Noisy world of Minds

Harold Whitmore, professor of Oxford — a man of logic and reason and a thousand academic honours. But on the height of his glory, Harold felt oddly empty inside — as though life was hurrying away from him like a river while he remained immobile at the riverbank.

On sabbatical, he went to a Buddhist monastery in the countryside in search of something he couldn't define.

There, a smiling, peaceful old monk greeted him and introduced him to Vipassana, the ancient practice of observing one's own breath and thoughts.

"Sit still, close your eyes," the monk instructed. "Just observe."

Harold complied. But in a matter of minutes, a tempest erupted within him.

He heard pieces of past lectures, contentious arguments, laments of youth, bits of song, even the ticking of theoretical clocks.

Frustrated, professor went back to the monk as it was deafening for him.

"Master," he confessed, "I came seeking peace. But my mind has never been so noisy! It's madness!"

The monk chuckled softly.

"You are blessed, Professor," he said gently. "You have started to listen to what was always there."

"Most humans are deaf to their interior noise because they are preoccupied with listening outward to crowds, applause, argument. But you, you have turned inward. The storm you hear is the start of authentic seeing."

Harold remained quiet, absorbing the monk's statement.

For the first time in life, he understood:

The most silent people are not vacant they have entire worlds within them. 

And thus began his true education... not of the intellect, but of the heart.