Yesterday morning, I received an email with the subject, “where is the quietest place on Earth” and it sorts of gotten me into a thinking mode. I even sent this question out to Symphony of Love’s mailing list.
First of all, does such a place even exist? Literally, yes. I enjoyed the quietness of a hike into the only hill in Singapore, Bukit Timah Hill, where I could only hear the birds, the insects, the rustling of the trees, their branches, and leaves in the wind. At time, when the air became so still that I would only hear the singing of the birds, the sound of the insects, my footsteps and my breathing. I enjoyed also a stroll along the beach at night where one hears the rhythmic breaking of the waves onto the shore and the gentle whispering of the sea breezes. Even lying down in bed at night with the light off, one could enjoy the tranquility that the night brings with it.
Where is the quietest place on Earth for you? It may be in one’s room, it may be in the toilet, and it may even be when one is driving. The places and situations whereby one will find quietness will differ from individual; Different folks, different strokes as they said. In so speaking, is there even a point to ask, “where is the quietest place on Earth?” It would result in differing views anyway. Yet, this is one question which can help one enormously.
Science seems to put it in a way which most would agree on immediately. Theoretically speaking, the quietest place will be in a vacuum, a space entirely devoid of matter; not even air. Since there is no air inside a vacuum, sound cannot travel or exist and that would make it the quietest place? On Earth? If there is no air to breathe, how can one survive, and we would be crushed by the atmospheric pressure? Does such a place like a vacuum even exist naturally on Earth to begin with?
Aristotle said before and later again by Galileo that “nature abhors a vacuum.” Aristotle explained this by saying that Nature doesn’t play the ‘vacuum’ game and that something must be put into the place of where the air was. Since a vacuum cannot occur naturally (not man-made) in Nature, there cannot be a quietest place on Earth. Right? Scientifically, yes! However, there is a quietest place on Earth for all and it is regardless of science, the places and situations one is in. Although achievable, not all can reach that place without effort. It requires one to be connected. To what?
Before that, let us take a look at the picture on the right. The picture shows a bench on the beach under the shades of the tree. It seems that the sun is about to set or it has just risen in the sky. The sea is calm, peaceful and tranquil. Imagine yourself sitting on the bench now, listening to the gentle sound of the waves and the breezes brushing on your face. While you are experiencing that quietness, take deep and slow breaths. Feel every breath you take; feel the air going through your nostrils, through your airways, down your body and eventually into your abdomen. Then you breath out slowly; feeling all the stale air coming out of your mouth in the slow, long breath. You will surely feel peaceful and calm.
In comparison with the above picture, this picture shown a person sitting on a breakwater and the stormy sea crashing onto the breakwater, threatening to devour the breakwater with the person. The distant sky shown a thunderstorm impending. Now, go through the same exercise as you did above; imagining you are the person sitting on the breakwater. Do you feel the same peace and calmness? It would be a challenge for many to feel the same peacefulness and calmness as compared to the above picture.
It is always easier to feel peace and calmness when the external environment speaks that; as with the first picture. The challenge is to feel the same peace and calmness when the external environment speaks otherwise; as in the second picture. When one is able to experience the quietness and tranquility even in the second picture, one has found the quietest place on Earth – in the inner self. A ‘vacuum’ that one can create within oneself that will not be disturb by external forces and circumstances. This is the quietest place which is reachable to all and yet cannot be easily achieved. It requires one to be connected – to oneself and to the greater force above.
I have found the quietest place on Earth that is within myself. Where would be your quietest place on Earth? Is it also within you? Please feel free to share with us.
- Letting Go of Confusion Let Go and Trust - May 9, 2024
- Lose All the Cryptos in Your MetaMask Wallet to Crypto Scams - September 11, 2023
- 8 Fruits that may Help Us to Lose Weight - July 14, 2023
The quietest place.. is inside myself.
Where I can hear nothing but my heart beat…an inner peace.. where the rest of the world stands still..
True silence.
@ Sher, that is exactly the point which I want to put forth – that the quietest place in within oneself. And that is how one can be at inner peace with oneself 🙂
Hola BK,
Thanks for your lovely comments on My Journey To Recovery.
