If the waiting rooms of life are drab and lifeless, then the waiting room of the soul is another matter altogether. There our own personal demons are slowly wrestled to the ground as the unassuming discipline of silence takes its hold. The possibilities of the present outshine the fears of tomorrow and we discover that silence is in fact a friend rather than a foe, a place of refreshment and strength rather than a source of fear.
As my friend Paul said to me this morning, ‘ I am realising that for so many of us the way in is the way out, and the way to open up real possibility is by shutting down and shutting up.’ Good one Paul, I love your words.
In the Middle Ages there were over fourteen hundred hermitages across Western Europe; places where the secrets of the waiting room could be fully explored, places where the discipline of silence was practised and honed. Yet where do we find such places now and who can be our mentors in such secret crafts? To my surprise on BBC 2 is one answer, catching as I did this evening the final episode of the series ‘The Big Silence.’ Highly recommended viewing for those with access to iplayer; perhaps the ancient paths are beginning to find a way back.
I have a question tonight however. It is this. In the waiting room of the soul, what stories do you think the passing traveller, weary from the demands of life, would draw strength from? Yes those travellers already finding it hard to keep their footing as the pressures of living get ever greater. Indeed what stories for the anxious parent as they contemplate a future almost certainly very different to the one those of us in the west have become so used to these last decades?
You know the celebrities and the somebodies of this world don’t have those stories. No the rich are cocooned from such issues for their money buys the luxury of instant distraction. All the poorer for that, the inner place of contentment can remain sadly illusive. The keys lie elsewhere………….in your story and mine.
So what stories would you like to read…………..in this most private of waiting rooms?
That’s a good question isn’t it? Well, I like it!
Night.
A very good question, may need a bit of silent pondering to answer…
“perhaps the ancient paths are beginning to find a way back.”
I’m with you on this one re: ancient paths. I definitely see a restoration of the ‘contemplative way’, along with the accompanying mystical lifestyle, such as spoken about by the christian mystics of old.
Hey Andy Welcome to this little piece of on line space. Glad to be on the same path
It baffles me as to why a lot of people find silence and stillness threatening, scary or wierd – I crave it. I live in London and the noise and chasing of tails in the hectic city drives me nuts. I long for retreats – and go on one at least once a year. sitting quietly just sitting or reading or being in nature, it’s like a cool glass of water on a warm day. Then I go back to London, refreshed and calm and happier – until the annoyance of life’s noise, materialism, greed and unfriendliness comes blasting back:)) – I love silence, and it connects me to who I am, and to Life and nature and a sence of love and calm…and silent periods help me cope with a lot of life’s challenges and difficulties.
I found this programme totally inspiring. The benefits of silence are so easy to find and available to all. We all need to relearn this in our society.
Good one Mike. Thanks for calling by.
Hi Steve – do you only welcome the men who post on here?:)
how about a friendly reply to us girls too:)
Big apologies Naomi! Big welcome to you too
Thanks for calling by Reckon you and I should swap lives. A bit of London noise for me….some country quiet for you. Apologies again.
I saw the first episode and loved it, but the rest don’t seem to be available on iplayer!
All 3 programmes are available on YouTube.
Thanks Steve:) – I didn’t mean to sound petty – I just love being included in things.
I would happily swap! I’m ready to sell up and move to the south coast:)
Nel – I agree – and the last ep was on 17th nov but only on bbc scotland. So I missed it. I feel like contacting the bbc to ask if they would consider lending me a dvd of the series. They’ll probably not agree to do so, but worth a try.
Another idea is contact the bbc to ask them for a repeat to be shown soon.
N:)
ps I’m in huge need of going off again on retreat. Have booked in to one in scotland in feb – 2 weeks silence. Cannae wait.
Sounds like you have some treats lined up! Enjoy
I recently discovered The Big Silence and watched on You Tube the first two segments. The next day all of it and all of The Monastery disappeared off of You Tube.
I am extremely disappointed. I’m in the US, what happened for these people in the last episode???
A mix of responses but without exception they carried into their futures profound change from the whole journey. Courage and grace for your journey also for yes, good stories always carry the dna of redemption
In the waiting room of the soul, what stories do you think the passing traveller, weary from the demands of life, would draw strength from?
strength
I have heard it said good stories always have redemption. Stories of hope. Triumph. Hope. Good over evil. And that doesn’t necessarily mean a happy ending in our world, but growth in the internal world. One might remain in prison built by men, but soar internally because of it. Not that I want to experience oppression. For whatever reason broad oppression doesn’t seem to bring forth mass internal growth that impacts the world for the better. If it did the Chinese people would certainly be very influential since there are so many of them working for 8 cents and hour to provide all this stuff we are burying ourselves in.