yajvan
26 September 2009, 11:33 AM
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~
Namasté
dagger's uttered from one's lips…
We all have heard or been taught good manners of speech.
One should not wound the vitals of others, says bhīṣma to Yudhiṣṭhira in the śānti parva ( or parvan division or section) of the mahābhārata.
Who has not heard of this, just as good manners? Yet bhīṣma takes it further, he says:
If a person deeply pierces a man of wisdom with wordy shafts (a.k.a. arrows or daggers coming from one's mouth) the wise man should then adopt peace without giving way to wrath. The man who, though sought to be angered rejoices without yielding to anger, thus taking away the provoker all his merits.
The man of righteous soul who, full of joy and freed from malice subdues his blazing wrath which, if indulged, would lead him to speak ill of others (also) and verily become his foe, takes away the merit of others.
This wisdom is quite profund - the consequences are explained by a few muni's…
Svāmī Brahmānanda Sarasvatī , Śaṅkarācārya of Jyotirmath (1941-1953) , informs us of the following:
Don't do nindā (nindā निन्दा speaking ill, blaming, scorning) and if you are spoken ill of, understand him to be well-wishing one's own salvation, that speaking of you, he takes your sins on himself.
His ceṭa, Mahaṛṣi Mahesh Yogī, says the following,
When one speaks ill of others he partakes of the sin's of others for whom he speaks.
And who has the final word on this matter? Kṛṣṇa in the Bhāgavad gītā , Chapt 3, 31st śloka says the following,
Those men who are possessed of faith (śraddha), who do not find fault (anasūyantah) and always follow the teaching of Mine, they too are liberated from action.
So, one says I know this , 'but when in the heat of a argument my anger gets the best of me'. This no doubt is common to most of us. My teacher would say - any house can stand in good weather. That is, it is easy to be balanced and without scorn when there is no outside 'storm' brewing that will get one upset.
So, it is by understanding the implications above that one may adjust their behaviors. What is being assessed here is not just one's manners, but taking on the faults of others. Who wishes to pay another's bills?
The question becomes ' what to do? ' Well what does bhīṣma do? He says, As for myself I never answer when another speaks ill of me. If assailed I always forgive the assault. The righteous are of the opinion that forgiveness, truth and sincerety are foremost amongst all virtues. Truth is the arcanum¹ of the veda-s. What is the arcanum of Truth? Self-restraint. and of that (self-restaint) ? Mokṣa ( liberation, emancipation) This is the teaching of all the śāstra-s.
What does Svāmī Brahmānanda Sarasvatī say? Indifference is a very big astra¹ (weapon). Anybody uttering unpleasantness or being disrespectful in any way then be indifferent to him, that is to say; withdraw one's own thought from his direction.
I often I hear ' I must speak the truth' which sometimes implies it may be caustic, or irritating, but it must be said. Truthful speech is welcomed, yet one must consider the words of Kṛṣṇa , Chapt 17, 16th śloka :
the tapaḥ (austerity) of speech consists of speaking truthfully (satyam) , pleasant (priya - favorible, agreeable) and beneficial (hitam - wholesome , suitable ) and avoiding speech which offends (anudvega- free from anxiety).
This approach takes practice and application. It too have been practicing this for many years, and the practice continues.
praṇām
Offered on Saturday, owed by yama, the Lord of restraints.
words
astra अस्त्र- a weapon in general ; rooted in 'as' a missile weapon , bolt , arrow ; to throw , cast , shoot at ; to drive away
tapa तप - consumed by heat. The notion of purification that happens when something is 'heated up' .Hence tapas तपस् is austerity , special observances that bring purity .
priya प्रिय as a noun is beloved , dear to, liked , favorable or favorite.
hitam हित - is considered 'set in motion' , yet also ( in male/female gender use) means beneficial , advantageous , salutary , wholesome , suitable , agreeing with.
anudvega अनुद्वेग- free from anxiety; In the masculine gender it means freedom from uneasiness
arcanum - a secret and powerful remedy
~~~~~~
Namasté
dagger's uttered from one's lips…
We all have heard or been taught good manners of speech.
