Silence. Stillness. This was the focus of various organisations yesterday which took part in Just This Day at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Hart Street, Port-of-Spain. For the sixth consecutive year, the School of Philosophy commemorated Just This Day by walking quietly.
The group walked slowly around the labyrinth on the church grounds. In an interview outside the church yesterday, head of the school, Brian Cameron, said there was need for rest and prayer. He said: "We thought in the midst of the hustle and bustle to encourage people to devote time to contemplative activities like prayer, reflection, silence and stillness."
He said the initiative started from their sister organisation, the School of Economic Science, in London, England, since 2007. "It has a positive influence on individuals on the whole. Individuals need to appreciate the importance of silence, and on the better part of the day than the physical day," he said.
Cameron said devotion with prayer, stillness and silence were necessary daily. Joanne Johnson, a member of the school, said other organisations took part in the event globally. "Silence and stillness belong to no one and everyone. It is just an awareness to invite people to find that sacred space in yourself," she said. Johnson said walking the labyrinth was an ancient tradition and the intention is to "draw us to the quiet within ourself."
"We teach kids to be quiet except that it is forced. It is a real palpable experience. There is so much debate and loud discussions about everything. This is a way to say shhhh...just be still. There is no division, there is sincerity despite numbers. We know in our heart and starting with ourselves," she said. Reverend Rinchen Blake, a Buddhist monk, said the importance is being able to walk around with the mind being peaceful.
"You can walk and still be calm. The simple form of Buddhism teaches the way of suffering and the way out of suffering. Most people can't do this because their mind is not under control," he said. Blake said the mind causes suffering by feelings of sadness, happiness, irritation, or being unsatisfied. "If we have experience sitting on a beach that is meditation, bringing it into our daily life. It is a way of letting go," he said.