Mayet, Author at Mayet MaHulili Leilani

3 Quotes On Silence: What IS Silence, anyway?

April 17, 2025

Yesterday I came across two quotes on silence that spoke strongly to me. And then Wisdom gave me an added reflection as well.

They are simple but profound definitions that each touch on qualities of Silence that go beyond our common ideas about silence.

Here they are. I used bold below to indicate the phrases that especially captured my attention:

Silence is something that comes from the heart not from the outside. Silence doesn’t mean not talking and not doing things. It means that you are not disturbed inside.

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

~*~*~*~

The American theologian and civil rights leader Howard Thurman writes: “There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself,” for “a deeper note which only the stillness of the heart makes clear.”

~*~*~*~

Br. David Steindl-Rast describes silence “not only as [something] perceived by the ears, but also a quietness of the heart, a lucid stillness inside.”

~*~*~*~

Reading these yesterday, Wisdom brought me this additional thought: “Sometimes silence is simply your daily sensory experiences… those moments you feel fully alive. The body knows itself to also be the silence.”

~*~*~*~

There we have it. Short and sweet, nice to ponder in this moment, right?

See you there, dear one, in the lucid stillness inside where the the sound of the genuine in ourselves lends a lucid stillness that resonates with heightened senses and the feeling of being fully alive.

Lots of love coming your way,
Mayet Leilani

By Mayet|2025-08-22T13:09:11-05:00April 17th, 2025|0 Comments

My Pronouns Are “We/She”

April 10, 2025

In 2020 I had an unusual accidental conversation with a young man on Zoom. We were both early for an online event and ended up somehow seeing and being able to talk to each other, so we did.

They mentioned that their pronoun was “they” and asked me if I was a 20-year old now, would I choose different pronouns?

I hadn’t considered this before. But my answer came quickly and surprised me. Yes, I realized, I would. I would identify as “we.” Not the royal We, the composite “we.”

In fact, I sort of always have. From the time I was young I felt like both me and we. Not to worry, I wasn’t mentally ill; I had a clear sense of self. But I was simply always aware of those who walk with me, as I came to refer to them. They were family. And together we were the board of ME. We all had a seat at the table and “I” was the one in charge. Still do, still am.

I think that’s why I so quickly answered as I did with the sound man on Zoom. It was fun to think about and was nice to realize. I suspect that many of you also say that your personal pronoun is also we, now that we’re thinking about it, right?

Feeling very “we” with thee,
And sending love (and a wink),
Mayet Leilani

By Mayet|2025-04-08T11:32:27-05:00April 10th, 2025|0 Comments

Life Blooms Because of You

April 3, 2025

Article highlights:

What’s your work in the world?
The light of being seen

As I was making my bed this morning I was thinking about the relationship between fun, childlike sensibility and beauty. I reflected that the childlike perspective is one that’s open, discovering, interested, amazed. My thought was that – with this perspective – it’s possible to see beauty and delight all around me and at any time. (See last week’s blog.)

I went next to my meditation room to begin my morning contemplations and ruminations. Still thinking about childlike sensibility – about what it looked like in the adult world – I settled myself to begin my morning time. Reaching for a Mary Oliver book of poetry called Thirst that lay on my footstool, it opened to this poem that was a delightful continuation of my solo conversation.

Messenger

My work is loving the world.
Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird –
equal seekers of sweetness.
Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.
Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.

Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?
Am I no longer young, yet still half-perfect? Let me
keep my mind on what matters,
which is my work,

which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished.
The phoebe, the delphinium.
The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.

Which is mostly rejoicing,
since all the ingredients are here,

which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart
and these body-clothes,
a mouth with which to give shouts of joy
to the moth and the wren,
to the sleepy dug-up clam,
telling them all, over and over, how it is
that we live forever.

Mary Oliver, from Thirst

“My work is loving the world…. Learning to be astonished.” Can you think of a better childlike job description for worthy grown-up work? I was riveted with the potential written into her poetic expression, excited at its truth.

I let that all sink in then reached for an old volume of my own morning thoughts and writings. As I thumbed it, my eyes fell on a message I took down one morning in early May of 2018. You no doubt will feel now the same delight I did when seeing how perfectly it fits our musings today.

Beloved One,

There is a wondrous beauty in every moment, residing there like the twinkling of a star. It seems sometimes hidden by hurry or distraction or dark clouds but even then it is there, awaiting your notice.

At any moment, dearest, you need only lift your eyes and notice. Notice what is already there, however mundane. It is then you will truly encounter the spiral on your notebook, the feel of your pen, the unconsciously familiar smell of ink, the sound of your thoughts scratching their way onto your bone white paper.

Notice the dearly vulnerable uncertainty on another’s face, feel the same on yours. See the tubes of flowers in your grocer’s isle, the humanity of the people you pass in the isle. Notice them. Catch their eyes and smile. Notice what surrounds you. Notice and revel in what you see. For what is a Seer but one who sees?

The world pines for your notice and Life blooms extravagantly in the warmth of your sincere interest. All of life opens to the light of being seen.

Notice what is before you; your heart adores it all.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“All of life opens to the light of being seen.” What a lovely statement, and how true! Wasn’t this entire morning experience a perfect expression of what we have been discussing the last few weeks? Delightfully so!

I have a thought… this week, let’s each create moments of beauty by choosing something we rarely notice. Let’s see it anew. ALSO choose yourself as the subject of your deeply honoring interest – if so, I think you’ll ultimately be overcome by the wonder that you are.

From the glorious child-light within us all that notices the wondrous light in all things,

With love,
X💜Mayet MaHulili Leilani

By Mayet|2025-03-11T13:46:08-05:00April 3rd, 2025|0 Comments

About Mayet

3 Quotes On Silence: What IS Silence, anyway?

My Pronouns Are “We/She”

Life Blooms Because of You