The practice of silence nourishes vigilance, self-knowledge, letting go, and the compassionate embrace of all whom we would otherwise be quick to condemn. Gradually we realize that whatever it is in us that sees the mind games we play, is itself free of all such mind games and is utterly silent, pure, vast, and free. When we realize that we are the awareness and not the drama unfolding in our awareness, our lives are freer, simpler, more compassionate. 

Fear remains frightening but we are not afraid of fear. 

Pain still hurts, but we are not hurt by pain.

from Martin Laird’s beautiful book, Into the Silent Land: The Practice of Contemplation

photo Per Ola Wiberg