Silence

This book is rather small yet I found it to be mighty. What I mean by mighty is that it is mighty helpful and really helps to answer questions that I had about what a religious Hermit is. What I love about this book the most is:+ Silence of The Eyes - These give up television, movies, newspapers and so much more in order to LOOK TO GO and LOOK TO PRAYER. This has inspired me to (at times) to look beyond what I want to read and have a believe in spiritual things and things that will last forever.+ What is said about the SILENCE OF HEARING PART 2 - That TRUTH SPEAKS INWARDLY without the sound of words! How true this is. For me, I have found that I hear (internally) and with my gut when I am quiet and not listening to the sounds outside myself. This chapter/section is so precious to me that I have already read it three tImes.There are so many helpful sections in this book. It was NOT exactly about the HERMIT, HERMIT, that I thought that it would be, yet I learned more than I thought I would in a SPIRITUAL way. If you are on a spiritual journey or want to in the future, then I highly suggest this book!

Over the years I've read many books on the Monastic Spirit, but this book, following in the footsteps of St. Benedict of Nursia, gives several chapters of different kinds of silence, which I had considered before. Though silence is no an end in itself it is a powerful weapon from things like curiosity, verboseness. St. James says "be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger." The author, a Camaldolese Hermit, speaks truthfully from page one. If you've ever experienced the kind of silence that gives life rather than disturbs our peace of mind and heart, then you may benefit from this kindle edition. I'm using it as a companion during the day. Kindle whispersync allows me to access it at home or when away.What I love most about this book is that it brings the reader into that Mystery of Love which Jesus calls us: "he spent the night in prayer."

Last summer I had the privelege to visit a hermit friend of mine staying over for a night in the hermitage at the monastery of Camaldoli in Umbria. My friend, who has taken his final vows is a student in our yoga teacher training program, carrying on the long tradition of Camaldolese monks living in harmony with traditions of Indian spirituality. These began from Bede Griffiths, who was a hermit in this monastery to the contemporary Camaldolese brother Thomas Matus from Berkeley, CA (whose book Yoga and the Jesus Prayer is excellent).So when I saw this book I was intrigued to see what another monk might say about my favorite spiritual practice. I consider silence to be my home and I facilitate silent retreats worldwide, using the practical guidance of the yoga system. The result was disappointing. The book is a series of "conferences," brief homilies on the silence of each of the senses and mental faculties. I found the discussion so bound up in the judgmental and moralizing language of Roman Catholicism and the fear of being captured by the devil that it completely distracted from anything constructive this brother might have said about this beautiful practice. I suppose this might have some usefulness for those steeped in this language, but it would seem to present more obstacles than guidance. The practice of austerity is a path of replacing pleasure (the satisfaction of a desire) with an experience of joy, a rapture at the beauty in a mindful and aware experience of living that begins to sense the divine glory that might blaze all around us if we had eyes to see. G. M. Hopkins' poem "God's Grandeur" gives us a taste of this. So I would not recommend this volume to anyone seeking guidance in the practice of silence.

"Silence" is a primer for all seeking to deepen their faith in Jesus Christ. Our soul may put us in touch with the heavenly, and our bodily senses may put us in touch with creation, but in silence of the appetites, we listen for and hear the whispers of the God of the prophet Elijah. As a primer, "Silence" cleanses the senses, quiets the appetites, and emboldens the soul to submit to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

This small book featuring a series of conferences given to monks of the Camaldolese Hermits of Monte Corona at Holy Family Hermitage in Ohio is a pithy and thoughtful compilation of talks that are as relevant today as they were when first presented in 1986. You'll find yourself going back to reread these succinct teachings time and time again.I highly encourage that anyone interested in the eremitic life take advantage of any publications or books emanating from the Camaldolese Hermits of Monte Corona (er cam) in Ohio. These books will be a valuable addition to your library.

Nicely done book. As someone discerning a vocation as a Camaldolese oblate, this book gave me a huge insight into the importance of silence. Would highly recommend it as part of a postulant's reading list

This is written for a community of, more or less, hermits, but it discusses an important principle that is basic to the religious life...or, indeed, even basic to the sane life.It is a very good, readable summary. Each chapter is a bite-sized reflection that fits into one's daily prayer time. There is much to adapt into the secular life.

In a life full of noise and upheaval, it is welcome to find a book treating the silent side of life. Arrived well packaged and in good shape.

This book is a beautiful exploration of silence, by a Camaldolese Hermit from the Holy Family Hermitage in the USA. It hugely expands on what we may think of "silence". Silence is not simply a lack of noise or speaking, but is a silence that pervades all of our senses, our passions, our intellect and our will.The writer explores the following virtues of silence. Some of these appear rather strict to those of us not in a monastery, but perhaps we can learn from them all. All seek to quieten our own selves, and love of self, to make more room for the love of God and others. A very brief summary of the silences discussed...Silence of the Eyes - guarding ourselves against viewing or reading material that divides us from God.Silence of Hearing - silencing ourselves to voices that turn us away from God and using our ears to listen to the voice of God and the needs of others.Silence of Touch - not seeking the comforts of life, but without being drawn into inappropriate deprivations.Silence of Sense of Smell - avoiding the use of perfumes which may trigger lust, but also avoiding unnecessary aversions to smells ("I don't like the smell of fish").Silence of the Memory & Imagination - not dwelling on memories of sins or feelings of hurt and offence. Not using our imaginations to foster attitudes that are contrary to God's will for us. Not letting the memory distract us from attention to what we are doing (or supposed to be doing) at that moment.Silence of the Intellectual Faculties - not applying the intellect and curiosity for it's own sake, or out of a sense of pride and self-satisfaction.Silence of the Will - not putting our own will above the will of God or the will of those leading us.Silence of Self-Esteem - not seeking distinction in life.External Silence - living in quiet without unnecessary distractions. Respect the silence of others.

These are a collection of short conferences on silence given to a community of Camadolese monks. They deal with types of silence, for example silencing imagination, silencing tastes and of course silence as itself. They are obviously geared to those living the eremitical monastic life in its fullness but lay readers may still find some interesting points to adapt to their own spiritual journey, particularly if that journey is hermitical in nature.