In the Temple of Silence

Silence isn't just golden; it is divine. Silence is inherently sacred. It is multidimensional, vast, and eternal. Unfortunately, in our social media-driven lives most of us know little about it. In the outer world silence can lead us to better communication skills and stronger relationships. In the inner world it can lead us to communion with God. There is no greater teacher than silence. In the holy classroom of silence all of life's secrets are revealed.
In this amazing, one-of-a-kind book Paramahamsa Prajnanananda teaches us the importance and impact of practicing silence. Few of us realize the value of silence, how it can lead to self-mastery, and how it can accelerate spiritual growth. Practicing silence is not escapism; it connects us to life at its deepest level. When we enter the temple of silence, we are not escaping from life; instead, we are learning how to live to the fullest.

It is not easy to understand how to live correctly. We plan, then we apply a lot of effort and love and sincerity to make our plan successful. Ultimately, destiny may cause the outcome to be different than what we intended. I am writing this while sitting alone in silence seclusion for an extended period. It is the blessing of the global spread of the corona virus pandemic.
While I was pondering our plans and thinking about divine approval and disapproval, I was amazed to see how much humans depend on uncertain, unknown factors. I was also amazed to see their courage while facing the challenge of the current circumstances during the pandemic.
I am a student and teacher of Kriya Yoga. For four decades I have been practicing, and for closer to three decades I have been teaching this beautiful technique. For the students of Kriya Yoga in particular, and for humanity at large, the year 2020 is a very important year. We had planned to celebrate it in a befitting manner all over the world.
What is the significance?
Exactly a century ago, a young monk of twenty-seven years arrived in Boston, USA, from India. In a special way he changed human life and consciousness. He followed the footsteps of Swami Vivekananda. Coincidentally, he was born the same year that Swami Vivekananda gave his historic talk in the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago. This event completely changed people's attitudes toward India, her culture, and the Vedic knowledge that is based on unity in diversity and the spirit of divinity. This historic talk was given in the year 1893.
On September 19, 1920, the young monk named Swami Yogananda Giri participated in the Congress of Religious Liberals of the World in Boston. He delivered a very beautiful scientific and logical explanation of the principles of religions and their practical application for human development.
We have heard the proverb, "I came, I saw, and I conquered This young monk came to the USA and saw the countless hungry and thirsty seekers of Truth in the West. He stayed in the West and conquered the minds and hearts of hundreds of thousands of people within his lifetime and many more people after his untimely departure from the world. His epoch-making books and teachings have inspired and guided millions of people around the globe.
Paramahamsa Yoganandaji, whom we love and adore and whose footsteps we follow according to our limited human capacity, is a guiding force for the entire world. He ushered in an unthinkable transformation. His tireless touring, traveling, and talks almost a century ago attracted thousands. He presented talks for several days in the same city teaching the scientific technique of Kriya Yoga.
He spent the best part of his life in the West. He was a monk who dedicated his life to alleviating spiritual hunger through meditation and prayer, by transforming the human heart and awareness. His majestic voice, melodious chanting, mesmerizing talks, magnetic personality, magnanimous outlook, and his completely devoted, divine, loving mind were the guiding forces that united humanity despite diversities.
The year 2020 is the centenary of his arrival in the West. When the materialistic West was spiritually hungry, he brought new hope and a direct experience of peace, love, and calmness through the practice of Kriya Yoga. He taught us to live with self-discipline, devotion, and prayer.
We planned to commemorate this event in many ways in different countries all over the world in 2020 and 2021. We inaugurated this global program in India in January 2020 on Yoganandaji's birthday and in a few other cities. The major events were awaiting commencement when the disastrous spread of an unknown and invisible virus struck the entire world. A lockdown and human suffering followed in most countries.
The planned programs were canceled. In spring, I went for two weeks of seclusion to observe a nine-day worship of the Divine Mother. The seclusion was extended because the country was locked down. I remained in the holy city of Vrindavan in silence, seclusion, and meditation.
It occurred to me that what ultimately happens has God's approval. It depends not on our will, but on the will of God. It was God's will that I stayed for an extended period in the holy city that Paramahamsa Yoganandaji visited as a penniless boy, and then as a world-renowned yogi in 1936. I will now be celebrating the centenary program in a special manner, with more meditation and prayer.
After a divine stay of about eighty days in Vrindavan, I went to our gurukulam in Balighai, Puri, for more self-isolation. Soon after my arrival, I received the typed manuscript on silence that had been recorded in our ashrams in Tattendorf, Austria, and Homestead, Florida.
I considered this another way to celebrate this commemorative anniversary. Instead of crowds, talks, and other activities, I would work on silence, while observing silence.
This work is a grand celebration of silence. When I was looking at the text, the thought of Paramahamsa Yoganandaji's famous song came to my mind: "In the Temple of Silence." This song is well known among spiritual seekers, and with love they sing it with the same melody that the master taught and sang.
Practicing silence is quite easy for some people, while for others it appears extremely difficult. Silence is an art, yoga, and a state of realization. It is skillful living with love and consciousness. It is an easy way to achieve success in worldly and spiritual life. In this text, silence and its practices are elaborately discussed, with practical examples and explanations. We must build a temple of silence. In silence we must worship our Beloved with the flower of silent love in our hearts.