The Tao of Maxui

And a scholar said, Speak of Talking. 
And he answered, saying: 
You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts: 
And when you can no longer dwell in the solitude of your heart you live in your lips, and sound is a diversion and a pastime. 
And in much of your talking, thinking is half murdered. 
For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words may indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly. 

There are those among you who seek the talkative through fear of being alone. 
The silence of aloneness reveals to their eyes their naked selves and they would escape. 
And there are those who talk, and without knowledge or forethought reveal a truth which they themselves do not understand. 
And there are those who have the truth within them, but they tell it not in words. 
In the bosom of such as these the spirit dwells in rhythmic silence. 

When you meet your friend on the roadside or in the marketplace, let the spirit in you move your lips and direct your tongue. 
Let the voice within your voice speak to the ear of his ear; 
For his soul will keep the truth of your heart as the taste of the wine is remembered. 
When the colour is forgotten and the vessel is no more

Ignorance.

Self knowledge is the knowledge of the Self. Ignorance is the absance of self knowledge and as such is the cause of all suffering. Ignorance of the Self causes obscuration and superimposition.

Obscuration.

The belief that there is no Self. Hence the person attempts to attain happiness in the external world by persuing the accumulation of objects, such as money, position, career and relationships, even though the Self itself is the actual source of happiness.

Superimposition.

The identification of the Self with the body-mind. This leads to the belief that the Self is a doer that experiences pleasure (when the action is successful) and pain (when the action is not successful).

Indirect knowlege.

The person hears from outside source (a Teacher, a book) that “the Self exist”.

Direct knowledge.

The individual engages in personal inquiry often directed by a Teacher, resulting in a deep Self realization: “I am the Self.”

Cessation of Self suffering.

The knowing “I am the Self” cancels the belief that the Self is a doer and reveal the Self as self evident and as all there is - a complete limitless Consciousness. At such moment, the suffering stops.

Perfect satisfaction.

The recognition that the Self has accomplished everything that can be accomplished - love, joy, compassion, gratitude - hence experiencing lasting satisfaction with no dependency on external objects.

(Source: insighttc.org)