Silence is the Ultimate Teaching

Nidagha: "Master, you have taught me through words, through stories, through demonstrations. What is the highest teaching you can give?"

Ribhu: "The highest teaching cannot be given."

Nidagha: "Cannot be given? Is it too sacred? Too secret?"

Ribhu: "It cannot be given because it cannot be put into words. All words arise from silence and return to silence. The teaching that survives this journey loses its essence."

Nidagha: "Then how will I receive it?"

Ribhu: "You already have it. You are it. Be silent and know."

Nidagha: "Silent in speech?"

Ribhu: "Silent in mind. Silent in seeking. Silent in knowing. The silence that remains when all questions cease—that silence is not empty. It is full. It is what you are."

Nidagha: "And your words all this time?"

Ribhu: "Were fingers pointing at the moon. The moon is not in the finger. When you see the moon, the finger is forgotten. My words were to lead you to wordlessness. Now, be wordless."

The two sat together in complete silence. Minutes passed. The forest was still. In that silence, there was no teacher, no student. No questions, no answers. No path, no goal.

When the silence naturally broke, Nidagha spoke softly:

Nidagha: "I understand now. The teaching was never in your words. It was in what your words pointed to. This silence—this is Brahman."

Ribhu: "Now you no longer need my words. Now you ARE the teaching."