“I would say the cultivation of silence is indispensable to being human. People sometimes talk as if they were ‘looking for silence,’ as if silence had gone away or they had misplaced it somewhere. But it is hardly something they could have misplaced. Silence is the infinite horizon against which is set every word they have ever spoken, and they can’t find it? Not to worry—it will find them.”
How Silence Works: Emailed Conversations With Four Trappist Monks | The Awl
I'm not quite sure what it is about, but I have a yearning to understand silence. I am intrigued by the notion; somewhat drawn to the thought of the experience. It calls me and my sense is that it would make me happy.
Perhaps this is because it also speaks of retreat, and being alone. I really, really enjoy my quiet time and the times I spend by myself. Being quiet is the way I renew myself and re-gather my thoughts and strength.
The other-way-in to silence that is expressed so beautifully by the man referred to as Father A in these conversations, is wonderful. Rather than having to work hard to find or discover silence, silence will find you. Oh, what a delightful and uplifting thought - to know that in amongst it all, silence will be there, will be my companion and will work out where I am.
That sense of silence being a constant, quiet companion, there as the backdrop to every word spoken, an infinite horizon, makes me smile.
I love it when somebody can turn a thought or idea around and show me a different way of looking at it.
Sunrise at Kuta Tjula - the silence of the desert at dawn.
How Silence Works: Emailed Conversations With Four Trappist Monks | The Awl
I'm not quite sure what it is about, but I have a yearning to understand silence. I am intrigued by the notion; somewhat drawn to the thought of the experience. It calls me and my sense is that it would make me happy.
Perhaps this is because it also speaks of retreat, and being alone. I really, really enjoy my quiet time and the times I spend by myself. Being quiet is the way I renew myself and re-gather my thoughts and strength.
The other-way-in to silence that is expressed so beautifully by the man referred to as Father A in these conversations, is wonderful. Rather than having to work hard to find or discover silence, silence will find you. Oh, what a delightful and uplifting thought - to know that in amongst it all, silence will be there, will be my companion and will work out where I am.
That sense of silence being a constant, quiet companion, there as the backdrop to every word spoken, an infinite horizon, makes me smile.
I love it when somebody can turn a thought or idea around and show me a different way of looking at it.
Sunrise at Kuta Tjula - the silence of the desert at dawn.
I often get the feeling that I've misplaced my "silence" (at least once a day) and need to go in search of it. Hmmm ....interesting! Perhaps I should wait and see if it finds me. Fiona, I'm sure you will enjoy "Listening Below the Noise" by Anne D LeClaire
ReplyDeleteThank you Robyn for that book - I shall go in search of it! I enjoy reading books about silence and people's experience of it. Maybe when we misplace our silence, we simply need to sit and let it find us again? A bit intriguing isn't it? Go well.
Deletethat silence. yes, as jennifer says.
ReplyDeleteIs all that's needed Velma...
Deletethis is why I start my day at 2am, when the rest of the city sleeps and there is the Sounds of Silence (still a favourite song even after all these years)
ReplyDeleteI love the city at that hour - I think it is at it's most beautiful then. As a uni student I would sometimes wander the harbour foreshore about 2-4am and enjoy the beauty; the darkness hid the grime and the light sparkled...
DeleteI still love that song too! Go well.
Indeed yes...
ReplyDeleteI think the most powerful experience of last year for me happened when I was walking through an isolated wash canyon in Utah with friends There was not a sound - no wind, no vegetation rustling, no bird song, no water flowing, no traffic, no voices - total, complete and profound silence.
ReplyDeleteIt found me, unexpectedly and beautifully. I will never forget it.
Oh my, what a special, social experience. It found you...
Delete