World beyond words
When a philosopher once asked Gautam Buddha, “Without words, without the wordless, will you tell me the truth?” — the Buddha kept silent. This answer, or rather no answer, freed the philosopher from all delusion, as real silence is beyond both words and wordlessness. Silence, a state of no words, is one of the essential characteristics of all religions.
It is believed that the one who has learnt to be silent reaches the final stage of blessed stillness that is, in fact, a fullness beyond words, a fullness of the soul.
Silence is like an internal meditation, switching off the mind from outward signals of noise — noise of words, of voices, desires of life that remain unfulfilled. In today’s mad world of speed and competition, being highly verbal means keeping pace with the panic-culture, “to understand” has come to mean “to be able to explain in words”. But we tend to forget that sometimes even the “silent world of no words” can provide space to the individual and help him overcome his pain. It is essential to go back into one’s shell to heal oneself, to know one’s true self. Silence is like rediscovering oneself. And what’s more, silence allows God to speak directly to the heart and at the same time it helps the individual to overcome his weaknesses.
Silence is also a form of self-discipline and hence an essential practice for the spiritual aspirant. Abba Agathon, a Christian monk, had held a pebble in his mouth for three years until he learnt thoroughly to hold his peace. Similarly, the new disciples of Pythagoras were supposed to observe total silence for full five years. After years of maintaining silence by effort, the stillness of the mouth penetrates the mind and heart, and the person becomes silent within. This inner realisation results in the integration of the personality, with all the passions calmed. The person’s “inner silence” mirrors the absolute silence from which God’s word emerges.
In Sikhism, great emphasis is laid on nam japana or nam simran, which means reciting the name of the Almighty. Though God is not considered eternal silence in Sikhism and importance is given to shabad-kirtan at sangat, private or internal meditation is no less important. In fact, Sikhs are enjoined upon to engage in worldly affairs while the heart resonates with the internal repetition of the word “Waheguru”. “Repetition of God’s name erases doubt and delusion,” says Guru Arjan. It also removes pain, grief, fear and results in everlasting joy and happiness. Nam simran is called the light that dispels all darkness.
Kulbir Kaur teaches sociology at Shyama Prasad Mukherji College, Delhi University
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