Speaking as if Silent, Being Silent as if Speaking: The Secret of the Buddhist Disciple Between Practice and Saving Others

Self-cultivation and teaching others may seem like opposites, yet they are like the two wings of a bird. Together, they lift the practitioner to soar high. How do we harmonize silence with sharing the Dharma? This article explores the teachings of Venerable Thich Chan Quang on this delicate balance.

A disciple once lost a large amount of gold and hurriedly reported it to his teacher. The master replied with just one sentence: "Before you had that gold, our teacher-student life was still livable." With those few words, the disciple awakened completely. This is the power of silence, something practitioners cultivate throughout their lives. But if we remain silent forever, how can we share the Buddha's teachings (Dharma) with others? Do these two tasks contradict each other? The following text offers an interesting perspective from the teachings of Venerable Thich Chan Quang.

## Two Great Tasks to Repay the Buddha’s Kindness

The Buddha came into this world carrying the light of enlightenment. To repay His kindness is not through flowers, incense, or prostrations, for the Buddha needs none of these. According to Venerable Thich Chan Quang, we repay the Buddha by fulfilling two duties: self-enlightenment and enlightening others.

Self-enlightenment means practicing oneself and realizing truth personally to advance on the path. Enlightening others means sharing the Buddha's teachings (Dharma) with everyone. As the teacher explains, "To repay the Buddha, we have two tasks. First is self-enlightenment, second is enlightening others. That is, cultivating oneself to progress on the path, and sharing the Dharma with all people."

However, these two paths appear to move in opposite directions. One requires carefulness, silence, and humility; the other demands boldness, openness, and persuasion. How can we practice for ourselves while also guiding others?

## Silence When Practicing, Speech When Saving Beings

True practitioners often speak little. They know that excessive talking is a sign of a disturbed mind. The teacher instructs, "When someone talks too much, people know their mind is chaotic. But when a person begins to gather their focus, when the mind settles into purity, the first change is a desire to speak less."

Yet, when stepping out to propagate the Dharma, silence is not possible. If we only smile at everyone we meet, people might think monks are mute and unwilling to learn the path. Therefore, to teach effectively, we must speak—indeed, we must speak well and engagingly. The teacher uses a vivid analogy: "If we stay silent while trying to teach excellently, Buddhism will disappear. We are forced to 'explode' with speech."

Nevertheless, speaking too much easily leads to boasting, causing the ego to rise. This creates a vicious cycle.

## Two Wings on Opposite Sides

To resolve this tension, the teacher offers the image of a bird. He says, "If you lean to one side, it is like a bird with only one wing. The two wings of a bird lie on opposite sides, yet together they lift the bird to fly across the entire sky."

Self-cultivation and teaching others are similar. They are contradictory yet complementary. To fly, one must flap both wings evenly. The difficulty lies in having only one mouth: how can we keep it closed for practice and open it for speech?

## Speak as if Silent, Be Silent as if Speaking

The secret lies in this mantra. The teacher explains, "Speaking as if silent means presenting the Dharma without any trace of ego within it. Being silent as if speaking means that although the person is quiet, their silence resonates deeply in the hearts of listeners. It is called 'a face like thunder'—silence that strikes like lightning."

A silent teacher can still communicate volumes through their eyes and smile. A teacher who speaks for three hours may not boast about themselves even once. This is the strength of one who has harmonized these two extremes.

Let us practice speaking without praising ourselves, and remaining silent while maintaining love. When we speak, let us praise the Dharma and good examples, ensuring no shadow of the "self" creeps in. When we are silent, let us keep our compassion wide open amidst the stillness.

## Avoiding Conditions for Practice, Engaging for Salvation

Another contradiction exists: practitioners often avoid contact to prevent afflictions (kleshas), but to save beings, one must meet many people. The teacher advises, "When not interacting, your heart should still love all sentient beings. When interacting, you must maintain yourself as if you were alone in a deserted forest."

This means that even while staying in a hermitage, one should bow daily and make vows to save all beings. When engaging with the world, limit interactions to teaching. Do not delve deeply into others' lives, nor allow them to pull you into the "mud." Greet, share a few words of wisdom, and then withdraw. This is the courage of a practitioner amidst the flow of worldly life.

## Simplicity for Oneself, Dignity for Others

There is another contrast: personal practice requires simplicity, but teaching requires dignity. The teacher recounts stories of hermits living in caves with extreme simplicity, inspiring deep respect. Yet, when organizing Vesak celebrations, everything must be prepared: lights, flowers, restrooms, seating, and food. With large crowds, there must be stable entrances and exits before focusing on rituals.

We build beautiful temples so that the Sangha can practice and lay followers can study the Dharma. However, within our hearts, we still need a simple "leaf hut" for personal cultivation. This is skillful harmony.

The path of a Buddhist disciple is the path of two wings. Sometimes we must close our mouths to listen to our own minds. Sometimes we must open them to bring light to others. If you wonder, "Should I stay silent or keep talking?" remember the teacher's words: Speak as if silent, be silent as if speaking. Do not choose one side. Flap your wings—practice and share simultaneously. Today, you can begin by listening and speaking with a smile.