Miguel de Molinos rightly explained, “There were three kinds of silence; the first is of words, the second of desires, the third of thoughts.”
Absence of Words
The silence of words is the one that most likely comes to mind when we think of the word silence. In this context, is the absence of talking.
Absence of Desires
The second kind of silence is a silence of desires. Desires speak to us in impulses rather than words. Just like words, they push and pull on our mind. They redirect and distract our mind from more important things.
Absence of Thoughts
The third kind of silence is the silence of thoughts, thoughts can be words or images in the mind. And just like desires. These redirect and distract us are more important things.
Spiritual Discipline of Silence
Silence is a spiritual discipline that moves us from the mundane distracted world into the inner world of Divine reality. Silence removes the hindrances to hearing and knowing God.
Talking is a hindrance to listening to God. Desires are a hindrance to sensing the movings of the Spirit. And thoughts are hindrances to being aware of the presence of God within.