MaunaA source of

silence and

spiritual energy

What is Mauna?• The direct meaning of the word “Mauna” is the pledge of

silence.

• In yoga, spiritually motivated silence is called “mauna”.

• Mauna is not different from the definition of Yoga given by Maharishi Patanjali “Yoga citta vritti nirodha” - “Yoga is the cessation of mental modifications/fluctuations”

• ‘Mauna’ is derived from the word muni , an ascetic who practices silence and it ideally symbolizes a state of oneness with the Self.

What is silence??• Silence is the relative or total lack of audible sound

• Silence may also refer to any absence of communication, even in media other than speech.

• Spiritually, silence [nishchala niravta] is a state in which either there is no movement of the mind or vital or else a great stillness which no surface movement can pierce or alter.

Its importance• God, The Father, or Brahman is primarily The Supreme Silence.

• The soul, Atman (The Supreme Self) is Silence.

• The peace of the mind is Silence. Silence is the deep language of the heart, and because of this, it is the true language of the wise,

• Beyond all noises and all sounds, is where the Silence is found. It is, in reality, your profound being.

• To be deeply submerged in silence, actually means to open yourself up completely for the UNITY with God.

Each man who sincerely aspires to know God, must previously know this Stillness. He is then the silence itself, and, in this way, he becomes a Maha Mauni, realizing God, HERE AND NOW.

• Silence represents an immense power, and living proof of God’s true eloquence.

• Each time we get into the state of profound sleep without dreams, we experience the mysterious and ineffable state of Silence, but the veil of ignorance (Avidya) hides this experience from our consciousness.

• There is no better healing balm than Silence for those humans whose hearts are aggrieved because of failure, disappointment or loss.

• There is no better remedy than Silence for those whose nerves are over strung due to their tumultuous lives, stress and quarrels of all kinds.

• Mauna develops willpower; increases the control of the imagination (Samkalpa), thereby inhibiting the impulse for uncontrolled, hurtful or silly speech.

• Mauna helps us in respecting the truth, and also for controlling anger, through Mauna we stop lying, and we also get the power of endurance.

• Keeping silent also preserves PSYCHO-MENTAL energy which can be transformed into spiritual energy – OJAS -SHAKTI, resulting in growing inner peace and a mind which is both peaceful and alert.

• This peaceful mind in turn plays an instrumental role in healing psychosomatic diseases and makes suffering easier to bear.

Spiritual indigestion??--

Still not convinced???

Scientifically….

• What’s wrong with noise??– Research shows that noise can kill, as it increases the

risks for high blood pressure and heart attacks (3% of heart attacks in Germany are due to road traffic noise). Noise disturbs sleep and heavily impacts on people’s quality of life. Besides its health and social costs, noise has economic consequences in terms of reduced housing value and taxes, as it is a relevant reason for people to move out of cities into suburban areas.

• silence can help avoid several social problems connected with speaking, such as getting into arguments, talking ill of others or gossiping.

Story

• The railway train was running at full speed from Calcutta to Delhi. In one compartment, two British passengers were talking in English. Pointing at one monk (sadhu), traveling in the same compartment, one British passenger was telling the other, "Look, what a deception! With such youthful age, healthy body, and full capacity to work, this man became monk to get free food and to loiter anywhere. There are thousands of such monks in this country and people feed them in blind faith."

• Criticism of this sort went on for a long time, but the monk sitting on the opposite seat was pondering deeply with a calm posture. When the train arrived at one station and halted, the station master saw the monk, bowed down before him and asked in English, "What can I do in your service, sir?“

• The monk answered in English, "One glass of water will be enough. I want nothing else.“

• The two British passengers observed that the monk spoke in such pure English. They felt surprised. They never knew that the sanyasi was educated. They had abused the monk so much and still there was not a word by way of reaction. His posture was the same, full of happiness as before.

• The passengers inquired of him, "Well sir, why did you not react to our criticism?"

• He replied, "Brothers, I remain engrossed only in the thoughts of my life's work. I do not enter into any kind of disputes."

• The peaceful posture and sadhana of the vow of silence brought about a lot of regard on part of those two British passengers.

