Silence gives us ultimate peace, happiness and bliss.
All of wisdom flows from one source, the center of silence. And to attain that silence, we find in all great traditions some sort of prayer, word, mantra or sound that leads us to the silence. Modern man doesn’t understand that silence and doesn’t know how to be in silence. Fake prayers, fake promises and fake words will not help you. You have spoken so much, written so much and heard so much, now you should learn something about silence.
There are three streams through which wisdom flows: firm faith in the highest self, the teachings that are filtered through a pure heart and mind and the voice of a clear conscience. When a decision is difficult or impossible, then go into the mountain in solitude, or into the retreat of your soul or weigh the word of Providence. Accept not hastily all voices for they may be waiting to rob your faith. Let your heart be pure and your mind intent and then follow the way of Providence. All wise thoughts and words proceed from the silence of infinity. He who would attain divinity must endure endless trials, but most seekers are eager instead to offer bribes. As the bee suckles the nectar of the flowers, so the seeker gathers twigs for the sacred fire.
Peace perhaps has never been experienced by the world. It is a narrow gulf, a gap been two wars. As long as two diverse principles exist in the universe, there can never be peace. Peace is only an ambition, a desire and a thought of those who do not understand the diverse ways of the two principles in life and the universe. The sages attained a state of nonattachment and wisdom and remained unaffected by the turbulences of life. There is no other way for peace but to go to the deep silence where She resides in Her majesty.
Joy lies in silence and stillness.
What I realize is that the life force is upon me to do what God wants and not what I want. No one will be able to rob this conviction of mine. Many times I have had the feeling that in all decisive matters I was no longer alone and was beyond time. I felt I was an ancient traveler and belonged to the centuries. Suddenly I would get stunned and go into silence.
Whenever I have sought human help, it did not work. Sometimes I have felt with all my profundity as though a breath of the infinite world of stars and endless space has touched me. When I bathe in sunlight with the winds and clouds moving over me, my experience becomes inexplicable.
Reprinted from The Ancient Traveler: Writings on Love, by Swami Rama