Authors :
Dr. Palwinder Singh Bhatia; Kavita Devi
Volume/Issue :
Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 12 - December
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/wa7samxt
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/bdhmjjdb
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25dec1610
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Abstract :
This study examines mauna (silence) as a foundational communicative and philosophical principle within Indian
traditions, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Contrary to Western linear models that equate communication with verbal
transmission, Indian philosophy conceives silence as an active, conscious state that embodies realization, mindfulness, and
moral restraint. Through a qualitative hermeneutic–comparative approach, this research interprets classical scriptures such
as the Upaniṣads, Nikāyas, and Ācārāṅga Sūtra alongside modern intercultural communication theories. The findings reveal
that silence operates as a triadic paradigm: realization (jñāna) in Hinduism, mindful awareness (prajñā) in Buddhism, and
ethical restraint (ahimsa) in Jainism. These dimensions fit into what this study terms the Integrated Indian Communicative
Paradigm, a framework in which silence transcends verbal boundaries to become a medium of spiritual insight, moral
discipline, and empathetic dialogue. The research concludes that silence, far from negating communication, manifests as its
highest form, a state of conscious presence that unites thought, morality, and awareness, offering vital implications for
contemporary communication ethics and intercultural understanding.
Keywords :
Mauna, Silence, Indian Philosophy, Communication Ethics, Mindfulness, Intercultural Dialogue.
References :
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- Scriptural and Classical Texts
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- Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad. In: Radhakrishnan S (Ed.). The Principal Upaniṣads. New Delhi: HarperCollins; 1953. p.45–89.
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This study examines mauna (silence) as a foundational communicative and philosophical principle within Indian
traditions, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Contrary to Western linear models that equate communication with verbal
transmission, Indian philosophy conceives silence as an active, conscious state that embodies realization, mindfulness, and
moral restraint. Through a qualitative hermeneutic–comparative approach, this research interprets classical scriptures such
as the Upaniṣads, Nikāyas, and Ācārāṅga Sūtra alongside modern intercultural communication theories. The findings reveal
that silence operates as a triadic paradigm: realization (jñāna) in Hinduism, mindful awareness (prajñā) in Buddhism, and
ethical restraint (ahimsa) in Jainism. These dimensions fit into what this study terms the Integrated Indian Communicative
Paradigm, a framework in which silence transcends verbal boundaries to become a medium of spiritual insight, moral
discipline, and empathetic dialogue. The research concludes that silence, far from negating communication, manifests as its
highest form, a state of conscious presence that unites thought, morality, and awareness, offering vital implications for
contemporary communication ethics and intercultural understanding.
Keywords :
Mauna, Silence, Indian Philosophy, Communication Ethics, Mindfulness, Intercultural Dialogue.