Do come over again.
Greetings and lots of love from Malaysia.
You had me thinking of where the quietest place that I’ve ever been and then you threw me a curve ball.
Wonderful post.
Thank you.
Bradleys last blog post..Mr. David Tony’s Generous Offer
@ Bradley, I am also throwing myself a curve ball 🙂
I grew up in the Rocky Mountains, and one sunny afternoon I decided to take a hike up to the top of the ridge behind our house. At the crest of the ridge, I sat down to a splendid view overlooking the small valley that was our home. I could see the sun sparkling on the river, feel the sun warm on my back and the breeze cool on my face. Lifting my gaze, I found myself eye to eye with a golden eagle riding a thermal, no more than 30 yards from where I was sitting. I can honestly say that one event was the most profoundly spiritual moment of my life.
In the eagle’s gaze I found within myself a deep inner quiet that, at the age of 16, I never knew existed, and it has remained with me ever since, lending me strength when I most needed it.
You speak the truth when you say that the quietest place on Earth is within your soul. Sometimes it just needs an external prompt to make you aware of it. Now a days, I find peace and quiet to rival my afternoon on the mountain wrapped in my wife’s arms, for she is the one who reminds me that all is well with the world and I.
Cheers, Marc
Marcs last blog post..7 Ways To Say I Love You
@ Marc, thank you for the wonderful comment. Through your description, I could ‘see’ the Rocky Mountains that you hiked, the beautiful view overlooking the small valley where you house is. I could even ‘see’ the sparkling river water that shines like a million diamonds. And I could ‘feel’ the warmth of the sun and the cool breeze blowing on my face. Through your eyes, you brought us the most beautiful picture and the inner peace of looking at the eagle gliding in the sky. Thank you.
this is a very nice post.
i too agree that the quietest place on earth is within one’s self. you can be anywhere in the world, amidst the turmoil or even in the very silent confines of a room, but without inner peace, you won’t be able to experience that quiet moment.
pastels last blog post..especially for him
@ Pastel, thank you for dropping in and comment. You are right, without inner peace in oneself, one can be in the very silent confines of a room and still do not feel inner peace. Thank you and have wonderful weekend! 🙂
That’s a perfect spot!
Havenleis last blog post..Hush
Thank you Luna.
Quietest is not a common word used. Good to see this word in your post title.
As far as I know, only dead people live in quite place (underground)…
I prefer to stay in not so quiet environment. Now, my speaker is ON and playing some Hindi songs…
Atnizs last blog post..How to get 500 Drops A Day
@ Atniz, dead people? I would not want to disturb their peaceful rest 🙂
The quietest place in my post which I am refering to is actually within oneself; that is where one can find inner peace.
A truly fantastic post!
I completely agree. I don’t think silence is what we as humans seek at all. In fact, most people spend large portions of their life making ‘noise’ in an attempt to be heard. It is peace rather than silence that the human mind searches for.
Angie H
Angie Hs last blog post..Breaking News: Cypress Hills Alberta Visitors Center is Now Open to Winter Visitors
@ Angie, thank you for thinking the same way too. When we have inner peace, we will also enjoy ‘silence.’ However, silence does not necessary gives us inner peace. 🙂
The quietest place I have ever been is in Organ Pipe National Monument in southwestern Arizona. There is a 23-mile one-way loop consisting of a gravel road going through untouched landscapes of the Sonoran desert. As you climb toward the Ajo Mountains, you can park and look out over a vast expanse and see absolutely no sign of civilization, no indication that man has ever been there. Because it is uninhabited desert, there are virtually no insects, birds, rodents, or other animals to make noise. Because the air is warm and dry, there is no wind and virtually no trees it might have rustled through. Because there is not a single flight path traversing the area, no airplane noise will be heard. It is like the moon except that the Sonoran desert is the most lush with flaura of any in the world, so it is a pristine wilderness of brown rocks carpeted with a variety of green desert plants, completely untouched by man as far as you can see, no lights on at night anywhere! You can hear the blood rush through your ears.
