Planet Soul
An 11-Day Vow of Silence Changed My View on the True Nature of Objective Reality
Meditation isn’t an activity, it’s a state of awareness
“I am the looker, but the Universe is the See-er.
Every set of eyes in the world is witnessing on behalf of the Universe (Brahmān), witnessing its own existence in multiple forms, witnessing one slice of reality at a time (Bhāgya).”
On the morning of October 11, as the sun touched Berlin’s horizon from below, I heard my voice for the first time in 11 days. I chanted “Om” in a deep tone, vibrating the air around me and in all the hollow spaces of my body. I followed it up with an ancient Pali phrase: “Bhavatu Sabba Mangalam,” which means “may all blessings come true for all beings.”
After a good friend motivated me, I’d decided to try the practice of Vipassana meditation that traditionally spans a period of 10 days: I would have to limit external stimuli, eat in a disciplined manner, meditate for many hours a day, and not communicate with anyone. Through my days of silence and meditation, I experienced revelations that changed my perspective on…
