Inner Silence: A Gateway to Divine Communion
Complete silence of mind and soul can be interpreted as a state of inner purification, where the mind is freed from superfluous thoughts and worries, and the soul is filled with pure silence and joy that foster deep contemplation of Divine truths. It is precisely in this state, when the mind is unburdened by disturbances and distractions, that the possibility of direct communication with God and a genuine perception of the Spirit’s presence opens up. As Saint Symeon the New Theologian wrote:"Silence is the state of a mind free from anxiety, the calm of a joyful and liberated soul, the unshaken and undisturbed foundation of the heart, a contemplation of light, a comprehension of God’s mysteries, the word of wisdom, the abyss of God’s thoughts, the admiration of the mind, a pure conversation with God, an ever-watchful eye, a wise prayer, a union and connection with God and, finally, adoration and effortless tranquility amid the great ascetic labors." (source: link txt).This condition implies that every movement of thoughts and feelings that does not originate from the Spirit recedes into the background, allowing both heart and mind to perceive the light and grace flowing from God. Similarly, it is described as when "my tongue falls silent from the sweetness derived from understanding them, and as if in a kind of dream, I enter a state in which my senses and thoughts quiet down… when my heart becomes calm and untroubled… then waves of joy ceaselessly come to sweeten my heart." (source: link txt).Thus, for true communion with the Spirit, the call for absolute silence of both mind and soul is not merely a renunciation of words but a deep inner union with God—one where the soul sheds all that is extraneous, making room for the pure perception and reception of the Wonderful Light of God’s grace.