Yoga & Ayurveda Blog

Satya consists of words and thoughts being in accordance with 'facts'. Speech and mind correspond to what has been seen, heard, and inferred as 'fact'.  When the speaker has neither perceived nor inferred that of which he speaks, that speech will fail. Speech is for the purpose of transferring one's knowledge to another. It should be only employed for the good of others and never be a cause for injury. Speech should not be deceptive, confusing or barren in knowledge. Even truth, if injurious to a living being should never be expressed. "I have taken a vow to speak the truth. If it is painful, it is the truth that hurts and not me". Such truth in the garb of virtue, is in reality a sin. It leads one to an area of painful darkness.

Therefore [Vyasa concludes] let everyone examine well and then speak [only] the truth that is for the benefit of all living beings.

The epic Mahabharata, a storehouse of knowledge, contains a particular incident involving King Janaka and Sulabha, a yogini. In this a beautiful description of how one should communicate is depicted. Sulabha outlines for  King Janaka proper communication through the following points;

   -  More words than are necessary should not be used
   -  It should be coherent and not lacking in sequence
   -  No harsh or hurtful words should be used
   -  Statements should not require further explanation
   -  Irrelevant, irrational, illogical and untruthful words should never be used
   -  Speech should never be made in anger, fear, greed or pride
   -  Never say anything out of false humility or false politeness

Sulabha, through her conversation with King Janaka sums up the basic elements of right speech and communication.

   -  If the speaker disregards the listener and simply promotes his/her own self interest, then what is said will not reach the listener
   -  If the speaker disregards his/her own self interest and speaks solely in the interest of the other, then it will give rise to the suspicion of insincerity and will again not reach the listener
   -  Speech which takes into consideration the interest of both the speaker and the listener will alone be true communication.
   -  When the speaker, listener and the speech come together in unison, then that alone is true speech
[above excerpt taken from 'Women of Mahabharata' by Sri Chaturvedi Badrinath]

So, Satya or truth in communication is not merely words as they flow from the lips. It should be crafted as described by Sulabha and take into consideration what has been said by Vyasa.

Is this possible in this modern world of ours? Please  read the last lines of Vyasa - Think, examine and then speak. Now everything that has been said will fall into place.

Words emanating from us can be flowers that decorate the listener or piercing bullets that hurt and harm. Let us make our speech into beautiful flowers that spread fragrance all around.

By DV Sridhar at Yoga Raksanam, Chennai, India