donderdag 24 september
Chapter 6: On the Spirit of Silence
Let us do what the Prophet says:
"I said, 'I will guard my ways,
that I may not sin with my tongue.
I have set a guard to my mouth.'
I was mute and was humbled,
and kept silence even from good things" (Ps. 38[39]:2-3).
Here the Prophet shows
that if the spirit of silence ought to lead us at times
to refrain even from good speech,
so much the more ought the punishment for sin
make us avoid evil words.
Therefore, since the spirit of silence is so important,
permission to speak should rarely be granted
even to perfect disciples,
even though it be for good, holy edifying conversation;
for it is written,
"In much speaking you will not escape sin" (Prov. 10:19),
and in another place,
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Prov. 18:21).
For speaking and teaching belong to the master;
the disciple's part is to be silent and to listen.
And for that reason
if anything has to be asked of the Superior,
it should be asked
with all the humility and submission inspired by reverence.
But as for coarse jests and idle words
or words that move to laughter,
these we condemn everywhere with a perpetual ban,
and for such conversation
we do not permit a disciple to open her mouth.
* This chapter of the Rule is especially important in this day and age, because nowadays everything must be able to be said. One of the great wisdom lessons of the early monks was that sometimes even good and holy thoughts should remain unspoken. Today, it is the opposite. One of the exercises we should do from time to time is to actually practice silence. And in doing so, practise not speaking even our good thoughts or sharing them with anyone. Indeed, monastic silence is being silent in imitation of the obedient, silent and humble Jesus. Silence is important for us monks, so that Jesus can become bigger in our lives and we smaller. An additional factor is that through my speaking I consider myself important and place myself in the foreground. By being silent I do not place myself at the centre, but I listen. I listen to my heart and to Jesus, and follow him in his patience. All the more we become aware of the power of our words when we speak as an expression of myself and listening to the other. For words can build up and tear down, words have power over life and death, says the Rule. Even a word of truth can be destructive if not spoken in neighbourly and true love. Let us work for a silence in a willingness to listen that builds up myself and the other, thus forming a joyful communion with the Lord together.