Silence Speaks - ख़ामोशी कुछ कहती है...

By - RKM GURUGRAM
15.05.25 07:01 PM

Can Silence speak? We explore this idea through a range of articles, poems, illustrations and quotes. Have you experienced a spoken silence? Your comments are welcome!

How does Silence Speak in Meditation?

By Bornali Ghosh from Kolkata

Illustration by Nidhi Agarwal from Gurugram

What do we understand by the term Meditation? It is a tool which helps in focusing or clearing the Mind to bring calmness & awareness and helps us to look outward and inward!

Most of the time, our mind continues to chatter and run here and there, as our focus is on people, situation and environment which is not congenial or not as per our liking. This chattering is almost like an addiction, and it goes on and on. We are used to it so much, that we do not even bother to think that mind chatter is actually not natural! At times when we realize that the mind chatter has to be stopped, we try to control the ‘outside reasons’ which is causing the chatter! Ironically, all that is outside can never be controlled! So, what next? Should we understand calmness of mind instead?

Why is calmness of Mind necessary? Imagine you are sitting with a group of friends who are speaking loudly. Faintly, you hear your favourite song being played far off. What will you do to hear it clearly? Remove yourself from the gathering and go to a place which is quiet, to hear the song. Isn’t it? Basically what you are doing is, improving your concentration to enjoy the song and for that you move to a quiet place.

We have experienced quietness several times in life, with someone whom we love, to get away from the hustle and bustle and be with self, to look back on what has been done so far, to peek into the future or understand what the present demands from us. In all such times our mind is one pointed. In all the above mentioned conditions we speak to ourselves silently! In such silence, we find ourselves to be alone but not lonely!

Meanness of the outside world and inability to satisfy others, inflicts pain. Then, at times we decide to be quiet, calm and reflect. Eventually, we realize how fruitless are the material pursuits for which we succumb to lust, anger, greed, attachments, ego or jealousy. Such realisation happens when our mind silently speaks! 

Click here to read more

At time we just lose our sanity. Due to some inference from the past or may be just like that, we are not good to others. Then our conscience silently speaks! Tells us, stop, check, rectify and move on. 

When our creative instinct does not allow us to sit quiet, and is demanding manifestation, disturbance is something we avoid. We are by ourselves, giving vent to our creativity. How much we enjoy the moment when in a minute way we also experience how the creator feels and relates with his creation. At such times we are calm and quiet, silently talking to our creative self.

When our loved one leaves us behind and embarks on a different journey, there is a void which quietens us. The connection that we were so much used to is suddenly not there! There is silence inside and out. We realise that the connection is still there beyond the physical realm. Then the silence speaks between us!

When we are into so many things at a time and share mind space with family, friends, colleagues, strangers, we experience a sheer need to be with our self. What do we call it? Me Time? This is when silence speaks.

All such instances mentioned above are times when we willingly focus on our selves. We ponder, we connect, we meditate on different aspects to get answers, and we do get them! This experience is common to all, be an atheist or a believer! We allow silence to speak through the tool- meditation. Most of the time we don’t even realise it. We only find ourselves engrossed in a one-pointed thought which has consumed a lot of time! The experience is ‘living in the moment’ which gives us a feeling of connection to the idea we are nurturing. This feeling is gratifying but temporary! What can we do to feel it always? 

That is when we feel the need to meditate upon the Supreme in any form? When we do so, we connect to the eternal source of Purity, Peace, Love, Knowledge and Power. This enables us to realise what we are and experience the happiness which seems to be so elusive. A meaningful and purposeful life is what we always crave for. Understanding our true divine nature fills us with love and gratitude for our creator. This happens only when Silence Speaks!

The methods and techniques of meditation are various but the crux of it all is the willingness to listen when SILENCE SPEAKS!!

