Monastic silence

Dove of the Holy Spirit (ca. 1660, alabaster, Throne of St. Peter, St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican)

Monastic silence is a spiritual practice recommended in a variety of religious traditions for purposes including facilitation of approaching deity, and achieving elevated states of spiritual purity.^[1] Silence has been practiced in every monastic tradition for centuries.^[1] It may be in accordance with a monk's formal vow of silence, but can also engage laity who have not taken vows, or novices who are preparing to take vows. Monastic silence is more highly developed in the Roman Catholic faith than in Protestantism, but it is not limited to Catholicism. The practice has a corresponding manifestation in the Orthodox church, which teaches that silence is a means to access the deity, to develop self-knowledge,^[2] or to live more harmoniously.^[3] Theophilus, patriarch of Alexandria, placed the virtue of silence on par with the faith itself in a synodal letter from AD 400. "Monks—if they wish to be what they are called—will love silence and the Catholic faith, for nothing at all is more important than these two things." ^[4]

Practice of silence by ordained and laity

The practice of silence is observed during different parts of the day; practitioners talk when they need to but maintain a sense of silence or a sense of prayer when talking. The rules of silence apply to both vowed practitioners and non-vowed guests.^[5] Religious recommendations of silence as praxis do not deprecate speech when it is thoughtful and considerate of commonly held values. According to Andrew March of the Benedictine order, we "can listen to substantive speech for hours while five minutes of garrulous speech is too much." It is noteworthy that "silence" can include what is more aptly characterized as "quietness", i.e. speaking in low voice tones.^[5] Silence is not an absence of words or thoughts—it is a positive and substantive reality.^[5]

Christian contemplative traditions

Old Testament roots

In the book Silence, The Still Small Voice of God, Andrew March establishes the roots of silence doctrine in the Psalms attributed to David. "Benedict and his monastics would know from chanting the Psalter every week the verse that follows: “I was silent and still; I held my peace to no avail; my distress grew worse, my heart became hot within me. While I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue” (Psalm 39: 3).

St. Norbet's Arts Center^[6] also anchors its views on silence in the Old Testament: "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation." (Psalm 62)

Aids to practice

The Trappist rubric "Living in silence" illustrates centuries-old hand gestures which were "developed to convey basic communication of work and spirit".^[7]

Benedictine

Silence plays a salient role in the Benedictine rule. It is thought that by clearing the mind of distraction, one may listen more attentively to the deity.

Christian theology differs from Dharmic religions with regard to the mode in which spiritual ascent transpires within the context of contemplative quiet. Buddhism and Hinduism promote various spiritual practices, as do many Christian denominations. However, Christianity, particularly Protestantism, emphasizes the belief that ultimate spiritual achievement is not within the grasp of mortals, no matter how persistent their practice may be. Rather, the mechanism of spiritual attainment, which they regard as salvation and proximity to the deity, is believed to occur solely through supernatural mechanism. This mechanism is variously described as the action of God, conceived as the Father, or by action of the Holy Spirit. This mechanism of action, whether conceptualized as the Father or the Spirit, is called grace.

In contemplative practice, the role of silence is expressed by the Fr. David Bird, OSB, (Order of St. Benedict): "When both our interior and exterior are quiet, God will do the rest."

Cistercian

Cistercian monastics have remained active in the promotion of contemplative meditation.^[8] Part of the emphasis is on achieving spiritual ascent, but monastic silence also functions to avoid sin.^[8]

Although speech is morally neutral per se, the Epistle of James (3:1-12) and writers of the monastic tradition see silence as the only effective means of neutralizing our tendency towards sins of the tongue.^[8] There is an ongoing dialogue between Benedictine and Cistercian which speaks of a "monastic archetype" characterized by peace and silence.^[9]

Trappist

A Trappist’s commitment to silence is a monastic value which assures solitude in community. It fosters mindfulness of God and fraternal communion. It opens the mind to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit and favours attentiveness of the heart and solitary prayer to God. Early monastic communities evolved simple hand signing for essential communications. Spoken conversations between monks are permitted, but limited according to the norms established by the community and approved by the Order.

"Silence is the mystery of the world to come. Speech is the organ of this present world. More than all things love silence: it brings you a fruit that the tongue cannot describe. In the beginning we have to force ourselves to be silent. But then from our very silence is born something that draws us into deeper silence. May God give you an experience of this 'something' that is born of silence. If you practice this, inexpressible light will dawn upon you."^[10]

— Issac of Ninive

Protestantism

Baptist pastor and evangelist Frederick Brotherton Meyer (1847–1929), a member of the Higher Life movement, developed a strong commitment to silence, which he saw as one of the ways to gain access to God's guidance on all matters.

