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1/3: Another way to look at silence is to see it as a mode of experiencing, rather than a lack of sound waves reaching our ears. Can we tune off the perception

1/3: Another way to look at silence is to see it as a mode of experiencing, rather than a lack of sound waves reaching our ears. Can we tune off the perception of the sounds around us? If we can, is that a valid experience of silence? In fact, it might even be a more meaningful interpretation of silence than as the physical absence of sound -- after all, even when there is an absence of sound, we can be holding a conversation in our heads with a frenemy... [Edit: 1/N => 1/3]

dsubburam 8y ago
2/3: Carrying that analogy further, let's say we did "conquer" the perception of sound down to switching it off. But our visual stimuli is very active. Either we are captivated by a busy scene in front of us, or though we have our eyes closed, we are actively dreaming up images. We are still busy. Technically silent, but not silent in the spirit of the concept. So to extend our contemplation, perhaps true silence is when we tune off all perception -- sounds, sights, smells, touch, taste and yes, abstract thoughts too. For if we are busy thinking up, say, a proof to Pythagoras theorem, that doesn't quite fit the bill of the concept of silence either, even if there are no sights/sounds/etc involved. [Edit: 2/N => 2/3]
dsubburam 8y ago
3/3: Impossible, you say? Well, we all do it on a daily basis. In deep sleep. And maybe that's the key to the craving of silence. For we find deep sleep very restful, and we crave it during our wakefulness as well. I am just contemplating here, typing in real time -- have experience with meditation, and extrapolating it vis a vis the article at hand. I have kinda learnt to "sleep" while being awake and aware. The trick is to let the perceptions come and be, but not do any "work" with them. No interpretation, no labeling, no drawing of boundaries around objects. When thoughts arise, just automatically forget them, not even remembering that they arose. It can be quite restful and rejuvenating; perhaps because it is a silence of sorts. [Edit: N/N => 3/3]

dsubburam 8y ago

2/3: Carrying that analogy further, let's say we did "conquer" the perception of sound down to switching it off. But our visual stimuli is very active. Either we are captivated by a busy scene in front of us, or though we have our eyes closed, we are actively dreaming up images. We are still busy. Technically silent, but not silent in the spirit of the concept. So to extend our contemplation, perhaps true silence is when we tune off all perception -- sounds, sights, smells, touch, taste and yes, abstract thoughts too. For if we are busy thinking up, say, a proof to Pythagoras theorem, that doesn't quite fit the bill of the concept of silence either, even if there are no sights/sounds/etc involved. [Edit: 2/N => 2/3]

dsubburam 8y ago

3/3: Impossible, you say? Well, we all do it on a daily basis. In deep sleep. And maybe that's the key to the craving of silence. For we find deep sleep very restful, and we crave it during our wakefulness as well. I am just contemplating here, typing in real time -- have experience with meditation, and extrapolating it vis a vis the article at hand. I have kinda learnt to "sleep" while being awake and aware. The trick is to let the perceptions come and be, but not do any "work" with them. No interpretation, no labeling, no drawing of boundaries around objects. When thoughts arise, just automatically forget them, not even remembering that they arose. It can be quite restful and rejuvenating; perhaps because it is a silence of sorts. [Edit: N/N => 3/3]