THE PRACTICE OF THE SILENCE
The first thing that you should do in your attempts to practice the silence is to be comfortably seated, so that your mind will be as free as possible from any thought of the body.
Second. You should remember that this period of silence is a period of prayer, a period of conscious communion with God.
Third. Interest in discovering the nature of God and what God wishes to reveal to you is the chief factor to be sought in keeping the attention fixed on your objective. Sometimes when difficulty is experienced in keeping the attention centered on the presence of God, it is well to say aloud a few times this basic statement: "There is only one Presence and one Power in the universe, the presence and power of God." Then you might audibly declare, "Jehovah is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him."
Fourth. With all the interest that you can arouse, become very still, listening with your whole being to catch whatever degree of the divine presence may be revealed to you.
Fifth. If no conscious revelation seems to be apparent at the close of your silence period, acknowledge that the presence and power of God, being a universal fact, is a fact in you and that His infinite wisdom is unfolding in you, His eternal life is manifesting itself in you, and His inexhaustible substance is being formed in you continually. This keeps the way open for fulfillment in you.
Sixth. Do not make the period of silence too long in the beginning—perhaps only two or three minutes. Let it be only as long as your interest seems to hold you. Then purposely turn the mind to something else. Return to the silence period later in the day, or at whatever time you may designate for your next period of practice. A time just after arising in the morning and a time just before retiring at night are good periods for your meditation. These periods, however, are no better than any others that may seem better adapted to your requirements.
Seventh. Never be discouraged if your experiences do not come as you have anticipated, or if you do not seem to make the progress that you would like to make. Only by practice does one become a musician, and it is by practice that one develops the new consciousness of spiritual things.
Eighth. On closing the silence period, an excellent attitude to assume would be the one set forth in this statement: "Father, I thank thee that thou heardest me. And I knew that thou hearest me always."
