In our Daily Life we hear a lot of words and we listen to some.
We react to them, by replying, feeling Happy, sad, angry or sad.
Some times, a quarrel ensures leading to a trading of blows, even murder and in some cases break up of Relationship.
Why?
Because communicate thoughts and feelings.
A thought is formed as a Concept, forms itself into a thought and we use the vehicle of language as a medium of communication.
(Language also has to be pass through the stages of Concept, thought and language)
As such a Word goes through many stages before being spoken.
There are always chances of it not conveying the feelings exactly.
The spoken word is from one person and the hearing and understanding is by the other.
The listener hears what he ”thinks’ the speaker conveys, that is what the ‘speaker thinks he conveys’
So the listener of the words has only the impressions of the Spoken Word.(Sabda).
What one understands from a communication is the impression one has of the Communication , and not of the Communication or the Feelings or intent behind it.
Therefore, when we react to words, we must remember we react to our ‘Impressions, not to any thing else.
Patanjali, in Yoga Sutra 1. 9, speaks of this.
‘Sapdagnanadupaadhi Vasthu soonyo Vikalpah’
Sabda-Sound, communication, Words
Gnana-Awareness
Upaadhi-Impressions, discomfiture,
Vasthu-the object,the person, the source
Soonyo-fruitless
Vikalpah-wrong impressions.
Understanding only the impressions words leads to incorrect Knowledge, discomfiture.
That is ‘we hear what we think the other person thinks what he likes us to hear’
Now one can understand how erroneous one’s impressions of others thoughts can be.
As words are the main reasons for misunderstandings, one should,
‘If you must speak, speak purposefully;Eschew all vain and profitless words.’
‘சொல்லுக சொல்லிற் பயனுடைய சொல்லற்க
சொல்லிற் பயனிலாச் சொல்’ Thirukkaral.
Related:
http://ramanisblog.in/2013/04/20/knowledge-systems-patanjali-yoga-sutra-1-8/
Related articles
- Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra Introduction Sutra 1 (ramanan50.wordpress.com)
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