Austerity of the tongue

Austerity of the tongue

A King once told one of his servants to bring him the best meat from the market. The servant brought him a Tongue. The next day the King told the servant to bring him the worst meat from the market. The servant again brought him a Tongue. “What?” the king said, “When I ask for the best meat, you bring a tongue, and then you bring the same thing for the worst meat.” The servant said, “Sometimes a man is very unhappy because of his Tongue, and sometimes his tongue makes him very happy.” “You are right,” the king said. “Let us be masters of our tongue!”

The Tongue is a dangerous part of the human body. Though small and weak, it can crush and kill. In our world of high tech, man can deploy a missile, and by remote control bring it back to earth without causing any harm. But when sweet or harsh words come out of our mouth, they can never be retrieved. Sri Krishna says:

“Arrows penetrating the most vital parts of a man do not so wound him as do the harsh words of the wicked, which rankle in the bosom forever.”  (Uddhava Gita. 18:3).

When the Tongue is quicker than the brain, friends become strangers, the past is reduced to memory, while the present turns into a bitter future that stings and bites. The Tongue, so small, yet so powerful, affects our lives in ways we may have never known. The Tongue can be our best friend or our worst enemy.

Harsh words cause lasting wound

The slippery tongue can be a burden to those who do not know how to use it. It can be sweet like honey and bitter like poison. You can always heal a broken bone, a bruised knee, but never can you cure the heart that has been stabbed by your harsh tongue. A good word always heals a wounded heart. Unpleasant words are never forgotten. The Gita says:

“Words that cause no annoyance to others and are truthful, agreeable and wholesome …. are known as the austerity of speech. (17. 15)

Life and death are in the power of the tongue. It has ruined many lives. The tongue has shaken many marriages, and has driven nations to war with one another. It sows discord among brethren. It has driven wives and husbands out of the home, and from each other. It separates parents from their children and children from their parents.

The stroke of a whip will give you a wound, but the stroke of an unbridled tongue will break your heart. A thousand may fall by the edge of the sword, but ten thousands by the edge of the tongue. The pain and death it inflicts are immeasurable.

A father said to his son, “Remember that whatever comes out of your mouth represents my family. Think before you talk.” Remember, too, words can be food for thought or fuel for fire. Want to stay out of trouble?  Watch what you say. In fact, sometimes just saying nothing at all can be a tremendous blessing. Listen to this: “If you your lips would keep from slips, Five things observe with care; Of what you speak, to whom you speak, And how, and when, and where.”

Control your tongue

A very wise man once said: “It is not what enters a person’s mouth that degrades him. It is what comes out of it.”

When someone spreads gossip, mark that person carefully. Why? Because, if they talk to you about somebody else, they will talk to somebody else about you.

As we interact with our friends, relatives and co-workers this week, let us commit to using our tongues to put a smile on someone’s face.

(Pandit Ramdial Balbadar is a prominent Aachaarya (Teacher) of Hinduism in Guyana. He is the compiler and author of many titles and has over 30 years experience in Pandits’ Training across Guyana. He is currently the President of the Sanatan Vaidic Dharma Pandits’ Sabha, Region 3).