Peace #4: Silence and Listening
If we long for peace in the world, the words of Gandhi remind us to: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Peace begins within. When we cultivate it in our own body and mind, we ripple it outward into our relationships, our communities, and ultimately the world.
For me, this exploration often returns to the roots of my own tradition—Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical path. There, the word for peace is Shalom (and in Arabic, Salam). Shalom is built of four sacred letters, each carrying a spiritual element, a force of nature, and an aspect of the soul.
Today, let us begin with the very first: Shin (ש)—the “Sh” sound.
You can try this simple practice anywhere, anytime:
- Make the sound “Shhhhhh.” Let it flow on your exhale.
- Feel the vibration move through your body.
- Pause in the silence at the end of the sound.
- Listen. Notice what arises—thoughts, sensations, or simply stillness.
- Let everything dissolve back into silence, like waves returning to the ocean.
As you repeat this, feel the stillness spreading through your body—from the crown of your head to your sit bones, then radiating beyond you into your environment. This vibration of silence is the vibration of peace.
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