Silence, stillness and the contemplative
Journal of Silence Studies in Education December 10, 2024 Bill Genat
Silence is a mental abstraction because even in quiet moments, thoughts arise and ambient sounds persist. Stillness, not silence, better describes a centered state of being where mental events can be observed. This paper explores three aspects of engaging with the contemplative: mental qualities that support contemplative learning, the foundation of embodiment as humans interconnected with the natural world, and the implications of these reflections for student learning.