This is a brief summary of the short but powerful book by Stuart Wilde: SILENT POWER
Constant chatter of mind and mouth depletes the Qi. With silence, we conserve and restore within, the power needed for self-healing and rejuvenation.
Ways of Keeping Quiet
Every word you speak is a bit of your qi, your personal power. Think carefully about what you are about to say; be brief and get to the point. If you understand the value and power of words, then you will refrain from moaning, complaining, and general negativity.
Be a mirror – listen and reflect. Listen carefully, rather than asserting your opinions or emotions. Simply and unemotionally, reflect back the words you hear.
Don’t interrupt others.
Be vague and uncertain. There is nothing that you can say that is definite and certain. Hence, when you are vague and uncertain, you are closer to the truth of things. When you are exact and certain, you are pretending to know something that you really don’t know.
Do not reveal, assert, or praise yourself.
Do not compete.
There is no need to announce your opinion to others.
If someone asks you something, ask them questions that will lead them to reflect.
Do not lightly assent. If you are asked to do something, say “Let me get back to you.”
If you are asked to give your opinion on something, and you aren’t sure, say nothing; or at most, say “I don’t know.” Not knowing is uncomfortable for the ego, which likes to have opinions on everything. In reality, the ego does not know; it only pretends to know.
Don’t criticize or judge. Criticism and judgement are signs of weakness
Don’t defend or explain yourself.
Make word fasting a regular discipline. Once a week, take an entire day to refrain from talking.
As you gradually master non-speaking, your natural character will dominate and eventually replace your artificial personality. You gradually develop charisma, a silent, infinite power. With that power, you will be able to draw to yourself everything that you need to realize your sacred mission in life. Remember, the power will only be there as long as the ego remains silent.
So, be quiet, cultivate your power and respect the lives of others.
Conquer yourself, but let everything and everyone else be.
That’s the Sacred Way.