A Prayer in the Jain Tradition

Highly auspicious are the adorable ones

And so are the emancipated;

The saints too are the auspicious ones

And so is the speech divine.

Best in the world are the adorable ones

And so are the emancipated;

The saints too are the best in the world,

And so is the speech divine.

Refuge do I take in the adorable ones.

And also in the emanicpated;

Saints are also the place of my refuge.

And so is the speech divine.

Thus do I pay homage and veneration

Unto the great Arihants every day

In devotion deep with the purity in mind,

In speech and in deed indeed.

Speak … or, Hold Your Peace

“Speak what you think today in hard words and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict everything you said today.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“It’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool than open one’s mouth and remove all doubts.” – Mark Twain

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” – Dr. Seuss

“I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.” – Ernest Hemmingway

“I write as straight as I can, just as I walk as straight as I can, because that is the best way to get there.” – H. G. Wells

 “One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart you can’t utter.” – James Earl Jones

“Keep your mouth shut and your mind open.” - Unknown

“Unless your heart, your soul, and your whole being are behind every decision you make, the words from your mouth will be empty, and each action will be meaningless. Truth and confidence are the roots of happiness.” - Unknown

Silence

Buddhism:

Health, contentment and trust

Are your greatest possessions,

And freedom your greatest joy.

Look within.

Be still.

-          the Buddha

Christianity:

Be still, and know that I am God.

-          Psalm 46:10

Hinduism:

I am Silence among all secrets.

 -          the Bhagavad Gita

Native American:

Silence is the absolute poise or balance of body, mind and spirit. The man who preserves his selfhood is ever calm and unshaken by the storms of existence…What are the fruits of silence? They are self-control, true courage or endurance, patience, dignity and reverence. Silence is the cornerstone of character.

 -          Ohiyesa, Santee Sioux

Sikhism:

Where words will not succeed, it is better to be silent.

 -          Guru 1, Majh Rag

Sufism:

Silence is the language of god, all else is poor translation.

 -          Rumi

Taoism:

Silence is a source of great strength.

 -          Lao Tzu

The Speechless Mind

What is Mounam (silence)? Not merely keeping the mouth shut! It means getting beyond the influence of all the senses and being always established in the consciousness of one's own Reality. When the mind withdraws from the outer world, the tongue too becomes silent. All other senses follow suit. That is genuine Mounam.

- Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba