Sunday, February 18, 2007

Silence...with "Attention"

For sure, silence intrinsically involves quietness. The two are not separable, but are distinguishable. Personally I see silence as a deeper level of being quiet. To be quiet implies to be externally without noise--to be calm. Isn't this the same as being silent? It seems any distinction here is merely psychological.Nevertheless, Ashamu introduced the concept of "attention." The silent person is equally attentive. In silence, we gather up the heart, we recollect the principles of action in us. Thus, the silent person is in touch with his inner being. First and foremost, he is attentive to himself. But such self-conscious attentiveness is not blunt. The silent person is aware of the other. In fact, he enters into the mystery of the 'other.' This enwrapping sentivity to the 'other' is not arbitrary. It is consciously oriented and sustained as such. Interestingly, the other could be God...


"The divine word reveals its depths to those who, through silence
andmortification, are attentive to the Spirit's mysterious action. While
therequirement of regular silence establishes times when human words must
bestilled, it points to a style marked by great moderation in
verbalcommunication."----
Pope John Paul II

3 comments:

  1. An interesting article there.reads more like a commentary on the inclusivity of attention!!

    True silence is a participation in the silence of God who is present as though he were not;it is not an absence of involvement,it is a transcendence of be-ing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes! Mike, I think when silence is viewed from the perspective of "participation in the silence of God..." we cannot but encounter the "mystery" you hinted at earlier. What happens when we abandon ourselves to this "mystery of silence"? We began to realize its immense richness. And it responds to our emptiness.

    ReplyDelete
  3. A participation in the silence of God,leads u to a discovery of ur fellow creatures. In God's mystery, u behold the mystery of others' existence! This is part of the immense richness...

    ReplyDelete