“Noise lets us ignore our most difficult struggle and our most precious possesion: our true and only selves”

In today’s world, almost everything we use is noisy. Even my keyboard, as I type this, makes a lot of noise.
We’ve killed the silence of the nature with our noises, we’ve changed and ruined it using modern technology.

Today we’re all used to live in a world of noise. Many young people listen to loud music while they are reading. The noise is either an expression for their suppressed psyche or the noise itself is beginning to breed an agitated spirit, a stressed being.

It is said that an image is worth a thousand words… I would say that a moment of peace is worth millions of dollars.

But don’t despair, if you don’t have that kind of money to build a soundproof-mansion, there are a few simple things that you can do in order to help create a more peaceful world (peaceful in terms of silence):

1. When you’re in the car, don’t immediately reach for the radio. I know it’s tempting, but don’t do it. Instead, take advantage of the quiet time and use it as a time of peace, use it to think about your life, ask yourself “am I a better person today than I was yesterday?”
2. Try not to speak too loud. Apart from bothering other people, speaking loudly diminishes the connection between your mind and your body. So the chances that you end up talking nonsense skyrocket.
3. Don’t abuse talking. Before you start talking, ask yourself a simple question: “is it necessary?”. When something is necessary to say, further questions will arise (how to say it, when to say it, etc…). “Speak only if you can improve the silence.”
4. Try to use noisy tools less often. If you can do their job by using older, not-so-noisy tools, choose them instead of the modern ones. Yes, I know it’s more comfortable to use the modern ones, but in many cases, the older tools offer you a chance to exercise your body and oxigenate your brain (you’ll be both healtier and happier).
5. The best antidote for noises (and not only noises) is positive thinking. We should always see the bright side of things. For instance: a construction site makes a lot of noise, right? Be thankful that the loud noises are a result of people being alive, well and happy, building houses; because that kind of noise is also heard during wars, when people are being bombed and killed… So think positive.
6. Leave your walkman or iPod once in a while. Try to do some activities without them, like doing your daily walks, gardening, and the like. The silence helps the conscious get in touch with the unconscious and is one of the essential elements in all religions. Noise can block, distort, or change the meaning of a message in both human and electronic communication, so it’s very important to try and get a few moments of silence every day.
7. And finally, if you can’t improve the silence, preserve it.

Most of us are aware of the serious side effects caused by expsure to loud noises. Recently, it has been reported that health problems caused by noise go far beyond possible hearing impairment.

Dr. Jack Westman, professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of WIsconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, says: “Noxious levels of sound are stressful and they may evoke a whole range of physical responses. The most common are an cardiovascular disease, increased accident risk, and headaches and depression.”

Sounds register in the brain’s auditory cortex and activate the pituitary and adrenal glands to release stress hormones. Dr. Westman says “It’s automatic. You become accustomed to noise over time and it may not consciously bother you anymore, but it is still activating these systems.”

Wikipedia,on the importance of silence:

A silent mind, freed from the onslaught of thoughts and thought patterns, is both a goal and an important step in spiritual development. Inner silence is understood to bbring one in contact with the divine or the ultimate reality of this moment. All the religious traditions imply the importance of being quiet and still, in mind and spirit, for transformative and integral spiritual growth to occur. In Christianity, there is the silence of contemplative prayer such as the Centering prayer and the Christian meditation; in Islam, there are the wisdom writings of the Sufis who insist on the importance of finding solence within. In Buddhism, the descriptions of silence are allowing the mind to become silent are implied as a feature of spiritual enlightenment. In Hinduism, including the teachings of Advaita Vedanta and the many paths of yoga, teachers insist on the importance of silence for inner growth. In Quakerism, silence is an actual part of worship services and a time to allow the divine to speak in the heart and mind.

(See the Glossary Page for terms)

How can silence help you in the real day to day life? Here are a few points:

1. Silence is meditative. It allows the mind to focus and you’ll be able to deal with your problems with increased efficiency.
2. Silence shows you the things which are real.
3. Silence is relaxing. It gives you time to remember the good times… it’s peace within!
4. When you’re silent, you can listen. Silent times are the moments for people to think deeply into the subjects they had heard before, and from that they will receive alot more information from the communication. Silence can induce better listening and foster the idea that everyone may be heard.
5. The appreciation for silence replaces the need for addictive thoughts and activities.
6. Silence helps you enjoy life. It helps you to reflect and to examine your thoughts and actions without judgement. It places your noisy, obligation-filled life in perspective. Through reflection, you learn self-understanding and how to live creatively and responsibly.
7. When we love silence, there is no reason to run away from our thoughts and fears, because meditation brings unspeakable peace.

A great Sufi poet, Rumi, wrote: “Only let the moving waters calm down, and the sun and the moon will be reflected on the surface of your being.”

Now, as you finish these lines, try to have a moment of silence. Think about it’s importance, how can it help you, and maybe even more important, how can it help others.

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