“ma” (間) signifies “space”, time” or “interval
Practice 2- Let there be Silence
The Japanese have a beautiful concept called ‘Ma’ which has been described as a pause in time, the essential void between all things. In Japanese, "ma" (間) signifies "space," "time," or "interval". It can also refer to the pause or emptiness that allows for growth and appreciation of surrounding elements. In essence, "ma" embodies the beauty and significance of negative space and moments of silence. It is the silent moment in a conversation, or the silence between the notes that make music. Ma, being filled with nothing but energy and feeling, creates peace of mind and serenity within. Author Katrina Goldsait illustrates the concept of ma in a delightful book, The Sound of Silence, that tells the story of Yoshio, a boy living in a big, bustling Tokyo: “The notes were twangy and twinkling; they tickled Yoshio’s ears! When the song finished, Yoshio said, “Sensei, I love sounds, but I’ve never heard a sound like that!” The koto player laughed. “Sensei,” Yoshio said, ”do you have a favorite sound? “The most beautiful sound,” the koto player said, “is the sound of ma, of silence.” “Silence?” Yoshiko asked. But the Koto player just gave him a mysterious smile and went back to playing.” The next day Yoshio is reading alone in his classroom: “Suddenly, in the middle of a page, he heard it. No sounds of footsteps, no people chattering, no radios, no kotos being tuned. In that short moment, Yoshio couldn’t even hear the sound of his own breath. Everything felt still inside him. Peaceful, like the garden after it snowed. Like feather-stuffed futons drying in the sun. “Silence had been there all along.” What happens in those moments when your conversation goes silent? When silence arises not just for a few seconds but for an extended period of time? What happens in those moments when you become aware of your own breathing, the gap in the conversation, the void that fills the space? Does it begin to feel awkward, uncomfortable, doubt-filled? Is there an urge to end the silence, to say something? to shift back into the comfort of conversation? Or do you stay with the silence and just be with the person? What happens in those moments?
In any conversation there is the potential for ma, for the breath of silence to be experienced. In the conversations, pauses and short periods of silence are accepted as part of active listening, an integral social skill, yet many people are not comfortable with even brief moments of silence in conversation, let alone prolonged periods. Rather than viewing silence as adding value to the conversation, it is avoided in favor of keeping things comfortable or moving the conversation forward. Our inner voice gets hidden from view behind ceaseless thinking and mental noise, our essential nature is not expereienced through the thinking mind, but in the stience of our mind.
Moment of Pause - Reflect on Silence
Are you comfortable with silence?
Do you embrace ‘ma’ or silence when you are alone or with others?
When silences arise in conversation, how do you usually react?
What happens for you when you allow silent periods in your life?
Let there be silence is a self-awareness practice, and it is aimed at bringing us into an experience of our deepest interior reality. In our modern world, where silence can be so elusive, the practice of silence can change our lives for the better: it encourages inward observation, connection to your thoughts and emotion, and it is an important aspect of well-being. The world’s spiritual teachers and avatars have all advocated periods of silence in order to contemplate the higher truths about life and to experience the essential nature of Self and our relationship with the human Spirit, the universe, and each other. Silence results naturally when we slow it all down and sync with the rhythm of life. Silence arises when we nurture healing spaces, because deep silence is a healing space. Practice let there be silence starts with the willingness to quieten the voice, to allow more space into conversations, knowing the mind will flow suit, that the mental chatter will slow down. Inspiration can then arise in the space between thoughts and words. Silence gives time to explore hidden thoughts and subtle feelings, to contemplate ideas, examine intentions, and integrate experiences, and to put together what we want to say before giving it voice. Contemplative silence is a refuge from the noise of the world and the drama of ‘my story’ a space where we can be more centered, contemplative, and appreciative.
Within prolonged periods of silence there is a richness of texture and possibility that supports inner shift from outside in. Prolonged silence is a necessary condition for perceiving the thoughts, energies, and image which emanate from the higher mind. Prolonged silence invites “breath,” and an aspirational process that helps us drop below the surface into a deeper realm of being. Here we may experience what appears as two selves: the self we currently live through and our emerging Self. Silence allows us to begin harmonizing these two selves as we contemplate questions like:
What is no longer true for me?
What am I ready to let go of?
Who am I becoming if I let go of what I know?
What am I sensing emerging in me?
As we move even further into prolonged periods of silence we connect with stillness. Stillness of mind is far more than the silencing of speech. In stillness we create the condition for an intimate experience of our essence, of who I AM. This is a profound journey to take, the journey of silence into the inner most sanctuary of being. As you overcome any discomfort with silence, you will create transformative space which enables others to listen within, make connections, see emerging patterns and opportunities, and ultimately, heal your own limiting self-concept. Learn to let there be silence, for it is the perfect position from which to bear witness to the natural unfolding process of change. In silence there is nowhere to go to, no result that must be achieved.