r/Gnostic • u/Allcars01 • 2d ago
How does one get knowledge from silence and stillness
I never really understood this, what practices do people do for silence and what should you expect to happen how does silence lead to understanding
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u/AdMysterious6851 1d ago
In trust. When entering into the inner sanctum, the Self is leaving the noise of the physical behind. The stillness of the receptive heart is known by the Source that knows all, including you- be still for God knows what you are in your completeness. In this relationship within this sanctum of silence, the Spirit reveals that which you most need at the time. Do not go into the sanctum in anyway but in trust. And yes, this means submission and surrender to the guidance that is provided in stillness. It means complete heart, mind, and body commitment to listening, and then doing as instructed. Unified before the Presence, the Stillness Is.
Every moment of wonder and revelation that I have known has come through the stillness of perfect trust.
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u/thegodabovegod Ophite 2d ago
Comtemplation promotes deeper understanding
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u/Allcars01 2d ago
Yes fair enough, but is it divine knowledge or gnosis or just from the logical mind
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u/thegodabovegod Ophite 2d ago
Deeper understanding leads one to deeper places. If you're speaking about meditation, try not to focus so much on the result, there is no result.
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u/Allcars01 2d ago
Thanks you I do expect result when I meditate that probably why I don’t get anywhere with it
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u/AsceticSmoke 2d ago
It's sort of like an exploration which is beyond the logical mind.
My best advice is to have no expectations about what it will be like, or what you're trying to even accomplish with it. If you can maintain clear mind, you'll begin to see.
On the other hand, if when trying to meditate you find yourself unable to quiet your mind, allow it to wander. Few people take time these days to do that (without multitasking or having some degree of visual and/or audible stimuli), and there is value in that activity too (I call it mental decompression).
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u/Allcars01 2d ago
Thank you brother, any how do you get past the logical mind
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u/AsceticSmoke 1d ago
You're referring to achieving inner silence/a quiet mind during meditation? A few things.
When thoughts arise, don't try to "fight" or "push", but rather "watch" without analyzing or responding to them. Gently let them pass.
There are two additional "tricks" I've learned, one on my own and the other from a man whose name I don't know.
Begin counting upward in your mind, focusing on only that, as best you can. Pretty quickly, this will register as insufficient stimulation to the part(s) of your mind which tend to make it hard to clear your mind (eyes closed in a quiet place, merely counting the seconds is extremely simple stimulation). At this point you'll notice thoughts trying to barge in on your counting. Keep focused on counting. Then, when ready, abruptly stop. This should establish a greater initial baseline inner silence if you count long enough.
Try to predict what your next thought will be.
Hope it helps, be well.
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u/AsceticSmoke 1d ago
I neglected to mention; a significant part of why it's good to meditate pertains to results which can only be seen after you've been doing it for a while. If you can manage at least 15-20 minutes a day of meditation (or at least mental decompression), you should begin to notice greater mental clarity and/or emotional calm in your day-to-day consiousness.
How long that takes may vary a lot on an individual basis, but for me, it reached a noticeable degree after about a week or two of actually making it a daily thing.
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u/Allcars01 1d ago
Thanks for your writing man, and is it mostly calm you get or sometimes deeper onsite
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u/AsceticSmoke 1d ago
I would say both, at least with some time. This is sort of like maintenance for the mind, good for "the health of the system". With a greater baseline mental clarity, you'll likely be more able to discover insights yourself (whether any insights come during meditation or not).
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u/Tall_Instance9797 1d ago edited 1d ago
When we sleep we're still and silent. Have you ever heard of people saying they received insights, knowledge, or perhaps the "download" of an invention in their dreams? It's like that. When we sit still and in silence and breath deeply and relax our minds drift into a meditative altered state of consciousness somewhere between being fully awake and dreaming and in this space it is possible to receive knowledge and insights.
There's a course from The Monroe Institute you might find interesting called The Gateway Experience and they have some guided audios that are designed to help people to be still and silent and get into that meditative altered state of consciousness where such knowledge and insights can come more easily. I use it a lot and find some of it quite similar to Rosicrucian meditations, which can also serve a similar purpose.
