BBC program on Silence

[tomgosse]

I came upon this BBC program on Youtube. A Benedictine monk leads a group of people on an eight day silent retreat. I found it quite interesting.

The Big Silence

 

[Path_Finder]

Thank you for this. I have heard something about this before. Some Monasteries perhaps practice this vow of silence during times of the year.

 

[robwar]

I’ve heard of silent retreats before and the benefits of them. I’ve tried at home to have more times of total silence (no tv, radio, music etc.) I’ve found that there is just something so beneficial about taking these types of moments of silence. almost like a deep cleansing.
I think we live in so much noice and we have adapted to that as almost a crutch. Total silence I think is so counter-culture.

 

[GEddie]

I’ve heard of silent retreats before and the benefits of them. I’ve tried at home to have more times of total silence (no tv, radio, music etc.) I’ve found that there is just something so beneficial about taking these types of moments of silence. almost like a deep cleansing.
I think we live in so much noice and we have adapted to that as almost a crutch. Total silence I think is so counter-culture.

Silence scares me because, except for the deaf, true silence is had only in death.

I imagine many others feel the same way, if not consciously.

ICXC NIKA

 

[robwar]

Silence scares me because, except for the deaf, true silence is had only in death.

I imagine many others feel the same way, if not consciously.

ICXC NIKA

not really, it’s very peaceful and total silence in the sense of no tv, radio etc is truely very settling. It’s hard to do at first but the more I’ve tried to practice it at home on occasion, the stronger and peaceful I feel.

 

[Celtic_Maiden]

A good time to read a Spiritual Book, say prayers, let the Lord get a look in, Rosary there is so much to do without all that clatter going on.

 

[Vouthon]

"…True prayer requires no word, no chant
no gesture, no sound.
It is communion, calm and still
with our own godly Ground

So high above all things that be.
Is God uplifted, man can dare.
No utterance: he prayeth best.
When Silence is his sum of prayer

God far exceeds all words that we can here express
In silence He is heard, in silence worshiped best…"

- Angelus Silesius (1624 – 1677), mystical poet of the Catholic Church

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Thanks so much for posting this link. I watched the first few minutes, long enough to see it was by Fr. Christopher Jamison, a Benedictine monk from Worth Abbey. He was the abbot when the BBC made the documentary series “The Monastery” (also available on YouTube). I’ll look forward to watching this one over the weekend.

One of the things I found very interesting about “The Monastery” is that I thought it showed evangelization in a very positive way. Several men – with differing religious beliefs including atheism – were very positively influenced by the monks they met. And yet the monks did nothing but be authentically themselves while living out their normal practices and beliefs.

I look forward to seeing what he has to say about silence.

Silence scares some people to death. They’re so used to being surrounded by noise. I think that’s especially true of the iPod generation who can’t go any time at all without their music. But it’s also true of older adults. I belong to a small faith sharing community and I see it at our gatherings. If you take a few minutes for silent prayer, within a very short time you hear papers rattling or people shifting in their seats.

Overall I think it’s something you build up to. In the beginning a few minutes might seem like a lifetime. But the more you do it, the more the silence becomes a comfortable place to meet God.

 

[acacia12]

Thank you for posting the link. I enjoyed watching all the 12 vids. A good insight into what the silent retreat is. I have decided to go to the one in the programme next year. Now that I have an idea what it’s like and what to expect.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Thanks for the news-first time that I’m hearing it.