Four monks decided to meditate silently without speaking for two weeks. They lit a candle as a symbol of their practice and began. By nightfall on the first day, the candle flickered and then went out.

The first monk said: “Oh, no! The candle is out.”

The second monk said: “We’re not supposed to talk!”

The third monk said: “Why must you two break the silence?”

The fourth monk laughed and said: “Ha! I’m the only one who didn’t speak.”

They all had different reasons, but each of the four monks shared his thoughts without filtering them — none of which improved the situation. Had there been a fifth, wiser monk, he would have remained silent and kept meditating. In this way, he would have pointed out their mistakes without a single word…without breaking his own quest for silence. Done long enough, talking inevitably leads to embarrassing yourself. Listening leads to learning.

Cultivating silence in our lives is a powerful catalyst for insight. This isn’t the kind of understanding we arrive at through logical reasoning or the familiar patterns of daily thought. Instead, it’s a deeper knowing that emerges when the mind quiets.

In meditation, the key is to learn how to truly listen. This isn’t just about hearing sounds; it’s about attuning ourselves to the subtle tones and resonations that offer a complete picture of our Being. There’s a profound language spoken in these moments, one that transcends the limitations of our everyday minds.

Much of what I do as a teacher is wordless. Most of my students only hear words, creating a significant chasm between us. I offer monthly Discourses that are deeply important for those seeking to understand the Way. However, I’m not teaching solely through my words. My words merely point to the gaps and pauses between them. It is in these simple gaps and pauses that the true meaning of the Discourse is heard.

When our minds are preoccupied, constantly seeking what emotions tell them they should want, very little can be truly heard or realized. But by introducing silence, something extraordinary—even otherworldly—begins to emerge. Achieving this requires the presence of a tone. This subtle resonance and vibration within us is essential to help direct our attention beyond the mind’s incessant noise in order to feel the oneness of Life and our place within it. It is here that we begin to hear what we are truly living for, allowing this living to become the very lifeblood of our consciousness.

Karma plays a significant role in this. The mind we’ve cultivated through noise and fear cannot be overcome by force. It must be abandoned through tone. In other words, we must become more interested in the tone itself than in the fear-inducing thoughts that keep us trapped in a hate that has become so commonplace we mistake it for normal.

To truly transform, you must step away from the personality and ego state that has dominated your life. You need to embrace silence and commit to learning its unique language. This journey requires a Heart filled with gratitude and compassion.

Simplify your life, eat simple food, and keep your home clean with ease. Speak only when necessary. Stop worrying about what others think of you; their opinions are irrelevant to your inner peace.

If you can maintain this inner discipline, you will notice a profound shift within you. A new form of attention will emerge. Ultimately, whether you believe it now or not, you and I answer to the Love we have often overlooked. We seem to have little regard for Love, or true interest in the Heart. Yet, with absolute conviction, I tell you that Love is the only thing that truly matters.

Love awakens within us through the consistent practice of tone, silence, and meditation.