Science of the Rishis: A Daily Rhythm

Part III: The Paradox of Silence: Waking Humanity Through Inner Peace

I am carrying a silence around me. It is simply a by-product of my silence inside. And when I stand in the marketplace, naturally everybody feels disturbed, humiliated, contradicted — his beliefs are being destroyed; otherwise, what danger can I be?

I am a danger only because they are living in false beliefs. And I am doing my best to make it clear to them: whatever you believe is nonsense — and unless you drop it you cannot have any experience of blissfulness, you cannot become in touch with truth as it is.

I will go on doing it because I cannot think that there is not a possibility of humanity waking up — if not today, then tomorrow; if not by me, then by somebody else. But to lose hope means to drop all possibilities of future growth for human beings. So I will continue to do whatsoever I feel is right… and they will continue to avoid whatever they feel is dangerous.

Even if a few people are turned on, that’s enough — more than enough — because those few people will turn on a few more people. It can become a wildfire.

The turmoil, the disturbance, the ugliness all around has to be destroyed, and it cannot be destroyed by anybody who is using destructive means. It can be destroyed only by silence, by peace, by love, by compassion.

SITTING IN YOUR PRESENCE IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE. WE CALL IT DISCOURSE. THIS WORD SEEMS TO ME SO POOR NEXT TO WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE. IS THERE A WORD IN ANY LANGUAGE THAT COULD POINT TO, IF NOT DESCRIBE, WHAT IS HAPPENING BETWEEN THE MASTER AND THE DISCIPLE?

There is no word in any language for what transpires between the master and the disciple. It is the strangest phenomenon in life. It is not a relationship, it is something far deeper, far greater, far more eternal. Once you have known the taste of being a disciple, the last problem for the master will be how to help you drop it — the idea of disciplehood — because it is so fulfilling, so perfect, that one doesn’t want to stop it.

It is said about Mahakashyap, one of Gautam Buddha’s disciples, that he never said anything. He was asked again and again by other disciples — because he was a great philosopher before he came to Gautam Buddha, and he had thousands of followers; he was one of the sharpest minds around Gautam Buddha, perhaps next only to Gautam Buddha — “Why don’t you speak? Why don’t you say anything?”

Because the disciples were persistently harassing him, he finally said, “The truth is that I don’t want to say anything because I don’t want to go beyond disciplehood. Saying anything, coming into the light, becoming important in Gautam Buddha’s eyes, is dangerous. I simply want to sit in a corner and just enjoy the presence of the master. I had come to seek truth, but now I do not have any desire for it. I had come here for enlightenment — I have dropped the idea. Just to be in the presence of this man — just to feel his love showering, his silence penetrating to the very core of my being — is so much, that to ask for more is simply ungratefulness.”

But these are the paradoxes of life: Mahakashyap was the first to become enlightened. His totality in being a disciple was enough to make him enlightened. And the only thing known about him in the Buddhist scriptures is that he laughed. That was the first time that he made any gesture.

Buddha looked at him and said, “Mahakashyap, you never speak — why are you laughing?”

He said, “It’s hilarious! I was trying to hide myself so that I wouldn’t come into the direct focus of you. And there are so many who are desirous of enlightenment, of truth, of the ultimate, that I thought, `Let all of them reach; I can wait. This waiting is so beautiful.’ But I had to laugh because I’m the first to have entered the world of enlightenment — and I never asked about it.”

Buddha said, “It is because you never asked about it. You in fact even dropped the desire for it. You were coming closer to it, you even became afraid that it might happen, so you were hiding in corners, you would never ask a question. And I knew that it was going to happen to you first — before anyone else — because these are the qualities that are needed. Unknowingly you fulfill all the conditions. And don’t be angry with me; I have nothing to do with it. You are solely responsible for what has happened.”

Mahakashyap said, “I have only one desire: though I have become enlightened — and it is a tremendous experience — please allow me, while you are alive, not to be sent anywhere else. Let me remain in your commune wherever you move.”

Theory: Destroying Beliefs, Uncovering Truth: The Power of Silent Presence

Mindful Workplace (Sattva): Cultivate Karuna (Compassion) in Tough Conversations – Destruction of bad habits or poor practices should never rely on destructive or hostile means, but on peace, clarity, and empathy.

• Workplace Practice: When delivering critical performance feedback, address the behavior or system, not the person’s worth. Offer constructive guidance with genuine empathy, ensuring the conversation builds the individual up rather than tearing them down.