Anudvegakaram – Further Reading
Anudvegakaram Vaakyam Satyam Priyahitam Cha Yat
Svaadhyaayaabhyasanam Chaiva Vanmayam tapa uchyate
Speech which causes no excitement and is truthful, pleasant and beneficial and the practice and the study of sacred texts, these constitute the ‘austerity or tapas of speech’.
Inoffensive, truthful, pleasant and beneficial speech, the practice and study of Vedas and other Sastras, are called austerity of speech.
Our Bhagawan says, ‘We cannot oblige always, but we can talk obligingly’. For example, a person is blind. It is truth, but if we call him Oh, blind man, it will hurt his feelings. Though it is truth, it is not pleasant. So Lord Krishna says , Satya Priyahitam – austerity of speech is very important – God’s voice is heard in silence.
Baba says that we should first tie a cord to our tongue with the rope of Naamasmarana. King Ambareesha is a good example for this. Since he always used to talk sweet words and was not in the habit of hurting others, God accepted him as a true devotee and was ever ready to him at any time.
He used to observe the ‘Ekadashi Vrata’ and on Dwaadashi day he will feed a Brahmin guest and have his food. One Dwaadashi day, he was lucky to have Sage Durvaasa as his guest and he invited him for taking food with him. Sage went to his bath and came late. When Ambareesha was about to break his fast by taking water, the sage reached there and became very wild. He wanted to trouble Ambareesha and, therefore, created a terrible deity which rushed to Ambareesha to kill him. At this particular moment, Sudarshana Chakra of Vishnu killed the deity and started chasing Durvaasa who went to Satyaloka, Kailash and at last to Vaikunta. Vishnu told him that King Ambareesha is his true devotee and he should not have tried to trouble him. He said, Knowledge and penance become worthy of respect if they are accompanied by humility and modesty. King Ambareesha is so humble and modest, that God himself had to go to his rescue. He asked Durvaasa to go back to Ambareesha to seek his forgiveness.
Explanation:
The five senses organs must be used carefully knowing well their limitations and capabilities. You must exercise the same control over them as you would use in controlling a number of powerful energies and implements which you encounter in daily life. For example, fire and electricity, if properly used, can be beneficial. Otherwise, they may prove dangerous. The tongue is endowed with a double power. It has both the power of speech and the power of taste.
Fasting promotes health for the body and in the mental realm it gives joy and bliss. It helps to control speech. If the tongue is properly controlled, all the other sense organs will soon become in line by themselves. By sacrificing your desires, you can attain equal mindedness.
Mental Tapas is the strict vigilance and weeding out of the negative thoughts that weakens the mind. Vocal Tapas- speech is charged with tremendous power, words do not cost anything, but they are priceless. They have to be used with care. We should use the tongue for uttering sweet and truthful words. It is a sin to cause pain to others by one’s speech, The Lord resides in everyone. The person who abuses other in fact, is abusing the Lord Himself.
Swaadhyaaya Abhyasanam- Regular study of the Guru’s teachings, which embody the Vedic wisdom is of paramount importance.
The spoken word though it may be short and appears to be only a sound, has in it the power of an atom bomb. When a word of Ananda is spoken to a person sunk in despair, it changes him with elephantine strength. When a word of despair is spoken to a person who is extremely strong and happy, he slumps to the ground, overcome by sorrow. Words can elevate or lower the individual. By talking too much energy is wasted and memory power decreases and premature old age sets in. Even though the radio is on at a low volume, the battery is wasted. In the same manner , the mind has an inner chatter and dialogue going on within which though not loud talk, wastes our energy. We can consume energy by silent sitting and meditation and then channelize it to higher ideals.
Speech is a very powerful medium of expression. It is a vehicle which carries the thought energy of the speaker. If speech must have force and conviction behind it, there must be co-ordination and harmony of thought and word.
We can easily judge a person’s intellectual, cultural and mental make-up by the words he speaks. Sometimes, we see that even simple speech makes a great impact on us. Sometimes, high power, clever and calculated words leave us cold. This is because the personality behind the speaker is seen. It may be that of a self-controlled person or one who has not acquired a hold on himself, unless a speaker practices straightforwardness in his dealings with others, he will be developing a split-personality by saying one thing and doing another.
Speech that causes no excitement or shock
The spoken words must be such that they bring no disturbance to others. They should be inoffensive, not irritating or obscene; We can easily find out the reaction of our words on the faces of our listeners, if we care to be sensitive and watchful. Many people lose good friends by harshness of speech and an indiscreet tongue.
Truthful, pleasant and beneficial
Words spoken to express truth in an agreeable way for the benefit of others becomes blessings for the speaker too.
‘Honesty is the Best Policy’ – There is a loss of energy in telling one lie and then covering up with ten more lies. If words flow freely and gently, bringing forth the exact ideas of the speaker, then we come to know that he has developed harmony in thought, word and deed. The Geetachaarya Krishna says that not only should speech be truthful but also pleasant. Truth can be expressed in a cruel way at times. In that case it is better to be quiet than to speak.
