Silence

 There is nothing like the silence of this monastery.  Why is that?  Perhaps it is because the whole environment is permeated over the years by a lot of silence.  It gets into the very walls and furnishings.  By no means are we always silent.  But we are sufficiently silent, and no tv or radio or vehicle traffic in our midst.  I have been to places where it can be very quiet for a time, but it is not the same depth of silence in this monastery.  This monastic silence makes me realize just how noisy I am.  Silence within helps the silence around me.