Silence

I have become accustomed to routine periods of silence during the day. I find these periods helpful. They assist me to quiet my mind and to hone in on priorities. There are times when these periods also allow me to sort out conflicts or difficulties with others. 

The contemplative tradition of the Benedictine monks incorporated silence as a method of maintaining the focus of what they considered their spiritual practice. In fact, Benedictine life was punctuated by rare periods of speech, prayer and song. This discipline became the standard of contemplative community life in Europe for centuries. Some Buddhist monastic communities also incorporate silence into their rules. 

My silence is not dictated by a community rule. Peter and I have negotiated these periods rather naturally in our home. I think these silences have facilitated our transition from living apart to living together after ten years of knowing each other. 

I recommend regular periods of silence to anyone searching for personal calm and time for serious thought. I think simple silence while working or walking is the next-best hing to structured meditation. Doing both is a very good combination for any personal practice for health and awareness.