Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897 – 1981) was a householder jnana yogi who lived in Bombay. For more about him, see this post. The following brief but very rich excerpt is from a longer conversation found in his book, “I Am That.”

Questioner: I have come to be with you, rather than to listen. Little can be said in words, much more can be conveyed in silence.

Maharaj: First words, then silence. One must be ripe for silence.

Q: Can I live in silence?

M: Unselfish work leads to silence, for when you work selflessly, you don’t need to ask for help. Indifferent to results, you are willing to work with the most inadequate means. You do not care to be much gifted and well equipped. Nor do you ask for recognition and assistance. You just do what needs to be done, leaving success and failure to the unknown. For everything is caused by innumerable factors, or which your personal endeavour is but one. Yet such is the magic of mind and heart that the most improbable happens when human will and love pull together.

Translation Maurice Frydman