"We must be still before God. The life around us, in this age, is pre eminently one of rush and effort. It is the age of the express train and electric telegraph. Years are crowded into months, and weeks into days. This feverish haste threatens the religious life. The stream has already entered our churches, and stirred their quiet pools. Meetings crowd on meetings. The same energetic souls are found at them all, and engaged in many good works beside. But we must beware that we do not substitute the active for the contemplative, the valley for the mountain top. (...) We must make time to be alone with God. The closet and the shut door are indispensable.(...) Be still, and know that God is within thee and around! In the hush of the soul the unseen becomes visible, and the eternal real. (...) Let no day pass without its season of silent waiting before God."^[11]

— FB Meyer, The Secret of Guidance

FB Meyer exerted a deep influence on Frank Buchman (1878–1961), originally a Protestant evangelist who founded the Oxford Group (known as Moral Re-Armament from 1938 until 2001, and as Initiatives of Change since then). Foundational to Buchman's spirituality was the practice of a daily "quiet time" during which, he claimed, anyone could search for, and receive, divine guidance on every aspect of their life. Dr Karl Wick, editor of the Swiss Catholic daily Vaterland, wrote that Buchman had "brought silence out of the monastery into the home, the marketplace and the board room."^[12] Buchman, in turn, taught thousands to "listen and obey", finding amazing resonance with non-Christian as well as Christian religions.^[13]

Buddhist tradition

Buddhist meditation techniques make use of vipassana and samatha techniques in their meditation practice. One of the central categories of Buddhist thought is sunyata, which can be characterized as the silence of ontological Being. Neither the Bodhisattva vows of Mahayana Buddhism nor Theravada typically involve any vows of silence. Vowed religious practitioners do not typically practice silence pursuant to their vows, but rather as a local or "denominational" rule of monastic life.

Zen practice of silence

The Zen monastery is called the zen-dō, and a primary practice is sitting meditation called zazen. Zazen is practiced either in silence, or by chanting. Apart from sitting practice, silence is frequently customary during simple vegetarian rice-gruel meals.^[14] Codified hand and arm gestures are used to communicate.^[14] Silence is generally preceded by a recitation of the Heart sutra and the five meditations.^[14]

Depiction of silence in parable

Various stories or parables depict silence in meditation and action, in both vowed and lay practice.

Three monks who had taken vows of silence were permitted an annual reprieve during which one monk was permitted to speak at the end of each year of silence. At the end of the first year, the first monk was allowed his opportunity to speak, whereupon he said "The soup is too hot." Another year elapsed, and it was the next monk's turn. The monks turned their attention to him, whereupon he said "The soup is too cold." Another year elapsed; it was the third monk's turn. The assembled monks turned to him, whereupon he said "The soup is neither too cold nor too hot. However, it is too salty." By the fourth year, the Abbess had posted a notice that it would be she who would speak at the end of that year. The assembled monks were particularly alert to hear the esteemed Abess give her speech. One could hear the sound of a butterfly's wings in the silence which enveloped the hall. Whereupon the Abess said "There will be no more of this quibbling about the soup." Thus have I heard.^[15]

Four monks decided to meditate silently without speaking for two weeks. By nightfall on the first day, the candle began to flicker and then went out. The first monk said, "Oh, no! The candle is out." The second monk said, "Aren't we not supposed to talk?" The third monk said, "Why must you two break the silence?" The fourth monk laughed and said, "Ha! I'm the only one who didn't speak."^[16]

Silence practice in Judaism

Judaism has a tradition of silence in sacred space and in sacred structures. Although technically not classified as monasteries, synagogues, yeshivas, and beit midrash (house of study) are the models, along with the Tanakh (Bible), upon which the monastic silence tradition are built.^[17]

Rabbi Shmuel Afek starts minyan with five minutes of silence during which each person can engage in his or her own personal preparation for tefillah.^[18] Isadore Twersky states in Introduction to the Code of Maimonides: "One must be attuned to the silences"^[19]

Merton: bridging contemplative traditions

One of the leading exponents of monastic contemplative awareness is Thomas Merton.

Thanks-Giving Square chapel interior in Dallas, Texas

From Thoughts in Solitude (1956)

According to Merton, silence represents a form of transcending paradoxes such as he may have encountered in zazen training.

"Contradictions have always existed in the soul of [individuals]. But it is only when we prefer analysis to silence that they become a constant and insoluble problem. We are not meant to resolve all contradictions but to live with them and rise above them and see them in the light of exterior and objective values which make them trivial by comparison."

— Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude

The Asian Journal

"I am able to approach the Buddhas barefoot and undisturbed, my feet in wet grass, wet sand. Then the silence of the extraordinary faces. The great smiles. Huge and yet subtle. Filled with every possibility, questioning nothing, knowing everything, rejecting nothing, the peace not of emotional resignation but of Madhyamika, of sunyata, that has seen through every question without trying to discredit anyone or anything — without refutation — without establishing some other argument. For the doctrinaire, the mind that needs well-established positions, such peace, such silence, can be frightening."

— Thomas Merton, The Asian Journal

Monastic life

"The chief function of monastic silence is then to preserve that memoria Dei which is much more than just 'memory'. It is a total consciousness and awareness of God which is impossible without silence, recollection, solitude and a certain withdrawal."

— Thomas Merton, Monastic Life

Contemplative silence as protest

In addition to being a major figure in the field of contemplative studies, Merton expressed awareness of social issues conscience.

"I make monastic silence a protest against the lies of politicians, propagandists and agitators..."^[20]

— Thomas Merton, In My Own Words

East-West concurrence on role of silent practice

Monastic silence is a category of practice which unites faiths^[21] and contributes a perennial topic of convergence between eastern and western traditions.^[22] Father Thomas Keating is the founder of Contemplative Outreach and former abbot of St. Benedict's Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado.^[23] He states that "as in Buddhism, Christianity has several contemplative methods. The methods of contemplative prayer are expressed in two traditions: centering prayer, which we represent, and Christian Meditation, designed by John Main, which is now spreading rapidly throughout the world under the charismatic leadership of Father Lawrence Freeman."

Keating's approach is more directly influenced by his collaboration with Buddhists from various traditions, whereas Main is influenced by his travels among Indian Hindus.^[23] Keating states that one "progresses eventually to Christ nature or Buddha nature"^[24] Keating distinguishes his contemplative method from that of John Main, another teacher of Christian mindfulness, but states an affinity for "interior silence". "The John Main approach is a little different than ours, but both go in the same direction: moving beyond dependence on concepts and words to a direct encounter with God on the level of faith and interior silence."^[25]

Fr. James Conner, OCSO wrote about the Fifth Christian–Buddhist Contemplative Conference held at the Naropa Institute in which ordained practitioners from Zen, Vajrayana, and Catholic monastic lineages conducted meditation and discussion. According to Conner, wordless prayer is designed to transcend rational processes to allow perception of an exalted state. "Zen says that Buddha-nature begins where the rational level ends. The same is taught in Christianity. One is to practice thoughtless, wordless prayer and thus perceive the divine presence."^[24]

Silence motif injected into cross-cultural adaptation

Silence is interjected into this Christian parable in some circles.

One of master Gasan's monks visited the university in Tokyo. When he returned, he asked the master if he had ever read the Christian Bible. "No," Gasan replied, "Please read some of it to me." The monk opened the Bible to the Sermon on the Mount in St. Matthew, and began reading. After reading Christ's words about the lilies in the field, he paused. Master Gasan was silent for a long time.^[16] "Yes," he finally said, "Whoever uttered these words is an enlightened being. What you have read to me is the essence of everything I have been trying to teach you here!"

The original rendering of this syncope or parable from the Gospel of Luke does not incorporate silence. The adaptation into Zen tradition could have omitted the role of silence. This particular use of silence is neither monastic nor vowed, but the dialogue may well have taken place in a monastery rather than a university.

Buddhism and Christianity are not the only traditions enunciating the virtues of quietism. The Tao Te Ching enunciates a view of the supreme value of doing absolutely nothing, in a profound metaphysical sense. This is called wu wei and is consistent with the concept of sunyata more fully elaborated in Buddhism. According to the Tao Te Ching, silence is merely the application of this concept to the tongue in addition to hands and feet.

Application of monastic silence practice outside of religious context

The spiritual practice of silence has been extended into the healthcare setting under the rubric of Mind-Body healing.^[26] Dr. Jack Engler of the Theravada tradition of Buddhism is Director of the Schiff Psychiatric Center at Harvard University and participates in Christian–Buddhist dialogue. Dr Engller lived as a novice at the Abbey of Gethsemane, which is affiliated with Merton, and studied Buddhist meditation practices in Burma and India.^[24]

See also

• Bodhi
• John Chrysostom
• Church Fathers
• Dark Night of the Soul
• Meditation
• Mindfulness (psychology)
• David Steindl-Rast
• Sunyata
• Vipassanā

References

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