Daily practice of Mouna

[c.smith]

As part of my daily sadhana, I've wanted to commit to a period of mouna - say perhaps the 2 hours during brahma muhurta when I do my puja, etc. Problem is, I seem to catch myself talking to myself, making little noises etc. Does anyone else? Does anyone else practice and have any pointers? Your feedback is appreciated.

Om Namah Shivaya!

[Eastern Mind]

Vannakkam c.smith: In some monastic sannyasin orders, a vow of 1 year or more is taken. Other cave dwellers go for the whole lifetime communicating by pen and paper only. You have difficulty for 2 hours? I have difficulty for 5 minutes.
:)
Aum Namasivaya

[Sahasranama]

If you just mean not speaking, that's very easy.

[Arjuni]

Namasté, C. Smith,

When I started thinking about the sacredness of words and breath, it was then that I noticed just how many noises I seem to make, all of the time. Humming, in particular, was a problem. (Thank goodness I work at home and spend nearly all of my time alone!)

Mouna will help you become more aware and attentive to all sounds you produce, and from your post it sounds as if it's working. A teacher once suggested a beginner meditation aid to me, which might help you for sound as well.

Keep a slip of paper and a pencil near, and each time you notice yourself making an inadvertent sound, make a mark. The end total for each session may be discouraging at first, but no doubt the number of unintentional interruptions will reduce as you practice more.

Many people are afraid of silence; I know several who can't seem to function without the radio or TV playing at every moment. If you're accustomed to sound, quieting that noise can be as frightening as sleeping in the dark for the first time. I find, also, that I tend to talk to myself when I'm scared about doing something new and/or failing, and that the "conversation" is really "procrastination." A gentle, quiet, mental conversation with yourself to ask "Am I afraid of being silent, and if so, why?" might provide some answers, and perhaps a focus for a meditation or two.

Don't be discouraged; instead, humbly remind yourself that the very purpose of "practice" is to grow in skill over time, and not to soothe the ego by mastering a technique immediately!

Indraneela
===
"I wait the power of one like thee, O Indra, gifts of a Helper such as thou art, Hero.
Strong, Mighty God, dwell with me now and ever."
Oṁ Indrāya Namaḥ.
Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya.

[satay]

namaste,


As part of my daily sadhana, I've wanted to commit to a period of mouna - say perhaps the 2 hours during brahma muhurta when I do my puja, etc. Problem is, I seem to catch myself talking to myself, making little noises etc. Does anyone else? Does anyone else practice and have any pointers? Your feedback is appreciated.

Om Namah Shivaya!

I used to practice mauna everyday when I was a child. I think one of my teachers asked us to do it once in the class and I just continued doing it everyday for 15 or 30 mins. I didn't understand the spiritual value of it and all I did was not talk for that time.

Just don't talk or make a sound. That's manuna. Now, stopping the mind chatter that's a different thing altogether and Yajvan can give you a lot of pointers on that. :)

[Eastern Mind]

namaste,



I used to practice mauna everyday when I was a child. I think one of my teachers asked us to do it once in the class and I just continued doing it everyday for 15 or 30 mins. I didn't understand the spiritual value of it and all I did was not talk for that time.

Just don't talk or make a sound. That's manuna. Now, stopping the mind chatter that's a different thing altogether and Yajvan can give you a lot of pointers on that. :)

Vannakkam: Hey, I did that with my classes. It was until noon only, but one year they liked it so much they asked on paper to continue until afternoon dismissal. Very eye-opening for all of us, perhaps me more than anyone as the teacher does more talking. Paper communication worked, non-verbal body language worked, as did the blackboard. Even did some group work or paired work. I was kidding earlier. At temple gardening, most mornings I mag go 4 or 5 hours. For me there it was mostly how much it opens your ears.

Aum Namasivaya

[Adhvagat]

Are you guys serious? I'm not trying to feel superior (hehe), but being quiet (externally) is very easy for me since I'm quite introverted.

I speak very little and as of now I'm trying to focus attention on only studying psychology and the vedas.

The problem lies inside... I think the real mouna is within the mind, and well, I guess that's not really properly done in my case either, my mind talks like crazy.

