Yin and yang. Darkness and light. Each cannot exist without the other.
Observing the noise, we become aware of the silence behind it. Silence is like a screen, upon which the theater images play. As mentioned in a prior post or many, music wouldn't be distinguishable without the silence between the notes. Art would be indistinguishable without the blank space between the shapes. And so, the noise of our minds plays against a background of silence.
The noise of our minds is often demanding, distracting, negative, and repetitive. Of course, it’s also valuable and necessary to function in this realm. It’s even enjoyable and beneficial, a perk of being a sociable and productive human. We don't serve ourselves well by neglecting the silence, however.
When we practice meditation, yoga Asanas (stretches) or any quiet activity, we have no choice but to observe the mental and emotional (nervous) noise. In so doing, we can’t help but witness the silence behind the stories. The more we dabble with the noise and become aware of the silence, the more comfortable and welcoming the silence becomes. We can take little, tentative sips of silence, and discover a safe, supported space in which to examine the noise that overwhelms our life experiences. Silence becomes nourishment, any time we remember to slip into it, so we slip into it more. We discover that much of the noise isn’t nearly as important, meaningful, or helpful as we thought. Best of all, silence always returns us to the only moment in which we are.
Balancing the internal experience of noise and silence balances us. It helps us better identify which noises necessitate action and which can be released. It shows us our dis-ease, our inadequacies, our reactivity, our negativity, and we can release all that is unnecessary and harmful.
From a foundation of silence, which is already and always within us, we are better able to act with free will. From a foundation of silence, we are less likely to react in the enslavement of confusion, habit, and fear. From a foundation of silence, we are rooted in this whole and holy moment.
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