it's the birthday Kenneth Patchen, one of my favorite poets He said, "Think enough and you won't know anything." He went on to write and illustrate over 40 books of poetry.
There is a knowledge that comes directly to your heart and soul, when we are not thinking;a universal, eternal knowledge that is behind and beyond words.
I'm grateful to have the inner stillness and silence to hear and receive this knowledge and to be able to share it.
share with me-leave a comment.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
a few more silence posts
100 plus visitors-thanks
“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.”
Mother Teresa
True silence is the rest of the mind; it is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment. ~William Penn
Silence is the true friend that never betrays. ~Confucius
Silence is a source of great strength. ~Lao Tzu
Silence is the universal refuge, the sequel to all dull discourses and all foolish acts, a balm to our every chagrin, as welcome after satiety as after disappointment. ~Henry David Thoreau
Accustomed to the veneer of noise, to the shibboleths of promotion, public relations, and market research, society is suspicious of those who value silence. ~John Lahr
The Arctic expresses the sum of all wisdom: Silence. ~Walter Bauer
Now all my teachers are dead except silence. ~W.S. Merwin
God's poet is silence! His song is unspoken,
And yet so profound, so loud, and so far,
It fills you, it thrills you with measures unbroken,
And as soft, and as fair, and as far as a star.
~Joaquin Miller
You can hear the footsteps of God when silence reigns in the mind. ~Sri Sathya Sai Baba
We must have reasons for speech but we need none for silence. ~Proverb
There are times when silence has the loudest voice. ~Leroy Brownlow
Silences make the real conversations between friends. Not the saying but the never needing to say is what counts. ~Margaret Lee Runbeck
Let us be silent, that we may hear the whispers of the gods. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
and only 10 c0mments-leave me one.
blessings,
Robyn
“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.”
Mother Teresa
True silence is the rest of the mind; it is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment. ~William Penn
Silence is the true friend that never betrays. ~Confucius
Silence is a source of great strength. ~Lao Tzu
Silence is the universal refuge, the sequel to all dull discourses and all foolish acts, a balm to our every chagrin, as welcome after satiety as after disappointment. ~Henry David Thoreau
Accustomed to the veneer of noise, to the shibboleths of promotion, public relations, and market research, society is suspicious of those who value silence. ~John Lahr
The Arctic expresses the sum of all wisdom: Silence. ~Walter Bauer
Now all my teachers are dead except silence. ~W.S. Merwin
God's poet is silence! His song is unspoken,
And yet so profound, so loud, and so far,
It fills you, it thrills you with measures unbroken,
And as soft, and as fair, and as far as a star.
~Joaquin Miller
You can hear the footsteps of God when silence reigns in the mind. ~Sri Sathya Sai Baba
We must have reasons for speech but we need none for silence. ~Proverb
There are times when silence has the loudest voice. ~Leroy Brownlow
Silences make the real conversations between friends. Not the saying but the never needing to say is what counts. ~Margaret Lee Runbeck
Let us be silent, that we may hear the whispers of the gods. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
and only 10 c0mments-leave me one.
blessings,
Robyn
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
some silent quotes
Bob Dylan:
I accept chaos. I am not sure whether it accepts me. I know some people are terrified of the bomb. But then some people are terrified to be seen carrying a modern screen magazine. Experience teaches us that silence terrifies people the most.
Cato the Elder:
I think the first virtue is to restrain the tongue; he approaches nearest to gods who knows how to be silent, even though he is in the right.
Confucius:
Silence is the true friend that never betrays.
Martin Luther King, Jr.:
We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
Proverbs 17:28:
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Rachel Naomi Remen:
The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention.... A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words.
Thomas Merton:
It is in deep solitude that I find the gentleness with which I can truly love my brothers. The more solitary I am the more affection I have for them…. Solitude and silence teach me to love my brothers for what they are, not for what they say.
Got one? leave it as a comment
I accept chaos. I am not sure whether it accepts me. I know some people are terrified of the bomb. But then some people are terrified to be seen carrying a modern screen magazine. Experience teaches us that silence terrifies people the most.
Cato the Elder:
I think the first virtue is to restrain the tongue; he approaches nearest to gods who knows how to be silent, even though he is in the right.
Confucius:
Silence is the true friend that never betrays.
Martin Luther King, Jr.:
We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
Proverbs 17:28:
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Rachel Naomi Remen:
The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention.... A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words.
