Thoughts to still

We have heard many quotes from our elders that highlight the importance of sitting silently.

“Speech is silver, Silence is Gold”.

“Practice Silence, speak less, speak softly and only when it is necessary.”- Bhagawan Baba

“There will be no quarrel, when one remains silent” and so on.

If children remain silent and attentive while lessons are being taught in the class, the teacher can teach better and the children can listen and absorb better.

It’s not enough, if they just remain silent. They should practice it as an exercise, at least for few minutes everyday. It is said that “practice makes one perfect”. For such practice, the Gurus can guide the children with the following steps:

Step 1: Right Posture

Children should sit in a comfortable posture. It may be ‘Padmaasana’ or ‘Sukhasana’. While they sit on a carpet spread on the floor, they should not feel discomfort in any part of the body.

Step 2: The back of their body must be straight in a 90 degree form.

Step 3: The eyes should be half closed.

Step 4: Breathing

Teach them to breath slowly – both inhaling and exhaling. Their full attention should be on this breathing process.

Step 5: Open the eyes slowly and come back to Normal Posture.

Significance

The Gurus can initiate a discussion with the children so as to ensure their right understanding of the purpose of silent sitting exercise:

Do you wonder, “Are all these things necessary? Is it not enough if we remain silent and not talk too much unnecessarily?”

The children might give an affirmative response. Guru can continue:

“Yes! It is true. But when you practice silent sitting daily, you get many more benefits both at the body and mind levels. Do you know how it helps you?

• It improves your memory power.
• Your concentration capacity becomes better, so that you can grasp and understand well, the subjects your teachers teach.
• Your mind will be at peace.
• It builds up self confidence and self control, as you can concentrate on the work you are doing. It saves your mental energy also.
• When you practice deep breathing, it helps you in taking more oxygen and giving out more carbon dioxide. It makes you physically strong.
• Whatever you aim at achieving in your life, by making silent sitting as a habit, it helps and guides you towards the achievement of that goal.

Does time permit Silent Sitting:

“Where there is a will, there is always a way.” It can be practiced at home in the morning or in the evenings. In the beginning, it can be for two to three minutes. Gradually time can be increased. The Balvikas classes always commence and conclude with silent sitting, which helps us in controlling the monkey mind.

Whenever we feel like talking too much, we should remember what Mother Theresa has said about silence.

“See how nature trees, flowers, grass,- grow in silence; see the stars, the Moon and the Sun, how they move in silence- we need silence to touch our souls”.

Bhagawan Baba says, “Silence is the first step in Sadhana”.