Oct 24, 2026 · 17 min · 11 segments
In today’s episode, we explore an intriguing topic: “Understanding Silence, Experiencing Silence.” We will examine the true meaning of Silence and consider why complete thoughtlessness cannot be the…
Introduction What is silence? In everyday usage, silence means the absence of sound or noise.
It implies the absence not only of sound but also of visual images, smells, tastes and sensations of touch.
In such a state, the mind appears completely blank or empty without thoughts or experiences.
But is this kind of silence possible? What does it truly mean? Our eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin continuously engage with external objects and the mind registers their impressions.
Given this constant stream of sensory input, how can we understand the silence described in Vedanta, the complete absence of thoughts, perceptions, feelings and experiences in the mind? A closer examination of our everyday experience reveals moments in which we encounter this Vedantic silence.
What lies between thoughts? As noted earlier, the mind appears to carry an unbroken stream of thoughts.
Yet when one thought ends and another begins, there must be a brief interval between them, a moment in which neither thought is present.
This interval may be understood as a form of silence, free from sensory impressions.
Because the frames appear in quick succession, we perceive continuous movement rather than separate images, and the tiny intervals between them escape our notice.
This interval is so brief that we neither notice nor measure it, yet it represents the silence between thoughts, a moment without thought or sensory input.
What, if anything, is present in that silence? What is its nature? The remainder of this episode explores these questions.
Introduction What is silence? In everyday usage, silence means the absence of sound or noise.
It implies the absence not only of sound but also of visual images, smells, tastes and sensations of touch.
In such a state, the mind appears completely blank or empty without thoughts or experiences.
But is this kind of silence possible? What does it truly mean? Our eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin continuously engage with external objects and the mind registers their impressions.
Given this constant stream of sensory input, how can we understand the silence described in Vedanta, the complete absence of thoughts, perceptions, feelings and experiences in the mind? A closer examination of our everyday experience reveals moments in which we encounter this Vedantic silence.
What lies between thoughts? As noted earlier, the mind appears to carry an unbroken stream of thoughts.
Yet when one thought ends and another begins, there must be a brief interval between them, a moment in which neither thought is present.
This interval may be understood as a form of silence, free from sensory impressions.
Because the frames appear in quick succession, we perceive continuous movement rather than separate images, and the tiny intervals between them escape our notice.
This interval is so brief that we neither notice nor measure it, yet it represents the silence between thoughts, a moment without thought or sensory input.
What, if anything, is present in that silence? What is its nature? The remainder of this episode explores these questions.
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