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Aptavani-4
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staying silent (maun) is considered power of penance (tapobud)?
Dadashri: A penance of silence would be where a person, who stays silence (maun) in situations where he would not normally stay silent, so then the maun (his silence), goes into tapobud (power of penance). If his servant breaks a cup and he does not utter a thing, it is rendered a penance (tapa). There is nothing as powerful as silence in this world. This power is dissipated the instant you utter something. Silence is the highest penance. If you are having a dispute with your father, if you stay silent (maun), you are doing a penance. Everything ‘melts' in that penance and from that, science comes about. Nowadays people stay silent for a day and then the next day they vent their bottled up boiling anger! The penance of silence can do much good. It can bring salvation to the entire world.
That is why Kavi wrote:
‘Sat purush nu maun tapobud,
nischay aakhha jaga ne taarey' “The penance of silence of the realized Soul,
will definitely liberate the entire world.'
~Kavi Navneet
You are free to say anything in the presence of Dada; nevertheless, maintaining your silence is power of penance (tapobud).
Questioner: What is considered maun (remaining silent)?
Dadashri: Whatever you say, that is related to the Atma, is considered maun (here it means anything said for the salvation of others).
Questioner: If we stop speaking overtly (sthool), and we remain silent, will it benefit us?
