Entering The Silence
from Steps to Mastership
Uranda 1936
The true aim
of the
Silence is to attune one's receptivity to a phase of Being which is not
ordinarily within the range of comprehension. We may well ask, "What is
the Silence?" It is not allowing
one's self to drift into an insensible state where control of the faculties is
relinquished to chance influences.
What is
spoken of as Entering the Silence is in reality a change of attunement, so
that the usual sound vibrations are not detected and the unusual sound
vibrations are brought within the range of receptivity. The person who learns
to rightly enter the Silence attunes himself to a world that is new to him, and
he becomes aware of things of which he knew nothing before.
You must Silence, or "turn off," the
usual faculties of reception if you wish to have any success in attuning
yourself to the higher vibration receptivity. This is the reason the process is
rightly called the Silence. When you learn to Silence the usual receptive
faculties, by turning your attention away from them and directing your
attention to the vibrations of Higher Consciousness, you will find that you
will begin to perceive vibrations of a very unusual nature.
In this
higher state of reception, you begin to experience a blending of senses which
is very difficult to explain in words. It is as if a blending of Sight, Hearing
and Feeling took place without diminishing from any, but rather increasing the
perception of each through the blending. In this way all vibrations are perceived
simultaneously as sound, vision and feeling.
In the
physical planes, one can see vibrations which cannot be heard or felt; for
instance, in the rainbow. But suppose you could hear and feel the vibrations of
the rainbow as well as see them. The joy of perception would be multiplied. Likewise,
the average person can hear things that he cannot see or feel, such as music. A
true musician or lover of music learns to feel the music as well as hear it.
But many cannot get the "feel" of music, especially if it is
classical. Imagine the joy of a perfectly harmonious seeing, hearing and
feeling of musical expression. Also, we can feel things that cannot be seen or
heard. For instance, cold. You can see the effects of cold, but you cannot see
the cold itself. Suppose you could see, hear and feel cold without suffering
any discomfort from it. You can be assured that the result would be delightful.
A vague idea of the result may be seen in the Aurora Borealis, or Northern
Lights.
Thus it is
seen that the Silence is really a process of expanding the receptive faculties
so that one becomes aware of the Spiritual Essence of all things. In this way the door is opened to Absolute Knowledge. A
hint of the process involved may be seen in true Intuition, which is a knowing
of fact without being fully aware of the means by which the knowledge was obtained.
Intuition is a step in the right direction, but the faculties of Intuition must
be developed until complete Absolute Perception is consciously induced. When
this has been accomplished, the individual has progressed from Intuition to
Illumination.
The first
necessity for complete entrance into the Silence is a room where you can be
free from interruption. A partial Silence may be enjoyed at any time, in any
place, but a regular time in the same room is required for full results. A set
time each day helps to establish a rhythmic response to Cosmic Harmony. The
time of day depends on the Student. The most important considerations in
selecting a time, night or day, are probability of regularity, likelihood of
freedom from interruptions, and the responsiveness of the Student. Each must
make his own selection. Some find the morning hours best. Others have trouble
with the mind wandering soon after waking, and for them it may be that the
evening would be best. Select the hour when you feel that your faculties are
most subject to perfect control, and then stick to that hour no matter what
else must go undone.
Some get
best results while reclining, but if one is inclined to go to sleep too easily,
a sitting position is best. Others get best results in the sitting position,
regardless of the tendency to sleep. If you feel yourself going to sleep, and
you are unable to control the inclination, stop the Silence at once and wait
for another time. After you have found the best way for yourself, use the same
position, in the same place, in the same chair or couch, in the same room, at
the same time each day. After a time the room and chair or couch will become
charged with your Spiritual Vibrations and you will find it easier to harmonize
quickly.
After you
are in position, relax thoroughly in
a comfortable way. Begin to breathe deeply, slowly and rhythmically. Then
gradually reduce the depth of the inhalation, until you are breathing as little
as you can without strain. Then forget your breathing. During the period of
conscious breathing, feel as if you are Breathing the Spirit of God and that
the Spirit is flowing down through your whole body, charging you with Light,
Love and Life.
The next step
in entering the Silence should be prayer. The prayer should be a thankful
realization of the Light, Love and Life of God as filling your whole body and
the room where you are. Also you should express the idea that you are letting
yourself be opened to whatever wisdom and understanding God may see fit to
reveal to you, or for which you are ready.
After your
prayer, relax your mind and let it be bathed in a realization of the words you
have expressed. During this period of mind relaxation you should feel your
attention drawn to some one word, and that word is the Word of Wisdom for you during
that particular Silence. It may be a word in your prayer, or it may be another
word, such as Joy, Peace, Understanding, or Strength. As a rule, the best Key
Words of Wisdom are found in one of the following—but do not force a selection
of one of them if you are drawn to another word—Father, God, Light, Son,
Christ, Love, Soul, Holy Spirit, Life, Radiance, Blending, Oneness, Cosmic, Universe,
or Universal. It is best not to try to select a Key Word of Wisdom before
entering the Silence. Trust to Divine Guidance to draw your attention to the Word
which is most needed by you. Your human mind is not capable of making the
correct selection.
When you
feel your attention drawn to one word, pick it up mentally with all the love
and tenderness that you would show in handling your firstborn child. Without
tension, let your perception of it blend into seeing, hearing and feeling. Recognize
it as one avenue of approach to limitless Absolute Knowledge. Begin to follow
mentally the leading of your one word. Questions about it may arise. That is
good. Do not try to answer them yourself but let the answers come through you. Consider
the word as a name card attached to a single Ribbon of Light which will lead
you to a priceless treasure when you trace
it through to its Source. Avoid an attitude of study toward your word, but rather let your attention dwell upon it
without effort as you watch it unfold—just as you would watch the theme of a
motion picture unfold.
No matter
how interesting the unfolding theme of a Word may be, do not try to pick it up
again in your next Silence. Enter the Silence without thought of a Key Word,
and then take up the one that is drawn to you during the period of relaxed meditation
following your prayer. In this way you will be gradually drawn into an
understanding of all that you need to know. As you become accustomed to sailing
on the deep blue Sea of Truth, you will be able to go farther, and still
farther, on the Ocean of Absolute Knowledge. And lo, it will not be long till
you have the thrill of seeing the Beacon Light which welcomes you to your
Haven, the Port of Illumination.
At first
devote fifteen to twenty minutes once or twice a day to your Devotional Period
of Realization, or Silence, and then increase the time as you are able to
develop mental control. At the first signs of wavering, stop and wait for the
next time. No one can tell another how long he should remain in the Silence.
Always close
your Silence with a prayer, giving thanks for the privilege of going Home to
your Father, and for the understanding you have gained. Let the Spirit within
guide you in your expression of prayer. Express what you feel. It is often best
to pray aloud in both prayers, as this helps to exclude other thoughts from
your mind and it gives you a greater sense of Reality. After you have gained
absolute control, you may offer a silent prayer if you choose. Let the Spirit
direct.
© Emissaries of Divine Light
