Solitude and meditation

[Guest guest]

Light and Love

Foreword

As you have noticed I finished the serial's first complex "Swami Teaches..." I think that the serial's "Swami Teaches..." second complex would be also good for teachers and students to understand more easily the deepness of atmic approach to the reality, directed by Swami.

But before the compilation of the second complex of this serial I have an interest what the press of the world is writing about our Swami and how many ones follow His Teaching as infinite source of inspiration by different aspects - to be the Divine Human Being and to be responsible of the thoughts, words and deeds.

I decided to share this information with you as a some kind collection of articles where the main source of inspirations is Swami, His Teaching and His Bliss what spread over the world.

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"Nigerian Tribune" published an article 11-09-2008 by Jude Ndu. Enjoy, as an example, as an attempt to practice Swami's Teaching by author's own way.

It should be the attitude of a leader to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Study to be quiet, to meditate and to observe. Until you think a solo man, you may never understand the depth of knowledge of the Wisdom of Solomon - Jude Ndu

He who gives himself up to vanity, and does not give himself to meditation, forgetting the real aim of life and grasping for pleasure, will in due time envy him who has exerted himself in meditation - The Buddha

Since time immemorial, people have had to go to the wilderness to seek guidance and renewal, to let their old lives and old selves die, to find the perfect condition where the spirit may be rekindled and be reborn. As you study the various spiritual traditions of the world, you become increasingly aware of the fact that all emphasise finding that point of stillness within ourselves.

Every man should leave room for what I call islands of silence. These are periods when we can get away from the business of everyday living. All of us have need at times to walk alone, to meditate about our greater purpose and recharge our spiritual batteries. William Penn wrote ‘true silence is the rest of the mind. It is to the spirit what sleep is to the body’. The time will come when you have digested enough words. When that time comes, please take the challenge and face yourself squarely without any comment from your mind. In silence, divinity is revealed.

Now is the moment to let go in silence. Silence is the answer. Sai baba once said, ‘it is only in the depths of silence that the still, small but mighty voice of God can be heard loud and clear’. Still water runs deep. The inability to stay quiet is one of the most conspicuous failings of mankind. An anonymous author once wrote ‘I have often regretted my speech, but never my silence’.

What is communication? Communication is often the most talked about, but least understood aspect, of our human evolution and development. Most people languish because of poor language. The bible discusses the use of language in a manner consistent with effective intrapersonal communication. Of all aspects of communication, listening is perhaps the most important and the hardest. If you don’t know how to listen, you don’t know how to communicate. If you always have to raise your voice, you don’t know how to communicate.

If you always have to give your opinion, you don’t know how to communicate. Listening is serious intra and interpersonal skill, i.e. the communication with oneself and with others. Communication is by far not what you say; more importantly is how you say it. Man’s inability to communicate is as a result of his failure to listen. Communication is about listening. One time American president Calvin Coolidge said ‘it takes a great man to be a good listener’.

In other words, he has learnt how to be in tune with something greater than himself. Listening pays but it takes patience to practise. Consider this short poem: His thoughts were slow, his words were few, and never made to glisten, but he was a joy wherever he went, you should have heard him listen’. Listen to me, learn to listen. The shortest road to reach the heart is through the ear. God gave everyone of us two ears and one mouth. Perhaps he is trying to tell us something, that we should listen twice as much as we talk, and many are still not listening.

Abraham Lincoln as a practising lawyer once maintained that if he knew the other party’s case better than they did, he had an advantage. He would know how best to present his own case and exploit the other side’s weakness. He built every of his case successfully by listening. Lawyers need to listen to prepare their arguments if they hope to win in court. Politicians need to listen more to the voice of their people. Lecturers and teachers need to listen to their students.

Doctors and nurses need to listen to their patients to come to an accurate diagnosis. What about parents? How many parents really listen to their children? Listening is the greater part of learning. Everybody loves a good listener. People are drawn to a good listener. We often hear of somebody talking too much, but nobody can be accused of listening too much. Most people will not really listen to you until they have expressed their own.

The source:

http://www.tribune.com.ng/11092008/thr/money & man.html

Namaste - Reet