The Journey into Silence Part A
Lately, i've been very busy with uni work, countless of them, undescribable lot. Anyway, i just want to take some time out to share with you guys a story which has struck me, and it still does. It's a story about The Journey into Silence.
Before i show you the story, let's warm up with some easy thinking. You might want to think hard on it if you want it. Think of what is silence to you. What does silence mean to you? Is it the absence of sounds or something else. Think about it. Read the story after you've finished thinking. And, after reading, think again what silence truly is.
Take your time in reading it - read it like when you are eating.
The Journey into Silence
A young man once approached a Master. "Master," he
said, "teach me the way to wisdom."
"if you would like, you may accompany me on my way,"
the Master replied.
"Oh, thank you, Master!" the disciple exclaimed.
They set out, walking together in silence. Before long,
they entered a very dense forest. They walked on and on,
without saying a word.
As time went by, the disciple began to lose his
patience. "This old man is walking so slowly, we will never
get anywhere,"he thought to himself. "Besides, he
promised to teach me the way to wisdom. It has been days now,
and he has not said one word to me! What kind of a teacher is he?"
Just then, the Master stopped. He turned to the disciple
and asked, "What do you hear?"
"i do not hear anything in this miserable forest!" the
disciple shouted.
The old man nodded. And continued on his way.
They walked on and on, without saying another word.
Then, the Master stopped again. "What do you hear now?"
he asked.
"i hear the songs of a thousand birds and the wind making music
in the trees!" the disciple exclaimed.
"This forest is full of life! Thank you Master. Thank you for
bringing me to this beautiful place. Let us stay here."
The old man nodded. And continued on his way.
Together, they walked farther and farther into
the forest, without saying a word. Then the Master stopped again.
"What do you hear now?" he asked.
"Master, I hear the thunder in the distance. It frightens
me to death," the disciple replied.
The old man nodded. And continued on his way.
They walked together, in silence, for a very long time.
At length, the Master stopped, "What do you hear now?"
he asked.
"I hear the babbling of the brook. It comforts me," the
disciple replied.
The old man nodded. And continued on his way.
Together they walked in silence, on and on, deeper
and deeper into the forest. Then the Master paused again.
"What do you hear now?" he asked.
"I hear the silence at the center of the forest. All is peace," the
disciple whispered.
The old man nodded. And continued on his way.
They walked on in the silence together for what may
have been many years. Then one day, the Master stopped.
He turned to the disciple and asked, "What do
you hear now?"
The disciple turned and smiled gently. He bowed to his
Master, without saying a word.
Then the Master bowed to his disciple. "I will no
longer have to accompany you on your way," he said.
The disciple nodded. And continued on his way.
ALONE.
A young man once approached a Master. "Master," he
said, "teach me the way to wisdom."
"if you would like, you may accompany me on my way,"
the Master replied.
"Oh, thank you, Master!" the disciple exclaimed.
They set out, walking together in silence. Before long,
they entered a very dense forest. They walked on and on,
without saying a word.
As time went by, the disciple began to lose his
patience. "This old man is walking so slowly, we will never
get anywhere,"he thought to himself. "Besides, he
promised to teach me the way to wisdom. It has been days now,
and he has not said one word to me! What kind of a teacher is he?"
Just then, the Master stopped. He turned to the disciple
and asked, "What do you hear?"
"i do not hear anything in this miserable forest!" the
disciple shouted.
The old man nodded. And continued on his way.
They walked on and on, without saying another word.
Then, the Master stopped again. "What do you hear now?"
he asked.
"i hear the songs of a thousand birds and the wind making music
in the trees!" the disciple exclaimed.
"This forest is full of life! Thank you Master. Thank you for
bringing me to this beautiful place. Let us stay here."
The old man nodded. And continued on his way.
Together, they walked farther and farther into
the forest, without saying a word. Then the Master stopped again.
"What do you hear now?" he asked.
"Master, I hear the thunder in the distance. It frightens
me to death," the disciple replied.
The old man nodded. And continued on his way.
They walked together, in silence, for a very long time.
At length, the Master stopped, "What do you hear now?"
he asked.
"I hear the babbling of the brook. It comforts me," the
disciple replied.
The old man nodded. And continued on his way.
Together they walked in silence, on and on, deeper
and deeper into the forest. Then the Master paused again.
"What do you hear now?" he asked.
"I hear the silence at the center of the forest. All is peace," the
disciple whispered.
The old man nodded. And continued on his way.
They walked on in the silence together for what may
have been many years. Then one day, the Master stopped.
He turned to the disciple and asked, "What do
you hear now?"
The disciple turned and smiled gently. He bowed to his
Master, without saying a word.
Then the Master bowed to his disciple. "I will no
longer have to accompany you on your way," he said.
The disciple nodded. And continued on his way.
ALONE.
posted by Nicky @ 2:34 PM
10 Comments
10 Comments:
You've grown, my dear nik.I have this African Proverb for you:
'Smooth seas do not make for a skilful sailor'
Guess you've have found the answer to wisdom too.
before reading:
silence was:-
...no conversation at the table, or while walking down the road...awkward silence?
...trying not to talk and allow a moment of peace and quiet
...a sign of fatigueness
after reading:
silence is:-
...the heart
...something that's far more beyond
...not the absence of sound
...inner peace, stillness, and understanding
i believe there's more to what i've gained thus far. wil read it again, and again, and ponder, and reflect.
thanks nicky for sharing :)
to anonymous: u know, if u dun identify ur name; i don't know who u r.
to glo:
silence is:-
...the heart
...something that's far more beyond
...not the absence of sound
...inner peace, stillness, and understanding
mm... u r truly on te journey now... :) let's walk together to seek wisdom...
to anonymous: you know, we can't control the direction of wind; but we can navigate our sail.
True, u still need the unseen Hand to help guide u navigate on the right track!
Doesn't matter who I am. But I like reading your blog. Has anyone told u that you have a flair for writing, despite your earlier misgivings? Your blog makes for pleasant reading. Keep it up,nik.
to nicky:
waiting for part 2 :) and i also realised something: it takes more to be silent and still than to make noise :p
to anonymous:
i so agree with you about Nicky having the flair to write! :) *high-five*
indeed, his writing is thoughtful, pleasant, gentle yet firm :) like it a lot ^_^
well done Nicky! =) Have confidence in yourself ya ^_^
to Anonymous: no many people know me that well but you somehow do. Thank u for all ur advice!
After reading,
I find that the silence described is nt the silence heard by ear...
bt the silence in the heart...
the disciple was very emotional and erractic before the journey...
bt during the journey he learned to silence himself... talk less...
listen to wad is outside of himself...
listen to wad was actually there...
nt making assuptions on motives...
He learnt to silence what was nt there...
He learnt to consider first, make conclusions later...
He learnt humility & consideration.
God gives wisdom freely!
so get it while its free!
to ah^kam^koko:
hey, that's good :)
nice one ^_^
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