3 Apr 2020

The Power In Silence

Aziza Braithwaite Bey, PhD

A day in February 2020 a particularly stressful time in my family’s life, found me yelling at my usually calm and peaceful husband Bob in a way that shocked me and surely surprised him.

The onslaught of news and its increasing negativity coupled with the personal challenges we faced due to the natural aging process at this particular time (as my brother Keith has said often “getting old is not for sissies”). It felt like a red flag was being waved in front of me (an out of control bull). I felt my blood pressure rise, escalating head pains and as I have said on past occasions “my earlobes felt glued to my shoulders.” At that moment I decided to go into silence mode, no phone calls made or answered and no unnecessary conversation with Bob my “sit beside.” After the first week there was a noticeably calmness present, the time used chatting on the phone or looking at TV was replaced by meditation and meditation tapes such as the Indian Flute and Tibetan Bowl, Wayne Dyers I am That I am from the Torah, and starting each morning with chants, breathing and visualization by Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo. The benefits of that week of Silence was obvious, I began looking at the research on its physical, emotional and sociological benefits.

Silence

From the Web

“Silence boosts your immune system making it easier for your body to fight off invading bacteria and other pathogens. It makes you happy, spending time in silence boosts your brain chemistry……and as a great side effect, you’re able to focus better too. Silence makes you look and feel younger and at the same time have a lot more energy.

Wikipedia highlights the benefits of Silence in the areas of:

  • Social uses – in danger, spirituality, debate, and law

The area of spirituality, ritual and some religious practices were of particular interest to me and so further investigation was guided accordingly. This article will focus on these findings.

In spirituality

Inner stillness the goal of many spiritual and religious practices embodies the belief that “inner silence brings one closer to the Divine and therefore one’s own nature. This silence is believed to be transformative allowing one to grow spiritually.

  • In Christianity – contemplative prayer and meditation is understood to be centering.
  • In Islam – the Sufis insist on finding silence within.
  • In Buddhism – silence is described as a component of enlightenment.
  • In Hinduism and the teachings of Advanita Vedanta insists on the importance of silence.
  • Jewish Sages (Perkey Avot ) states that silence is a safety fence to Torah, wealth, abstinence and wisdom.
  • Quakerism – at communal meetings the goal of silence is for the Divine to speak to the heart and mind.
  • Eckhart Tolle says – “ silence can be seen either as the absence of noise, or as the space in which sounds exists, just as inner stillness can be seen as the absence of thought, or the space in which thoughts are perceived.”
    https://en.wikepedia.Org/wiki/Silence

The Health Benefits of Silence – Simple Yet Profound

OMTimes
According to Dr. Paul Haider HTTPS://OMTIMES.COM/AUTHOR /PAULHAIDER/

  • Lowers blood pressure – your better able to cope with everyday challenges.
  • Recharges your mind more than sleeping.
  • Helps you feel human after practicing silence.
  • Helps to prevent cardiovascular disease and strokes by eliminating plaque formation in arteries.
  • Reduces pain, increases brain interactivity, and adds to increased cognitive abilities.

 

Top 21 Outstanding Benefits of Silence

Studies show that being in solitude tends to promote 1) a calmer countenance and one is less likely to experience negative thinking and emotions. Practicing silence suggests that practitioners tend to be more successful than those who don’t.

Silence can 2) boost your intuition allowing for self-talk or inner conversations. By listening to yourself this self-trust creates more belief in yourself and your own gut feelings.

3) Understanding yourself better is beautifully summed up in a quote by LAO Tzu:
“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.” Spending time in silence will help to increase your understanding of yourself.

WHAT DO THE SAGES AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS SAYS ABOUT SILENCE?

Judaism and the Torah
Submitted by Rabbi Arthur Washow Tishrei 15761 9/8/2001

In The Torah of Silence R’Yair Hillel Goelmon relates that the Jewish teacher Reb Zalmon Schachter – Shalomi and His Holiness the Dali Lama meet to discuss what they wanted to learn from one another. Reb Zalmon wanted to learn from His Holiness “how to sit in silence.”

