One saint was asked by his disciple that which of the many parts of our body is the best? The Mahatma replied that the tongue because it has the power to make even a corpse alive. Again the disciple asked which is the inferior part of the body, the answer is the tongue, because it has the power to ruin the entire human being, it makes a living man carcass. There are two kinds of power in speech, one is creative power and the other is destructive power. Moreover, words and speech are indestructible.
The word cannot be destroyed for ages. Science has revealed after research that the words of BHAGAVAD GITA recited by Lord Krishna to ARJUNA are still echoing in the sky which can be retrieved with the help of proper mechanics and efforts are being made in that direction of science. It is imperative to use such indestructible speech with a deep understanding, that is why there is a saying, “Use water and speech by straining it – that is use both by proper filtering” because speech is the main reason for everything in the world to be excellent or harmful. We know that all the organs of the body have only one function. Just as two nostrils do the work of sniffing, two ears do the work of hearing, two eyes do the work of seeing, but one tongue does the work of two, one speaking and the other eating.
Both of which are extremely important and dangerous. Think about how much nature will rely on its power? Both functions of the tongue are very important to bring the person out of pain. Give a little good food and praise with enthusiastic speech, than observe the wonderful & extraordinary power will be transmitted in both body and mind of the person and in the absence of these two human existence will be endangered. Even though we know this eternal truth and remain unaware of it, it is a great misfortune.
An uncontrolled tongue destroys the happiness and peace of many. If the tongue is silent then all the senses remain silent. AHMEDABAD is world famous for riots and riots usually start from KHADIA and JAMALPUR and spread over the city similarly all kinds of riots in the society start with words. If KHADIA is calm, AHMEDABAD is calm, in the same way, if the tongue is calm, the all senses are calm. That is why the scriptures say that the one who conquers speech (learns to control the tongue) conquers everything. The effect of our words and thoughts is like a contagious virus which catches others also. Compared to other animals, human beings are superior in two respects, one in terms of intelligence and the other in terms of speech which makes human special otherwise the senses of animals are far better, powerful and sharp than human beings such as eyes of cat, nose of ant and dogs, hands of gorilla, legs of elephant, teeth of tiger and lion, ears of deer but intelligence and speech are priceless gems that nature has given to mankind. So we should not waste such precious gems. Words and speech are precious and must be used with caution, awareness and sensibility. Yes, it is true that the task of controlling the tongue is very difficult but we put as much effort into the preservation of precious things like money, gold-silver, diamonds-jewels etc. as we do not preserve words, isn’t it? It is imperative to use speech judiciously.
There are certain rules of speech 1) in terms of Upanishads and 2) in terms of practice. According to the Upanishads, the five places of origin of the word in our body are the throat, palate, corpse, teeth and lips. But the words emanating from these five places cannot be produced without the help of consciousness or soul. The TAITRIYA Upanishad has given six rules of speech. 1) Varna 2) Vowel 3) MATRA 4) Sam 5) Bal and 6) Santana
1) Varna- A group of vowels like A, AA, E etc. are called Varna. Some descriptions are pronounced with the lips and some with the teeth which needs to be pronounced carefully and purely. Pronunciation produces a special kind of vibration in the body which benefits the functions of the whole body as we all know how important the proper pronunciation of Om is in the process of yoga and meditation.
2) Vowel – The role of vowel in dialogue is very important. Some words require a low, medium and noble tone to express the value in some loud voice, as well as it is important in creating emotions in dialogue. For example, many people have the ability to speak in sarcasm which is not appropriate in any way as it involves negative use and understanding of vowel.
3) MATRA (length, degree or quantity) – which determines the length of the words. Shortening or pronouncing each word changes the meaning of the word. It is also important to make the dialogue effective, no matter how long or short. Often, the most important thing is to explain in a lengthy and ineffective way so lose its significance. Sometimes the difficult or hardest thing is to say it too briefly without much elaborating and can’t give a result.
4) Sam (Strength) – Sam (Strength) is the effort required while speaking. Many pronunciations are made by the touch of oxygen, such as sound and noise which produce energy. Moreover, a special kind of proclamation invigorates others. For example, an excellent declaration or announcement by a commander in a fight for justice fills the army with a special kind of energy.
5) Sam- words or speech which we like to listen means Sam. Sam may include music. There can be many types of music or song, some song can be cause of headache while some give peace and happiness. The melodious and sweet voice is Sam, which is a prerequisite for the happiness of the whole society.
6) Santana – Santana means treaty where two characters join.
Knowledge of these six rules can make speech and communication effective and impressive.