The next line says,
Swaadhyaaya or Regular study – of the Sacred Texts is also included by the Lord as ‘Tapas of Speech’. Some people think that just by not speaking, they are practicing austerity of speech. Our Baba says that we have to silence the inner chatter that goes on in the mind. In order to silence the mind, we have to do certain Sadhana. Initially our Sadhana should consist of right action based on right thinking. Then when we have purified our minds by selfless activity we can take on self-study or Swaadhyaaya, which means making a careful study of our ancient texts. We must then reflect on what we read, by concentrating and contemplating on the Mantras, truth given by the Rishis. In this way, by not engaging in useless talk, but by speaking what is truthful and elevating to the listener, our vital energy is channelized. This energy then flows naturally towards Meditation and service and turns into Love for all.
Austerity of speech if undertaken by us will lead us to immense peace. So often we see in our daily life, people who have gained tremendous peace and serenity. We can see this in their character and bearing. They speak softly and only a few necessary words. But if they are called upon to explain anything or make a public speech, they do so with confidence and precision.
Our Lord Sai is an Avatar, but even so He speaks very little, the words softly, deeply and gently spread a mantle of Love and Peace on the hearer. All the Saints in our great Land spoke little. Ramana Maharishi taught by silence and inner communication.
Story – (Chinna katha)
Words reveal the breeding of the speaker–The tongue is the token of the breeding.
‘Hey, you clout! Did you hear soldiers march this way?’ A man asked a blind farmer.
Minutes later, another person accosted him, ‘Blind man! Open your mouth and tell me whether you heard the noise of soldiers march this way’.
Later, a third voice approached him, ‘Sir, did you hear some soldiers marching along this path’?
At last another person came near and placed his hand upon the shoulder of blind man and asked. ‘My dear man, please tell me whether you heard men marching along this road.’ The blind man correctly understood who the interrogators were.
The first one who spoke roughly was a soldier. The second man who called out Blind man, was a captain. They did not care for the feeling of others and the pain that their words bring to their hearers.
The third man was a minister – disciplined and well mannered. Obviously he had good breeding and the correct way of addressing a blind man. But the last man who spoke lovingly, placing his hand upon the shoulder of the blind man was the King himself. He showed his Kingly way of speaking by his humility and friendliness. A person’s greatness truly depends on his speech and his lack of pretending and show.
The tongue is the armor of the heart. It guards one’s life. Loud talk, long talk, wild talk, talk full of anger and hate, all these affect the health of man. They breed anger and hate in others. They wound, they excite, they enrage, they estrange.
Why is silent said to be Golden?
The silent man has no enemies, though he may not have friends. He has the leisure and the chance to dive within himself and examine his own faults and feelings. He has no more inclination to seek them in others.
If your foot slips, you earn a fracture.
If your tongue slips you fracture someone’s faith and joy.
That wound will foster forever.
Therefore, use the tongue with great care.
The softer you talk, the less you talk, the sweeter you talk, the Better for you and the world.
Story – The Nature of the Fire
Suthra was an enlightened Fakir or Sadhu who was exceptionally resolute and bold. One day a friend came to him and said,’ A famous holy man has come, who is very much revered by everybody in this neighbour-hood. Let us go to see him’.
Suthra agreed and they walked to the holy man’s hut, greeting him upon their arrival by bowing low and saying: ‘Praise be to the Merciful Lord’.
The holy man returned their greeting and invited them to be seated near him. After remaining silent for a few minutes later, Suthra asked the holy man:
Have you any fire ? I need some’.
‘No I have no fire here just at present’, replied the holy man.
Again there was a silence, but a few minutes later, Suthra asked again, ‘Oh, Sadhu, have you any fire’?
‘I have already told you that I have none’ said the holy man, slightly annoyed.
But this reply did not seem to suit Suthra at all for he immediately asked for a third time.
‘Sadhu, I have great need of fire, so kindly let me have some’.
At this the holy man became really irritated and replied with great heat:
‘Oh, foolish man! Please stop asking me for fire! Can’t you understand what I say? I have told you three times that I do not have any fire. Isn’t that enough? Or will you go on repeating the same stupid question over and over again?”
Suthra remained silent and entirely imperturbed. But as soon as the holy man stopped, he said: Brother, I really do need some fire. Are you sure you do not have any fire?’
Now, thoroughly enraged, the holy man picked up a stick , advanced towards Suthra and beat him until the stick broke. Suthra then smiled and said: ‘ Peace, brother. My question is now answered. I saw and smelled some smoke, when I first entered here, so I knew that there was a fire here. Now, as everyone can see, the fire has blazed up burning with angry flames. Yet, strangely enough, still maintain that you have none of it.’
Understanding now what had all the time been in Suthra’s mind, the holy man’s anger left him. Hanging his head in shame, he said in a humble voice: ‘Thank you, brother, for your lesson. I will take it to heart and try to mend my ways’.