Today, my thoughts rushed to a beach side as I closed my eyes in what I called meditation. I saw in my mind’s eye a stormy ocean churning up its depths, swirling sand as I stand on the beach, making the water unclear. Slowly as the waves settle, the surface becomes calmer, but the water still holds some murkiness. My thoughts suddenly rushed away to a quiet lake I saw in Scotland. It was a placid lake but as a light wind blew, the surface was disturbed by ripples, reflecting the distortion of the blue sky with clouds above. Shortly thereafter, the wind settled and the lake became completely still. The blue sky with the woolly clouds were reflected clearly and as I looked deeply, I could see its depths clearly, some round stones at the bottom and fishes merrily swimming around. And suddenly I was transported back to reality when a car horn sounded behind me.
This got me into my next thought. Nature, I have started noticing, constantly speaks, not in words, but in patterns, rhythms, and silence. It mirrors our inner world. If we observe closely, it reveals profound truths about the mind and the self. The example of the ocean, waves and the placid lake brought together a wonderful analogy. The stormy ocean was just like an agitated mind where thoughts crash endlessly. As it settles down, it was similar to a mind that has slowed down but is yet to be fully clear. The wind gently skimming the surface of the lake was much like how external influences create fluctuations in our thoughts and finally the clear placid lake was representing a mind free from disturbance which can perceive reality as it is.
Observing silence in nature, we notice that it is never absolute. There are the soft calls of birds, the rustling of leaves, or the distant murmur of waves—sounds that blend effortlessly into stillness. Yet, even in such quiet surroundings, the mind remains noisy, filled with restless thoughts, memories, and anticipations. This contrast reveals an important truth: external silence is not the same as inner silence. True silence is not merely the absence of sound but the absence of mental turbulence—a state where thoughts settle, like a still lake reflecting the vast sky.
The state of our mind determines what we see, how we react, and whether we find peace. But before true inner stillness is achieved, there is something else we must understand—our words and thoughts.
Words and Thoughts
True silence begins long before we stop talking. Silence is not just an external condition—it is an internal state. And true silence begins with the purification of words and thoughts.
Words do not arise in isolation; they emerge from our thoughts. Speech (Vaak) is an expression of thought. If our thoughts are restless, unclear, agitated or driven by impulses, our speech reflects the same. Our speech is likely to be hurried, reactive, and scattered. We may interrupt others, struggle to find the right words, or speak without full awareness of what we are saying. Our tone might carry frustration, impatience, or emotional intensity, reflecting the inner turbulence. Just as rough waves and muddy water cannot reflect light clearly and distort the clarity of water, an unsettled mind clouds communication, making it harder to express yourself calmly, truthfully and listen deeply.
Impure thoughts driven by restlessness, ego, negativity or those shaped by unchecked emotions, distractions, or attachments, create an inner noise making true silence impossible. Purifying these thoughts does not mean suppressing them but refining them, becoming aware of what drives them, and letting go of what is unnecessary. When thoughts are purified, words naturally follow. As the ocean settles by removing disturbances, our mind finds clarity when we consciously filter what we think and speak.
The Path to Inner Silence
Once words and thoughts are refined, we can begin to explore silence in its truest sense—not merely as the absence of noise, but as the absence of mental disturbance. Our thoughts (known as Vrittis) are like ripples on a lake. They keep forming, dissolving, and reforming. The more they churn, the less we can see clearly. The common mistake is to think that silence means forcing thoughts to stop. Trying to force silence by blocking thoughts only creates resistance. But thoughts, like waves, do not stop by force. By understanding and observing, we allow them to resolve naturally. They settle only when the conditions allow them to. The key is to observe the mind without resistance. When we watch thoughts without engaging in them, they begin to lose their grip.
Silence in Daily Life
Silence is not an escape from life; it is not just for moments of meditation. It transforms how we experience life and it transforms the way we live, without distortion, with clarity, and with a quiet strength that nothing can shake. A mind that has touched silence does not react impulsively but responds with awareness. It listens, not just to others but to ourselves with greater depth. Silence does not mean withdrawal; it enhances presence. It allows us to be engaged yet detached, like the sky that holds the clouds yet remains untouched by them.
In our interactions, silence teaches us when to speak and when to hold back, when to act and when to allow things to unfold. A moment of silence before a response can change the course of a conversation. A silent mind in the face of chaos brings clarity. It is the space where we see ourselves and the world as they truly are. And in that space, life is no longer a series of disturbances—it is simply being, like a still lake reflecting the vast sky above.
In Conclusion
In a world full of noise—both around us and within us—silence is not just about being quiet. It is about listening better, thinking clearly, and responding with awareness. When we learn to embrace moments of silence, we find that it brings clarity, patience, and a deeper understanding of ourselves and others. Maybe the real power of silence is not in what it takes away, but in what it gives us.
The question is—when was the last time you truly experienced silence, not just around you, but within you?
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