Therapeutic Silence - Outer vs. Inner Quiet

There is a lot of research coming out these days showing the power of silence to heal our brains and nervous systems.  What happens if we find some quiet time but our thoughts are still loud and driving us crazy?

This article was circulating around Facebook a few weeks ago. Very interesting stuff! ​​http://www.lifehack.org/377243/science-says-silence-much-more-important-our-brains-than-thought

The research on silence may dove-tail with the abundant research on how meditation heals the brain and nervous system. Perhaps one of the main healing components of meditation is just the silence itself. Finding some quiet time - no phones, computers, radio, other people - that is a good start!

Now, actually intentionally sitting for meditation is different....
Because when we sit for meditation we realize that although the environment around us is quiet, our thoughts are really very loud! Constantly talking, judging, analyzing, projecting, computing, worrying, creating, dreaming.... There is a famous analogy in the Yogic tradition likening our mind to a team of crazy wild horses pulling a carriage every-which way. Seem familiar?

Is it even possible to quiet the mind? The answer is YES! But not by stopping your thoughts. It is by refocusing your attention on the Heart that deep inner silence is found. Think of this practice as Heartfulness. Heart-fullness instead of Mind-fullness! By focusing on the very deepest most loving Source of our own Beingness - we connect with something deeper, slower, more open and spacious...   The deepest healing lies within. 

Nicole Becker is the founder and lead teacher at Ojas Yoga Center, El Cerrito and a teacher of Heartfulness Meditation. She teaches regular weekly yoga classes and offers private yoga & meditation instruction. Join her upcoming retreat "Wisdom of the Quiet Heart | Spiritual Yoga Retreat", Sept-15-18. Details here