The hectic pace of modern life allows little time for rest, let alone to cherish a moment of silence.
How do you feel when your cell-phone constantly rings, when you’re exposed 24x7 to communication media? You probably crave for quiet, stillness and rest. According to Thomas Merton, rest is an integral part of life, one which man was made for.
The hectic pace of modern life allows little time for rest, let alone to cherish a moment of silence. You may wait in vain for a quiet phase. In ‘The Joy of Quiet,’ an essay published in The New York Times, Pico Iyer mentions, “The more ways we have to connect, the more many of us seem desperate to unplug.”
French philosopher Blaise Pascal once famously remarked: “All of man’s problems come from his inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”
So, how does being silent help a person? We spoke to a few religious leaders and followers to find out what silence signified in their religion.
In the practice of Hinduism, silence is observed during many occasions, be it for self-realisation or for mourning. However, maun (silence) is just one way of penance but not the base of everything for a spiritual life. “In Vaishnavs, it is believed that chanting and dancing reciting Lord's name is what spiritual life is about," said Daamodardas Dhananjay Maharaj of ISKCON Temple of the city.
Ahmedabad Catholic Church bishop Thomas Macwan said, “Silent mode allows a person to interact with himself, an opportunity to strike a chord with his inner voice. It frees a person from external thoughts.”
At a theological level, Bishop Macwan said, “In Christianity, silence enables one to hear the words of the Holy Spirit.”
In the Parsi religion, silence does not have a significant role. “Parsis believe in vibrations, which are produced by chanting in groups in the Fire Temple,” said Navroz Kanga, trustee of Parsi Agyari at Khamasa.
In Jainism, it is believed that silence is important for talking to your inner soul and knowing the real self.
In Islam, silence is observed at the time of praying and reading namaaz. Prof Nisar Ahmed Ansari, who has studied the religion in detail said, "People observe silence only at the time of silence. The Imam reads out or recites the namaaz loudly and the devotees observe silence. Sometimes, the Imam observes silence while praying with devotees."
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