Hi all,
Lately I’ve found myself naturally resting in inner silence.
For example, I’ll be sitting at the computer working and notice there are absolutely no thoughts in my mind — just a soft inner buzzing and a deep sense of relaxation throughout my body. It feels as if I’m one with my surroundings, without getting caught up in mental chatter about what’s happening around me.
I’ve been reading in the Lessons about “favoring the mantra as silence itself,” and this seems to make daily activity smoother — perhaps contributing to what I’m describing.
I understand that resting in inner silence during activity is not the same as actively returning to the object of meditation (favoring the mantra merged with silence), which is what deepens inner silence during formal sittings.
What I’m curious about is this: when I’m quietly working and notice the silence, I sometimes feel drawn to shift from simply resting in it to favoring it. My understanding is that as soon as I do that, I’m essentially meditating again.
As long as there’s no discomfort, I assume there’s no need to interfere — but I wonder where the line really lies between the two.
Has anyone had similar experiences in their years of practice? And what guidance does AYP generally give on this point?
I hope this makes sense and I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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