Silence as Prayer

Silent meditation is another form of prayer. I often find myself turning to silent meditation in moments of being overwhelmed, moments of joy, or simply moments of unexpected free time!

You can get started by setting aside some quiet time during the day. This can be even a few minutes, sitting in silence in your living room, at your cubicle, or your parked car. Find a place where you will not feel obligated to answer the phone, tidy up, or respond to passerby’s.

Once you put yourself in this silent place, there are three common suggestions for entering into a deeper state of awareness and peace.

First, become aware of your body, and find a position where you can be relaxed and still. You may want to sit upright with your head titled slightly down.

Second, focus on your breath. You can practice this right now, as you read. Take a deep breath in, through your nose, expanding your belly. Then release this deep breath, letting the air flow out from your mouth.

Third, let your mind clear. This is a gentle process. If daydreams or emotions arise, as they may, simply recognize them and let them pass. Focus attention on your in-and-out breathing to let the mind settle.

You may want to commit yourself to being in silence for a set amount of time (for example, five minutes), or to simply enjoy the quiet until you have moved into a state of deeper awareness and peace.

(Many Unitarian Universalists are also Buddhists and/or practice silent meditation in the Buddhist tradition. Although this piece is not written specifically for Buddhists, it incorporates some Buddhist ideas about meditation. If you would like more information about Buddhist meditation, please read Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche’s article “How to Meditate” from the July 1994 Shambala Sun. He gives in-depth analysis and instructions on each of the three steps described above. Ryuei Michael McCormick’s “Basic Meditation Instructions for Nichiren Buddhists,” also expands on each of the three steps listed above. Both pieces helped me better understand and describe silent meditation.)