talking vs silence: “… A walnut kernel shaken against its shell makes a delicate sound, but the walnut taste and the sweet oil inside makes unstruck music. Mystics call the shell rattling talk; the other, the taste of silence …” ~ Rumi

Indeed, Rumi’s words give us a glimpse into {the contrast between} talking vs silence … and, of course, his views on the value – and gift – of silence …

Talking vs silence is a topic worthy of deeper exploration … but instead of a deep dive, today we’ll just get a taste (in the spirit of Rumi 🙂 ) … via three other luminaries:

Ramana Maharshi’s response to the question: What is mouna? { mouna roughly translates to silence }

“… That state which transcends speech and thought is mouna; it is meditation without mental activity. Subjugation of the mind is meditation: deep meditation is eternal speech. Silence is ever-speaking; it is the perennial flow of “language.” It is interrupted by speaking; for words obstruct this mute language. Lectures may entertain individuals for hours without improving them. Silence, on the other hand, is permanent and benefits the whole of humanity. . . . By silence, eloquence is meant. Oral lectures are not so eloquent as silence. Silence is unceasing eloquence. It is the best language. There is a state when words cease and silence prevails. …”

During extended and deep periods of solitude at Bollingen Tower Carl Jung spoke of the gift of solitude and silence in one of his letters (to Gustav Schmaltz, May 30, 1957):

… Solitude is for me a fount of healing which makes my life worth living. Talking is often torment for me, and I need many days of silence to recover from the futility of words …”

And, here’s Kahlil Gibran addition to the “taste” 🙂 … read … pause … reflect … and see what’s revealed …

For the foreseeable future some (maybe even all or a majority) of our posts will be shorter than usual.

On Talking

AND then a scholar said, Speak of Talking.
And he answered, saying:

You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts;
And when you can no longer dwell in the
solitude of your heart you live in your lips, and
sound is a diversion and a pastime.

And in much of your talking, thinking is half murdered.
For thought is a bird of space,
that in a cage of words
may indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly.

There are those among you who seek the talkative
through fear of being alone.
The silence of aloneness reveals to their eyes
their naked selves and they would escape.

And there are those who talk,
and without knowledge or forethought
reveal a truth which they themselves do not understand.

And there are those who have the truth within them,
but they tell it not in words.
In the bosom of such as these
the spirit dwells in rhythmic silence.

When you meet your friend on the roadside or in the market-place,
let the spirit in you move your lips and direct your tongue.
Let the voice within your voice speak to the ear of his ear;
For his soul will keep the truth of your heart
as the taste of the wine is remembered.

When the colour is forgotten and the vessel is no more.

~ Kahlil Gibran

The opening Rumi’s poem stanzas: from The Soul of Rumi: A New Collection of Ecstatic Poems, by Coleman Barks.
Ramana Maharshi quote in the blockquote: from The Spiritual Teaching of Ramana Maharshi.
All Italicized text is excerpted from The Prophet By Kahlil Gibran.

Images (edited and logo added): Featured and 1) South Sister and Broken Top Reflect Over Calm Waters of Sparks Lake at Sunrise in the Cascades Range in Central Oregon, USA in an Early Morning Light. Morning mist rises from lake into trees by michalbalada, 2) Beautiful sunset and reflections on the beach at low tide by sarawinter.  All are purchased from depositphotos, or 123rtf or YAYImages. All are for use only on our website/social channels (these images are not permitted to be shared separate from this post).

Further Reading...

Self-Knowledge: Kahlil Gibran Kahlil Gibran: Song of the Soul Kahlil Gibran: On Self Knowledge Ramana Maharshi: Spiritual Instruction Ramana Maharshi: Self Enquiry