Mouna is constant speech. Inactivity is constant activity.

[Guest guest]

Talks with Sri Ramana MaharshiVolume I5th July, 1935ON MOUNA (SILENCE)Talk 60.Sri Bhagavan: The silence of solitude is forced. Restrained speechin society amounts to silence. For the man then controls his speech.The speaker must come forth before he speaks. If engaged otherwisespeech is restrained. Introverted mind is otherwise active and is notanxious to speak.Mouna as a disciplinary measure is meant for limiting the mentalactivities due to speech. If the mind is otherwise controlleddisciplinary mouna is unnecessary. For mouna becomes natural.Vidyaranya has said that twelve years' forced mouna brings aboutabsolute mouna - that is, makes one unable to speak. It is more likea mute animal than otherwise. That is not mouna.Mouna is constant speech. Inactivity is constant activity.------This

is an intriguing passage of teaching, parts of which I have not yet properly

understood. I'd appreciate others sharing their understandingof it.Grant

[Guest guest]

Dear Grant,

 

Yes, to force silence is a restraint or repression as he says- the real silence

is the highest teaching and then forceing quietness is unnecessary. But for

those with very active minds one can switch them off by raising your tongue into

the pallette of your mouth. This is a way taught in Hatha Yoga and is effective

in most cases.

 

All regards and best wishes, and thanks for your posts.

 

Love.

 

Alan

 

, " Grant " <g-ssummerville wrote:

>

> Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi

>

> Volume I

>

> 5th July, 1935

>

> ON MOUNA (SILENCE)

>

> Talk 60.

>

> Sri Bhagavan: The silence of solitude is forced. Restrained speech

> in society amounts to silence. For the man then controls his speech.

> The speaker must come forth before he speaks. If engaged otherwise

> speech is restrained. Introverted mind is otherwise active and is not

> anxious to speak.

>

> Mouna as a disciplinary measure is meant for limiting the mental

> activities due to speech. If the mind is otherwise controlled

> disciplinary mouna is unnecessary. For mouna becomes natural.

> Vidyaranya has said that twelve years' forced mouna brings about

> absolute mouna - that is, makes one unable to speak. It is more like

> a mute animal than otherwise. That is not mouna.

>

> Mouna is constant speech. Inactivity is constant activity.

>

> ------\

> ------------

>

> This is an intriguing passage of teaching, parts of which I have not

> yet

> properly understood. I'd appreciate others sharing their understanding

> of it.

>

> Grant

>