Thomas Merton:
It is in deep solitude that I find the gentleness with which I can truly love my brothers. The more solitary I am the more affection I have for them…. Solitude and silence teach me to love my brothers for what they are, not for what they say.
Got one? leave it as a comment
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Is not posting silence?
I want to sit down and write y'all a long series of posts of how I got to where I am today-making safe refuge for all beings seeking stillness and silence in a frantic and noisy world. I know the beginning is a good place to start and I just haven't. I think I have a few projects that need to be finished up to open the space for some serious writing.
I've been submitting proposals to existing institutions and looking at properties to buy and praying a lot and walking in the wilderness and waiting for way to open.
Stillness in motion...motion in stillness-tai chi, mindfulness meditation,listening, patience, curiosity.
Contemplative activism.
We can seek to understand the universe with the one that hangs the stars in the sky and makes the flowers grow, or we can try to do it ourselves.
I visited CooperRiis a healing farm for young adults living with mental illness and witnessed what will happen if we let an entire generation try to do it themselves.
Soul loss is a frightening and paralyzing illness.
Activity that masks our emptiness is a way and it is very tiring.
Refuge and stillness illuminate the pits of darkness and energize us into balance and wholeness.
I know this is so and pray to be able to bring this healing Light of refuge to all beings everywhere.
Share your stories here. leave a comment
I've been submitting proposals to existing institutions and looking at properties to buy and praying a lot and walking in the wilderness and waiting for way to open.
Stillness in motion...motion in stillness-tai chi, mindfulness meditation,listening, patience, curiosity.
Contemplative activism.
We can seek to understand the universe with the one that hangs the stars in the sky and makes the flowers grow, or we can try to do it ourselves.
I visited CooperRiis a healing farm for young adults living with mental illness and witnessed what will happen if we let an entire generation try to do it themselves.
Soul loss is a frightening and paralyzing illness.
Activity that masks our emptiness is a way and it is very tiring.
Refuge and stillness illuminate the pits of darkness and energize us into balance and wholeness.
I know this is so and pray to be able to bring this healing Light of refuge to all beings everywhere.
Share your stories here. leave a comment
Monday, September 21, 2009
silence and worship
My dear friend Joan Broadfield wrote
"About 'silence': It's all about what the invitation calls us to.
If the invitation is for silence, it would not speak to me.
If you are talking about longer than an hour to sit in a listening/waiting way, I'm very interested.
If you are talking about dedicating a worship time of an hour to come to listen in quiet expectation, I'd be interested.
But for me, when the emphasis is on SILENCE, it means nothing to me about spirituality. It is dictating a form, which gets in the way of expectation and listening to God.
I've had my fill of the rhapsodies of silence. That's not to say that a depth of a covered meeting is not important to me: in fact, it is. But I have never had a god-connected experience in one that is emphasizing silence. Paradox: those meetings that are 'covered' are mostly without words."
yes. There are two experiences here. One is weekly worship and I have always maintained that it is in the silence that we worship, not silence itself. I have not experienced an benefit from being silenced.
Many monthly meetings are learning the value of longer worship time. Media has extended worship once a month. All are welcome to this time of open worship that may or may not have a lot of silence.
Individual meetings can discern for themselves the frequency and length of worship.
I'm an advocate of communities and i see Monthy Meetings as communities being visible to themselves.
In addition some are called to live in a state of worship, prayer, communion with God that asks for more than a monthly meeting can provide. When this life called to me, I could not find anywhere, within, or even close to my faith community where I could go for an extended period of life , mostly in silence, within an supportive , nurturing and guided community ;where I was welcomed to just be, in worship and meditation to spend as much time as I needed with my inner and outer Light.
I’m still looking and this is what this blog is about.
I’m willing to create Still Waters Refuge and share it’s gifts with all seekers and I cannot do it alone.
Please join me. In Spirit, prayer, and comment.
"About 'silence': It's all about what the invitation calls us to.
If the invitation is for silence, it would not speak to me.
If you are talking about longer than an hour to sit in a listening/waiting way, I'm very interested.
If you are talking about dedicating a worship time of an hour to come to listen in quiet expectation, I'd be interested.
But for me, when the emphasis is on SILENCE, it means nothing to me about spirituality. It is dictating a form, which gets in the way of expectation and listening to God.
I've had my fill of the rhapsodies of silence. That's not to say that a depth of a covered meeting is not important to me: in fact, it is. But I have never had a god-connected experience in one that is emphasizing silence. Paradox: those meetings that are 'covered' are mostly without words."
yes. There are two experiences here. One is weekly worship and I have always maintained that it is in the silence that we worship, not silence itself. I have not experienced an benefit from being silenced.
