed to silence.

    What a contrast!
    The great and successful
         talk less and do more.
    The mediocre and nonentities
         talk much and do little.

  8. The best students in a class are usually among the silent few. Whereas, the poor students are usually among the playful and talkative majority.

  9. Useless charter and gossip cause many social discords. Silence prevents all the discomfort and emotional upset.

    10. The raging tempest,
    The destructive waves
    The fearful storm
    All the confusion and hazards,
         ceased by the gentle command,
    “Peace, be still”.

  10. It is in silence that we enter God’s abode. “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

  11. As we know, silence is the best answer to a fool.

  12. Great things happen in silence:

    13. The vast sky,
    the mighty ocean,
    the abundant air
    and the planetary bodies,
    all move in silence.

  13. “An empty vessel makes the most noise.” Speech is silver; silence is golden.

  14. Nature whispers to us, silently. The man who is used to silence can suddenly know, without being told, without being taught.

  15. Jesus taught that people should enter their inner room when they pray. The inner room is not alone a private room. It is the heart and mind. In silence. A silent mouth, with a prayerful heart, means a soul in an inner and secret room.
Silent Hour
          This is a peaceful period of solitude and meditation. It is time to think, formulate or improve ideas and plans by which we achieve success. It is time to withdraw from the noise, disturbances and activities of everyday life. It is the time when the human mind connects and communes best with the God Mind. Being in tune with the Infinite, we are then able to project our thoughts, desires, doubts, problems and concerns to God. He answers, surely and willingly.
         The author has observed that each time he ends up his silent hour, whether thoughtfully or quietly, he usually have peace of mind and confidence. His body becomes revitalized and healthy. He may start it with a confused and disturbed mind. At the end, he has the peace of mind. Sometimes, he may not be able to immediately get what he wants from his silence and thoughtfulness. But, eventually, he discovers that he has ideas, solutions or promptings, which improve his performance. Likewise, Edward Gibson described silence as the school of geniuses.
         True silent period is not the five minutes of silence and prayer observed in some schools. A normal silent period lasts for one hour or more.

Essentials To The Use Of Silence
          They include:
  1. Set Time - Have a set time when you stay alone and think. It may be daily or weekly. Some call this period “Silent Moment,” "Hour of Devotion" or simply “Meditation”. The more it is observed, the better.

  2. Free Times – The free periods at school, during office hours, in the public and at home, which are usually wasted in frivolous discussions, are excellent opportunities to observe silence.

  3. Set place - A set place, away from noise enhances silence and creativity. Others have a separate room for study and silence. Some others stay in their private rooms or bedrooms. Others go to the woods, where there is safety and calmness.

  4. Set purpose - It is the nature of set purposes to draw us to their fulfillment.

  5. Solitude - Solitude enhances silence. It ensures peace of mind and rest for the body. It hedges out every form of distraction or disturbance. In solitude, you are not alone, because Nature is in full communion with you. Then, Nature whispers to you, silently. You find that you can suddenly know without being told. Everything will reveal it secrets (facts hidden in it) to you, if you are alone with it and thinking about. The reverse happens, if you do not pay attention to it. Great achievers were used to solitude during their life. A person may be silent, but within his mind he nurtures a plan which when implemented will be of great use to entire world. Solitude ensures receptivity - the ability to receive, recognize and use the promptings of inspirations.