Silence, it is said, is the language of the wise. I had heard about this
and read much about saints like Ramana Maharishi who said much by saying
nothing.
To find a common man living a simple, mundane life, and waxing eloquent
through silence is a surprising rarity. To
most of the people around him, it is unnerving and to those closest to him, it
is often most exasperating. But their frustrated outpouring is water over
a duck's back. He continues unaffected, unabated, as silent as ever. Maybe even
more.
He speaks when spoken to, though not always. He'll answer to the point,
yet only when he thinks it's important to say something at all. Anything that
does not concern him is none of his concern. And if it does concern him, it'll
be dealt with in the fewest words possible, which is usually a soft,
'Hmm'.
We might be sitting nearby roaring with laughter, he'll continue reading
his book without as much as a glance our way. His funda is simple - what
he needs to know will be pointedly told or shared with him.
We may be engaged in a serious conversation in hushed tones. He might
glance up once, that's all. He's no nosy parker. Curiosity has never itched out
a 'who, what, why, when' from him.
His wife may be talking dime a dozen, sitting beside him, yet she'll
have no clue whether he's listening. Until she finally asks, ' Did you hear
what I said?' Only for him to glance up and say, 'Eh?' Frankly, I'm
surprised how she hasn't yet socked him!
When I serve him food, I watch him closely for a hint of feedback.
No, not a flicker will be visible. Rare are the days when I receive praise or
constructive criticism. But when he does, he conveys it all with a single
adjective, 'Utkrushtt!' Trust me, it makes my weeks and not just my day!
One day, after much persuasion, he agreed to see a
neurologist. Not because he complained of anything but because we had been
'observing' a change in his gait.
Doctor: How are
you?
He: I'm fine. They
feel the need for me to see you.
We (smiling
sheepishly): Hehe.
Doctor: Do you have
any difficulty in doing mundane stuff?
He: I have difficulty
in writing.
Doctor: Since when?
He: Over a year.
We (nearly falling
off our chairs): Eh?!!
We cringed as the doctor threw us a glance, accusing of
neglect. Sigh… Facing such embarrassing situations was something we have had to
learn to take in our stride.
One morning as he sat reading the newspaper, he was given the sad news
of the death of someone he loved and revered. The news was expected. Yet, I
watched him with trepidation. He looked up, confirmed the news and turned back
to his newspaper, thereafter continuing with his daily routine.
Was he untouched by the news? Certainly not. But he's not one to make a
show of what's going on within.
Like the lotus in murky waters, he is in the world but not of the world.
The vicissitudes of life barely brush past him. God
must have broken the cast after creating him, for he's like no other person
I've heard of or seen. No wonder my respect for him goes up yet another
notch, with every new incident. The beauty of silence is what I'm learning from
him.
To speak without a word
To convey without telling
To know without asking
To limit what he takes in.
That's him. That's him.
