Lalitha Venkatraman
You could say I was an absolute chatterbox who loved to talk and share everything with my near and dear ones. I needed sound in my life, whether it was blasting music or TV noise in the background. I love to laugh, and I can even laugh even when you shout at me in anger. I’m considered happy-go-lucky despite my physical hurdles because what is life without its ups and downs? My family finds me quite crazy. This penchant for constant chatter, however, has reduced considerably ever since I took up meditation. Indeed, it has made me into a new person.
The more I get into my practice of Heartfulness Meditation, the more I’m aware of the change in me. Nowadays, I find that silence is the best way to talk. The quiet voice from inside my heart is helping me stay calm and centered.
Sometimes, the most meaningful things are found through silence.
Sometimes we hurt people unintentionally with our words. I have done this more than once to my friends by speaking harshly without understanding the situation entirely. I am so grateful for their continued friendship in spite of this, for sticking close to me through my intolerable behavior. Again, it was through meditation that my conscience was made aware of this tendency. I realized the power of silence!
The quieter I become, the more I am able to hear.
I firmly believe that many of us undergo undue stress because of our unmindful chatter. Now that I have begun to embrace silence, by stilling my mind, I appreciate and see the value and wisdom that comes from being quiet. It has also allowed me to become noiseless in my mind so that I keep negative thinking at bay. Of course, I didn’t get all this wisdom overnight, but through intense practice. As I stayed quiet and concentrated on my heart , slowly I could hear my inner voice and intuition. Love expands to all human beings.
Fear less, hope more;
Eat less, chew more;
Whine less, breathe more;
Talk less, say more;
Hate less, love more;
And all good things will be yours.
—Swedish proverb
This is the new me, the one who will appreciate people for their silence rather than feeling uncomfortable. This is my newfound way of communication …not just with words but also in silence.
-By Lalitha Venkatraman
