Growing up, one of my passions was literature. I loved to study English literature especially. I had desires to become an English professor...well that obviously did not happen!. then i had desires to become a great cricket player and play for India....then...what the heck the list never ends! I also liked Tamil literature (my native language) but it was too difficult for me and hence I dropped the idea of studying Tamil in any serious way. But to this day, I have great reverence for Tamil as a language simply because it is one of the oldest spoken languages. Tamil is one of the classical languages along with Sanskrit, Latin to name a few. But Tamil is a complex language which to this day flabbergasts me!
Good literature not only conveys the message but also stirs up myriad emotions within the reader's minds. A good writer can convey the essence of an emotion closest to its true meaning and intent. While this is not an easy task, writers try to stir up these emotions hidden inside the reader’s heart without compromising on the original meaning and intent. Anyways, literature boils down to a series of intricately woven, well meaningful words put in proper grammar and style appealing to the culture and phenomenon of the world around.
Classical literature such as Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam are still popular and revered simply because not so much for its prose and poetry but for its content and emotions it stirs within the minds and hearts of people. Words can purify the minds of people. Srila Prabhupada said if someone even reads one page of his book, he or she will get purified; such is the power of a written word. Then, there is also the spoken word. Speech is another art of communication which can be a valuable tool for conveying one’s message. Hitler came to power simply through his written word (Mein kamph) and then through his oratorical skills of spoken word (public discourses). Such a tyrant as Hitler mesmerized the whole nation and practically conquered the whole world through his words which are a window to his mind and soul.
So, even one word has powerful meaning. The Hare Krishna maha mantra is a combination of three words Hare Krishna and Rama and put in a combination of 32 syllable mantra can change a person’s life. Therefore, words should not be wasted frivolously either through the written medium or spoken medium.
We have great responsibilities to write and speak properly and responsibly in public and private forums. The greatness of a person can be estimated just by how one is able to fulfill one’s word no matter what (even if it means to lose one’s life). The classic example is King Bali. When Sukracharya vehemently opposed King Bali’s decision to give Vamana Dev three steps of land, King Bali opposed by saying “I gave my word to a Brahman and henceforth I will fulfill it no matter what”. Radhanath Swami maharaj, here in, glorifies the integrity of King Bali to follow up on his word. Maharaj also states that in this day and age, it is very difficult to find such high standards….why? Because, today, words have become cheap. Anybody can say or write anything.
Good literature not only conveys the message but also stirs up myriad emotions within the reader's minds. A good writer can convey the essence of an emotion closest to its true meaning and intent. While this is not an easy task, writers try to stir up these emotions hidden inside the reader’s heart without compromising on the original meaning and intent. Anyways, literature boils down to a series of intricately woven, well meaningful words put in proper grammar and style appealing to the culture and phenomenon of the world around.
Classical literature such as Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam are still popular and revered simply because not so much for its prose and poetry but for its content and emotions it stirs within the minds and hearts of people. Words can purify the minds of people. Srila Prabhupada said if someone even reads one page of his book, he or she will get purified; such is the power of a written word. Then, there is also the spoken word. Speech is another art of communication which can be a valuable tool for conveying one’s message. Hitler came to power simply through his written word (Mein kamph) and then through his oratorical skills of spoken word (public discourses). Such a tyrant as Hitler mesmerized the whole nation and practically conquered the whole world through his words which are a window to his mind and soul.
So, even one word has powerful meaning. The Hare Krishna maha mantra is a combination of three words Hare Krishna and Rama and put in a combination of 32 syllable mantra can change a person’s life. Therefore, words should not be wasted frivolously either through the written medium or spoken medium.
We have great responsibilities to write and speak properly and responsibly in public and private forums. The greatness of a person can be estimated just by how one is able to fulfill one’s word no matter what (even if it means to lose one’s life). The classic example is King Bali. When Sukracharya vehemently opposed King Bali’s decision to give Vamana Dev three steps of land, King Bali opposed by saying “I gave my word to a Brahman and henceforth I will fulfill it no matter what”. Radhanath Swami maharaj, here in, glorifies the integrity of King Bali to follow up on his word. Maharaj also states that in this day and age, it is very difficult to find such high standards….why? Because, today, words have become cheap. Anybody can say or write anything.
I will relate a story. Once Srila Prabhupada opened up a letter from his disciple and the letter read (i am paraphrasing) "Please accept my most insignificant humble obeisances. Prabhupada, i have a great problem..." and Srila Prabhupada turned to the devotee next to him and said "just see". The point is, while being insignificant, how can one have great problems, an insgnificant person can have only insignificant problems and not great problems. So, to a pure devotee such as Srila Prabhupada, words matter...and should matter to us as well!
When we write and use words to express deep ecstasies/emotions in Krishna Consciousness via mail or email or on the internet, we have to be careful simply because we are in the conditioned state and not in the liberated stage. Moreover, this is not recommended by our acharyas. Srila Saraswati Takur quotes the scriptures "apana bhajana-katha, na kahibe jathatatha' - One should not reveal one’s bhajana to others. If we disregard this instruction of our previous acaryas, there may be a permanent fall from the realm of devotional service. Our deep meditations on Guru and Krishna should not be revealed in public forums save and except among closed circles.
Therefore, it behooves us to be careful in our choice of words. What we say or write creates an impression and image on people’s minds. Devotees of the Lord, especially, should be more careful than ever to write and say the right thing. Devotees are always considered as the ambassadors of the spiritual world. They always represent the Guru parampara and Krishna anywhere and everywhere every time and all the time. Devotees should say or write words in accordance to proper etiquette within the parameters of Guru Sadhu and Shastra.
Men of few words are the best men - William Shakespeare
Hare Krishna
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