These problems mentioned of people who can't stand silence is because they are afraid of introvertion, they are afraid of themselves. A common problem of modern life who preaches that you must be an extroverted person in order to achieve anything or even be happy!

Om Tat Sat

[satay]

I used to get the 'feedback' from my boss... 'you are too quiet in meetings. you need to speak more. take charge.' :rolleyes:

I used to think 'but where I came from I was taught silence is gold man.'

Then I realized he is right. There is the spiritual side and there is the business side. If I have to survive among sharks, I better speak up or be eaten. Now, I take the balanced approach.

Mauna is a great daily practice.

[c.smith]

Hari Om!

I know that this is an old topic, but I've taken new intrest in it as I've started again.

Yes, I am having some success which I feel is progress in the right direction. What I'm finding is that the mind does "say" alot while the mouth is shut, and new for me - that half of what I'm thinking and would normally say doesn't need to be said in the first place. Not that it's nervous chatter to verbalize necessarily, just useless stuff that doesn't need to be said.

Thanks for all the advice as I'm reading over it again. It's a big help as I embark on the trail.

Om Namah Sivaya
Jai Hanuman!

[Eastern Mind]

Vannakkam: Some days when I go to temple, or also on pilgrimage, I go with, "Don't speak unless spoken to." It's quite amazing how it opens up the eyes to stuff going on you wouldn't normally see.

Aum Namasivaya

[Adhvagat]

If your mind is talking, why not talk with it and understand it instead of trying to shut it down? :)

[smaranam]

If your mind is talking, why not talk with it and understand it instead of trying to shut it down? :)

Namaste Pietro

You are right, trying to shut down the mind is not right.

We gently talk it out of the mundane, to its real home - like this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQMG2ogNbpc&NR=1)

:)

Whatever it is trying to say, if it is sick, jumbled, confused, tired, bored, it will be grateful you steered it towards its real home. And it is simple to do - no big prayAs needed.

_/\_

[c.smith]

Hari Om!

I hope that I didn't give the impression that I was shutting down - just seeing some useless things in (my mind that is) there and replacing them with much more appropriate content, much like the kirtan from the post above. Some of the thinking I do - I see the cause and sometimes don't to be honest. Often I'm able to replace "negative thought" with those that are more spiritual in context. I like that because it is in line with my "goals" for lack of a better term. Not sure that I'm conveying myself clearly, but I'll be the first to admit that I'm not perfect - just a seeker along the path trying to devote my life to God as best I'm able.

As always-

Om Namah Sivaya
Jai Hanuman!

[smaranam]

Hari Om

No, your earlier posts about maun were quite clear, maun is a very attractive and nice thing spiritually. I was only explaining to Pietro how it does not mean shutting down, but can actually be a lot of fun away from the mundane. You are right, kirtan is one form of it - or any way of associating/interacting with the Lord of the heart.

(What to speak of the kirtan lead by TukArAm* (one of the saMkirtan pioneers) - whether original or his modern version )

_/\_ praNAm


*for those who didn't get it: Loknath Swami is affectionately called "TukArAm of ISKCON" by some.

[smaranam]

P.S. It is a matter of standing aside (outside any mind-clutter) and witnessing a Divine Leela, rather than witnessing a mundane mind-chatter. When the Divine Leela is so attractive, the mundane automatically goes away, is of least interest.

[saidevo]

namaste Smith.

According to Physics, there is no absolute rest in the universe (since everything is in motion). But then there IS absolute rest in deep sleep.

Thus it seems that maunam--silence, as a state of stillness in the actions of body and mind is impossible to accomplish except in deep sleep (and in the fourth state of turIya when one can enter it).

However, maunam is only a means towards an end, which is shAnti--peace of mind. When does one have peace of mind? When there is no anticipation in thoughts and feelings. In spirituality, it seems that there is nothing to anticipate--look forward to. 'Be still and know your Self' is the message of RamaNa maharShi. All our sAdhana are only means towards this end of knowing the Self.

In practice, therefore, it seems that the state of silence is attained when there is peace of mind. The mind is at peace when our thoughts are in unison with the task in hand, with our bodily movements aligned to it, and there is no anticipation as to the fruits of the action.