• This sannyasi was Swami Vivekananda, the chief disciple of the great monk Shri Ramakrishna Paramhamsa. He was a great social and religious leader of the nineteenth century. He became famous for his unique speech in the World Religions Conference in 1893 in Chicago, U.S.A.

Practicing Mauna• There are many kinds of Mauna:

1. The complete control of the act of speaking is named Vak Mauna. This invoves control of the organ of speech- vak indriya

2. The complete suspension of all the voluntary physical actions is Kashta Mauna. However, in the state of Vak Mauna and Kashta Mauna, the fluctuations of the mind are not suspended.

3. The almost complete dismissal of all doubts from the mind, which follows the firm realization concerning the illusory character of this world and that all [macrocosm] is nothing else but Brahman [God], is Susupti Mauna.

Susupti actually refers to the way the human consciousness in the state of profound sleep without dreams works.

4.Brahman (GOD-The Father) is named Maha Mauna, as He is the supreme impersonation of the Silence. Maha Mauna is the ‘true Mauna’.

Try It!!!• Set aside 1 or 2 hours or a specific time for the practice of Mauna daily.

• If that’s not possible, try it on the weekends or on holidays.

• Let everybody around you know that you are practicing Mauna before you start so that they take care not to disturb you and to avoid conflicts or misunderstandings.

• The easiest way to practice silence may be to live in (temporary) isolation without too many possible distractions.

• Silence and solitude go hand in hand, find a quiet place in a library, a room in your home, a place in hostel, a room in a church/temple; somewhere where you will not be interrupted.

• Try not to read newspapers, listen to music or watch T.V because it will not only bring new information into the consciousness, but also the reactivation of some latent impressions linked with certain thoughts from the subconscious mind (samskaras), and thereby the peace of mind might be perturbed.

• It is necessary to reduce actions such as writing notes, making gestures, or expressing our thoughts to the ones nearby. It is recommended even for laughing to be restrained.

• Respect people who are trying to be silent..do not disturb them.

• A silent retreat in a spiritual center, supervised by an experienced spiritual teacher, could be ideal for silence

• At home devote 3 or 4 days to silence and spiritual inquiry, at the end of practice take out a sheet of paper and write all the creative ideas, positive thoughts and benefits of this practice, reflect upon how you feel.

• Diligent, constant and detached effort must be made to keep silent both physically and mentally.– One must keep reinforcing the practice even if one fails every-

time and practice it step by step.– Try not to get disappointed with yourself and avoid saying, “I cant

keep quiet!”…keep trying…..

• When we are successful, we will be also able to control our ears (or the sense of hearing) much more easily, because if we get to control Vak Indriya, it may be stated that we already control half of the mind.

Om chanting is considered as silent prayer.

The easiest way to get in touch with this universal power is through silent Prayer. ...

Perfect prayer does not consist in many words, silent remembering and pure

intention raises the heart to that supreme Power. Shut your eyes, close your mouth,

and open your heart. This is the golden rule of prayer. Prayer should be soundless words

coming forth from the centre of your heart filled with love. .... Silence is the language of Om. We need silence to be able to reach our

Self. Both internal and external silence is very important to feel the presence of that

supreme Love.

• We should only try to be a human being who practices Mauna based on an innermost need and conviction, and not because it is a new Yoga technique, which is now in fashion.

• It is wonderful to conserve our energy in order to love God as much as possible, and it is essential to consecrate more and more time for an interior life of meditation, of introspection and of contemplation of our Supreme Self (Atman).

• Through Mauna, we discover THE INNERMOST VOICE OF SILENCE, and realize that, through the Supreme Self (Atman), each of us is one with God.

In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and

what is elusive and deceptive resolves

itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a

long and arduous quest after Truth.

Mahatma Gandhi

'Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt. Abraham Lincoln

I have often regretted my

speech, never my silence.

Publilius Syrus, in Maxims

 

  “We need to find God, and he cannot be found in

noise and restlessness. God is the friend of

silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass-

grows in silence; see the stars, the moon, the sun,

how they move in the silence…We need silence to be able to touch souls.”

Mother Teresa

Let us be silent, that we may hear the whispers of the gods.Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thank you

References

Internet sources:• www.wikipedia.com• www.google.com• Mauna - by Gregorian Bivolaru• Inner Peace - Sri Aurobindo