Silence: The Mystery of Wholeness Paperback – Illustrated, November 25, 2008

Robert Sardello will take you into the crevices of your heart, but also your mind, on a profound experience of the Great Silence as a living, ever-expanding phenomenal. Once you join him on this journey you won't be the same. Only somenoe who has experienced the nature of silence could possibly desribe the crossing-over with the elegance and gracious detail as Sardello. I am gifting this book to my friends who are on the wondering and glorious passage toward deeper awareness, and who long to rest in the ever present Silence.

As a vowed contemplative living a vow of Silence, so reading much about silence the last 25 years, I found this to be one of the most novel, well-written treatments of silence. This is not a religious look at silence, yet I found it applicable to religious and non-religious alike. The author's spouse provides captivating introductions to each chapter, also. This is a tome one will likely need to read more than once, for it is dense, like venturing into a territory few of us are introduced to prior - including those among us who have been trained in a contemplative practice and life. I rarely rate a book five, and could not do otherwise for this one.

Yes Virginia, there is a book out there about spirituality and the esoteric that doesn't have you bleeding from the eyes by the second chapter: this one (provided you skip the introduction, which could put you off completely with its purple prose, obfuscating jargon, and a hilarious impenetrability: a stark contrast to what it's introducing).In this humble little tome, Robert Sardello takes us on a gentle journey into authentic spiritual practice. In nine simple chapters (interlaced with lightly poetic commentaries by his partner Cheryl), Robert edges us step by step into a deeper relationship with that which can fill the heart of us... you... the world... if we're willing to accept it's not "in" us because we're in... on... surrounded by... it! :)What sets this book apart from so many is the precision of the prose in describing spiritual phenomena. Robert really understands them and has a deftly sound take on what lies beneath them. His approach is informed by the big traditions but is strictly non-denominational. It embraces the psychological without eschewing the spiritual. He uses apt words like "Silence" that resonate with the soul and spirit but don't obscure the meaning. In short, Robert clearly gets it and makes it easy for you to do likewise, if you're open to this stuff.I'd be very surprised if genuine seekers of Truthful experience weren't inspired and filled with joy by what this book has to offer, as I was... am... are...

I didn't understand silence before. I went into retreat wanting an outcome, always with an agenda, I think. Now I understand what Silence is and how much better to approach it, with no agenda, how to welcome it and invite it into my life.The Title of the book, Silence: The Mystery of Wholeness is true. If our goal as human beings is to be whole, then allowing the Silence to enter and permeate our lives is truly a mystery as how wholeness comes out of it. You begin to feel at one with who you are, who God is, who you are in the Universe and feel truly at one with it.I had no idea such wholeness can come out of silence. I thought you had to pray and pray all the time with words and ask and ask and ask, but with silence wholeness comes naturally and you are part of the healing process of the universe.Thank you Robert Sardello for writing this important book and Richard Rohr for referring to it as something very important to read in "The Immortal Diamond: Finding your True Self".

At first I was going to title my review, "Extraordinary achievement in the phenomenology of mindfulness," but the contemplative approach that Sardello describes is in some ways the antithesis of focusing the mind's awareness. I practice centering prayer, which encourages quieting of the mind by letting go of the mind's need to be constantly in charge, even during meditation. Sardello, over a lifetime of contemplative silence, has become aware of, and can accurately and objectively describe, its texture, tendencies, and patterns, precisely because he somewhere learned to stop narrating the experience and notice, through heart-awareness more than mental focus, what was actually going on in the very dynamic statement we call "silence." I heartily recommend this book to any serious contemplative. Even if you vehemently disagree with him, I think you have to reckon with his report from the phenomenological frontiers of our consciousness.

While there is a lot of talking around the substance of how to practice the principles in this book, when you get to a practical exercise, the purpose of this book comes into focus. So many spiritual books talk in flowery language only, about platonic principles of Love and Soul, and it is left to the reader to decipher what that means and how to use it. This book goes a step farther to challenge the reader to examine their real world desires and intentions and suggests that it is only possible if one is silent. I also enjoyed the idea that silence is a constant companion and can actually be comforting. I know that I will reread this book again and again to peel the layers and discover new ideas.

Read this book and you'll never think of silence in the same way again! Silence is not just the absence of sound, but rather the "sprirt" that pervades, surrounds and carresses us every moment of our lives. The amazing part of this book is that it contains exercises to enhance your perception of silence and lead you into nonduality. Imagine that--exercises that lead you to nonduality! I've been on a quest for "spiritual enlightenment" in my life for some time now, and this book, perhaps more than any other has helped me to grow spiritually. Mind you, this is not light reading. The text is dense and each sentence provides opportunity for reflection and growth. But you will be rewarded with insight about silence and meditation that is profound and enlightenng. I highly recommend this book!

The most wonderful book I've read in a long time. I've long practiced Silence, especially since joining the Quakers, but this book taught me, in a very practical way, more about the experience of Silence than I knew there was. It has deepened and enriched my experience beyond measure and I highly recommend it. (All this despite its rather high price for an ebook!) Just reading it leads one into the experience.

Excellent book. I recommend skipping the intro, which I found off putting. The actual book is great. It is a book to read slowly and think about, Sardello uses simple, clear prose, although some of the concepts can be difficult to take in first time round. A very meditative, gentle book, that I will reread fo years to come - so much depth in it!

A very interesting if slightly dry book that does shine light on contemplation and the value of silence

I love this book!

Unlike any book on prayer and living in the Spirit I have ever read in my 30 years of reading. The reader really does need to deeply probe their own experiences and open themselves up to what is offered.