A LittleSilence

A Book of Silence is the title of Sara Mailtand's new book, which I just finished.  She explores her experience of maintaining silence, at first only tentatively and later more extensively, as a part of her spiritual practice.  She explores various uses of silence and various types of silence.   A friend had written her that silence was meant to be broken.  This seems wrong to her.  Much of the book is her learning how to refute this statement, i.e. the heart of Judaism is a silence where the Name of God is not spoken.  Contemplative prayer requires silence.  Understanding requires listening, and silence. 

She spends time on the desert hermits, following St. Anthony of Egypt, who lived mostly in silence in the deserts.  There seems to have been a long period of disciplined preparation, followed by a further withdrawal into silence.  Maitland points out how this occurs in Buddhism as well.  In fact every major religion has a contemplative side, which requires silence.  The end result is a gentle, tender love for others, including, often, neighboring animals. 

Maitland also studies the relationship between silence and creativity, especially her own writing.  She considers its relationship to the romantic notion of the silence required by the creative genius.  She revels in the silence of the Yorkshire Moors and southwest Scotland where she lives, much satisfied by silence. 

We Benedictines have always seen silence as an integral part of our life.  For all who are interested in spiritual life, especially associated with monastic life, I would warmly recommend Maitland's book.  Look at your local independent bookseller.  I bought mine at Chaucer's in Santa Barbara.  Oddly enough, they have it in the "self-help" section.

Nicholas Radelmiller, OHC