Nothing is worth speaking anymore.

[Siddharth]

Hello,

I have been practising for a year now. As meditation get subtler, there does not seem to be anything that I feel is worth speaking to anyone. The friends that I am comfortable with, we can at times simply share silence but in general, socially, there needs to be an impulse, an effort needed to not make things awkward.

There is some conflict between being authentic, and paying your social debts by being cordial to the society.

Though I have been skewed on being and acting according to what my feelings and sensations are, the more utilitarian relationships tend to suffer.

Have members of this community had similar junctions on their journey ?
How do you cope with social situations when you are inadvertently observing your sensations and being in the moment while sitting amongst  your friends or relatives and you just have nothing to say, and no interest in listening to whats going on because you are preoccupied with the moment and the sound coming in your ears just fades as some noise..

[Nicky]

Buddhism includes good-will & non-attachment as factors of its path. Attachment to silence is not the Buddhist path. If more silence than ordinary is needed to develop higher aspects of the path, Buddhism includes monastic living as an option.

[Siddharth]

I agree that attachment to anything is not aligned to the path. But at the same time, my practise has made me quieter(but more full of life) and introspective; and to some extent less reactive. therefore I seem to have less opinions and less need to express myself about things in general, though my observation of them is more deeper. this causes me to have a kind of awkward social situations. I inquired if and how others on this forum deal with these situations

[Middleway]

Your situation reminds me of a beautiful verse by Adi Shankara.

Satsangatve Nissangatvam
Nissangatve Nirmohatvam
Nirmohatve Nisclatattvam
Nischalatattve Jeevam Muktihi

Company of the good brings dispassion. Dispassion overcomes delusion. Freeing from delusion leads to stillness of mind. Stillness of mind sets you free.

You are going through dispassion, a fruit of the practice. Don't worry about social awkward situations. If you feel that way, avoid/minimize social interactions. Go to the nearest sangha and continue your practice.

Good luck!

Middleway

[Siddharth]

Beautiful verse. Thanks for sharing.

I graduate uni in April, and will have more control over who is in my life and who is not once I can live out of the hostel i am living presently. I am also going for a retreat in the winter break.  Perhaps these two factors will nudge me positively in a place where I can walk the path with more probity.

[siddharthgode]

If you feel like you want to be silent be silent. Reply happens on it own. Just relax. Simple. Doubt, concerns, worries come when you are aware and not equanimus.

[Siddharth]

Doubt, concerns, worries come when you are aware and not equanimus.

This is a good insight, I will practise in this direction.

Thankfully,
Siddharth