Ecstatic Silence of Sri Ramakrishna

By Karthik Shankar from Bangalore

Perfect yet playful,
Eternal yet evolving,
In You is all in all,
Through Your serene face,
Silence speaks

One who took mighty vows,
Poverty, chastity, obedience and service,
Your blessings fill one with knowledge,
To overcome Kamini-Kanchan, 
In Your loving voice,
Silence speaks

In every movement You exist,
Even a leaf is carried by Your grace,
Your touch moulded lives of perfection,
By Your benign glance, 
Silence speaks

Your presence spells freedom,
A powerful force art Thou
For liberation in a moment even,
Of Your holy name,
Silence speaks

खामोशी की गूँज

By Hariom from Lucknow

खामोशी से मेरा हृदय धड़कता है 
खामोशी से प्रतिदिन सूरज उगता है 
खामोशी में ही मुझमें विचार आते
खामोशी से ही फूल खिलता है 

भाग दौड़ के इस जीवन में 
असफलता के आँगन में 
उतार चढ़ाव के जीवन में 
खामोशी से लड़े जंग हमनें 

पुरखों के अनुपम अनुभवों में 
स्वयं की जीवन यात्रा में 
सिर्फ मैंने यही है जाना 
खामोशी से सफलता सजाना 

बड़े से बड़े धुरंधर भी 
बड़बोलेपन में सब खो देते 
खुशियों के संसार में 
स्वयं अन्धकार कर देते 

जीना है तो कोशिश करो 
ओस के जैसी खामोशी से 
स्वयं की जीवन यात्रा में 
सफलता का संसार रचो
Illustration by Nidhi Agarwal from Gurugram
Illustration by Nidhi Agarwal from Gurugram

मौन वाणी

By Shilpi Sharma from Gurugram

मौन में शक्ति समाहित,


मौन में सामर्थ्य है ।


पढ़ ना पाए मौन आखर,


ज्ञान फिर सब व्यर्थ है। 


मौन के ही रंग सारे,


मौन के ही भाव है ।


मौन गहरा शांत समुद्र,


शब्द नाव पतवार है ।


मौन जब शिव ने धरा तो,


आदियोगी बह्मांड बनाए ।


मौन ओम, मौन नमः,


मौन ही कहलाए शिवाय।


देख देश का दुख दर्दशा,


दिन तीन शिला पर मौन बिताए ।


स्वामी तप से जागे ऐसे,


विश्व चेतन जागृति जगाए ।


मौन की भाषा अलग है,


मौन की गति न्यारी है ।


मौन आत्म निरीक्षण अवसर है,


मौन अंतरमन की तैयारी है ।

Read More

Guess who said this?

“The nearer you approach to God, the less you reason and argue. When you attain Him, then all sounds—all reasoning and disputing—come to an end. Then you go into samādhi, into communion with God in silence.”

Sri Ramakrishna

“Accumulate power in silence and become a dynamo of spirituality.” 

Swami Vivekananda

“Silence is truth. Silence is bliss. Silence is peace. And hence silence is the self.”

Ramana Maharishi

“Serenity of mind, kindliness, silence, self-control, honesty of motive – this is called the mental austerity”

Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita (17:16)

"A fool is known by his speech; and a wise man by silence."

Pythagoras

Experiencing Silence

By Sunanda Ganguli from New Delhi

It was so crowded and noisy in the evening during aarti. Now the pilgrims have returned to the inns and the shops have downed the shutters. It's quiet, only the sound of water from the Mandakini River and of the bells swaying gently by the wind can be heard. 

I was standing by Holy Shankaracharya’s samadhi near Kedarnath temple. It was a full moon night – the samadhi, the Kedarnath temple, the snowcapped mountains, the moon's soft glow, everything around was unworldly. The night sky had come alive with silver light – the Master Painter had cast a magical spell over everything, all around. Is He happy with all that He has created? I had goosebumps all over. It's a moment of breathtaking wonder, perfect for contemplation, reflection, or simply basking in nature's splendor. The Holy Bull was sitting quietly in front of the Kedarnath temple and I whispered my wishes in its ear. It will definitely convey it to Kedarnathji. I will forever cherish those moments of silence and peace.

Adi Shankaracharya placed immense importance on silence as a path to spiritual realization, achieving a state of oneness with Brahman and enlightenment.  He considered silence to be a higher form of teaching than words, capable of conveying truths that words alone cannot. Swami Vivekananda also talked about the power of silence in the life of a seeker.

While climbing a path uphill many a times we feel out of breath, thirsty, unable to take a step when a fellow trekker graciously offers her half-filled bottle of water (not thinking at all what she will drink if the water is finished), nodding encouragingly without any word – both exchange smiles and namaste, the giver and the taker move on silently through the majestic silence. A 'Thank you' that is unspoken yet heard in the silence. 

Illustration by Nidhi Agarwal from Gurugram

RKM GURUGRAM

Categories -
Silence
Tags -
Spirituality Poem Quiz Art Ideas