Quietude Disturbs the Brain (Lalitha)

In spiritual practice, quietude is a deeply desirable, nourishing nutrient. Most practitioners find quieting the mind to be very difficult. It takes a lot of stamina and strength to stop ourselves from being habitually drawn to the stimulus of contention or disruption through distractions such as the news and social media. We can start with basic practices. The human being craves constant stimulus even if it’s painful. The urgency for stimulus has been researched in studies which show that many people intentionally give themselves electric shocks rather than spend 15 minutes in quietude. The wisdom heart, the intuitive mind held in the heart, signifies the context that we can access and root in that affects choices we make in business and life. The vagus nerve is the nerve of quietude in the human body. We can start a habit of turning on the vagus nerve reflex. It is helpful in going on retreat to set a clear intention and schedule. Good company on the path refers to those with willingness and centered calmness who we can borrow from if we feel collapsed. It is an extraordinary asset for practitioners. When strong and steady, we can hold up and help companions in personal crisis, without losing our seat, which is not fixing or rescuing. Quietude is the root of being and a priceless treasure. It is not stagnant but is very interactive and juicy. It’s important to produce relationship as a fruit of sadhana, even if no one is around. We can be eaten up by entities that live off emotional food produced by the distractions of life today. Do we have the ability to choose quietude over distraction? We can’t do anything about others but can be that which produces presence and makes quietude a committed priority. Lalitha is a spiritual teacher with an ashram in British Columbia, Canada, who was empowered by her master Lee Lozowick in 1998. Her books include Waking to Ordinary Life and Cultivating Spiritual Maturity.