Observe Silence Fast…
The revered Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu remarked, ‘Silence is a source of great strength’.
Keeping silent, as a religious vow, has existed for ages. Religions prescribe abstinence from words (mouna vrat) as the means to purify one’s heart. Many even prefer remaining silent along with fasting (abstinence from food) or upvas, as it is known in India.
Keeping silent is a simple exercise, which anyone can practice at any point of time. Regular practice of silence makes one calm and composed.
The ways and means to keep Silent..
Determine in advance as to how long you will remain silent. At the onset, a person can start with half an hour per week and increase it to even one day in a week.
Communicate to your family members that you will be on a silent fast and you should not be disturbed for the duration of the fast. Communicating your decision will also ensure that your silence is not misunderstood by others.
Select a comfortable room in your house for your silent fast…
Make sure that you’re not disturbed by phone calls during the fast. It is better that your phone remains switched off during the session.
Don’t feel compelled to check e-mails and status updates on social media…
If you are on a day long fast, make sure that there are some means to communicate important things to you, if the need arises. Don’t even hum a song or talk softly to yourself during the session.
Our mind is usually a chatterbox…
It flings itself from one thought to another in quick succession. When one remains silent, the flow of thoughts might become disturbing. But, don’t judge yourself. Enable the thoughts to settle down.
Do not try to Meditate either. Just relax and just let the time pass by…
In the beginning, this method might seem tough for most of us. However, constant practice helps to gain mastery over this technique.
When you are feeling anxious or stressed, do this activity for 10 minutes or so and build it up from there…
Regular practice of this technique can alleviate stress, make us aware of our thoughts and feelings, and pave the way for clear reasoning and conscious actions.