There are eight rules of speech in terms of practice such as 1) Sweet 2) Finite or proportionate 3) non paltry or non miserable 4) Pride-less 5) Proficient 6) Thoughtful speaking 7) Speaking on occasion 8) Righteous speaking.
1) Speaking sweetly – If words are not used properly, they become weapons. Exterminates rather than creates. One word can kills or heals, it sometimes hurts or make happy. Words can create relationship or it breaks the relationship and provokes conflict. The pain of thorns in someone’s voice is the fragrance of a flower in someone. Someone’s voice wakes up the sleeper while someone’s voice hits the runner. Tolstoy wrote on one page of his diary, “If my wife had said only few sweet words to me once a day, I would have enjoyed the rest of my life just by remembering it.” The vessels and man can be identified by their voice (empty vessels make much more noise) otherwise the gentleman and the villain have the same color, form and disguise. We all know the distance between a cuckoo and a crow. There is some supernatural science behind the word i.e. the theory of karma is applied. We do not know when and how the fruit of those inappropriate words comes in front of us. So the speech must be used with deep understanding and the speech must be sweet.
2) Proficient speaking – by haphazard singing no singer can be called a singer, by haphazard drawing no painter can be consider as painter or by haphazard dancing a dancer cannot be known as dancer like that senseless or haphazard speaker cannot be called human. Speaking is one of the most delicate arts of life. Everyone speaks but very few know how to speak. When an expert speaks, his every word becomes priceless gem. A speech that conveys a broad meaning in a few words is called a master speech. Plato used to say that speak something so I can recognize you. The tongue indicates person’s physical, mental and spiritual health. Man’s sacrament is identified only from speech. The word and speech is the great identity of a human being. Proficient speech should be sweet, short, timely, clear, fluent, effective, beneficial and thoughtful.
3) Finite or proportionate speech (that is to speak less) – After knowing the answer to how to speak from the above two rules, the question arises how much to speak? The scriptures say that the gods also bow down to the person whose food, speech, sleep and perception is finite or proportionate. Finite speech is the ultimate solution to live a peaceful life free from strife and disputes. It should not be forgotten that the place of the ZANZAR (that speaks too much) is always at the feet. We all know that no one notices the second ticking of the clock. Too much speaker devalues speech. Thomas Alwa Edison’s Honor Ceremony Held for his invention of Talking Machine someone gave a very long speech in which he said in one sentence, “The talking machine is not my invention, it is God’s, I have just created a machine that can be turned off at will.” This sarcasm explains that it is difficult to maintain quality when quantity increases.
4) Speaking on occasion – Punctuality is an important part of effectiveness. Everyone welcomes rain at the right time, while hates unseasonal rain. The perfect hit at the right time when the iron is hot creates good shape of vessel. One word spoken on occasion weighs more than a thousand words spoken without occasion. Thirty-three dishes without appetite that do not give pleasure can give dry bread in times of hunger. These all examples indicate the significance of speaking at right time.
5) Speaking without pride – A speech that stinks with the stench of self-praise means pride. Praise for showing one’s own greatness is in fact a declaration of one’s own poverty. Praise is something to be done by others, when it is done by one’s own self, its importance disappears. According to the criteria set by a Maharishi to determine the rank of a human being, it is vile to reveal one’s virtues, moderate not to reveal virtues and excellent to conceal one’s own virtues. Thus the protection and breeding of virtues is attributed to secrecy.
6) Don’t speak trivial language – If we don’t like trivial person, trivial food, trivial hospitality or welcome, how can we like trivial speech? Language is the garment of personality. How does language be accepted if the garment is not accepted inferior or torn? Trivial language includes slander, rhetoric, hate speech, abuse, the tendency to belittle someone, etc.
7) Speaking thoughtfully – Even in conflicting relationships, speaking with discretion is a characteristic of speech. It takes only the tongue to speak but discernment to speak beautifully. The game is in our hand until the word is out. Always remember that a written word can be erased but a spoken word cannot be erased. Many moments of remorse are saved after speaking of what is wasted two moments of thinking before speaking thus speaking words by straining a hundred times.
8) Righteous speaking – Righteous speech consists of two things. a) speak the truth and b) speak kindly. Human beings today are obsessed with instant benefits. If he benefits from lying, he feels the need to take it more. But he forgets that long-term losses outweigh the immediate benefits of lying. Truth is the ornament of speech. Nor is it the truth that causes pain to others. It must be said in a way that includes interest or welfare of all. That is why it is said in the BHAGAVAD GITA, “Truth is such a sweet and prudent speech which contains the interest of all.” Nothing is much sweet than truth. Truth never failed it is the failure of speaker Perhaps his way of telling the truth would be inappropriate.
Shilpa shah, director in-charge HKBBA College
