She does not hesitate to describe herself as “a missionary of silence ”, a work that began a decade ago after experiencing something difficult to explain, but more complicated to understand, which ensures that it allowed her to know herself and live permanently in absolute peace and tranquility. Until that time Yolande Durán Serrano, born in Moraleja (Cáceres) in 1963 - with three years she moved to France accompanied by her family -, had a promising career as a real estate agent and FIFA agent in Geneva, but abandoned her since her spontaneous awakening. Yolande has traveled through various countries to share with “seekers, ” whose greatest desire is to get to know themselves, the transmission of infinite silence and the spiritual value of each other's attention. Durán, co-author of Silence Cures, says he does not believe in God nor does he profess any religion. On October 29, he will present his second book, In Love with Silence, at the House of the Book of Passeig de Gràcia , which he has produced together with Chantale Rémus.
- What do you call "silence"?
- It is a power that I discovered ten years ago and, since I cannot express it in words, the closest description is "silence." I can't say what it is, but I know it exists.
- When was the first time you felt it?
- In August 2003. My son had left. I was home alone, with my chores and, suddenly, I noticed a silence in my mind; It was a strange thing, where had my thoughts gone? There was a space, an interval between my thoughts, which made them seem to be in the background, as if they no longer belonged to me, or at least as if they no longer controlled me.
- How had your life been until that moment?
- He was a married mother, had a good job and was a person who wanted all day more: more love, more money, more comfort ...; I was ambitious, I wanted to conquer the world to give as much as possible to my son, like everyone else.
- And what happened from that moment?
- In the following days, I realized that I no longer experienced things as I did before. The thousands of trivialities that used to irritate me every day — a knocking door, the keys that disappear just when you're about to leave, any worries, all the little details that always used to drive me out of my mind without even realizing it — I already They didn't bother me.
- What had changed?
- Things were what they were. However, my way of perceiving them, of reacting to them, had changed. The silence, the tranquility, had completely invaded me, allowing me to see the situation simply as it was.
- Did you try to give a rational explanation to what was happening to you?
- I began to investigate, to go to bookstores to find books that could explain, even if it was a brushstroke, about what I was experiencing; I found the book To Love What It Is (by Byron Katie), where I read that these things can happen. At first, I tried to understand, but as time went by, I stopped trying .
- "What causes our suffering is not the problem, but what we think about it, " explains Byron in his book.
- There is nothing more than now. The previous moment, the moment after, are nothing more than abstract ideas. This silence, this constant presence, prevents me from staying in the mind, in the past or in the future; It simultaneously leads me to live the present moment.
- Does it mean that we are determined to want to be in a certain way regardless of who we are?
- That's. The senses lie to us, and when you realize it it is a liberation, because you are no longer your senses, but what they see. The senses are concept and our essence is reality.
- Two months after that “silence” arrived, his only son died in a traffic accident. How did it affect you?
- At one point I thought: "Yes it is true, my life is over". But this thought did not last long. He collapsed into the same tranquility in which he had been living these last weeks.
- So you didn't cry?
- The situation was what it was. No tears, no crisis. I went up to my room where there was tranquility. I watched as my friends and family, worried, came to see how I was. I saw how they tried to talk to me, how they tried to discover how I was wearing it. In fact, I was totally calm.
- What did he feel?
- I didn't jump for joy, obviously, but I didn't collapse either. I was in a kind of neutral space.
- Did someone reproach you for that attitude?
- Those around me thought I was insensitive. They were waiting for the moment when, finally, I was going to realize what had happened and I was going to enter into a manifest duel (...) I saw how sad moments came and I saw how they were leaving. Emotions were present at times, but I could not grab any of them, so they kept going.
- This state of tranquility and peace that describes is able to cushion pain.
- Yes, because what causes suffering is not the situation, but the comment of the situation. Life doesn't ask you what you want or don't want. When you clearly see reality and who you are, psychological thinking disappears and you can face life with peace and quiet. That does not mean that if you are in a place and something has to be done, do not do it, but that you feel total confidence.
- Then, he left his career as an executive, why?
- I left work because when you discover such a powerful thing, all you want is to see what happens, what is the reality of life; It was a total change. I didn't say, "I'm going to stop working, " it happened.
- Did your relationships with others change?
- Yes, since I am much freer and I totally accept what may happen in life.
- Has silence helped you to be a better person?
- He has healed me of the idea of being just one person.
- Explain yourself.
- The important thing is not what happens - what - but how. If you only know the point of view of the senses, the most important thing for you will be what, but if you see it from the global point of view, that life is spontaneous, you will understand that even if you insist on saying that you want it from another way, you won't get it . Life is how you see it.
- Do you mean that nothing that happens can be changed?
- Many people have wanted to free the world with their individual conscience, but they have not succeeded because it does not work like this: what is thought cannot change what is spontaneous. Reality is silent, only being in this silence a second you understand that you are not the one who makes the world, but you are what makes the world sprout.
So, the world can't change for the better?
The world can only change it for you, but until you discover this reality in yourself you cannot accept this truth.
How do you perceive injustices and tragedies?
I can understand that people see it as suffering, but I cannot be an accomplice of this suffering.
From this perspective you are not able to comment or judge what is happening around you; you do not think, you are in neutrality, and in this I do not know, but I know that I cannot do anything in this illusion, in this lie, I can only see how everyone can see that reality is before what we think we are.
What common denominator does the public have at your conferences?
The strong desire to know who he really is.
And you are your spiritual leader?
I have never decided to be a spiritual teacher, but I have traveled to Canada, America, Europe to share weekends with search engine groups.
In those trips have you found more people who have experienced the same as you?
Yes, I met several people, we talked and testified that this possibility exists.
Chantale R muse, who has helped you write your last book, is one of those people?
He has been aware of this space for years, is a spiritual seeker and a great poet. Although she does not know, it is already what I am.
R muse has dedicated a large part of his life to writing and yoga, especially Kashmir. Do you also practice it?
No.
So, why in your lectures do you encourage the public to meditate?
It is the simplest activity that I have found to be able to share what we are in a true way, but it is not necessary to meditate to discover silence, although it can help to know oneself better. If you stop the noise from outside, you will calm down naturally.
What is the exercise that you recommend?
That they become aware of what they are; The people who come have made a way and like to sit and observe the thoughts that happen. I put myself in a strong intensity level; If I close my eyes and feel calm, the world leaves and there is a vibration and a very strong intensity. We all have the ability to be just this pure feeling, without comments.
- What is your mission?
- Silence has made me discover that I have no missions, my role is to feel this truth and talk about it. I can't do anything else, it's so powerful, so strong that my job is just to be what I am. A missionary of silence.
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