This post isn’t about finding an absolutely quiet place for meditation.
Rather, it’s about learning to practice in the presence of silence and in the absence of a teacher’s guided voice.
When we find a teacher we like, we may enjoy the accompaniment of their voice guiding us through a meditation, but sometimes we may come to rely on this external source of support a little too much.
We may become dependent on the teacher’s voice as our anchor of attention, rather than the breath or the body, or other objects of attention in our internal landscape.
The teacher’s narration may also lead us to fixate on thinking about the intellectual concepts of practice, rather than working with the direct experience of meditation itself.
Without external instruction, we can learn to trust in our own capacity to navigate the practice.
We can look more deeply into our meditative experience and recognise the states of mind that arise as opportunities for growth.
For example, we find that the mind gets distracted and restless more easily, or feelings of boredom and impatience may arise more intensely. We then confront these uncomfortable experiences and learn to stay present and at ease with them - without external dependency.
Practicing without guidance also encourages the honing of self-discipline and patience with ourselves.
The teacher’s instruction is merely a guide. As we familiarise ourselves with the “how” of the meditation, we build more confidence in independent, self-led practices.
Eventually, we have to let go of the map in our hands, and learn to walk the path on our own.
In this Take A Pause session recorded on 3 November 2024, the TAP community practiced paying attention to their soundscape as well as breath and body, without Erin’s usual guidance.
At the end of the practice, we tuned in to a poem titled “Power of Silence” by Muhammad Muzamil A.
We then discussed our experience working with silence during the meditation.
Meditation Begins: 09:23
Reading Begins: 25:15
Meditation Duration: 16 minutes
Power of Silence
by Muhammad Muzammil A
A seed buried deep in the earth
No noise, no sound, no fuss, no mirth
But under the soil, magic is at play
A life force that will show the way
In silence, the seed begins to sprout
Reaching for light, it won't be without
Slowly but surely, it grows with care
A quiet strength, it's ready to bear
A tree stands tall, proud and strong
A symphony of beauty, a life-long song
But when it falls, the earth does shake
A mighty noise, it makes us wake
Destruction has its way, loud and clear
But creation is silent, nothing to fear
So grow your roots, deep and strong
In silence, let your spirit belong
For the power of silence is immense
A force that can create without pretense
So grow silently, with grace and ease
And you'll stand tall, among the trees.
Light On Life Retreat: Autumn Awakenings
Join Erin Lee in this 5-day mindfulness meditation retreat celebrating the Autumn Equinox and exploring themes of harvest, transition, and resilience for the body and mind.
This retreat is designed for anyone open to looking inward and discovering their own potential for transformation and renewal.
WHEN: 21-25 September 2025
WHERE: Being Sattvaa (Award-Winning Retreat Centre in Ubud, Bali)
Single & Double Occupancy Available
Super Early Bird Discount: USD 250 off
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