Sounds of Silence

Silence is a rare thing to come by if you live in a bustling city. When you do find a quiet moment, it is unlikely to last. However, it can be argued that there are times, deep in the night, when the city does go to sleep. Is the urban silence experienced then any different from the silence of the countryside? I would say 'no' if silence is the total absence of sound. We do not get to experience this, though, for even in the quietest moments, there are always some ambient noises. But these very sounds can serve to accentuate the quietude.

I remember sitting by the river bank in my village many years ago on a restful evening. The water was flowing gently with just a suggestion of bubbling sound. I could hear the soft breeze rustling through the branches of the tall trees that flanked the bathing ghat. The usually garrulous birds that flock to the trees had retired for the day. Here, there was no jarring traffic noise. Occasionally, the distant laughter of children broke through the silence but it did not intrude in my reverie. The sound of the temple bell announced the evening puja, but from afar this was actually soothing.  All in all, I experienced a sense of great calm and peace.

Now picture yourself sitting in a third floor apartment on a busy city street. It is night time. The ceiling fan's blades are whirring and making a sort of soothing sound. But the traffic down on the street, a constant white noise during the day, is now more irregular and seems to happen in bursts with an unpredictable rhythm. Music from the neighbouring flat filters in through the walls every now and then. Suddenly, the wailing of a rushing ambulance rents the air startling you. Certainly not peaceful or serene as the scene described before.

Unlike the sounds of nature which seem to promote a sort of harmony for the most part, the noises of the city tend to be harsh and disturbing or just tolerable. The constant hum of a computer or a fan seems qualitatively different from the gurgling of a gentle stream. The drone of a weed whacker is hardly soothing. The sound of  waves on the beach is much sought after but not that of a stream of automobiles. Birds in great numbers we can take, not a cacophonous crowd.

In my suburban home, things are relatively quiet. But modern living is full of various artificial sounds. The electric toothbrush, shaver and the like accompany my daily routine in the morning. The fan, the kitchen appliances, etc. make their presence felt throughout the day. Even when these are silent, the neighbour's little dog can drive one up a wall with its incessant yapping. People move to the suburbs to escape the noise and pollution of the city but do not seem to mind much the racket from lawnmowers, leaf blowers and such and the smoke from the barbecue grills. Sometimes on a nice day I walk out to my backyard only to be greeted by the smoke from someone's grill. Sigh.

Silence has to be demanded in some situations and paradoxically, this requires shouting! 'Order, order!' shouts the judge in a courtroom, pounding the gavel. The librarian shushes those whose whispering rises above permissible levels. Teachers make loud pleas for quiet in classrooms. If you have seen the Harry Potter movies, you will remember this epic cry for silence from the normally soft-spoken Dumbledore.

I sometimes wonder why it is necessary to maintain silence in a library. Why can't a library be like the waiting lounge of a railway station? People seem perfectly capable of reading in a station, on the train or just about any place. They are even reading while running on a treadmill. Many are listening to music at the same time using headphones so the noise outside becomes immaterial. And with more and more preferring the internet to the library for reference, libraries may have to change their silence policy to attract patrons. But I must admit that it will be sad to lose this sanctuary where we can count on peace and quiet whether or not one is interested in reading.

Seeking silence outside is one thing. Maintaining silence is another. We can give someone 'the silent treatment'- this is of course a well-known manipulative tactic. Not speaking out in some situations is tantamount to condoning injustice. As someone famously said, "All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent". While this may be true, there are times when silence can be eloquent.

The active practice of silence is considered a virtue and is often connected with spirituality. Some spiritual seekers even undertake a vow of silence. When we are silent, the mind does not necessarily shut down. But this gives us an opportunity to observe the mind which in turn can help in weeding out some unhealthy clutter from it and improve ourselves.

I think silence signifies potential. It creates anticipation and suspense. In music, quiet moments serve to enhance the beauty of the melody. On stage or in cinema, we can use pregnant pauses to heighten the drama. Apart from these, we all need quiet periods in our days when we can rejuvenate our minds. In general, when surrounded by silence, we feel restful and relaxed. Thus whether we are spiritually inclined or not, it would seem that silence is indeed golden.

Image Courtesy: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Faras_Saint_Anne_(detail).jpg