The Talmud reads that “silence is wisdom “a fence that protects the Torah and many chapters in the Torah express the qualities and textures of silence. Examples in scriptures (Torah and Quran) can be found regarding the patience and silence the two sons of Abraham, Yishmael Ishmael and Yitzchak Isaac was exercised, in particular when they buried their father Abraham.

Christianity and the Bible
Bible Study Tools Staff 2/4/2015

The Bible praises quietness, “In quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15). Love is patient, love is kind. Quietness is the quiet forces that are most powerful, such as gravitation, the dew touching every plant, leaf and flower with beauty and life. Christ was quiet, never anxious, worried, fuming or impatient in his speech.
Bible verses about being quiet compiled and edited by the Bible Study Tools Staff include: Proverbs 17: 27 -28

27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.

James 1:19

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

J.R. Miller gracegems.org/miller/strength_of_quietness.htm relates that the blessing of quietness can be acquired and self- mastered. Moses was quick tempered and learned to be quiet and self-mastered becoming meek and submissive. The Creator/The Mystery is the giver of peace in our hearts. The quietness comes from within us. Trusting The Mystery will give us peace and will give us a quiet heart – a quiet life.

Islam and The Quran
A2 Youth in House
Islamic Manners. Source: A2 Youth.com

Silence is Wisdom – “silence is better than speaking” “speak a good word or remain silent.” Silence is the mark of a Believer, “he who speaks more commits more error.” “Wisdom consists in keeping silent and those who practice it are few (in the Hadith – Al Bahaqi). According to Muhammad the Prophet of Islam, if you are a Muslim “say good or be quiet. We should speak to help charity, to order good and to unite people in good.” The Prophet spoke only if necessary and exemplified the art of staying silent. “Whoever believes in God and the Last Day should speak a good word or remain silent as narrated by Abu Hurairah (Al Bukhari). Silence makes the heart stronger, allowing for inner reflection which cleans and purifies the heart of any diseases.

6 Benefits Of Being Silent In The Light Of Islam
Published by Muniza A. in Deen & Dunya (Good and Evil)

  1. Silence makes the heart stronger. Speaking a lot can harbor illnesses like ego, grudge or hates in the Believers hearts.
  2. Silence acts as a good deed. Ali ibn Thalib said there is “No good in silence when it comes to knowledge, just as there is no good in speaking when it comes to ignorance.”
  3. Accumulating wisdom. Imam Ali related “if one adopts silence, he will value his speech and therefore guard it like he guards his wealth.”
  4. Calming the mind. Do lots of zikr to regain mental balance and remove the necessity to overindulge in conversations.
  5. Protecting from sins. Excessive talking stemming from backbiting and arguing are major sins accumulating and expanding – as the drops of water accumulates, and grows until it becomes like a great ocean.
  6. Choosing silence in a dispute helps in resolving it. Silence when the other person is angry, calms down the situation and allows one to understand the other person’s perspective.

BUDDHA DARMA AND BUDDHIST TALES FOR THE YOUNG AND OLD

Noble Silence
Volume I Prince Goodspeaker – Jataka Tales:
Education Association and Budda-hanet

The Silent Buddha (Generosity)

“Buddha is the manifestation of silence. Silence is the source of life, and is the cure for diseases.”
When the Buddha became enlightened he was silent for a week, saying nothing, not one word. In Mythology it is said the angels became frightened and asked the Enlightened One to speak. The Buddha answered them “Those who know, they know, even without my saying, and those who do not know, they will not know my words. Words end where truth begins.”

An old Sanskrit proverb says “Distortion is the root of Speech.” Speech only distorts, only silence can capture existence. Buddha was the manifestation of silence. Silence is the basis which creates joy, calmness and fulfillment. Buddha’s silence had come from saturation which brings silence not talk, which creates noise, complaints and sorrow. Seeking something, more fame, power, money, fulfillment causes noise (lack, want, need).

We have become insensitive due to our own lack of silence. Caught up in our own desires for more and more we become cut off from the beauty of existence. “Silence is the secret of this existence.” Silence swallows the sadness, quilt, misery, and gives birth to joy, compassion and love.”