Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji before leaving to Germany for Mouna (silence) seminar during Sivananda Lahari disourse of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji in the evening – September 1, 2014 – Mysore
Jaya Guru Datta ! Sri Guru Datta !
Sivananda lahari gives Knowledge and Vairagya. Soundarya Lahari gives devotion required for all births. Both Sivananda lahari and Soundarya Lahari are great. You all are listening to this. Very happy.
Tomorrow Swamiji is leaving to Germany. Swamiji will be observing silence for three days. You must be thinking how three days silence will be observed. It will start with sunrise and will continue till bedtime.
Usually man speaks with senses (especially mouth). When this is suppressed, speaking with mind will start. But just not speaking with anyone is not Dhyana (meditation). Keeping the mind calm is Dhyana. Such a meditation is called Mouna Dhyana (silent meditation). Usually practicing Dhyana is silence. But some people will speak while meditating. They will ne chanting mantra or will be internally doing some spiritual discussions. Though it is not wrong, it is not correct also according to the rules.
Then we might think sleeping is silence. Though it sounds logical, Mouna means not speaking anything, even in mind. Not meditating. Not even chanting mantra. Observing silence is just concentrating on the breath. Swamiji’s words “So Hum Hamsa” will be understood only when silence is practiced. It is otherwise not understood. According to the rules we should not speak even in mind.
In one of the bhajans, Swamiji said “Mouna Kalaham Naasti”. Kalaham means we think fighting with relatives for wealth, etc. Could be that is one aspect, but actually Kalaham means “Churning” the internal discussion, measurements, deleting, feeling happy, feeling sad and all sorts of 9 emotional conflicts happening within us. When silence is practiced, conflicts with senses will be dispelled.
The senses can be controlled. It is very difficult to control the pleasures of senses. “Mounam Sakalam Siddhi” The Silence is very powerful. It is more powerful than any Penance or the actions performed. Silence bestows Tejas (radiance). Everyday morning at least 2 hours of silence should be practiced. While practicing silence one should not listen to anything, not even bhajans. One should not think about the household matters too. We should rise to that level. To rise to that level, we should practice silence every day for at least half an hour. We should gaze at Sun God and perform Surya Namaskaras.
Practicing silence will bestow good healthy body, Asana Siddhi, retention power and Self-effulgence (radiation). The power of speech will improve. It should be used for good words and good deeds only. If even one bad word is uttered, the whole practice of silence will become poison. Our every action will become poisonous. Mouna is not just closing mouth with a cloth. Mounam Sakalam Siddhi. Everything can be attained by practicing Mouna. It should be practiced.
While practicing one should take simple Sattvic Ahara. Wear white clothes. Our intellect will be visualizing colours and will be taking photographs of the same, thus better to wear white clothes. Better to be surrounded by white. Washed clothes should be used. Take bath both the times, should not eat spicy and salty foods and avoid sitting beside a known friend. First one should tie a cloth to the mouth to remind himself about the Mouna Vrata. This should be done till he/she gets control during the practice of silence, ons should concentrate on the sound of the breath. Deep inhalation and exhalation should be performed. Meditation should not be done. Even Sadguru should not be meditated upon while observing silence. There is no exemption. With the practice of silence, blood will get purified. Nadis will be purified. Decision making power will improve. Capacity to control the diet can be attained. One will be in a position to control the senses by practicing silence.
After silence is Dhyana. Dhyana can be attained easily as it is practiced while observing silence. While meditating one can concentrate between the eyebrows, or chant mantras. Once the Dhyana is attained, one will attain good health. Silence can be observed by people of all Ashramas (stages viz, Brahmacharya/student life, Grihasta/household life, Vanaprastha/retired life, Sannyasa/renounced life). By practicing silence, one will not take wrong decisions. “Mounam Sakalam Siddhi”, Sakala Sadhana. It destroys the conflict in the senses. Performing this in the prescence of the Sadguru is more powerful. This will help in dispelling problems related to heart, kidneys, 14 important nerves, etc. Practicing silence will pace way to build devotion. During meditation one can concentrate on the Shruthi of Tanpura or chant Mantra. These three days celibacy should be followed. Clean white cloth should be worn. Simple none spicy vegetarian diet should be taken. While in silence one should not listen to either melodious music or chant mantra. It is very difficult. Amonst all Vratas, observing complete silence is the most difficult one. Swamiji is going to perform such a Mouna Vrata for three days.
Jaya Guru Datta
Compiled by Avadhoota DattaPeetham