Noble Silence

During a meditation retreat, noble silence was observed.

All of a sudden, I felt as though a layer of pretense had been gently taken away. There was no need to talk in order to belong to the group. We could simply be together, in silence.

In work life, having the gift of the gab can sometimes seem like the ticket to success — the person who can speak confidently in the boardroom, lead a group, think quickly in conversation, and always have something to say.

I was never gifted with that. And truthfully, I have never particularly appreciated it.

I often feel spent after a long conversation. When I was younger, it was even more pronounced. Words would leave my mouth and somehow something inside me felt dislodged, as though I had moved away from my own authentic nature simply by participating in the expected dance of conversation.

So I heaved a quiet sigh of relief when I realized: no one is talking. And almost immediately, something inward began to cultivate.

Simply, silence.

It feels like entering a luminous, clear space where there is no unnecessary verbal hemorrhage. A space that is centered, pristine, and quietly alive.

And when words do arise, they can be just what they need to be: necessary. true. and for the purpose intended.

I did not know noble silence was this noble until I experienced it. Now, I find myself wondering if this is how I would spend the rest of my life — cultivating the mind, speaking less, seeing more, and dwelling quietly in a true inner joy.

Simply silence. Simply being.