Attributes of Mind

Knowledge
Understanding
Meaning
Memory
Discrimination
Choosing
Accepting
Refusing
Recall
Inspiration
Insight
Thinking
Reflecting
Decision Making
Decisiveness
Determination
Intelligence
Intuition
Thoughtfulness
Motivation
Creativity
Stillness
Originality
Peace
Tranquillity
Genius
Vision
Reasoning
Perception
Contemplation
Deduction
Wisdom
Kindness
Judgement
Aptitude
Cleverness
... and the list is actually endless.

However I want to add to this list the most important attribute of all.


The greatest and most significant attribute of Mind is:

Silence

Silence
I contend that a large number of us have only a superficial understanding of the significance of Silence to our minds.

Let's get one aspect out of the  way:
Silence does not mean: No noise! Shut up!
Neither does it means emptiness where there is no action, no awareness or no thinking. And Silence is not a negative.

All the attributes belonging to our minds - some are listed here on the left - are filled with active Silence. Their true nature is imbued with the spirit of Silence and every attribute functions totally, fully and powerfully when the Spirit of Silence is allowed to work.

Consider Kindness. Kindness is full of the Spirit of Silence when it is at work. It is impossible for it to be noisy, aggressive, negative or hurtful. Kind people are generally quiet, strong, true, loyal and tolerant. This is the Spirit of Silence busy at work.

Consider Compassion. Compassion is splendidly effective when its spirit of Silence is in full flow. A nurse, a paramedic or doctor are most effective when they exude serene silence at the scene of accidents as they go about treating the injured. The spirit of Compassion immunises them to the horror and awfulness of  what's before them.

Truth is full of the spirit of Silence. Silence exudes out of Truth and with power tells us the facts as they really are. The silence soothes and helps our judgement - and if Truth is compromised the spirit of Silence dwelling in our minds is greatly unsettled.

Shakespeare knew and accepted that the spirit  of Silence was alive and active in his own mind. The first line of Sonnet 30 reads:
When to the sessions of sweet silent thought

And difficult as it may be for many sufferers to realise, Grief is naturally filled with the Spirit of Silence  - that is - until we displace it - often understandably - with other energies such as sadness, recriminations, misery, depression. Always allow the Spirit of Silence to come in to your mind and stay with you as your fond companion if only - especially at the beginning of one's grief - for a short while. In your grief quietly press the tips of thumb and neighbouring finger gently together (either hand) and slowly count to ten. You don't have to tell anyone that you are doing this. And Silence will emerge.

Once more with feeling...

There are many factors influencing the mind and they are so varied. They can be physical, biological, cultural, social and not least environmental. Related to these factors are a host of other sub-factors. These innumerable factors impact greatly on how we think, we feel and do. The modest contribution I offer on this page focuses on one important spirit entity, an entity that belongs within the mind, namely, Silence.

The spirit of Silence is fundamental to serenity and happiness. Silence is pure and infinite. It is total in itself. It is a perfect existing spirit imbuing and influencing all attributes of mind. It needs nothing. It wants nothing. It is Perfection itself.

This actually can explain why God - however we understand God to be - is silent. It explains why God never ever chastises us, blames us, gives out to us - or ever will. His kindness and His Silence for us - full of blessings and goodness -  is total. 

Know this: every quality of mind, every attribute of mind, every one of them  is filled with God's powerful and wonderful Silence. Let's keep it like this as much as we can. Let's not not disturb this plan - let's not replace it with the terrible and temporary woes of this world of ours.

St. Julian of Norwich (1343-1416) really appreciated this reality:
"God is nearer to us than our own soul"