Mystic Mantra: The footsteps of silence

When people want to meditate, the first enemy they are attacked by is their thoughts. The moment they sit silently, thoughts start buzzing like mosquitoes. Naturally, they get disturbed and disheartened and drop the idea of meditation. Some even draw the conclusion that it is not for us common people, it is for the chosen few. But this is not true. Silence is everybody’s right and it is a hidden flow inside. We are born with it. Just remove the rubbish of the mind and you will reclaim it. In 24 hours of a day you need to be silent for an hour whenever it is convenient. The internal dialogue will go on but don’t be party to it.

Try some detached listening. The key to it is to hear the talk that goes on within, just as you would hear two people talking, but remain apart. Don’t get involved; just listen to what one part of the mind is telling the other. Whatever comes, let it come; don’t try to repress it. Only be a witness to it.

Osho gives two techniques that can empty the mind. He says, allow the mind complete freedom to do what it wants to, and just watch. A lot of rubbish that you have gathered over the years will come out. The mind has never been given the freedom to throw away this rubbish. When given it this chance, the mind will run like a horse that has broken his reins. Let it run! You sit and watch. To watch, just watch, is the art of patience.

You will want to ride the horse, direct it this way or that, because that is your old habit. You will have to exercise some patience in order to break this habit. Wherever the mind goes, merely watch; don’t try to enforce any order as one word gives rise to another and another, and a thousand others, because all things are connected.

Find a quiet place, close the door and be with yourself. Speak your thoughts aloud so that you can also hear them. The thoughts are very subtle and you may not be very conscious of them. Speak them aloud, listen to them, and be aware and alert to remain separated from them. Resolve to speak out whatever comes to mind, but be absolutely unbiased and neutral. It is absolutely necessary to empty the mind patiently. Gradually you will begin to hear the footsteps of silence. When the silence blooms inside you will feel as if you are enveloped in a mist inside and outside. This inner silence is healing and rejuvenating.

Amrit Sadhana is in the management team of Osho International Meditation Resort, Pune. She facilitates meditation workshops around the country and abroad.