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Is Silence Really Golden?
As a Buddhist, I sometimes wonder if it is better to be silent than to speak out? The Buddha with His Divine Vision certainly knows when to be silent and when not to. As a human being, to speak up on a certain subject could be construed various ways depending on the author. As things will ebb and flow by their own accord, why put yourself in the crossfire needlessly?
I don't know. Sometimes, I couldn't stay still and found myself in the crossfire. Then, I realize my folly for the futility and its inevitable suffering unto me for I feel its futility as well as unto others for I may inadvertantly infringe upon their peace of mind. I resolve myself to walk away only to find myself back in the chopping block, so to speak. Why? Is it because of compassion? Have I wanted to learn, and excited about the growth that I want to pass it along? What credential do I have as person to think I could pass along a so-called revelation?
What is your opinion? I want to thank you in advance for your response. I may or may not choose to answer, but I will thank you, sincerely, for replying to my thread.
Metta and Peace
I don't know. Sometimes, I couldn't stay still and found myself in the crossfire. Then, I realize my folly for the futility and its inevitable suffering unto me for I feel its futility as well as unto others for I may inadvertantly infringe upon their peace of mind. I resolve myself to walk away only to find myself back in the chopping block, so to speak. Why? Is it because of compassion? Have I wanted to learn, and excited about the growth that I want to pass it along? What credential do I have as person to think I could pass along a so-called revelation?
What is your opinion? I want to thank you in advance for your response. I may or may not choose to answer, but I will thank you, sincerely, for replying to my thread.
Metta and Peace
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Comments
Is silence golden? Probably but plenty of it before and after you're born...
If intention is correct then it works out in the end - e.g. if intention is genuinely to assist / alturistic / compassionate then your voice will pick up at the right time (whether you want it to or not) - if the intention is anything else (say ego, uncertainty etc) then the result will reflect that to the extent of the intention itself.
Sometimes so, sometimes not.
Silence is golden
when a Sangha is in full assent
or when a lie may otherwise be told.
Silence is not golden
when a truth should be spoken of
or when that silence tells a lie.
May the flowers fill your heart with beauty,
May hope forever wipe away your tears,
And, above all, may silence make you strong.
Chief Dan George
help me always
to speak the truth quietly,
to listen with an open mind
when others speak,
and to remember the peace
that may be found in silence.
Cherokee Prayer
The Sound Of Silence
P. Simon, 1964
Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence
In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turn my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence
And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never shared
No one dared
Disturb the sound of silence
"Fools," said I, "you do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sound of silence
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's not "from whence".... Whence ALREADY MEANS "From where".....!
it's just 'whence'....
"Whence does one's motivation in speaking, spring? THIS is the question." - !
Oh god....I really should shut up......
where's that duct tape, @person....?
Thank you for all your answers! They are very insightful! I enjoyed reading them immensely. Some are very humorous and they bring smiles to face. They are humorous because of the duality nature of it. There's always the flip side to seeing things, which makes life so much more bearable in an otherwise tense situation as brought about by a strict view in life. Thank you!
Intentions and or motivations play important factors in one being vociferous in any one issue. At the same time, one must consider the issue. Does what one speak of lead to benefit or does it lead to harm? Otherwise, observing silence is golden. Yet, the skill to make such observation requires much practice and restraints, in my opinion.
I guess, since we are all swimming in the ocean of Samsara, we just have to forget about getting wet and keep on kicking our feet, right?
Once again. Thank you all for your sharing your insightful comments. They helped me see things a bit better, or at least remind me I shouldn't be too serious all the time.
Peace and Metta!
I have tried meditation a couple of times! Each time, I am a failure. I couldn't stand how loud my mind could be. And, they concentrate on such frivolous things that I wonder why it is so hard to let them go. LOL. I need so much practice. I have yet to get back into the state of meditation.
The reason being why He was in too much of a rush to found Enlightenment was due to His compassionate nature. Not that other Buddha before and after Him don't have much compassion. It just that The Buddha Shakyamuni couldn't stand so much suffering that He tortured Himself severely to finally found The Middle Way and Enlightenment.
The nature of suffering will not ceise so long as there is ignorance. And it will continue to exacerbate with each succeeding Buddha to come. The Buddha Shakyamuni happened to be the worst. The prophesized Buddha will rectify this imbalance as The Buddha told His disciples to look forward when the age of degeneration arrive. We are currently at the midpoint of the Turning of the Wheel of Dhamma of the Buddha Shakyamuni.
@Zenknight Thank you for sharing the song! I hope to listen to it when I can.
Thank you. I'll keep that in mind. I thought I do that to keep me oriented. It is hard sometimes to know what I am saying without quoting. My apologies if this irks so.
I was just trying to help.
not everyone knows this can be done.
I once combined 19 posts from someone.
I understand how it keeps you on track, but bizarrely, it's harder for other to follow your drift and the 'flow' of the thread is then difficult to follow....
There are so many posts between all your different responses, and the last post from a different member, it becomes severely disjointed....
that's all... just to explain....
edit:
Actually, I think @federica provided the best answer to the original question, irregardless whether intended or not
In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be unfactual, untrue, unbeneficial (or: not connected with the goal), unendearing & disagreeable to others, he does not say them.
In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be factual, true, unbeneficial, unendearing & disagreeable to others, he does not say them.
In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be factual, true, beneficial, but unendearing & disagreeable to others, he has a sense of the proper time for saying them.
In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be unfactual, untrue, unbeneficial, but endearing & agreeable to others, he does not say them.
In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be factual, true, unbeneficial, but endearing & agreeable to others, he does not say them.
In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be factual, true, beneficial, and endearing & agreeable to others, he has a sense of the proper time for saying them. Why is that? Because the Tathagata has sympathy for living beings."
As young ones it's our duty to speak , speak our minds, damn right speech! that's for vets....
If it hurts another WE LEARN .
If it helps another WE LEARN, as a real baby buddhist: I know this is the way of the sincere mankind..my conscience is clean
Somehow this highschool dropout got through college. It boggles my mind sometimes :scratch: