The ancients practiced economy in speech. Students today tend to be loquacious. Excessive speech harms the mind. ‘Less speech, more happiness’. The ancients practiced three kinds of silence, penance to control speech.
Vak Mounam: (Silence in speech)
It meant confining or limiting one’s speech to the needs of the occasion. By this discipline excessive talk is avoided. As a result the power of speech was conserved and enhanced. Discipline in speech also resulted in truthfulness.
Mano-mounam: (Silence of the Mind)
The mind is a bundle of thoughts. These thoughts have to reduced gradually. When thoughts are reduced the activity of the mind is reduced. Then the power of the atma manifests itself. As a consequence, Buddhi becomes more active than senses. When control of speech and control mind have been achieved the state of ‘Maha Mounam’ (supreme silence) is easily realised. Sudents should strive to reach the third stage through discipine of the first two stages. (BU1:5, pp. 12-13)
Mounam bhajaswa, it is said. But, what is Mounam? Not the keeping of the mouth shut ; it means, the getting beyond the influence of all the senses and getting established always in the consciousness of one’s Reality. Perputal ananda is also perpetual Shanti. When the mind withdraws from external world, the tongue too becomes silent; all senses follow suit, that is the genuine Mounam. (SA Vol.3, p. 7)
(See – Youth)