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Speech - A Holy Gift To Humans From God


मन ब्रह्म है - यह अध्यात्म दृष्टी से उपासना करें; आकाश ब्रह्म है - यह आधिदैविक दृष्टी से उपासना करें; इस प्रकार अध्यात्म अधिदैवत दोनों का उपदेश किया गया. मनःसंज्ञक के चार पाद - वाक्, प्राण, चक्षु व् श्रोत्र; अधिदैवत {आकाशसंज्ञक ब्रह्म} के चार पाद - अग्नि वायु आदित्य दिशाएं   मनोमय व् आकाशसंज्ञा ब्रह्म के पाद का वर्णन : वाक् अग्निरूप ज्योति से प्रज्वलित होता है; वायु से ही प्राण दीप्त होता है  व् गंधग्रहण करता है; आदित्य की ज्योति से ही चक्षु  दीप्त होता है; श्रोत्र  शब्दग्रहण के किये दिशायों द्वारा प्रोत्साहित होता है




This above is a summary of छान्दोग्योपनिषद तृतीय अध्याय अष्टादश खंड, referenced and/or translated  and/or summarized from   छान्दोग्योपनिषद गीता प्रेस पृ ३१२-३१६ and सुबोध उपनिषद् संग्रह पृ ३६३-३६४.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPEECH AND GOD

There are many learnings from this chapter of The Chhandogya Upanishad summarized above - I state one here - note the importance of words, of speaking - and how it is a direct abhivyakti or path to The Parabrahm... In this verse, a direct relationship is being drawn between Vaak {Voice, Sound, ability to speak} and The Parabrahm. That being the case, in my opinion, humanity should strive to speak every word with great caution, thought and complete truthfulness. Not even one tiny little half-truth or meaningless word should escape your lips.

How can we balance this with our habit of speaking white lies, or meaningless speech, or words we don’t mean? The power of speech is a gift given only to Humans; that is known to all. This special power that we have – how do we really use it? To create discord, to speak lies – small & large, to complain, to taunt, to make fun, to speak flippantly, to speak without meaning it? How can we square these habits of ours, common to all, with the direct relationship of the power of speech with The Parabrahm?

HOW CAN WE ACHIEVE PURITY OF SPEECH?

Speech is vital to exist in a society; but does that mean we debase this holy power we have been gifted with by such antics? This above clearly means that when we speak – each word should be spoken with great care, caution and awareness; that we hurt no one; we speak no lies; we mean each word; we speak our mind yet without insulting or hurting; that we use a calm measured voice; that we make each word count, each sentence full of truth & meaning.  

Is the above easy? No, it isn’t; that is not my claim. It is very very hard to achieve that level of perfection in your speech. THAT is why Human Life is considered a Yagya in Vedant or Sanaatan Dharm. Life is a sacrifice, a path to be walked with great care, along the stated values, devoted and dedicated to The Parabrahm; that is the essence of Life, the meaning of living. Life isnt meant to get a degree, or get loads of money, or fame, or children, or friends... these are all your duties & your responsibilities that should be carried out...  But in the limits of the sought after behaviour. If by lying or doing unhealthy things you are serving your family - you are wrong in the eyes of God, There is no excuse for amoral behaviour for any reason



This above also has a clear scriptural basis : मानव जीवन एक यज्ञ है; उपवास इत्यादि करता है - यह दीक्षा की क्रिया है; जब खाता पीता है, भक्षण करता है - वह उसका उपसद {गिफ्ट} है; सरलता सादगी दान देना दयाभाव अहिंसा ईमानदारी सच्चाई यह सब पुरोहितों के गुण हैं; यह ही असली दक्षिणा है… referenced from छान्दोग्योपनिषद तृतीय अध्याय खंड १७; source - छान्दोग्योपनिषद गीता प्रेस पृ ३०४-३११; सुबोध उपनिषद् संग्रह पृ ३६१-३६३; स्वयं प्रकाश शर्मा यूट्यूब

CONCLUSION

Not everyone can achieve this level stated above; but we can at least try to… we can at least, so far as we can, so far as we are aware, so far as circumstances permit us, start trying to do the above; start accepting that life is a path of a yagya to be completed, within the bounds of morality etc as described in various religious guide books. No one said it is easy; no one said all will succeed – indeed, many times we will fail; but all that matters is when we do fail, we get up and try to walk the path again. Just keep our intentions honest, and make an honest effort, give it your best shot…

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