Exploring Inner Silence: The Practice of Antar Mouna

The practice starts by finding a quiet space, adopting a relaxed posture, and focusing on the breath. Restlessness and wandering thoughts are common, offering growth opportunities. By gently redirecting the mind to a focal point like the breath or a mantra, we cultivate resilience and concentration over time. Another important aspect is mental cleansing which categorises thoughts as positive, negative or neutral. This introspection replaces negative patterns causing inner turmoil with positive ones fostering inner harmony.

Antar Mouna extends mindfulness to daily life, enhancing present-moment awareness and reducing habitual reactions. Physically, it reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and improves well-being. Mentally, it enhances focus, concentration, and cognitive function. Emotionally, it fosters resilience and a deeper self-understanding. Spiritually, it can lead to profound insights, heightened intuition and a sense of interconnectedness.

Techniques of Silent Meditation

Silent meditation encompasses various techniques, each designed to help practitioners achieve inner stillness and awareness. Some of the most common techniques that can be practiced individually or in combination include:

Breath Awareness: This involves focusing the attention on the natural rhythm of the breath, observing its flow without trying to control it. Breath awareness helps calm the mind and anchor it in the present moment.

Body Scan: Systematically scanning our body from head to toe, paying attention to physical sensations, tensions, and areas of relaxation.

Mantra Meditation: This involves silently repeating a word, phrase, or sound (mantra) whether it be traditional Sanskrit, or affirmations to help focus the mind and experience a sense of inner peace and clarity.

Visualisation: This involves use of mental imagery such as a tranquil forest or a serene beach to evoke feelings of relaxation, positivity, and well-being.

Loving-Kindness Meditation: Also known as metta meditation, this involves cultivating feelings of love, compassion, and goodwill towards oneself and others. It can be done silently by repeating phrases such as ‘May I be happy, may you be happy, may all beings be happy.’

Integrating Silent Meditation into Modern Life

In today’s fast-paced, digitally connected world, silent meditation offers a much-needed antidote to stress, distraction, and sensory overload. Here are some tips on how to get started.

Set Aside Regular Time: Schedule a specific time each day for meditation, even if it’s just a few minutes. Consistency is key to establishing a regular meditation practice.

Create a Sacred Space: Set aside a quiet, comfortable area for meditation, free from distractions. Enhance the atmosphere with soft lighting, calming scents, and inspirational objects.

Start Small: Begin with short sessions (e.g., 5–10 minutes) and gradually increase the duration as you become more comfortable and focused.

Practice Mindful Awareness: Extend mindfulness to everyday activities such as eating, walking, and listening, by being fully present and attentive to the sensory experience.

Be Patient and Gentle: Don’t expect immediate results or judge your meditation. Approach your practice with patience, curiosity and self-compassion.

Seek Support: Join meditation groups, workshops, or online communities to connect with like-minded individuals, share experiences and receive guidance.

In conclusion, Antar Mouna offers a timeless path to inner silence, self-awareness, and well-being. By integrating this practice into our day, we can live more consciously and harmoniously amidst life’s chaos. I’ve attended the Antar Mouna retreat at Anahata Yoga Retreat in Golden Bay for the past three years, finding it immensely rejuvenating. The clarity, calmness, and peace experienced during these retreats reaffirm the ancient wisdom that true peace originates within, in the sanctuary of our own inner silence.