Dread of Silence

By |2017-07-13T17:43:57-04:00March 25th, 2011|Guest Blogggers & Interviews, Mind, Body & Spirit|

The Naked Monk by Stephen Schettini Stillness is the master of passion —  Tao Te Ching 26 “You teach meditation? I need to do that. Where can I find out more?” So say many people I meet, though few actually sign up. “I’m going through a busy time at work,” they say; or “that’s hockey night.” I’m sure they’re telling the truth, but I’m also sure they’re avoiding the point. Quiet is intimidating. Some of the time we really are busy: creating, studying, engaging with people; we may work simply because we’re good at it and love surfing that tide of accomplishment. Other times we relax in front of the TV, read, chat or play games. We’re always driven to do something. We occasionally call it passing time, as if we have too much on our hands; as if time will never run out. So who can imagine a greater laziness than sitting around doing absolutely nothing — not even thinking. Calling it laziness is yet another evasion, a way to justify avoiding silence. Blame the Protestant Ethic [...]