“I have often repented of having spoken, but never of having remained silent.” -Arsenius, Early Desert Monk
The world is so noisy we can’t hear our own hearts, our own souls, which is the spark of the Divine in us. If we live in constant noise, we will die without ever touching the flame that makes life wild and wonderful.
People use drugs and sex and work and business as a way to drown out the noise of the world. It can work, but this is like turning up the radio to drown out the neighbors. Eventually, if this is your only method, your senses will wither, the noise will be necessary. Eventually, you won’t be able to see the laughing children on the street corner or smell the fragrant flowers in the garden.
Without a daily practice of silence, meditation, contemplation, prayer, adoration, front-porch sitting, whatever your religion calls it, you’ll remain a wild beast trapped in the stampede of humanity. And this stampede tends to veer toward steep cliffs.
Be quiet now.
I apologize for talking too much already, but perhaps a little Chaung Tzu wouldn’t hurt:
The purpose of the fish trap is to catch fish and when the fish are caught, the trap is forgotten. The purpose of a rabbit snare is to catch rabbits. When the rabbits are caught, the snare is forgotten. The purpose of the word is to convey ideas. When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten. Where can I find a man who has forgotten words? He is the one I would like to talk to.
GIVE UP all that is not essential AND remember you will eventually DIE…then you can really live.
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For some simple meditation starters (audio guides to help kick off a meditation practice) check out our friend’s site Tall Trees Grow Deep.
GIVE UP AND DIE 