Practice 3
The Sound of Oneness
“Every element has a sound, an original sound from the order of God; all those sounds unite like the harmony from harps and zithers.”
— Hildegard of Bingen
“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature—trees, flowers, grass—grows in silence; see the stars, the moon, and the sun, how they move in silence. . . . We need silence to be able to touch Souls.”
— Mother Teresa
“The first stage of worship is silence.”
— Muhammad
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Exercise
The journey into the internal temple of your heart—your innermost being—begins and ends in silence. With this practice, seek the solitude within and find refuge in the arms of God—the contemplative embrace of Oneness. In the silence, you touch the still point and lie in the green pastures of your Soul. Within this sacred space, hear the sound of Oneness. These are the whispers from Spirit . . . whispers of truth and faith that reassure you that all is One and all is well.
Today’s practice can be applied in a quiet setting in nature, in a taxicab, or during a business meeting. Practicing inner stillness in the midst of your day infuses the consciousness of Oneness into the core of your life and your relationships. This practice brings the power and presence of God into each situation you encounter and into all areas of your life: health, relationships, career, and finances. Silent retreats and Sabbath practices are also rich experiences that can expand your ability to connect with Oneness.
Begin this practice by slowing your pace, deepening your breath, and opening your awareness to the present moment. Allow your thoughts to calm and drift through your mind in slow motion. Follow the spiral movement of your breath inward into the interior castle of your heart. Your heart is always listening; it’s a universal resource of deep communication. Continue to breathe yourself into inner silence and stillness, seeking and unlocking your Soul. Feel your own inner terrain, the landscape of life within you. Breathe. Inhale and exhale. Let go and let the silence take you now, pulling you deeper and deeper into your inner sanctuary. Seek it as it seeks you. Be still. Rest in the I AM as you silently breathe, listening to the sound of Oneness.
Trust what arises . . . have faith in your inner hearing. Be receptive to the whispers, the voice of inspired guidance, the consolations from the angels, and the truth of your own essential voice. Pay attention and receive. Allow the sound of Oneness to rejuvenate, restore, and repattern your heart, Soul, and mind. Breathe. Be still and know I AM.
From this inner sanctuary of silence, allow any questions you have for the Divine to slowly rise, simply and effortlessly. Guidance is as near as your own breath. Listen. Receive. Believe. Who am I? Why am I here? What is calling to me? Who must I now become in consciousness?
Allow your own sound of Oneness to be expressed, and feel its vibration deep in your heart. Give voice to it; know that it is your song to learn, to sing, and to share.
Return again and again throughout the day to your inner sanctuary of silence. This place is always within you and is one of your most precious resources. Use this practice to cultivate the Presence, and you’ll discover that Oneness speaks in silence.
Affirmation
I AM the sound of silence, listening to the sweet whispers of my Soul
telling me that all is One, all is well, and I AM loved.
telling me that all is One, all is well, and I AM loved.
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