Silence is the only language of the realised. Practice moderation in speech. That will help you in many ways. It will develop prema, for most misunderstandings and factions arise out of carelessly spoken words. When the foot slips, the wound can be healed; but when the tongue slips, the wound it causes in the heart of another will fester for life. The tongue is liable to four big errors; uttering falsehood, scandalising, finding fault with others, and excessive articulation. All these have to be avoided if there is to be shanti for the individual as well as for society. (SSS Vol.1, p. 54)

 

One of the first principles of straight living is: Practise silence. For the Voice of God can be heard in the region of your heart only when the tongue is stilled and the storm is stilled, and the waves are calm. There will be no temptation for others to shout when you talk to them in whispers. Set the level of the tone yourself: as low as possible, as high as necessary to reach to outermost boundary of the circle you are addressing. 

 

Conserve sound, since it is the treasure of the element Akasha (space), an emanation from God Himself. Reason can prevail only when arguments are advanced without the whipping up of sound. Silence is the speech of the spiritual seeker. Soft sweet speech is the expression of genuine Love. Hate screeches; fear squeals; conceit trumpets. But, love sings lullabies, it soothes, it applies balm. Practise the vocabulary of Love; unlearn the language of hate and contempt.(SSS Vol. 10)

 

When silence is a crime? Bhishma, Drona and others, having been beneficiaries of the sustenance provided by the wicked Kauravas, chose to be loyal to them and stayed on. All of them were great preceptors. They knew well the distinction between righteousness and evil. They had enquired into the nature of the eternal and the permanent. Of what avail was all that knowledge? When it came to practicing what they knew, all their knowledge was of no use. In the final outcome, all of them met with the same end in the great war as the evil-minded Kauravas. (SSS Vol.19, pp. 186-187)

 

Silence is not a matter of resolve! It is always there. Silence is the endless flow of pure god into you, in the world. (SSSm Vol.3, p. 121)

 

Be silent yourself; that will induce silence in others. Do not fall into the habit of shouting, talking long and loud. Reduce contacts to the minimum. Carry with you an atmosphere of quiet contemplation, wherever you happen to be. There are some who live in a perpetual hullabaloo, in a tornado of noise. Whether they are in an exhibition or a fair or at a hotel, or a temple or at Prasanthi Nilayam, they wag their tongues and will not stop. They will not proceed far on the godward road. (SSS Vol.4, p. 190)

 

To describe the infinite aspects in terms of limited words and limited experience is not possible. The maharishis who were well versed in vedas and mantras realised that it is not possible to explain and describe the aspects of brahman in terms of words, and they were only indicating by their silence. (Ddd, p. 49)

 

Silence is the first step in sadhana. By loud talk you undermine your own peace and disturb others. Do not cause noise more than necessary. (Ddd, p. 48)

 

Look at your mirror. It reflects; it does not talk. Do not be talkative. See as the mirror sees: but say naught! Hold thy tongue and thou will be happy. Sit in silence until god’s name rings in your ears. (DM, p. 106)

 

It is the duty of bharatiyas today to learn something about the great spiritual heritage of bharat. The ancients practised economy in speech. Students today tend to be loquacious. Excessive speech harms the mind - ‘less speech, more happiness.’ the ancients practised three kinds of silent penance to control speech. The first was vak-mounam (silence of the tongue, the second one was mano-mounam (silence of the mind) and the third was maha-mounam (supreme silence). Vak-mounam (silence in speech) means confining one’s speech to the limit and the needs of the occasion. By this discipline, excessive talk was avoided. As a result, the power of their speech was conserved and enhanced discipline in speech also resulted in truthfulness. Truth speaking served to purify their thoughts. By this means they acquired siddhi (realisation of truth) and jnanasiddhi (acquisition of the highest wisdom). Therefore purity in speech is vital. It has to be achieved by restraint in speech.

 

Then, there is mano-mounam (silence of the mind). The mind is a bundle of thoughts and fancies. These thoughts have to be reduced gradually. When thoughts are reduced, the mind naturally comes under control, like a clock that is unwound. When the activity of the mind is reduced, the power of the atma manifests itself. As a consequence buddhi (intellect) becomes more active than the senses.

 

When control of speech and control of the mind have been achieved, the state of maha-mounam (supreme silence) is easily realised. Students should strive to reach the third stage by the disciplines of the first two stages. I have often told you, talk less and study more. what is meant by study? study or education is the process of divinising one’s self. This calls for the cultivation of values in education. This education (is) for life. Life (is) for love. Love for man. Man is for service. Service for society. Society for nation. Nation for world. World for peace. Education is for life and not merely for earning a living. This life is for love. Love is god. Live in love. This love should be for all mankind. Today this love is absent. What passes for love is something artificial. Love should emanate from the heart. (SSS Vol.27, p. 59)

 

The fruit of silence is prayer

The fruit of prayer is faith

The fruit of faith is love

The fruit of love is service

The fruit of service is peace

(NNSG Vol.4, p. 112)

 

Let me tell you what the first steps in sadhana are: practise silence. Then you can more easily recognise the galloping of the mind after worldly happiness. Restrain its movements; turn inside into calm lake of bliss that lies deep in the heart. Get over fear by centring your mind on the One, for fear can arise only when there is another. (NNSG Vol.4, p. 113)

 

 

Silence is the sadhana… Nothing like silence to still the waves of restlessness of your heart. Silence is the speech of the spiritual seeker and the only language of the realized. He who has reached stillness and silence, both of which mean the nature of pure consciousness, will enjoy the highest peace and highest bliss. (NNSG Vol.4, p. 114)

 

Silence: This is the first step in sadhana; it makes the other steps easy. It promotes self-control; it lessens chances of anger, hate, malice, greed, pride. Besides, you can hear His Footsteps, only when silence reigns in the mind. (SSS Vol.10)

 

 

Silence is the beginning of the art of communication. Learn to live in silence for some moments everyday. Just sit in complete silence and listen for the voice of god. You may not physically hear a voice, because god can speak to you through the silence, and you will become aware of god’s message, even though you hear no voice. So, let your mind rest in god in those moments of silence and thoughts will come into your mind. But be patient and do not necessarily expect immediate results. Success will come provided you persevere. Know always I am with you, even when hear nothing. For, I am in you and you are in me; so how is it possible that we cannot communicate? Just think about those things and do not give up easily. (NNSG Vol.4, p. 118)

You feel the presence of God when silence reigns. In the excitement and confusion of the marketplace, you cannot hear His Footfall. He is Shabdabrahma, resounding when all is filled with silence. That is why I insist on silence, the practice of low speech and minimum sound. Talk low, talk little, talk in whispers, sweet and true. When you want to place a heavy thing on the ground, place it with care, do not drop it from a height and make great noise. Do not drop your bed from a height; bend and place it slowly, where you want to spread it. Examine each act of yours and see that you execute it with minimum noise. Transact all dealings with minimum speech. Do not shout to a person standing far; go near him or beckon to him to approach you. Loud noise is sacrilege on the sky, just as there are sacrilegious uses of earth and of water. (SSS Vol.6)