This is based on a book called Buddhism a Living Message, by Thera Piyadassi, this is especially helpful for those that like to say inappropriate things to people, is it really necessary to play mind game?
Our nervous exhaustion is increasing with the speeding up of our life. People often return home after work with their nerves on edge. As a consequence, their concentration is weakened, and mental and physical efficiency are lowered. Man becomes easily irritated and is quick to find fault and pick a quarrel. He becomes morbidly introspective, experiences aches, pains, and suffers from hypertension and sleeplessness. These symptoms of nervous exhaustion clearly show that modern man’s mind and body require rest, rest of a high quality.
Let us bear in mind that certain aloofness, a withdrawing of the mind from the busyness of life is a requisite to mental hygiene. Whenever you get an opportunity, try to be away from the town and engage yourself in quiet contemplation; call it yoga, concentration, or meditation. Learn to observe the silence. Silence does so much good to us. It is quite wrong to imagine that they alone are powerful who are noisy, garrulous, and fussily busy. Silence is golden, and we must speak only if we can improve on silence. The greatest creative energy works in silence. Observing silence is important. We do that in our meditation.
People are so used to noise and talk, that they feel lonely and out of place if they do not speak. But if we train ourselves in the art of cultivating silence, we will learn to enjoy it.
Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember that there is peace in silence. We must take time off to go into retreat in search of silence. We must, now and then, break away from motion to remain motionless. It is a peaceful form of existence. In lonely retreat, we experience the value of silent contemplation. We make an inward journey. When we withdraw into silence, we are absolutely alone to see ourselves as we really are, and then we can learn to overcome the weaknesses and limitations in ordinary experience.
Time spent in secluded contemplation is not wasted; it goes a long way to strengthen a man’s character. It is an asset to our daily work and progress if we can find the time to cut ourselves off from routine and spend a day or two in quiet contemplation. This is surely not escapism of living in idleness, but the best way to strengthen our mind. This is beneficial introspection; for it is by examining our thoughts and feelings that we can probe into the inner meaning of things and discover the powers within.
- Ga Lah Tae Sar
Nye Noona 
By the way, Ginger (Nye), you should try this. Find a place in your home where you can sit for at least 45 mins…clear your mind of all thoughts, close your eyes, relax & see for yourself. It will be hard in the beginning, but over time you will experience something very unique. You always said: “try it for yourself, it’s the only way you can be convinced–aside from taking someone’s else advice.”
Bob again:)))
Let me know if you can see the ‘light.’
How true this is, and yet we are all too caught up in what is hot at the moment, the now…instead of what really counts…to understand who we are & the purpose behind why we are here, if there is a ‘cycle’ or something?
I still remember the retreat that I went on after my father passed away. Before I went, I had a dream that I was to go on this journey. It was after this dream that I told my mom that I would go to Atlanta & learn about Buddhism. The two weeks there opened my eyes to something beyond what I had come to know from mere learning. The glimpse of this ‘something’ that I experienced was brought to me through meditation. I had never tried meditation before, not at this level. However, I still remember them very vividly, the two events that happened during my meditations. The first was the realization of a ‘bright light’ flashing before my eyes, as though someone was looking for me. I came to accept this light as my ‘soul’ signaling to me…hey! “Wake up. We are more than just a physical being, there is a spirit that dwell within us.” The second experience came on the second week. This was very intensed and as it happened, I felt as though I was flying…though this sense of wonder cannot describe the true experience…it was almost an out of the body experience of some sort. And lastly, when I returned home, I remembered dropping my wife off at school & sitting in my car, I watched people ‘hurrying’ about, rushing to classes & works. How the world has got us so wrapped up in its ‘shealth’ and blinded us to who we really are.
I must also confess that going back to this state of meditation now a day is very difficult. But I know that something is there…that our soul is there waiting for us, patiently to guide us toward the true path.
Bob:)))
Bob, thanks for sharing your story; I don’t know if I’m capable of meditation as you can see that I sometimes can’t follow what I preached. I think sometimes you don’t have to experience something to have an understanding, but in your case, I’m glad that you did learn and experience Buddhism because you’ve experienced something unique; I think you might have discovered yourself, your soul. As for me, I’m always aware that I’ve a soul, might be because of my Buddhist upbringing. I will try meditation and will let you know. 🙂