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न l
चनन एष न न ll
Speak what is true, speak what is pleasant
Speak not what is true but unpleasant
Nor what is pleasant but not true
This is a compilation of some emails sent to our Gita groups about a topic
that has always interested me. We should always speak the truth. We know
that. But, should we always speak the truth, even if it is unpleasant, and
unmindful of any, all, or even some of its consequences?
Lord Krishna’s advise, in the Bhagavad Gita, is worth following here even
to seek an answer to these basic questions. When faced with the choice of
to do or not to do, Krishna says that one should consult the shastras – the
scriptures. In other words, we cannot act whimsically on our own and
become the judges of what is right or wrong, or what is to be done or not to
be done. The shastras must be the yardstick (pramaaNam) against which
we measure our actions. This is clearly stated in chapter 16, verses 23 &
24 of the Bhagavad Gita.
Krishna says in the earlier verse that those who willfully neglect or abandon
(utsrujya) the teachings of the shaastras (shaastra vidhim) and act, or exist
(vartate), according to their own whims and desires or lusts (kaamakaa
ratahaa), they do not achieve perfection in any of their endeavors (na sa
siddhim avaapnoti), they do not achieve any sense of peace or happiness
(na sukham), nor do they achieve the here after (na paraam gatim) – the
Supreme Abode – where everyone should aspire to go. And, therefore, etc.
says Krishna.
Not only does Krishna tell us that we should follow the injunctions of our
scriptures, he also tells us why we must do so. If we do not, there are
consequences. The simple consequences are the lack of any siddhi
(fulfillment, success, excellence, perfection) in our endeavors and the lack
of peace and happiness. This is at the purely mundane, every day, worldly
level. At a higher level, that of attaining spiritual happiness, He also states
that not following the scriptures will mean that we do not attain the
Supreme Abode (paraam gatim). The path to Paramapadam – Paraam
gatim - is paved with the bricks of the shaastra vidhaanams.
Or, you find out that your dear brother is gay. Do you now go and tell your
very orthodox parents? What if this dear brother, about whose sexual
preference you had known when he was alive, is now dead? Should you
now go and tell this “truth” to your aged parents and devastate them?
These are not easy questions to answer. And, so it is best that we follow
Krishna’s advise and seek some answers from our scriptures. The following
is a compilation of some emails that I have shared with our Gita study
groups, over the years, on this topic that has always been dear to me.
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Dear All:
This morning, as I was reading the main news items, I was reminded of an
important Sanskrit sloka, which the revered Shankaracarya of Kanchi,
discusses very early in his teachings which have been compiled and
published as Arul Urai, and also known recently as Daivatthin Kural (The
Voice of the Divine Sage). Its source is attributed to the Vedas (the Manu
Smriti). It goes as follows.
http://sanskritvoice.com/2007/02/20/how-to-express-the-truth/
http://www.advaita.org.uk/discourses/definitions/dharma.htm
http://www.romapadaswami.com/node/2894?page=1
Satyam bruyat priyam bruyat l
Na bruyat satyam apriyam ll
Priyam ca naanrutam bruyat l
Esha dharmah santanahaa ll
Satyam brooyaat priyam brooyaat - speak the truth, speak the pleasant
Na brooyaat satyam apriyam - never speak the unpleasant truths
Na ca brooyaat priyam anrutam - and, also never speak the pleasant
untruths
It is not always satyam eva jayate - the famous motto of India, i.e., Bharat.
Satyam without priyam is not recommended. Even Krishna says, in chapter
17 verse 15, that austerity in speech (austerity = tapas, i.e., something that
has been accomplished after a deal of soul searching and effort) comprises
speech that is truthful (satyam) and pleasant coupled with noble intentions
(priya hitam) and which does not agitate others (anudvegakaram).
One does not have to go to the forest, or sit on top of some mountain, or
torture the body by starving it etc., to perform tapas, or austerities. Many
kinds of austerities are described in chapter 17, just as many kinds of
yagnyas are described in chapter 4. When we obey the code of conduct as
described in these verses, we are indeed performing tapas, like the great
rishis did in the olden days.
How sad that Mr. Schwarzenegger did not learn this! After splitting up with
his wife of 25 years, now he wants to speak the truth about what triggered
the split. Anudvegakaram vaakyam.. that is what he has falied to do with
his so-called admission of the truth. Sad it is, since the woman in question
refused to acknowledge Mr. Truth as the father of her child in question.
Looks like she knew something Mr. Truth still has to learn. There is no priya
hitam here and the lady knows that. Even Maria Shriver seems to know
better.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110517/ap_on_en_mo/us_schwarzenegger_
shriver_separation#mwpphu-container
May be we can all learn too about when to keep our mouths sealed shut!
Satyam eva jayate, true. But, which truth? When and how? May be DSK
(Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the IMF head who is now in jail in NYC) will
provide some interesting insights. Who said learning Gita cannot be fun
and applicable to real life?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/imf_head_assault
Please feel free to share your thoughts here with the group on these topics
of interest (may be puerile!).
Very sincerely
V. Laxmanan
*************************************************************************************
Advise column by Prudie
From: V Laxmanan (vlaxmanan@hotmail.com)
Sent:Tue 10/26/10 10:07 AM
Dear All:
Here are two examples from a recent column by Prudie, whose advice is
sought by many people. One is about a man who has announced his
engagement to a woman who is constantly making fun of him (in a mean
way) in front of his friends. He says he is happy with her but his friends are
concerned. Should they speak up?
The other is even more sad. A woman says she was raped by her own
husband in the middle of the night and is seeking advice. She is afraid of
sleeping in her own bed and she started doing something.... read on.
http://www.slate.com/id/2272287/
Please try to assess the two situations that Prudie was asked to counsel
recently within this framework of our scriptural teachings. And do share ur
thoughts. Many readers comment on Prudie's advice, especially if they
disagree with her.
Very sincerely
V. Laxmanan
*************************************************************************************
http://www.saibaba.org/newsletter4-15.html
The unpleasant truths should NOT be spoken. We can speak the truth, but
as Krishna says, the motive should be hitam - i.e., one filled with good
intentions. Please try to assess the two situations that Prudie was asked to
counsel recently within this framework of scriptural teachings. And do
share ur thoughts. Many readers comment on Prudie's advice, especially if
they disagree with her.
*************************************************************************************
http://www.geetham.net/forums/showthread.php?40033-Satyam-Bruyat-
Priyam-Bruyat-Na-Bruyat-Satyam-Apriyam
http://sevateams.com/blog/sanathana-dharma-or-perennial-philosophy-0
TEXT 15
न च l
न च प ll
anudvega-karam vakyam
satyam priya-hitam ca yat
svadhyayabhyasanam caiva
vang-mayam tapa ucyate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear All:
Even if you are not an expert on the Bhagavad Gita, or the scriptures,
common morality seems to prohibit most people from speaking the
unpleasant truths.
The situation with Tiger Woods is a good example. Many of golf's seniors
and legendary players have refused to address this matter, even with NO
COMMENT. This tells us that we must be careful even with the truth.
Sometimes, it is best not to speak the truth - especially if it is hurtful.
Satyam eva jayate - meet Tiger Woods - there are clearly exceptions to
speaking the truth. This is also revealed in the famous sloka
*************************************************************************************
TEXT 15
anudvega-karam vakyam
satyam priya-hitam ca yat
svadhyayabhyasanam caiva
vang-mayam tapa ucyate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4743794&name=sobel
_jason
Very sincerely
V. Laxmanan