One should not wound the vitals of others, says bhīṣma to Yudhiṣṭhira in the śānti parva ( or parvan division or section) of the mahābhārata.
Who has not heard of this, just as good manners? Yet bhīṣma takes it further, he says:
If a person deeply pierces a man of wisdom with wordy shafts (a.k.a. arrows or daggers coming from one's mouth) the wise man should then adopt peace without giving way to wrath. The man who, though sought to be angered rejoices without yielding to anger, thus taking away the provoker all his merits.
The man of righteous soul who, full of joy and freed from malice subdues his blazing wrath which, if indulged, would lead him to speak ill of others (also) and verily become his foe, takes away the merit of others.
This wisdom is quite profund - the consequences are explained by a few muni's…
Svāmī Brahmānanda Sarasvatī , Śaṅkarācārya of Jyotirmath (1941-1953) , informs us of the following:
Don't do nindā (nindā निन्दा speaking ill, blaming, scorning) and if you are spoken ill of, understand him to be well-wishing one's own salvation, that speaking of you, he takes your sins on himself.
His ceṭa, Mahaṛṣi Mahesh Yogī, says the following,
When one speaks ill of others he partakes of the sin's of others for whom he speaks.
And who has the final word on this matter? Kṛṣṇa in the Bhāgavad gītā , Chapt 3, 31st śloka says the following,
Those men who are possessed of faith (śraddha), who do not find fault (anasūyantah) and always follow the teaching of Mine, they too are liberated from action.
So, one says I know this , 'but when in the heat of a argument my anger gets the best of me'. This no doubt is common to most of us. My teacher would say - any house can stand in good weather. That is, it is easy to be balanced and without scorn when there is no outside 'storm' brewing that will get one upset.
So, it is by understanding the implications above that one may adjust their behaviors. What is being assessed here is not just one's manners, but taking on the faults of others. Who wishes to pay another's bills?
The question becomes ' what to do? ' Well what does bhīṣma do? He says, As for myself I never answer when another speaks ill of me. If assailed I always forgive the assault. The righteous are of the opinion that forgiveness, truth and sincerety are foremost amongst all virtues. Truth is the arcanum¹ of the veda-s. What is the arcanum of Truth? Self-restraint. and of that (self-restaint) ? Mokṣa ( liberation, emancipation) This is the teaching of all the śāstra-s.
What does Svāmī Brahmānanda Sarasvatī say? Indifference is a very big astra¹ (weapon). Anybody uttering unpleasantness or being disrespectful in any way then be indifferent to him, that is to say; withdraw one's own thought from his direction.
I often I hear ' I must speak the truth' which sometimes implies it may be caustic, or irritating, but it must be said. Truthful speech is welcomed, yet one must consider the words of Kṛṣṇa , Chapt 17, 16th śloka :
the tapaḥ (austerity) of speech consists of speaking truthfully (satyam) , pleasant (priya - favorible, agreeable) and beneficial (hitam - wholesome , suitable ) and avoiding speech which offends (anudvega- free from anxiety).
This approach takes practice and application. It too have been practicing this for many years, and the practice continues.
praṇām
Offered on Saturday, owed by yama, the Lord of restraints.
words
astra अस्त्र- a weapon in general ; rooted in 'as' a missile weapon , bolt , arrow ; to throw , cast , shoot at ; to drive away
tapa तप - consumed by heat. The notion of purification that happens when something is 'heated up' .Hence tapas तपस् is austerity , special observances that bring purity .
priya प्रिय as a noun is beloved , dear to, liked , favorable or favorite.
hitam हित - is considered 'set in motion' , yet also ( in male/female gender use) means beneficial , advantageous , salutary , wholesome , suitable , agreeing with.
anudvega अनुद्वेग- free from anxiety; In the masculine gender it means freedom from uneasiness
arcanum - a secret and powerful remedy