Silence

Close your eyes, open your ears.

Close your eyes, open your ears and listen.

Listen attentively, listen patiently. 

What do you hear? 

Now imagine . . . try to imagine the impossibility of imagining Now. 

Imagine, try to imagine not being — not being here, not being now.

Not being here, not being now, not being elsewhere, not being anywhere.

Imagine being before being. 

Imagine being after being.

Imagine being Not.

Imagine not imagining.

Imagine not being.

What do you hear?

Keep listening, listening attentively, listening patiently.

Whom do you hear?

Whom do you not hear?

What do you hear?

What do you not hear?

Nothing perhaps?

Perhaps nothing?

What is the sound of Nothing?

Silence, perhaps?

Perhaps silence?

What does hearing silence sound like?

What does hearing silence mean?

Does hearing silence mute silence?

What does not hearing or not being able to hear silence mean? Keep listening, keep thinking, keep asking until you hear, if not silence itself, echoes of silence by seeing nothing.

Mark C. Taylor is professor of religion at Columbia University. Photos Laura Scudder, Dry Zen garden at Portland Japanese Garden (commons.wikimedia.com)