The Power of Words: Think before You Speak

Words are powerful. When used correctly they can work wonders. They are like music, when played well, it can change the environment of everything around it, making it positive and delightful. However, if played badly it can make everything negative and unpleasant.

So how is speech spoken? When you pluck a string on a sitar, how many different sounds does it produce? Many. In the same way, as soon as you have the desire to utter just one word, other words will formulate and be spoken automatically.

At times, we even say things we did not intend to say. This is where the subtle science of speech exists. According to Param Pujya Dadashri, the nature of speech is inanimate; it is a record. When you play a tape, does the tape not have to be recorded first? In the same way, the tape of speech of your entire life has already been recorded in your past life. In this life, it is only playing. Just as a tape record starts playing when the needle is placed on the record, your recorded speech beings to play as soon as the appropriate circumstances arise.

Param Pujya Dadashri has also revealed the true nature of speech, the relationship between inner intent and speech, how to stop lying, power of words, how to attain the power of speech and much more.

Read on to learn the very intricate science of speech and the power of words.

Science of Speech

Pujya Niruma describes the qualities required for powerful and persuasive speech, explaining that the quality of ego behind one's speech is of utmost importance.

Spiritual Quotes

To say that someone is 'wrong', is equivalent to throwing dirt on one's own Soul.
To speak in a way that causes the other person to get disturbed is the greatest crime. On the contrary, if someone else speaks in that way, you should suppress it; that is considered a human.
To protect one’s own statement is the greatest form of violence. To impress upon others that one's own statement is correct is a form of violence itself.
What is considered as satya (truth)? When no living being is hurt through speech, through external conduct and even through the mind, there are no bad thoughts arising for that person, that is the greatest truth of all! That is the most ultimate siddhant (established principle)! That is not the Real truth, but it is the most ultimate relative or worldly truth!
To give advice that is not requested, God calls egoism.
Even the slightest criticism of others is an impediment (hindrance) to Absolute Knowledge (Kevalgnan, Absolute Enlightenment). It also hinders Atmagnan (Knowledge of the Self), also hinders Samkit (Self-realization).
The only language worth recording in the mind-body complex is the language of love.
What is considered as satya (truth)? When no living being is hurt through speech, through external conduct and even through the mind, there are no bad thoughts arising for that person, that is the greatest truth of all! That is the most ultimate siddhant (established principle)! That is not the Real truth, but it is the most ultimate relative or worldly truth!.
How can the power of speech remain when you lie for your own ‘safeside’?
How is power of speech (vachanbal) attained? It is when, not a single word is uttered to make fun of others; when not a single word is uttered for wrong selfish motives, material self-gain; when speech has not been misused; when speech has not been used to gain recognition or importance from others - that is when one's power of speech is attained.
All the words thrown on to others will eventually fall on you, so speak such pure words so that pure words will indeed fall on you.
What does syadvaad vani (speech which accepts all viewpoints and never hurts anyone’s viewpoint) imply? It implies that you should speak in such a way that not only does it benefit five people, but it also does not cause any interference to arise in anyone.
(Spoken) words are considered an ‘expense’. ‘Speech’ should not be spent away. Speech is wealth. It should be 'counted' upon spending. Does anyone ever give out money without counting it?
When the mind is not spoilt, the speech is not spoilt, the conduct is not spoilt, that is absolute humility [param vinay].
Where there is partiality (pakshapaat), there is violence (himsa); it is speech that hurts (himsak vani). Where there is impartial speech (nishpakshapati vani), there is speech that does not hurt (ahimsak vani).
Natural and spontaneous (sahajik) speech is that which does not have an iota of egoism in it.
When someone is using negative speech, do not ruin your own speech.
There is nothing wrong in saying something, but there should be no protection [insistence] that we are right.
In this world, no word is being uselessly spoken.
You will especially not find anyone who speaks bitterly to you. All the 'diseases' [worldly suffering] remains due to the sweetness. Bitterness will remove the disease, sweetness will increase it. Your life should be such that you will not have to listen to bitter words. If however, you have to listen to bitter words, then you should listen to it. It is always beneficial.
When you maintain silence, you would have said to have understood the world.
In this world, there is no such sternness like that of maintaining silence. Verbal sternness will be wasted.
‘Speech’ is such a thing that if handled [used] correctly, it encompasses all the major vows (mahavrats).
Every spoken word carries great risk. Therefore, it is better to remain silent if one does not know how to talk. Talking about religion carries religious risks, talking about worldly matters, carries worldly risks. The worldly risk will go away, but religious risk is very heavy; it creates grave obstacles in regards to religion.
If these words did not exist, then liberation (moksha) would be attained naturally and spontaneously. In this current era of the time cycle, it is indeed through speech that there is bondage. Therefore, not a single word should be uttered for anyone.
This entire environment is filled with parmanu (the smallest, most indivisible and indestructible particles of matter). That is why 'we' tell you, "Do not criticize (ninda) anyone. Do not utter even a single word irresponsibly. And if you must speak, then speak that which is good."

Related Books

Dada Bhagwan Foundation, Adalaj is a spiritual non-profit organization whose goal is to spread peace, harmony and everlasting bliss to the whole world through the spiritual science of Akram Vignan.
Ask a question and Get an assured response