The Caliber of Silence

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the practice of silence as part of a monastic discipline. The author describes the use of silence and meditation in Buddhism, Christianity and in Judaism, explaining how they differ in each religion, and contrasting Christian methods of meditation with Jewish ones in particular. The paper concludes with the author's personal preference for the monastics' unconditional practice of silence and separation from society, as a refreshing phenomenon in a material world.

From the Paper:

"In my extensive training as a Hostage Negotiator, I have learned the absolute necessity for silence. You cannot speak and to listen to someone else at the same time. Without the discipline of silence it is impossible to engage in meaningful dialogue, since this involves setting aside one's personal thoughts and endeavoring to hear what the other is saying. The art of negotiating is to hear what the hostage taker or barricaded subject is telling you without actually saying it in words."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Benton, Dr. C. Meditations. 2009. Available http://members.tripod.com/shulamit18/id65.htm#what_is_jewish_meditation (April 20, 2009)
• Casey, Friar Michael. Monastic Silence. 2009. Available http://www.cistercian.org.au/pages/monastic-silence.php (April 20, 2009).
• Essentials of Buddhism-Core Concepts. Buddahweb.com. 2009. Available http://www.buddhaweb.org (April 19, 2009)
• Monasticism. EncyclopediaBritannica.com. 2009. Available http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/388935/monasticism (April 19, 2009).
• What is Christian Meditation? GotQuestions.org. 2009. Available http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-meditation.html (April 21, 2009)

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