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

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]