ON SILENCE
The Voice of God Can Be Heard Only in the Depth of Silence
Silence Is the Speech of the Spiritual Seeker
You Can Experience Divine Bliss Only in Absolute Silence
THE VOICE OF GOD CAN BE HEARD ONLY IN THE DEPTH OF SILENCE
It is only in the depth of silence that the voice of God can be heard.
Speak as low as possible, as little as possible, as sweetly as possible.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume VIII, Chapter 33: The Creeper and the Tree
Stay Away from Bad Company
I know that you are finding time, in spite of the hard work throughout the day, to attend cinemas, to engage in wayside chats, to promote and partake in factions, and quarrels, and for many other distractions that add to the sum of your worries.
It is best you stay away from companions who drag you to such distractions that weaken and worry you; spend a few minutes every morning and evening in the silence of your own shrine or home; spend them with the highest of all powers that you know of. Be in His elevating and inspiring company; worship Him mentally; offer unto Him all the work you do; you will come out of the silence nobler and more heroic than when you went in.
ALL JOY IS WITHIN
All the joy you crave for is in you.
But, like a man who has vast riches in the iron chest but who has no idea where the key is, you suffer.
Hear properly the instructions, dwell upon them in the silence of meditation,
practise what has been made clear therein;
then, you can secure the key, open the chest, and be rich in joy.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume IX,
Chapter 3: Mahashivarathri.
Nothing else can give one the rich reward that silence and prayer and communion
with the Master can give.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume III,
Chapter 38: Project Site, Puja Site.
SPIRITUAL PRACTICE IS DONE IN SILENCE
There are many who go about the country, preaching about repeating God’s name and meditation, pretending to be highly advanced experts. They claim to be masters, so that they can collect huge audiences and show off their skills. But such exhibition of talent is not a sign of spiritual attainment. Spiritual attainments shun publicity. Spiritual practice is to be done in silence, away from public gaze. The name and form of God are extolled by Mira as “precious gems”; precious gems are not brought out as wares to the market place; only vegetables are so exhibited for all to see. The units of our organisation should not encourage pomp or show – for they are alien to the spiritual path.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume X,
Chapter 33: Faults and Failures.
MAINTAIN SILENCE IN THE RECESSES OF THE HEART
God is omnipresent. So, do not act differently when you are away from My presence.
Be always and everywhere conscious of the presence.
Be vigilant, even while engaged in little tasks.
Maintain silence in the recesses of the heart, as well as outside.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume XIV,
Chapter 59: The Search for Fulfilment.
CULTIVATE INNER SILENCE
The very first spiritual practice one must adopt is the cultivation of inner silence,
to put an end to the endless dialogue with the mind.
Let the mind rest for a while.
Do not project on the mind irrelevant details and pollute it with fumes of envy and greed.
Every idea we entertain, either good or bad, gets impressed on the mind, as on carbon paper.
An element of weakness and unsteadiness is thus introduced in the mind.
Keep the mind calm and clear.
Do not agitate it every moment by your non-stop dialogue.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume XV,
Chapter 42: The Triple Purity.
Practise silence, for the voice of God can be heard in the region of your heart
only when the tongue and the inner storm are stilled, and the waves (of the mind) are calmed.
- "Divine Discourse" (19 February 1970)
EXPERIENCE INNATE DIVINITY BY OBSERVING TOTAL SILENCE
When God is all-pervasive, where is the need to go in search of Him?
You should make efforts to experience your innate Divinity by observing total silence
and turning your vision inward.
You can experience Divine bliss only in absolute silence.
That is why it is said, “Silence is golden.”
Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 37,
Chapter 20: Experience Divinity Within in Total Silence.
Communion with the Master
Just consider – do you come out of the cinema theatre more peaceful,
more heroic, purer, nobler than when you went in?
No; your passions are aroused, your animal impulses are catered to, your lower nature is fed.
Nothing else can give one the rich reward that silence and prayer
and communion with the Master can give.
Not even a decent bank account, or a string of degrees, or the muscles of a prize-fighter.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume III,
Chapter 38: Project Site, Puja Site.
SOLITUDE MEANS TO BE IN COMMUNION WITH GOD
Solitude means to be in communion with God, wherever you may be – in the bazaar, in a meeting, or in the midst of a large number of people. Wherever you are, your mind should be focused on God without being distracted by worldly and family matters.
Solitude is total communion between you and God.
Nothing else should divert your attention from God.
That is the real meaning of solitude.
Whatever you may be doing or even when traveling in a bus or train or plane, always keep your mind firmly fixed on God.
While doing meditation or contemplating on God, do not allow any other distraction to divert your mind.
Only then can you have the experience of Divine light.
Sanathana Sarathi, September 2011.
Lack of Values Is the Cause of Violence in the World.
Source of quotes: https://www.sathyasai.org/studyaids/silence
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