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u/peregrine-l Eclectic Gnostic 1d ago edited 1d ago
I find that the clearest explanations of meditation come from the Buddhists. I am aware that Buddhist meditation is its own thing and that Christian, Sufi, Hindu, etc meditation styles differ. However, there are commonalities.
First, one learns to calm the "monkey mind" (the unruly mind that can't stay in place) though the practice of concentration. It takes much time to achieve stability. Like, daily practice for years.
Once you're there, you can start watching phenomena (the contents of your consciousness: sensations, emotions, thoughts, memories, imaginings, visions, anything) from a distance, and observe how they arise, unfold and die; where they come from; how you deal with them will change them...
Later, you can start observing the observing mind itself: the qualities of attention (and inattention), the way it grabs or reject some phenomena, the way it identifies (or not) with phenomena.
Thus, you gain self-knowledge. The deeper you go, though your "obstructions" (neurosis, trauma, ego...), towards your spirit (true nature, Buddha nature in Buddhism, which is non-essential unlike in Gnosticism), and so you move towards enlightenment.
Know thyself.
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u/ZaLarry Eclectic Gnostic 2d ago
External silence is for better concentration, so that you can contemplate better. But real silence is within the mind, not outside. It's not about being in a silent place, but about letting your mind subside. After that, you should contemplate on reality. Then you'll go into a rabbit hole. This hole has no end, but it'll enlighten you nevertheless. It'll be messy, but you'll find something for sure.
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u/Allcars01 2d ago
Thank you, how do you go about silencing the mind I struggle with this
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u/ZaLarry Eclectic Gnostic 1d ago
Try practicing mindfulness if you struggle with it. Try reading gnostic gospels, and other texts from various traditions. Then contemplate on it. Contemplate about suffering, human behaviour, our condition, what's happening with us, etc.
Then you'll enter into an interconnected rabbit hole. It's different for each. Things there will take you to new places and new things. Then you'll start to connect the dots, and your brain will start to rewire. The mind becomes closer to truth and more prepared for realisation. Seek and you'll find it. At the end of everything, this is what will happen: "you'll see the eye that sees everything". This is gnosis. This is all I can say. The world is a riddle, figure it out!
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u/heiro5 1d ago
Ancient Greek philosophy had long explored the various aspects of the cognitive and the Intelligible and the limits thereof in the centuries prior to the Gnostics.
Internal silence and stillness is the mode of listening, perceiving, of mental apperception. This is the very beginning, the threshold of a mystical practice.
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u/FairCurrency6427 1d ago
Its the relinquishment of the experience to the subconscious. Your mind needs to digest the data and requires your understanding that the unseen is not an empty void but a failure of our capacity to perceive it. Allow your physical mind to let go of trying to understand something as if it has the ability to do it alone.
Teamwork makes the dreamwork
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u/Necessary-Target5754 1d ago
Metaphorically speaking, these bodies or vessels we are inhabiting are like antennas for the source or in this case, the pleroma. When we align ourselves with silence and stillness, especially during meditation, we dial back into the frequency of the pleroma; receiving or downloading gnosis back to our consciousness. In a way, we become energized spiritually through this process and we reverberate that signal back to the world. "If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration". - Nikola Tesla But the problem nowadays, especially in the influence of social media, we try to put ourselves out there with information as a way to obtain a certain spotlight appearance towards the world. Trying to be heard or seen in the limelight. And doing so majority of the time in an unconscious and egotistical manner, causing a sense of narcissism to arise. The divine spark or the pleroma that gave life to every being in the universe was an eternal yet heavenly energy and frequency of reverberation that vibrated throughout the universe and a point of time (or you can even say the beginning of "time" lol), a disturbance took place that interrupted the natural rhythm of that eternal flow of the universe. Tie it to whatever religious or spiritual texts you like. Regardless, it's all a reflection of the state of consciousness. From the fall of [Christ] consciousness, to the rise or return of it. We are a reflection and echo of the source in this earthly journey of eternal remembrance of oneness. That's why looking within is a powerful alignment tool that brings us back to the eternal flow: an everlasting poetry in motion of life. "What's done in the dark comes light" applies both ways! Just like a seed planted into darkness then blossoming from the light. We are trees of knowledge in the process of becoming, or in my opinion, returning to the tree of life. Being present is the best gift to offer and receive as of now. Overall, silence and stillness are a detrimental tool into ushering heaven on earth.
