speak, so that we understand your silence

Long long ago
half a millennia before Jesus was born
a prince went away 
far from the madding crowd
to find answers to the questions 
that would not let him sleep
that would not let him live 
or die.
  
After six years of travelling and searching
one day 
he gave up his efforts and fell
deep into silence.
He became one with the silence of the  Bodhi tree. 
He became one with the flow of the river nearby.
He became one with the vastness of the moon drenched  night 
where there was not even a bat 
to hang upside down and cry.
  
The elusive answers  
found roots in silence 
and spread out to reach the heavens 
where the angels were alarmed 
that even after knowing
he would not speak.
They said,
What are you doing? 
You are the chosen one.
Come on.
You must speak.
He said, 
What is the use?
Those who know 
would not need me,
and those who don’t 
would not believe. 
  
They said,
We agree with you.
There are some who know
and some who have decided not to know.
But there are many 
who want to know 
but are afraid of the fall into silence .
They need that gentle push.
So speak.  
Speak, so that they understand your silence.
  
He spoke 
and human history took a different turn.
  
In English there is a saying
Silence is Golden.
No it is not. 
When leaders make us suffer for their personal gain
or are incompetent,
it is time to speak and speak out loud.
  
When you hear the scream of the woman next door
being beaten black and blue by her drunken husband,
silence is not the option.
  
When you see a policeman 
beating a passer by
for no apparent reason,
silence is not the option.
  
When you see a woman 
is teased or molested
or in the worst case 
is being dragged to be raped,
silence is not the option
  
In Sanskrit there is a saying
Maunam Sammati Lakshanam
which means
to be silent is a sign of acceptance; 
which means 
when you remain silent 
in the face of injustice,
you are a partner in crime  

(Coincidentally, today is Buddha Purnima. But, it seems even Google Doodle has no knowledge of this)