Of Solitude and Silence

CHITRANJAN SAWANT





Our sojourn in Gulmarg and Sonamarg was indeed pleasant. It was a quiet holiday , away from the daily grind. I asked my two-and-a-half-year-old son how he liked the quiet hills, away from the bustling metropolis. “Meetha“ (sweet), was his prompt reply . The sweetness of solitude, or ekant, enhanced by the lofty hills and beautiful dales gave spiritual calm to adults and children alike.The fresh, unpolluted air made our spirits soar. We tended to be spiritualistic and sat closer to our Maker. We were at peace, with ourselves and the world.On high hills and mountains, in deep valleys and pathless banks, the ambience is such that we can whisper to ourselves and our Maker. The whisper is audible to the internal ears alone. It is a state of soundlessness. There is a feeling of fullness. Or a nothingness that is a state of non-being.
Solitude and silence played a pivotal role in achieving emotional balance in the Vedic social order. The four ashrams made up the cornerstone for a happy life. Social homogeneity was as important as solitude in a gurukul where children and adolescents learnt lessons of life at the feet of their gurus.
We find that even in a military establishment like the National Defence Academy , Khadakwasla, observance of a quiet period is mandatory for cadets to enable them to recharge their batteries to cope with the onerous training schedule. Silence is energy-giving. A period of quiet helps us to organise thoughts, reflect and introspect, helping one to get rejuvenated with a fresh perspective.

Source: Economic Times, 7-06-2016