"Let silence take you to the core of life ...
Rumi
(as seen on Facebook by Tao & Zen)
My friend Nan (Yoga teacher extraordinaire) had this Rumi quote posted on Facebook. I love all things Rumi and felt the need to share this picture and all.
Our culture provides us with so much busy work. We all find ourselves rushing here and there whether it be for our children, families, or over-commitments. Even when some say they are relaxing, they have the television on or radio or ear plugs. There is so little quiet in our living.
Many years ago while living in a small town, the downtown businesses would close for one and a half hours so the proprietors could go home for lunch and rest. From a business standpoint, I thought this was a foolish idea. At noon, the accountant, attorney, and insurance man would head home while their staff members scurried to the little shops remaining open on the downtown square. So the downtown received a little extra money, the buyers were happy and returned to well fed and rested men. As I write this it now seems almost archaic.
On the news the other evening, there was a discussion about some of the retail stores remaining open on Thanksgiving Day to get a jump on Christmas shopping. It made me sad for the those who would be forced to work away from their families. Agreed, there are those who would rather not be with their families and who might welcome the idea of work, but creating a new tradition by staying home for a leisurely day might be a better option.
We have such little silence in our days and evenings, we have grown almost uncomfortable to be in stillness without talking, texting, or listening. A time for silence in our day or night, has to be deliberately created. It must be intentional or it will rarely happen.
To sit in silence, one appears to be withdrawing from the outer world; but, to sit in silence one crosses inward to Divinity and wisdom. In the presence of the Divine one sheds stress in exchange for calm.
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