Silence - A Powerful Speech

Sri Ramana Maharshi

29-4-1946 Afternoon

Mr Nanavati asked Bhagavan, “What is the heart referred to in the verse in Upadesa Saram where it is said ‘Abiding in the heart is the best karma, yoga, bhakti and jnana’?”

Bhagavan: That which is the source of all, that in which all live, and that into which all finally merge, is the heart referred to.

Nanavati: How can we conceive of such a heart?

Bhagavan: Why should you conceive of anything? You have only to see wherefrom the ‘I’ springs.

Nanavati: I suppose mere mauna in speech is no good; but we must have mauna of the mind.

Bhagavan: Of course. If we have real mauna, that state in which the mind is merged into its source and has no more separate existence, then all other kinds of mauna will come of their own accord, i.e., the mauna of words, of action and of the mind or chitta. 

Bhagavan also quoted in this connection, the following from Thayumanavar.

[If I get pure mauna (quiescence), I shall have mauna of chitta, mind, word and deed]. 

Bhagavan added, “Such mauna is not inertness but great activity. It is the most powerful speech.”