The Significance of #Maunam #Silence
Maunam is the attribute of a Muni. But the ordinary meaning of this word is silence. Our Dharma Sastras have prescribed the observance of maunam (मौनम्) on various occasions. We are asked to observe maunam when taking food. In this context,
Maunam is the attribute of a Muni. But the ordinary meaning of this word is silence. Our Dharma Sastras have prescribed the observance of maunam (मौनम्) on various occasions. We are asked to observe maunam when taking food. In this context,
maunam means only non-speaking (silence). Controlling the urge to speak is one among the many steps leading us to our spiritual goal. Maunam is an important method of worshipping God. Maunam in this context does not mean merely silence. It is also the process of keeping the mind
free of all thoughts. It implies that we should keep all our senses under perfect control, so that during the period of silence, the limbs may not move even involuntarily. Such a maunam will enable the divine spark within every one of us to become active in its progress towards
the realization of the Paramaatma. The waves of thoughts that continuously rise and fall in our minds keep the all-pervading Atma hidden from us. Once the flow of thoughts is checked, the Atma begins to function. This kind of maunam is also an attribute of a muni. That is why we
have been enjoined not to think for a while every day – tooshneem kinchit achintayan तूष्णीम् किञ्चिन्तयन्.
If we do not make a conscious effort to practice maunam, to keep all thoughts away, we will regret later for having lived a purposeless life. From “no thought”, we can
If we do not make a conscious effort to practice maunam, to keep all thoughts away, we will regret later for having lived a purposeless life. From “no thought”, we can
develop the practice of “God thought” thinking of God. We can repeat the name of God and also concentrate our mind on the Divine Mother, or Lakshmi Narayana, or Uma-Maheswara. A person who has fallen into bad company has to seek the help of a policeman to free himself from that
association. Once he is assured that his former evil associates will no longer trouble him, he can discontinue the police protection. Similarly, we seek the grace of one or the other manifestation of the Supreme Being to purge our hearts of all impurities, so that the Atma within
us can easily realize the Formless and All-pervading God. Good association leads to “no association”, which in its turn leads to realization of the Ultimate Truth or the Supreme Bliss. Thereafter the Atma is freed from further births. That is the import of the following Bhaja
Govindam verse:
सत्सङ्गत्वे निस्सङ्गत्वम् निस्सङ्गत्वे निर्मोहत्वम् ।
निर्मोहत्वे निश्चलत्वम् निश्चलत्वे जीवन् म
Satsangatve nissangatvam
Nissangatve nirmohatvam
Nirmohatve nishchalatattvam
Nishchalatattve jeevanmukti
Through the company of the wise or the good,
सत्सङ्गत्वे निस्सङ्गत्वम् निस्सङ्गत्वे निर्मोहत्वम् ।
निर्मोहत्वे निश्चलत्वम् निश्चलत्वे जीवन् म
Satsangatve nissangatvam
Nissangatve nirmohatvam
Nirmohatve nishchalatattvam
Nishchalatattve jeevanmukti
Through the company of the wise or the good,
there arises non-attachment; from non-attachment comes freedom from delusion; where there is freedom from delusion, there is abidance in self-knowledge, which leads to freedom while alive.
Sarvam Sri Krishnarpanam 🙏🏻
Sarvam Sri Krishnarpanam 🙏🏻
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