Quotes from Ilie Cioara

From that moment on I started to practice “Self-knowing” ‒ by simply becoming aware of the reactions of the mind, with an all-encompassing Attention.

I immediately felt the effects of this practice. Simply watching the reactions of the mind dissipates its energies. I noticed that each thought, desire, image or emotion has its own energy, creating its momentum.

The Silence of the Mind, “About the Author,” p. 125

We encounter the movement of the mind with the flame of total Attention – requested by the aliveness of life in its continuous flow. Without the light and serenity provided by Attention, nothing can be understood in a real way.

In the light of Attention, any reaction of the mind (thought, image, fear, desire) — which functions chaotically, obsessively and dominates us — is instantly dissolved. In the psychological void that follows, a new mind appears, expanding into Infinity, as a state of Pure Consciousness, pure understanding as well as transformative action.

The Silence of the Mind, “About the Author,” p. 133

When lucid Attention is our constant companion, we light the path of our Life and, through this light, all the residues which degrade us morally and spiritually are dissipated. It also offers us the moral capacity to not commit other errors.

Therefore, our whole work consists of watching and listening to each wandering thought, each murmur of thinking, each desire, each fear as they attract us into the thicket of time. This perfect encounter makes them disappear and, in the “psychological emptiness” ensuing spontaneously, we have a pure Consciousness integrated into Boundlessness.

The Silence of the Mind, “A Burning Flame,” p. 51

With a lucid and all encompassing Attention,
The mind is enlightened, disappearing instantly,
As well as its whole movement. In the “Void” that ensues, Peace and utter silence regenerate the body.

The Silence of the Mind, “Mind Destroys the Body,” p. 63

Lucid Attention is the only instrument we use continuously in order to empty our mind, as well as to determine it to become silent, in humbleness.

The Silence of the Mind, “Melting,” p. 67

Finally, the “ego” perishes — the Sacred becomes free,
It returns to the Source, where it becomes integrated;
Thus, “self-knowing” loses its purpose,
Without “self”, what is there to know? All that was has disappeared.

The Silence of the Mind, “Knowing is Boundless,” p. 30

For the restless thought, traveling towards the past or future,
Dissipates our energy — permanently and damaging...

The Silence of the Mind, “The Escape from the Now,” p. 91

In silence, a new mind, immense, boundless, accompanied by pure energy and light, envelops our whole being. From then on, every movement of the “ego” is automatically dissipated, without any intervention from the experiencer.

The inactivity of the mind, the lucid attention and the simplicity of the encounter with the movmement of life represent, in fact, the death of the ego.

The Silence of the Mind, “The Struggle of the ‘Ego’,” p. 35

Finally the “ego” perishes — the Sacred becomes free,
It returns to the Source, where it becomes integrated;
Thus, “self-knowing” loses its purpose,
Without “self”, what is there to know? All that was has disappeared.

The Silence of the Mind, “Knowing Is Boundless,” p. 30

Finally the pure Spark — the human being’s true nature — freed from all the layers of matter, triumphantly returns to the Divine Source, to its home.

The Silence of the Mind, “The Struggle of the ‘Ego’,” p. 35

When it [the ego] is exposed, watched totally, as it really is,
Does it last? Does it keep moving? Attention dissolves it.

The Silence of the Mind, “The Fear of Aloneness” p. 69

All of these demonstrate that the alive within us is, in its essence, immortal. It has no beginning, no end, it never sleeps, being therefore always awake.

The Silence of the Mind, “The Mystery of Silence” p. 41

Lucid and all-encompassing Attention is the only instrument needed, and this is attained spontaneously, by encountering the reactions of the mind appearing as effects to the challenges of Life in its perpetual movement. Therefore, in utter simplicity, we listen and watch, with our whole Attention, both our inner world and the reactions of the mind, as well as the impressions coming from the outside world.

In this direct meeting, everything that is encountered by the flame of awareness disappears in a flash; in the “psychological void” that ensues, a formidable energy is available, integrating us into infinite Love. Once this mystery is experienced, calm and relaxation follow naturally.

The Silence of the Mind, “The Importance of the Moment” p. 12