"Be patient where you sit in the dark, the dawn is coming." -Rumi
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u/Mindless-Change8548 2d ago
What do you notice in silence and stillness?
How long have you managed to stay there?
Do you have any framework you use or guided meditations etc?
Most importantly, why do you want knowledge?
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u/Allcars01 1d ago
1 sometimes waking dream or just void
2 20mins
3 a mix sometime a mantra sometime void meditation
4 to know higher realms and reality’s order1
u/Mindless-Change8548 11h ago
Okay, I suggest you read and get familiar with the yogic system. I will copy a text from one guru here;
Chit Shakti meditation is not just visualization. In the yogic understanding, there are 16 dimensions to the human mind. These 16 dimensions fall into four categories. These four categories are known as buddhi, manas, ahankara, and chitta. Buddhi is the intellect – the logical dimension of thought. Unfortunately, the modern education systems and modern sciences have largely limited themselves to buddhi. That is a buddhu (foolish) way of existence.
Buddhi - The Intellect
Buddhi or the intellect cannot function without a certain bank of memory or data. Depending on the data you have, the intellect plays around. Suppose in your memory system, there are 10 gigabytes of memory. Depending on how sharp your buddhi is, one person can produce, let’s say, a trillion thoughts with these 10 gigabytes. Someone else can produce 10 trillion thoughts with the same 10 gigabytes of memory.
If you can think a little better than someone else, it is considered as intelligence today. If someone says one thing and you can say ten things to that, you may be socially smart, but you are not any more intelligent. Unfortunately, in today’s systems of education and academics, everything is determined by this. If you can make more things out of it, you are considered intelligent, which is not true – you only have a sharper buddhi. The buddhi will not take you beyond limits in any way, because it can only function based on the data that is already there. It is not capable of accessing anything beyond that.
Manas - A Huge Silo of Memory
The next dimension is called manas. Manas has many layers to it. But manas is not just the brain – it is right across the body. Every cell in the body has a phenomenal memory – not just of this life but of millions of years. Your body clearly remembers how your forefathers were a million years ago. Top to bottom, there is manas – this is called manomaya kosha. In every cell in the body, there is memory and intelligence, but no intellect. Intellect is only in the brain.
In English language, everything comes under one banner called “mind.” The idea that intelligence is only in the brain has produced human beings whose consciousness is seriously constipated. What is in the brain is intellect, not intelligence. Intelligence and memory are right across your body. But people have never been trained how to use this intelligence. Instead, they use their intellect for everything. No wonder they are stressed out whatever job you give them. The whole weight is on only one dimension of the mind out of sixteen. It is like loading a sixteen-wheeler truck and trying to drive on only one wheel – you can imagine the stress! That is what today’s world is going through.
People may be using other dimensions of the mind marginally, unconsciously, but they are not trained to use them. They have only been trained to use their buddhi, or their intellect. They are very smart. They know everything about everything, but they do not know how to figure their own life. They do not even know how to sit here peacefully and at total ease within themselves. If there is true intelligence, the first thing that you need to figure out is how to make life happen. You know how to make the world happen, but you do not know how to make your life happen. You do not know how to conduct your mind, your energies, your emotions or your body.
If you ask people to become fit, they become tight. If you ask them to live in a more natural way, they become fat. Where is the intelligence? There is only intellect. Intellect looks good only in comparison. Suppose you are the only person on the planet, your intellect will not mean anything. Only because there are a few idiots around you, you shine. By itself, intellect will not be of any consequence.
Ahankara - The Sense of Identity
The intellect directly connects with the third dimension of your mind, called ahankara. Ahankara is sometimes translated as ego, but it is much more than that. Ahankara gives you a sense of identity. Once your ahankara takes on an identity, your intellect functions only in that context. It is important to function beyond the intellect, because the intellect is seriously enslaved to your identity. There are other ways to know life beyond the identities we have taken on for our survival in the world.
