For more than ninety years Silent Unity has been practicing the silence, and we know how much good an individual can gain from mental discipline. We do not mean that it is necessary for one to go through a mind drill in order to secure God's help. But we do know that regular drill in the silence will prepare one so that with calm assurance he can unify himself with God instantly anywhere and meet any need that might arise.
Such drill will be especially beneficial to students who seem to have difficulty in entering the silence. But even the advanced student will find in it a source of bodily renewal, poise, and assurance. Home-coming after a long journey-what is better than that? And what is better after the tumult of the world than to turn again to God?)
There is a place to which you can turn for rest and release from fear and care. It is a holy place. Stillness fills it. The peace of God is in it. There your mind becomes like a little child's, lovely and true and pure. There your thought is stayed on the things that are good and just and merciful. When you enter there, the world outside and all your troubles drop away and you rise at last, body stilled, mind stilled, refreshed and restored.
This place is not far away and difficult of access. It is right where you are now. It is right where you are whenever you shut the doors of the senses, still the importuning of little thoughts, and go along with God. It is the place of the silence.
It is not hard to enter the place of the silence. If it seems hard to you, perhaps you have been making it hard. No one can fight his way through to God. Weeping and pleading are futile. You must let go and let God.
Some persons link the silence with occultism and look for fantastic psychic experiences from it. The purpose of the silence, however, is not to have visions or to see colored lights. Such phantasia serve only to distract the individual from his true purpose, which is communion with God.
On the other hand the silence is not a state of daydreaming or sleep. If you feel sleepy, do not try to pray unless you first waken yourself by saying, "Awake, thou that sleepest." The silence demands such wakefulness as is required at no other time. It is your appointment with God.
In practicing the silence you should always try to be relaxed in body and receptive in mind.
"Underneath are the everlasting arms." Say this quietly. Feel the presence of God freeing you from every thought of tension. Let your whole body, every nerve, every muscle, every cell, relax and let go. Wherever you feel any tension, relax and let go. If you feel tense across your forehead, say, "Relax and let go." If your eyes feel strained, say, "Relax and let go." If you are tense in any part of your body, say, "Relax and let go," until from the top of your head to the soles of your feet you are perfectly relaxed. This concludes the first step in the drill.
"Be still and know that I am God." Say this silently. Repeat it over and over until the words take on new meaning, a living meaning, and you feel the stillness deep down inside, with your whole mind, your whole being.
This is the second step in the practice of the silence, and it is perhaps the most important of all. In the stillness you unify yourself with God, when the thoughts and feelings are quieted and the doors of the senses are shut. Not through our human powers and understanding do we attain our good, but by letting go of doubts, of limiting personal claims, and turning to God.
"Be still, and know that I am God." Know it. Know it now. You are comfortable, relaxed, still. You are in the presence of God.
Turn your attention now to the top of your head and say, silently or aloud as you wish, "I am the light of the world."
In the practice of the silence you will find it wise to use affirmations, for they will help you direct and control your thoughts. But there is a surer speech than that of syllables, a higher communion than that of words. God hears your inmost thoughts. Your faith and love speak for you. Your faith and love unify you with Him, make your mind His mind, your body His body, your spirit His Spirit, your life His life, your will His will.
You do not have to cajole or coerce God: His love has already encompassed the fulfillment of your needs. It is only you that your prayers have to change. Use affirmations to direct your thoughts, to make them clear, sharp, pointed; then be still and listen. It is God's voice that you wish to hear.
"I am the light of the world." Declare this. Then be still until you actually feel the light of Spirit through you and over you, feel yourself immersed as Light in a sea of light, your whole being illumined, awake, exalted, the light of the world.
Now center your attention just above the eyes, and declare, "I am divine intelligence."
Emerson said, "The only real prosperity that I can have is a rush of ideas." Divine Mind is a reservoir of ideas, good ideas, yours to draw upon, yours to use. No sluggishness, physical or mental, no doubt or fear can remain in you, for you have opened your mind to the inspiration of God. You are alive, awake, alert, joyous, and enthusiastic. You are divine intelligence.
Now center your attention at the eyes and say, "I see with the eyes of Spirit."
There are many kinds of silence.
But deeper is the silence of the place of peace within you. Deeper is the silence where you commune with God. In the silence is strength for the tired body. In the silence is light for the joyless mind. In the silence is love for the lonely spirit. In the silence is peace for the troubled heart.
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