Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise

If we have a lot of worry, fear, or anguish, that is very fertile ground for thinking that is completely useless, nonproductive, and harmful.

Nonthinking is an art, and like any art, it requires patience and practice. Reclaiming your attention and bringing your mind and body back together for even just ten breaths can be very difficult at first. But with continued practice, you can reclaim your ability to be present and learn just to be.

Anxiety, fear, and uncertainty about future events prevent us from hearing the call of happiness.

If there’s a full moon high in the sky and we’re busy thinking about something else, the moon disappears.

If your volition is only to make enormous amounts of money or to have the biggest number of Twitter followers, that may not lead you to a satisfying life.

The joy of true quiet becomes a daily healing food.

When you sit quietly, you can observe how your thoughts rush in, and you can practice not ruminating on them and instead let them just come and go as you focus on your breath and on the silence inside.

On a clear night, look up, and you can see that you are the stars above.

Just like everything else in the world, your thoughts are impermanent. If you don’t grasp a thought, it arises, stays for a while, and then fades away.