GARLAND OF YOGA

SWAMI SIVANANDA’S TEACHINGS

 SPIRITUAL DON’TS FOR SUCCESS  IN LIFE AND GOD REALIZATION 

 Don’ts in DISCIPLINE

8th DON’T
Don’t Fail to Observe Mouna.

Mouna means vow of silence. There are different kinds of
Mouna.
If you keep this physical body without any movement
and if you sit calmly like a statue, it is catted *Kashtha Mouna*.
If
you keep the Indriyas quiet, it is *Indriya Mouna*.
If you keep the
*Vag-Indriya* quiet, it is Vangmouna.
If you keep the mind absolutely quiet by stopping all the Vrittis, it is called *Sushupti
Mouna or Maha Mouna*. This is the greatest’of all Mounas. Brahman is called Maha-Mouni, because He is an embodiment of Silence. Sruti says: “Ayam atma santo-This Atman is Silence.”

Mouna develops will-power. Mouna checks the impulse of speech. It is a great  help for the observance of truth and control of anger. Emotions are controlled and irritability vanishes.

Busy people should observe Mouna for at least one hour daily. If you can do it for two hours daily, it is all the better. On Sundays, observe Mouna for six hours or the whole day. People
will not disturb you at that time. They will come to know that you observe Mouna at such and such hours.

May you attain Peace through silence! May you enter into the stupendous ocean of Silence through Mouna! May you become a Maha-Mouni or a Jivanmukta through Mouna! May the
Lord grant you strength to observe the vow of silence without  any break! Om Santih!

Hari OM Tat Sat