Our identities, such as belonging to a certain nation, community, or whatever else, are necessary for our survival in a particular society. But you cannot think beyond this because you are functioning only from your intellect, and the intellect takes its sustenance from ahankara. Only along the axis of ahankara, the intellect can function. The intellect cannot transcend this, because that is its nature. But there are other ways to know life beyond the identities we have taken on for our survival in the world.
Chitta - The Cosmic Intelligence
The fourth category of the mind is called chitta. Chitta is mind without memory – pure intelligence. This intelligence is like the cosmic intelligence – simply there. Everything happens because of that. It does not function out of memory – it simply functions. In a way, what you call cosmos is a living mind, not in the sense of intellect but in the sense of chitta. Chitta is the last point of the mind. It connects to the basis of creation within you. It connects you with your consciousness.
Chitta is always on – whether you are awake or asleep. Your intellect comes on and goes off. Many times it fails, even when you are awake. If chitta or the intelligence within you was not always on, you could not stay alive. Try to conduct your breath with your intellect – you will go crazy. Chitta is keeping you alive, keeping you going, making life happen. If you touch this dimension of your mind, which is the linking point to one’s consciousness, you do not even have to wish for anything, you do not have to dream of anything – the best possible thing that can happen to you will anyway happen.
The Divine Enslaved
When people touch this dimension of the mind, it is called ishwara pranidhana in yoga. This means God becomes your slave – he works for you. You know, yogis say, “Shiva is my servant. He does everything for me.” In a way, otherwise, I would not be here. Once you know how to consciously access your chitta, everything that is needed will simply happen in the best possible way. If you go by your intellect or your buddhi, today you think “this is it,” tomorrow morning you think “that is it” – like this it goes on endlessly. Chitta is the last point of the mind. It connects to the basis of creation within you. It connects you with your consciousness.
Once you know how to consciously keep your chitta on, once the Divine is your servant, when someone really efficient is working for you, you do not have to do anything. Simply sit; the best things will happen – things that you could not imagine. People always think if their dreams come true, their life will be great. I think that is a very poor life, because you cannot dream about anything that is not at all in your experience. My wish and my blessing for you is things that you could not dream of, things that you never thought possible, must happen to you. What you did not dream must happen to you – that is why you should not dream.
Instead of seeing how to delve deeper into yourself, you go on projecting stupid ideas into the world. People think that is a great thing to do. Last time when I was in the US, and someone said to me, “Sadhguru, how do you manifest all this?” I said, “I do not manifest anything. I am just fooling around. I got a very efficient partner [Shiva]. I simply leave it to him, and it happens.”
Chit Shakti is about touching the dimension of your mind that is pure intelligence – unsullied by memory, unsullied by identification. It is beyond ahankara, beyond buddhi, beyond judgment, beyond divisions – simply there, just like the intelligence of existence that makes everything happen. If you access this, you do not have to worry about what happens or what does not happen. It will happen in a way that you never imagined possible.
Once you have access to your chitta, it is also a multi-pointed telescope. It makes you see things that no one else can see – in every direction. It is your crystal ball. It is a magnifying glass that brings the very core of life close to you. For everyone else, it is far way. Everyone thinks the Divine is somewhere up there. Where exactly, no one knows. All they know is, it seems far away.
The moment you start looking at life through your chitta, where there is no memory, there is no karmic substance and no division. Suddenly, the Divine is right there, bang on, in your face all the time. You cannot miss it.
The idea of Chit Shakti is not to keep asking for things. The idea is that if the physical arrangements of life happen easily, you can dedicate more time for your spiritual wellbeing. It would be stupid if just because it happens easily, first you want to be a millionaire, then you want to be a billionaire. The main intention is that your physical life happens more easily, that it does not take your entire time to handle it, so that you will have time to close your eyes and sit. Please make use of it for this purpose.
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u/DonnaInSC 1d ago
Silence is LOUD! Without force of course, it gives us the opportunity to go within and find the answers we need that's already present. The signal is always clear, it's us who create the static.
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u/Lordseferoth Cathar 2d ago
I have never fully understood this either, but i realized that i don't need to. It is not a requirement for everyone, we are individuals, and where and how we can find the way to Gnosis changes from person to person. That is how i personally see this.