Towards the Silent Heart

kitchen table philosophy

Monthly Archives: September 2019


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There is another side

Kitchen Table Philosopher Joseph Raffa reminds us there is a gentle side of human nature behind the darkness being reflected in today’s world.

 

In the silence of being we discover that which stills every sound –  the sound of breathing, of the heart beating, even the sound of thinking.

The atmosphere of killing fields, of charnel houses, of cities devastated by bombs is something we can do without.  The odour of violent death is not a pleasant one.  There is something

deeply repulsive about it.

Animals being led to slaughter show the fear in their eyes and in the frenzied behaviour of their bodies.  Hasn’t this planet had enough yet?  Must we go on living with such behaviour, reflecting

the violence, the aggressiveness, the selfishness that has been part of our makeup for so long?

We don’t have to be like this.  There is a gentle side to human nature waiting its chance to show what it can do.  It doesn’t need the protection of force, of security screens and protective

devices, of alliances and other means devised by minds riddled by fear and uncertainty.

Behind the darkness of human living, behind the aggressive mask there is indeed another face – gentle, sensitive, caring.  All it needs is a chance to come out and, when humans experience it for

themselves, when they dwell in its nature and know it for what it is, never will they choose to dwell in the darkness of human living ever again.

 

To read more of Joseph’s spiritual writing, visit his Amazon author page.

 

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Deep in the Silence

Life reveals its true meaning when thought ceases, says Kitchen Table Philosopher Joseph Raffa

The soft plinging of music fills the ears, curiously beautiful, strangely absorbing the attention, lulling the dreamy mind into a state of well-being.  The mood deepens, filling the entire being with its softness.  The mind is still.  All is well.  No drifting movement disturbs the silence of being.  The observer has temporarily vanished, absorbed in a happy state of listening.  A nameless extent takes over.  The mind has entwined lovingly and completely with its own movement, transforming in the process its offspring, the thought, illuminating it with its own light.

All is silence till the swift movement of thought breaks the spell, ending the silence.  Of its own accord it raises wings and spreads across the background drawing attention to itself, bringing into existence the world of the known with its time and troubles. Thought weaves its pattern of change with lightning like rapidity – too swift to be followed by a sluggish mind. Elusive and difficult to pin down – gathering strength with its ability to deceive the observer.  Compelling, this determination by thought to exist, to be the focus of attention, to continue.

Such then is the offspring of silence.  Such is the mystery of silence – that thought must cease to separate itself in appearance before it can join the immensity of the silence.  And only then, when thought glides swiftly to an end does life reveal its true meaning, its beauty and its immeasurable depth of love. So be it.

Joseph’s collected spiritual writing is now available in a series of books from Amazon.com and other online retailers.

You might like to try The Spirit Calls.

The key to higher understanding lies within each of us.

The Spirit Calls is an invitation to venture inwards to discover our true spiritual nature.

For those who care to listen to the still voice of the spirit, a new way of living awaits.