Aptavani-4
363
staying silent (maun) is considered power of penance
(tapobud)?
Dadashri: A penance of silence would be where a
person, who stays silence (maun) in situations where he would
not normally stay silent, so then the maun (his silence), goes into
tapobud (power of penance). If his servant breaks a cup and
he does not utter a thing, it is rendered a penance (tapa). There
is nothing as powerful as silence in this world. This power is
dissipated the instant you utter something. Silence is the highest
penance. If you are having a dispute with your father, if you stay
silent (maun), you are doing a penance. Everything ‘melts’ in
that penance and from that, science comes about. Nowadays
people stay silent for a day and then the next day they vent their
bottled up boiling anger! The penance of silence can do much
good. It can bring salvation to the entire world.
That is why Kavi wrote:
‘Sat purush nu maun tapobud,
nischay aakhha jaga ne taarey’
‘The penance of silence of the realized Soul,
will definitely liberate the entire world.’
~Kavi Navneet
You are free to say anything in the presence of Dada;
nevertheless, maintaining your silence is power of penance
(tapobud).
Questioner: What is considered maun (remaining silent)?
Dadashri: Whatever you say, that is related to the Atma,
is considered maun (here it means anything said for the salvation
of others).
Questioner: If we stop speaking overtly (sthool), and
we remain silent, will it benefit us?