Silence (Episode 94)
In this installment, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino explore the importance of silence and its role in personal transformation and spiritual practice.
They further discuss noble silence in the Plum Village tradition – a fundamental practice that allows for deep reflection, self-awareness, and connection with the present moment; silence as a space that enables practitioners to listen deeply; the challenges of silence; the contrast between the mainstream emphasis on productivity, noise, and external validation, and the Buddhist approach of valuing stillness, presence, and inner listening as a path to true well-being and happiness; silence as a means to engage more deeply with life, rather than as an escape; embodied listening; and more.
The episode concludes with an invitation to take time for silent reflection and to explore the transformative power of silence in our lives.
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Quotes
“Silence allows us spaces of deep reflection. Silence is also to hear ourselves.”
“Noble silence is the silence of being present.”
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🔔 The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living is a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives.
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🎙️ The podcast is co-produced by the Plum Village App and Global Optimism with support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation.
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Resources
‘The Four Dharma Seals of Plum Village’
Being with Busyness: Zen Ways to Transform Overwhelm and Burnout
Calm in the Storm: Zen Ways to Cultivate Stability in an Anxious World
‘Three Resources Explaining the Plum Village Tradition of Lazy Days’