Nightfall just south of Marla (South Australia) so peaceful, the silence is powerful.
I often think of noise differently. I often hope my silence is noisy, as a sense of presence, a calm, so that my silence shouts to the world – there is another way. I was once in a contemplative space and someone interrupted the silence some of us were enjoying, and I quipped, sarcastically, “Is my silence interrupting your noise?” Sometimes silence isn’t noisy enough to grab other people’s attention so that they can see it, feel it, and know it. There are times I hope it is an example, as we say of meditation, we hope our non-reactive silence is helpful and calming. Remember the old saying: “Actions speak louder than words.”
With the noise of deadlines, electronica, health issues, discord, celebrations, shopping centres, busy roads, bustling streets, the jarring noises of life can be debilitating, energy sapping. But silence is a worthy noise. Silence is a contempative stance, a space to claim against the heft of noise, and a place to rejuvenate. It is pleasant work, and it is work because you have to work hard to make the time for silence, and to stick at it. But is work that is deeply invested in your health, body, mind and soul.
And silence is the only space in which we can meaningfully hold ourselves and others with an ear to empathy and compassion. I personally find my reflective and contemplative practices increase my ability to empathise, and to compassionately engage with others. For me an investment in silence is the best noise to engage with.
Paul,
pvcann.com
parallax 
I too am very appreciative of silence. 🙂 However, one does not at all feel that true silence involves work or time. True silence is effortless… and time and making time for silence has nothing to do with it. One thing is for sure, it has nothing to do with practice or will.
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Yes the silence itself is effortless, but the discipline of getting to it can be work.
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The silence itself is effortless; there is no getting to it by discipline. Any method, practice, or code, or blueprint of behavior is secondhand and involves time. Nothing secondhand brings real silence. Of course, there are a lot of popular methods of meditation and mindfulness out there… but not one of them brings true silence, true timelessness.
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Yes you can be free in silence. Lovely thoughts.
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thank you
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Soo Beautiful pic,it seems Africa(I like):D
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Wow, interesting comparison, I guess there are soil and climate similarities, but now that you mention it, even the tone and the colours. Thanks for reflecting on this.
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My silence is when I’m exercising
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Wonderful
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Well said. One thing let me add. And that is, it has a smell.
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Ah, nice angle to add, great thought
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I do agree with you and I definitely enjoy my silence and silent moment of which I sometimes wonder why it bothers people. 😒
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Yes, I wonder that too, thanks for reflecting on this
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Great post!
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So glad you enjoyed it, thanks for reading.
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You’re welcome 🙂
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🙂
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So true
>
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Thanks
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Interesting foto. I, being of the other hemisphere, visited Australia, the east coast, once, and one of the best memories I have is the unusual natural fragrance everywhere (in the natural areas).
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Wonderful reflection, perhaps the combination of eucalyptus, soils, and other plants too? Many from Europe comment on the plant smells making the air different.
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maybe that is it… I was in Brisbane and the area north of it in 1991… I also recall the strangely different but partly familiar bird sounds… the environment not only smelled differently, but sounded differently too.
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Wow, I haven’t been up there, I live in the West, I’ve been nearly everwhere except Queensland and Tasmania.
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For me, with silence comes tinnitus.
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O, not so great, my wife has tinnitus.
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