When to keep silence
…I gradually form the habit of listening inwardly, whenever I want to say something, to be sure I have the authority to say it. Gradually I learn to keep my mouth shut, except when I really have something to say. And I come to recognize two beings in my self: a personal ego which is often inclined to chatter, without control, purely for the sake of communicating and attracting attention to my person - and in the background of my consciousness, a higher self which restrains my personal ego, telling it when and what it is to speak and do, and when it is to reman silent or passive. The important thing is to listen to and obey the orders of this higher self. Merely to hear its commands is not enough….
excerpt from ‘Initiation’ - by Elisabeth Haich
In the book, the above passage comes shortly after the author casually talks about spirituality with her trusted servant, only to realise that the servant isn’t ready to assimilate such lofty thoughts, and that telling her might even have done more harm than good by causing her undue worry. It is a passage I can most certainly identify with. I remember after I discovered the joys of meditation for the first time, I was in such a hurry to tell everyone about meditation and how great it was. Invariably many conversations around this time, if they did not start with meditation, would inevitably be turned towards meditation and end with a lengthy monologue on its benefits.
However, with the expansion of one’s meditation, one’s heart also expands. More and more, I come to realise that every human being has his own way through which his soul must make progress - for some this way will be through some kind of spiritual practice, for others their purpose might lie in making great music, art, some amazing athletic feat or perhaps raising kids, helping their community, or just getting by as best they can.
And with time, the inner voice that I yearn to connect with in meditation also comes to the fore in outer life, and I remember more and more to consult it before I talk, for it knows not only what is best for me but for everyone else, the inner voice of each human being inseperable from the inner voice of the Universe.
More and more, I remember to envision the soul of each person I am talking to, and to pray that my voice be one that is of service to it and not one that delays its progress. I always try to keep any conversation I have inspiring (in fact of late, I have become more determined to either raise the tone of any uninspiring conversation I get entangled in or tactfully detach myself from it - life’s just waaay too short to be talking about nothing), but more and more I try and judge ‘inspiring’ more from that inner feeling and less from an ‘everything-would-be-great-if-everyone-was-all-like-me’ perspective.
