A Call for A Day for Global Silence

1 March 2008

"Long periods of silence are transformative. It protects our genius." Susan Taylor

"Silence is a quality of inner life." Aivanhov.

“What is spiritual silence? It is not just the absence of talk. Silence has substance. It is the presence of something… The awareness that comes from a grounding in silence allows us to respond more authentically,” “Some Thoughts on Silence,” by Kathryn Damiano, from “A Quaker Ministry of Prayer and Learning devoted tothe School of the Spirit”

This is a time for unified minds to focus on peace.

In the powerful silence, we call on harmonic peace.  We focus on the return of harmony, love, respect, and high morals, worldwide.  We are all well aware of the fragilities of the human spirit, and now we are witnessing global destruction as humankind is out of control, or is being controlled by their lower passions and reasonings.  News of global and domestic violence are the continual focus of nonstop news shows, with attention on the most heinous to the most mundane acts of man’s inhumanity to man, from child abuse to near-thorough exhaustion of natural resources, from extinction and threatened extinction of necessary animal, plants, and sea life to racial, sexual and religious intolerances, from gang violence to world wars. This is not focus of our silence. We know there is a need from immediate change.  We begin to remove the power from these destructive behaviors on our day for global silence by focusing our collective thoughts on the inverse of these patterns. We need silence, and this is a call for power-filled, love-filled global silence. In this silence, we change our world from one of mindless consumption of every thing including the human spirit, to one that is considerate of generational planetary resources.  

Silence rekindles the fire of inner peacefulness. 

It prepares us for positive discourse in discordant affairs.  It allows us to hear the voice of reason, and to connect to the Inner Voice behind all voices.  In silence, we find answers to all our troubles.  United in silence, we bring forth peace and the return of global sanity.  Wise ones of every walk of life, from every religious background and culture, scientist and the African hunter, men and women alike recognize and employed the momentous power within the space of silence. They used it as an important tool to connect with inner wisdom, understanding and guidance.  In global silence, we unite and emerge from that silence responding to our personal and collective affairs with peaceful resolve.

Silence involves much more than a quiet mouth. 

One can be silent on the outside and roaring within.  This is not silence.  In our global silence, we direct all participants to focus on love, calmness, peaceful resolution to all disharmony, forgiveness and respect for our planet through respecting ourselves, our families and all with whom we come in contact.  We ask in silence that people remind themselves of small ways they can make a difference on this day to bring more light and love to their own surroundings.  Something as simple as putting on a blinker to change lanes while driving, or moving out of the way of another while walking on a narrow path, showing appreciation for a service provided by anyone, even your own family member, giving to a person less fortunate than yourself, giving time to read or spend time to a child or elderly person. You can use your silence to create a calmer, safer environment at work, school, and home.  Do all your good deeds without need of praise, but in silent gratefulness that you have something to give and are willing to do so.  In small ways, we make a big difference in our world.

Silence is used in many of our daily practices.

When one is deliberating about anything, but particularly a situation needing resolve, they are apt to silent contemplation.  A parent may choose silence before responding in anger to a child or in answer to a child’s question.  If you are a person who tends to express anger easily, using the silence to connect with inner calm may save a bridge between yourself and another, allowing contemplation before reaction.  At times, we honor the passing of someone for whom we have deep love and respect by acknowledging them with a moment of silence.  Also, there are many people who attend some sort of church service weekly.  There are masterful ministers who preach, teach and live their sermons, but after Sunday, many forget what they have heard as their minds become busy with their daily lives.  At some churches, there are spiritual practitioners who sit in silent prayer throughout the service to hold the message being given, to anchor the peace.  Quakers are known for praying in silence. Silent retreats are also very popular for people of all denominations, especially around certain holidays, like New Year’s. There are so many ways in which we wisely use silence. Jesus spent forty days and forty nights mostly in silent prayer and fasting. We know the power of silence.

HOW to achieve this day of silence: This area requires more attention and suggestions.

Some people will be able to actually devote an entire day for silence.  However, more will not.  It may cut into their work day, their family lives, or they may find it too difficult a concept to adopt at this time. It is always more effective if we all have a set time to be in the global silence.  It can occur on the hour, from 12am to 11:59pm on April 1, 2007, and at the same time on July 7, 2007.  Participants are encouraged to take 5-15minutes of peace and love-focused silence on the hour throughout the day. They are encouraged to visualize a harmonic and peace-filled earth. It can start with somewhere far away, like envisioning peace in Iraq, on the streets of their cities, in their schools, with harmony in their families. If one needs help with visioning, see everyone in the world well-fed, clothed and in nice, warm, loving homes, with children respected, cared for and educated; people greeting and meeting each other with kindness; see global practices of environmental safety, respecting nature by keeping our forests and wildlife , and vision an endless peace replacing an endless war. Remember, this is not a concentrated effort or a forced visioning.

There is a need for an onslaught of news releases, for contacting politicians, ministers, school officials, city governments and national governments not only to invite their participation but also to encourage them to address their audiences from constituents, to congregants to students and staffs and so on.  Any folks we know who have large audiences, email listings, etc., especially, the news stations and live shows, television or radio can not only inform their audiences but would participate by taking even a few moments to pause silently at certain hours of the day of global silence.

In schools, children would be asked to stop whatever they are doing and give a minute to three minutes of their time to silence. 

Bells can be rung to indicate that the time for silence has begun, the recess and lunch bells, or on the hour.  They would be guided to think loving thoughts about the world, bringing the troops home, or peaceful resolutions to family problems, or school problems, as with bullies and violence.  Teaching children to take time out for love and peace-focused silence is a powerful tool that will follow them throughout their lives.  “How to Practice the Silence” workshops, seminars, and/or classes could be taught during assemblies at various schools, especially those in violent neighborhoods.  With the violence in schools stressing out school staff and students, imagine the transformation possible as they are taught the power in taking time out for silence.  Parents could also be encouraged to refrain from letting their children watch violent programs or play violent video games, and do so themselves. 

In global silence, we can continue to elevate the pattern of world thought. 

During this silence, we can consume, digest, and live the teaching of the Masters, men and women, living among us whose lives are devoted to world change, respecting racial and cultural diversity and living in harmony with our global environment.  They continually deliver their divinely-inspired messages for the unification of this planet for global love, respect and peaceful resolve. Their gifts are well-received assimilate through the golden door of silence.

Silence, especially global, is a crucial tool for integration of these sacred messages and for vibrational elevation of the collective consciousness of humankind. 

Silence is the portal through which we will enter our personal and collective harmonic convergence.  It is in the peaceful state of silence that healing truly takes place.  Yet, for global peace, the individual must play a crucial role in creating that peace within, seeing God in all people, through all situations, concerns, difficulties, and holding the vision of peaceful resolve, even when it feels or seems impossible.  With global sisterhood and brotherhood, we become the strength that aids the individual in their personal divine transformation. 

Our motto:  “We are all in this together.  Together, we rise to global love, respect, and peaceful resolve in all of our affairs. It is in the golden silence that we hear our answers."

       “We seek understanding, so that we may know peace.

        We seek love, so that we may know ourselves.

        Embrace the inner sanctuary of your heart, and know silence.”  Unknown

copyright: March 2007

*Please visit our website at www.centerforglobalsilence.org.

For comments, questions and to volunteer your services for this global effort,

you may send your emails to Dafina.globalsilence@gmail.com.