Many monthly meetings are learning the value of longer worship time. Media has extended worship once a month. All are welcome to this time of open worship that may or may not have a lot of silence.
Individual meetings can discern for themselves the frequency and length of worship.
I'm an advocate of communities and i see Monthy Meetings as communities being visible to themselves.
In addition some are called to live in a state of worship, prayer, communion with God that asks for more than a monthly meeting can provide. When this life called to me, I could not find anywhere, within, or even close to my faith community where I could go for an extended period of life , mostly in silence, within an supportive , nurturing and guided community ;where I was welcomed to just be, in worship and meditation to spend as much time as I needed with my inner and outer Light.
I’m still looking and this is what this blog is about.
I’m willing to create Still Waters Refuge and share it’s gifts with all seekers and I cannot do it alone.
Please join me. In Spirit, prayer, and comment.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Are Quakers really interested in silence?
I thought I would go for the shock value here.
This from the newsletter of The School Of the Spirit-I am a graduate of the, On being a spiritual nurturer program-
Over the years the contemplative retreat has tended to incorporate more silence than indicated in the letter which was sent to Friends in advance. This posed a challenge for some attending for the first time, particularly those who had planned to meet as a small group within the context of the full retreat group. This matter was discussed on the first evening and accommodations were made so that the needs of all might best be met.
In deepest humility and respect, silence cannot be experienced by talking about it.
I attended Friends worship and workshops and retreats for 30 years and it was not until my second week living, working and being in silent community that I came to know silence and it's gifts.
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting has a traveling "extended" Meeting for worship quarterly, where Friends gather for about 3 hours of Worship. I know that many who attend are longing for more, and like me don't know where to find it and experience it.
That is the main purpose of this blog- to find others who want to journey along with me in silent community and make it possible for other to join us.
Interested?
Agree/disagree?
Leave a comment
This from the newsletter of The School Of the Spirit-I am a graduate of the, On being a spiritual nurturer program-
Over the years the contemplative retreat has tended to incorporate more silence than indicated in the letter which was sent to Friends in advance. This posed a challenge for some attending for the first time, particularly those who had planned to meet as a small group within the context of the full retreat group. This matter was discussed on the first evening and accommodations were made so that the needs of all might best be met.
In deepest humility and respect, silence cannot be experienced by talking about it.
I attended Friends worship and workshops and retreats for 30 years and it was not until my second week living, working and being in silent community that I came to know silence and it's gifts.
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting has a traveling "extended" Meeting for worship quarterly, where Friends gather for about 3 hours of Worship. I know that many who attend are longing for more, and like me don't know where to find it and experience it.
That is the main purpose of this blog- to find others who want to journey along with me in silent community and make it possible for other to join us.
Interested?
Agree/disagree?
Leave a comment
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
on silent refuge
these words from the Great Tree Zen Temple
Silence:
Silence is an opportunity to communicate with our whole being, our body language, our unspoken thoughts, and a creative expression which speaks more clearly than words. It is authentic and all inclusive – in Silence we are able to hear, express, and engage from the core of our Being.
At Great Tree Zen Temple, ‘Silent Retreat’ means to enter into every activity with mindfulness and a desire to honor the quiet within, being present in the moment without the distraction of unnecessary words or discussion. Amidst our busy lives it is often difficult to imagine communicating without words. A silent retreat offers an opportunity to explore and honor the gifts and insights which arise from SILENCE.
These friends speak my mind. It is my prayer to facilitate the being of Still Waters Refuge to support and nurture the space for Friends to retreat in silent refuge, under the care of Friends.
Keep praying
Leave a comment
Silence:
Silence is an opportunity to communicate with our whole being, our body language, our unspoken thoughts, and a creative expression which speaks more clearly than words. It is authentic and all inclusive – in Silence we are able to hear, express, and engage from the core of our Being.
At Great Tree Zen Temple, ‘Silent Retreat’ means to enter into every activity with mindfulness and a desire to honor the quiet within, being present in the moment without the distraction of unnecessary words or discussion. Amidst our busy lives it is often difficult to imagine communicating without words. A silent retreat offers an opportunity to explore and honor the gifts and insights which arise from SILENCE.
These friends speak my mind. It is my prayer to facilitate the being of Still Waters Refuge to support and nurture the space for Friends to retreat in silent refuge, under the care of Friends.
Keep praying
Leave a comment
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