Beyond The Thinking Mind Towards The Beauty Of A Silent Mind

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Is it possible to function with a silent mind? What happens when we make the thinking mind take the back seat? Is it possible to function and survive in this world of perpetual activities? Let's explore the views of the great masters with regards to a thinking mind versus a silent mind.

The meaning of a silent mind

A silent mind is a peaceful oasis without worrying, judging, criticising, overthinking etc. It is thus free from distracting thoughts. A silent mind is not about suppressing thoughts. It is rather about utilising thoughts when necessary and remaining silent within when thinking is not needed. It is just the opposite of swirling forever in the whirlpool of thoughts.

Is it possible to function with a silent mind?

We wonder if it is ever possible for the constantly thinking mind to ever remain silent. Having habituated to constant thinking to carry out our activities in life, we simply take it for granted that there is no possibility of a silent mind at all. Rather the fact that we cannot function with a silent mind. We question the possibility of life's functionalities to flow smoothly with a silent mind.

Before we know whether it is possible to function with a silent mind, we need to know our true nature. One's true nature is silence. H.W.L.Poonja (Papaji) says that "Everyone is an incarnation of peace." The only thing is that we don't know. Peace is silence within. Our true nature is beyond the changing body and the mind. We are the changeless, eternal Self. So is it possible to function with silence within?

"You are not your thoughts, you are the observer of and intelligence behind your thoughts. When you understand this, you are operating from higher consciousness, says J Krishnamurti" Life is a perennial flow; a dynamic flow and has a wonderful way of taking care of one without much effort on one's part. He further says, "The fact is that life is like the river: endlessly moving on, ever seeking, exploring, pushing, overflowing its banks, penetrating every crevice with its water. But, you see, the mind won't allow that to happen to itself." Here he talks about a conditioned mind, which works repeatedly in a certain way, seeking security and permanency of things in all aspects of life not open to the freshness it offers. It tends to function against the law of life that nothing is ever permanent in life. JK, says such a life is like a stagnant pool.

J.Krishnamurti further says, "But you can do that only when you leave the pool you have dug for yourself and go out into the river of life. Then life has an astonishing way of taking care of you, because then there is no taking care on your part. Life carries you where it will because you are part of itself; then there is no problem of security, of what people say or don't say, and that is the beauty of life."

Nisargadatta Maharaj stresses on a silent mind and being aware of one's real Self, "A quiet mind is all you need. All else will happen rightly, once your mind is quiet. As the sun on rising makes the world active, so does self-awareness affect changes in the mind. In the light of calm and steady self-awareness, inner energies wake up and work miracles without any effort on your part." (Source: I AM That)

In the words of Ramana Maharshi when one is established in one's true Self beyond the body and the mind, "When one abides as the Self, some divine power takes charge of one's life and the truth dawns that mind and thoughts are not necessary to function in the world. All actions then take place spontaneously and are performed very efficiently without much mental effort or activity. (Source: Face To Face With Ramana Maharshi)

When Ramana Maharshi was further asked, whether he did not think when he answered a question, He said that the necessary thought would arise when required and subside the moment its job is done. How is this different from our belief that thoughts are necessary for functioning? Very different indeed. When we claim that thoughts are needed in one way or the other, we are dependent on thoughts. When we are aware that thinking is not our nature, when we are in the thought free state, thoughts would arise spontaneously as the expression of the Self. (The Ramana Way Magazine, May 2023)

How to keep the mind silent?

Sri Aurobindo notes: "To silence the mind it is not enough to throw back each thought as it comes, that can only be a subordinate movement. One must get back from all thought and be separate from it, a silent consciousness observing the thoughts if they come, but not oneself thinking or identified with the thoughts.

Thoughts must be felt as outside things altogether. It is then easier to reject thoughts or let them pass without disturbing the quietude of the mind." ( Integral Yoga: Sri Aurobindo's Teachings And Method of Practice)

Self enquiry prescribed by Ramana Maharshi as in the little booklet 'Whom Am I?' is a sure way to a silent mind.