The words Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu was written on a piece of paper by Swami Nirmalananda, and it was given to my teachers Sharon Gannon and David Life. This was how this mantra—which is now central to Jivamukti Yoga— was taught. It was written not because Swami Nirmalananda could not speak; it was because he was a mauni. He practiced noble silence. His silence, though, did not mean that he kept quiet about his opinions. On the contrary, he used his words in the form of typewritten letters to urge leaders and organizations to work towards peace. He was silent, but he was an activist. He did not use his physical voice, but he stood up just the same for the meek— humans and non-humans alike.
We ourselves may have at times experienced that speaking is not the most efficient way to communicate. We may have used the wrong words, or spoke with the wrong tone, or chosen the wrong timing. There may have been circumstances wherein we were better off silent, there may be even a pattern of behavior we wish to change. Can you observe the times when silence would have been a kinder choice? Perhaps you have a tendency to interrupt when something is speaking, or you habitually offer advice that is unsolicited, or your well-meaning feedback comes off as harsh criticism. What would happen if you chose silence instead? Silence does not mean we become passive. It does not mean we are complicit to harm. It means we choose carefully when and how to speak, so our words carry more weight when it truly matters. When our words are surrounded by spaciousness instead of clutter, then our voice will be heard. We speak not for the sake of speaking, but for the sake of liberation. Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu. May all beings everywhere be happy and free. And may the thoughts, words (and silence), and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.
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