Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Spending some time with myself makes the time I spend with others more pleasurable and playful. For me, like nourishment solitude is one of the basic necessities.
When I’m alone, self-enquiry comes under focus. In silence, I mull over whatever is floating in my mind. More often than not, I realize whatever recent wrong happened had not much to do with her, him, or them, but with me. The negativity feel is ultimately a reflection of my own inner landscape. Slowly the thought settles and I’m back to my normal self. Only in silence can I mull over things and be fair to myself and others.
When you sit still quietly, pondering what you have encountered, how it has affected you, and how you have affected others as the consequence of your interactions, it leads to self-understanding and self-improvement. Self-reflection and great thoughts grow out of silence of awareness.
The peace and contentment within you is the calm you have gained by spending time with yourself. It is the inner awareness that makes sense of the words on this page to be perceived as thoughts. Without that awareness these words would have no meaning. The stillness, silence, and solitude make you conscious of that inner awareness. Silence outside you becomes the stillness within you.
When you are in the presence of silence of the present moment, pay attention to it. Then turn your attention within; notice the stillness. The calm within also enables you to experience silence without.
Observe the trunk of a tree, firm and still. It’s beauty lays in not pretending to be something else. It is what it is in the stillness and silence of the present. Learn from it to be still, to be present, to be yourself.
For a week, conduct an experiment with yourself. Practice sitting still in silence and watch what emerges from it. For the first couple of days, as in your early days of breathing exercises and meditation practice, thinking will interrupt you, but the more you practice the more you will notice wise thoughts arising to direct your actions and speech.
How is this possible? Remember, deep in your heart dwells your Authentic Self that is peaceful, joyous and content. Also called Awareness, it is the Cosmic Intelligence within you – discerning, warmhearted, unperturbed. Hidden behind ten thousand passing clouds of thoughts there it is like the brilliant blue sky behind the passing clouds.When you journal your thinking mind is pushed to the background. Your wiser self takes over. You are not your restricting ego self. The words pour out spontaneously come not from your small self but from your Awareness that transcends the body and mind. After a page or two it is not your ego-self writing, but your unconstrained, unbidden, truly free Awareness.
Jennifer D. Diamond
Good morning, Madhu! Oh, how I used to have hours in a quiet house all by myself, but over the last year and a half there have been so many changes in my family-life (i.e. husband retired, both adult children graduating college and moving back home) that the solitude I used to have at my disposal now must be carefully cultivated. I crave my time of solitude in total silence during periods of household disruptions. Thank you for teaching me the power of silence!
Lorraine
This summer has been anything but silent. Nonstop fun, visitors, and activities… For the past 10 days, I had to cancel all events and invites so that I could sleep, rest, and regroup. I was sick and exhausted. I immersed myself in total stillness. It was much needed ‘me’ time. The timing was good and I feel my body knew I needed silence and reflection. I start my 6-month caregiving next week and am mentally prepared to meditate, journal, and create each day to keep myself grounded, calm, and peaceful.
Donna Lucas
Hello Madhu and friends.
Back-to-school September is the loudest, busiest month of my year. I crave the quiet of summer and the need for no wake-up alarms or bells to let me know when I have three minutes to use the restroom. I love teaching, but I am tired. I know October is always smoother. I am teaching these 12-13 year old co-workers how to practice silence and focus. I trust the process that it will happen, but PHEW! “Wake me up when September Ends” sang the band Green Day.
Thank you for sharing your practice of solitude, one of the most valuable treasures I can find on a walk or at home in my quiet spots.
I wish you well and miss you all! xoxo