Even surrounded by turmoil, finding the inner quiet will bring peace to the soul.
kmls last blog post..Ocean Waves
@ Norman, thank you for the wonderful sharing. From your eyes, I had a glimpse of the Organ Pipe Monument in South Western Arizona and I must say through your description, it certainly is a very quiet place. It seems like a very good place for reflection. And without light at night, I can picture the sky full of stars.
@ kml, that is why it is ever so important to find inner peace in oneself. In good and smooth sailing time, it is easy for one to find peace and quietness. It is in difficult time where inner peace will bring out the strength for one to move on bravely.
most quietest place on earth? try going to a cemetery at night.. u’ll really feel being quiet..
@ tiburcio, that will not only be the quietest place on earth but also one of the scariest places on earth. 😀
Well, today my silent spot was sitting by the fireplace drinking a cup of hot chocolate. It felt good to sit in silence.
I really want to say thank you again for all that you have shared over this past couple of weeks. I decided to change my blog a bit today. You will see when you come over. I did save all my past post and I will cherish your words that you left for me.
Well, it is 2:57 AM and I am still wide awake. I better go find some silent time in the bed.
Thank you for being you. Oh, and the SU today.
Tammy Warrens last blog post..What you say is what you get
@ Tammy, you are always welcome! It certainly sounds like a quiet evening there. I think I will enjoy a cup of hot chocolate by the fireplace too. You are welcome with the SU; I just find it is a good read for others. A peace of mind is so important.
I’ve started following your blog and found this older post just right: I was beginning to write a sermon on this topic after seeing an article on the topic in a travel magazine, and you articulated it so well. I am a rabbi, and in our congregation there is a time for a “silent” prayer – but it is never truly silent in the physical space of the sanctuary. Silent is a quieting of the inner voice, but not often can we quiet the outer sounds of the world. Also, in meditation, I have found that in the proper state there can be radio noise fro a passing car or a plane overhead or even the ringing of a phone, and it just passes through and is gone.
Again, thank you.
Debby
@ Debby, thank you for taking the time to leave me a comment. I am happy that you shared my view on the quietest place being our inner selfs. When I was reading the article sent to me many months ago, it just hit me right in the face. I have previously been keen in meditation before and through it, I could really find inner peace; the state where you mentioned all those noises coming through and gone is truly like one where you are one with the universe. Thank you once again for your comment and sharing your view. Have a wonderful weekend.
For me it is somewhere surrounded by nature. I love being somewhere with great vistas and probably my favorite of all is on top of a snow covered mountain. For me that is just sooo peaceful.
@ Jim, I have not climbed a snow covered mountain before and so I wouldn’t know if it will be peaceful for me too. But I guess it’ll be an awesome and breathtaking view on top of the mountain.
I like the question a lot. Very interesting. And I agree completely that inner peace is different from quiet. I actually think I would be most peaceful in a situation like the second picture, standing safe and secure amid chaos and impending discomfort 🙂
.-= Ben´s last blog ..Cambodia Motorcycle Diary #3 =-.
@ Ben, finding peace in good time is natural; the challenge is finding peace amidst chaos. 🙂
This is a question worth my thoughts after reading your post. To me, the quietest place is a state of my being. It’s more of a process reaching that place than a location in itself! This may sound cliche. But how many times have we been in a noise-free zone but yet our mind is just so cluttered with other “noise” of our earthly concerns ?
.-= J. Hansen´s last blog ..Sep 25- Sonlight Curriculum – Sonlight Curriculum Reviews =-.
for me .. it’s in my husband’s arm.. there i find peace.. 🙂
@ Lemon, that would certainly be a peaceful position. 🙂
The quietest place on earth for me most days is in my car. I spend a lot of time there, and hardly ever turn the radio on. Though if I could choose, it would be Cannon Beach on the Oregon Coast. Even though the surf is pounding usually, it’s such a relaxing place that I just can really find inner peace there.
@ Matt, thank you.
That’s okay but what if your neighbour does sanding outside his house all day. Then I’d like you to try thinking like this then.
@ John, that can be a real challenge and most people will surely find it a challenge to find peace and quiet within such a situation.