O Mundo de Claudia: Silence is underrated

February 28, 2007

Silence is underrated

"Don't talk unless you can improve the silence." -- Jorge Luis Borges

*****

"Nestled deep in the postcard-perfect French Alps, the Grande Chartreuse is considered one of the world’s most ascetic monasteries. In 1984, German filmmaker Philip Gröning wrote to the Carthusian order for permission to make a documentary about them. They said they would get back to him. Sixteen years later, they were ready. Gröning, sans crew or artificial lighting, lived in the monks’ quarters for six months—filming their daily prayers, tasks, rituals and rare outdoor excursions. This transcendent, closely observed film seeks to embody a monastery, rather than simply depict one—it has no score, no voice over and no archival footage. What remains is stunningly elemental: time, space and light. One of the most mesmerizing and poetic chronicles of spirituality ever created, INTO GREAT SILENCE dissolves the border between screen and audience with a total immersion into the hush of monastic life. More meditation than documentary, it’s a rare, transformative theatrical experience for all."

A lover of silence myself, I enjoyed this documentary immensely. I'm not sure if its even a documentary: there's no soundtrack or voice over, just a succession of short clips and beautiful images of the french Alps. But what made it truly remarkable was that it was the first time in my life where there was almost complete silence in a room ful of people for nearly three hours.

I understand the need for solitude and withdrawal but I frankly don't understand it as a way of life. Especially to be closer to God as one monk admitted. A life of ascetism in a high peak in the Alps is nothing to brag about. What else is there to do? Try to find God while waking up every day to go to work, be underpaid, try to raise a family and make ends meet, resist the temptation of getting yurself into debt to buy symbols of status, find what makes you happy even if it's not what is socially prescribed, be good unto others although they don't really seem to care, be immune to marketing strategies and, if you're a believer, still have faith in God despite all the difficulties. Now THAT is a challenge. Withdrawing from society is plain cowardice.

Silence is the key to find solitude in the middle of others. Silence allows us to think deeper and, if you're a believer, it's the way to listen to God. I've been thinking how it's getting increasingly more difficult to find silent places in cities. My favourites were museums but somehow the old rule of keeping silent doesn't seem to apply anymore. I find catholic churches too grim. I can't get any peace of mind staring at the sight of a crucified man. There isn't one shop, cafe or public place in general that doesn't have some background sound, the dreaded muzak most times. Most of my friends and family can't arrive home without immediately turning on the TV or the stereo even if they're not paying attention. I have my own pet theory that all this is related to fear. Fear of thinking. It's easier to limit your interaction with the world to hearing and seeing and not giving it much thought. If you are constantly bombed with sounds and images, there's a relief from not having to think, from not having to face the probable emptiness.

You know when you eat something that tastes so good that you have to close your eyes so that nothing else can interfere with that sensual pleasure? The same goes for a beautiful work of art; I want to enjoy it in silence, the needed silence of contemplation which allows beauty to be perceived as a religious experience.

*****

Amused by the huge line of people at the Gulbenkian Foundation. There's an exhibition of jewelry by Cartier and I was doing my usual anthropological stunt by observing all these well dressed middle aged couples and groups of women. By the way they looked completely lost as where to buy tickets or how they spoke loudly on their cellphones giving directions to friends on the best places to park around there, I'm sure they had never set foot on the museum before. A strange setting. Reminded me of Bianca Castafiore. I may be a bit prejudiced but I can swear I saw a glitter of greediness on those eyes or whatever it is that makes people appreciate gems and gold. A woman who started mindlessly chatting with me about how she was anxious to see the Cartier exhibition was startled when I said I was not going there but to the museum instead. And even more startled when I said that no Cartier jewelry can beat the Lalique collection which is in the permanent exhibition.

Posted by claudia

Comments

Where did you find that Borges quote? I've never seen it before. Its a good one.

Posted by Erik at March 2, 2007 02:43 AM

I found it online and, to be honest, I'm not sure it is a reliable one. It's probably a proverb he quoted somewher. But it does sound like something he would say :)

Posted by claudia at March 2, 2007 06:41 PM

Considering Man as a relational being, on which is imprinted the logic of desire, don't you find challenging the silence of the constant solitude? Why consider the "fuga mundi" as a cowardly act, when the real struggle occurs within? Don't you find that life is short, and that our attention is constantly getting interrupted by nonsense 99% of the time? Is it cowardice, or simply a vocation, a way of life with up's and down's like all the others? (Posso escrever em português?)

Posted by Nuno at March 7, 2007 11:44 PM

If the real struggle occurs within why would you need solitude then? I am a great adept of "Fuga mundi" but for a short, battery recharging time. The challenge is to not let the nonsense interrupt you wherever you are. The challenge is to be alone in the middle of the crowded room. And I like a good challenge which might explain all this. I also have no idea what a vocation is. Sounds like a something you'd answer so as not to have to give a good reason. (podes, é só que o inglês é língua franca) :)

Posted by claudia at March 8, 2007 10:20 PM

Yes, Man is a relational being and perhaps monastic solitude is a response by some souls to seek more closely and intensely relationship with the divine: our true and primary vocation if there is to be any meaning to life at all. Some people are more sensitive to that which may lie behind all things and perhaps to be found fully at death. Their vocation is to keep moving towards the light-thereby showing us the way and fulfilling their own inner sense of calling. Ultimately, we all are part of the whole and serve each other and ourselves in our diverse vocations-we all have a different job to do and we all benfit from that difference.

Posted by Tom at March 24, 2007 07:16 AM