There is the silence of a still evening as the sun is setting when none of the beautiful trees have leaves moving or fluttering about. There is the limited silence between notes being played by a wonderful musical instrument. There is the echoless silence in a large theater when no one is there. There is the murmurless silence of a dragonfly peacefully resting.
Silence of the mind can be a most beautiful, spiritual, divine, and wise thing. True spiritual silence is not an act of will. Will is a projection of desire and will is never truly free, though many of us insist that it is. True spiritual silence that comes about naturally, spontaneously, without any cognitive/mental effort, can be a miraculous thing. It occurs when the mind is aware but is not merely accumulating or striving. Control has nothing to do with it, for control is in the pattern of the opposites and is manipulation toward an end; it is merely part of the cause/effect continuum. True spiritual silence is beyond ends to attain; it is beyond cause and effect patterns and sequences. Such silence is an explosion beyond the known… beyond the cunning and ludicrous patterns of man.
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
“…beyond the cunning and ludicrous patterns of man.” You nail it! I have days when humans just do me in… its worse now because summer is upon us with man and his motorcycles, recreational vehicles that scream through the woods or boats tearing up the waters…. it’s a fact that heat correlated with more violence – NOISE that so effectively blocks out thought – well isn’t that the point?
Awareness – pure awareness – no thought, no self – has to be one of miracles some of us get to experience – as I’ve said before – for me it feels like grace – there is nothing beyond that oneness…
I just saw my first dragonfly – he looked like yours!
Dragonflies, Sara, were around before the time of the dinosaurs. They are awesome creatures! Some used to have 2 and a half foot wingspans! 😁
oh I had forgotten that! Can you imagine having one of those guys zooming around overhead?
“Silence of the mind can be a most beautiful, spiritual, divine, and wise thing.”… this is so true Tom..
Yes, thanks, Michelle. Spiritual… yes! 😉
Very aptly stated, Tom. When it happens it’s a fortuitous gift that fills us with consolation.
Yes, thanks, wishforwater! Gift, yes; not something we can fabricate to happen when we choose. 🙂
Beautiful image – couldn’t have orchestrated a better background! And beautiful words opening to possibilities.
Thank you, Jazz! I hope that some people benefit from it! 😉
Yes, beyond everything, beyond our striving. There’s something special about dragonflies.
Yes, Paul, dragonflies have an air of royalty to them! 😀
Yes 🙂
pictures are great, loved your text.
Thanks, China Dream!… means a lot! 😊
The dragonfly resting is amazing Tom – the colors in its body resemble the colors in the cement in your driveway. It is at peace … I get peace in the house after my neighbor returns home at night as her dog begins whining and crying with separation anxiety the moment she steps out the door. Happily, I miss the morning whining until I arrive home from walking. I don’t listen to loud music to drown it out – maybe that is the solution to peace?
Peace and quietness of mind, Linda, can happen with plenty of noise in the environment. I do not listen to music much but if there is noise in the environment it usually does not bother me in the least. Many people equate quietness of mind with being in a quiet environment but that is not the case. Quietness of mind is not about the so-called outer environment. 😉
Yes, that is good if you can do iI think my concentration is not like it was when I was younger – I can tune things out when I am aaway from here, but not as much when I am here at the house. I like having my mind be a blank canvas when I am walking.
Well, it doesn’t involve concentration or tuning things out. Both of those necessitate resistance and this does not involve resistance. 😉
I always love to read your post. Pictures are amazing ❣
Much appreciated, Deepak! Thank you! 😊
Best closeup of a dragonfly that I have ever seen! Very inspiring.
Wow!
I love the sounds of silence. Nice photo of that dragonfly – I like its wing markings.