A documentary on the effects of Silence

Takuan

The Big Silence

I found this on the AYP Forums. It seems interesting; though I haven't finished it. I figured the members here would like it. It documents the effects of a Catholic silent retreat.

Takuan

Mods, I'm just realizing that this might be more suited to the meditation section. I'm sorry if I have infringed on the rules of the forum.

Temporary_arising

In my experience, it isn't actually the silence that's beneficial, but the non use of language.
Language gives rise to conceptualism which takes us away from being with and seeing what is.
Stopping conceptual thought in a non silent environment is just as effective. In fact, focussing on non language based sound is a very effective meditation.

genkaku

Mostly, "silence" is just a reminder of "sound," just as "sound" is a reminder of "silence." It is like the old story of the Zen teacher, who, when asked what "the middle way" meant, replied, "It means the extremes." This is the usual appreciation of "silence."

But there is something to be said as well for the 'something' that occurs when neither sound nor silence arise...or when both sound and silence arise. What it is that can be said, I really don't know.

Fenix

I liked that