'Vices of the Tongue'

Spreading rumours, speaking for discouraging, speaking harshly and speaking for no reason are the vices of our tongues. The more we keep our tongues under control the better it is under all circumstances.

Socrates three filters test teaches us to be cautious before spreading rumours about our friends, relatives or colleagues. He advices to check whether the thing that you want to convey is 1) True 2) Is good about the person and 3) Will it do good to other or society at large. If you are uncertain about the thing that you want to convey then it is better to keep quite and save yourself from spreading something that is wrong which may spoil the person's reputation or create problem for him.

Socrates goes a step further and says use the second filter as well.  Even if you are sure that what you want to convey is true about the person then think before you speak whether the information you want to share will do good to the person.  If your conscience tells you that it will not do him good then it will be better to keep quite.  Socrates advices for the third filter at this stage.  That is if your conscience tells you that what you know is true but will be bad for your friend, yet it will do good in a larger context to the society then you should feel free to convey this information you have by all means.   

It is a scientific fact that injury on the tongues gets healed quickest but injury caused by the tongue never gets healed.  We should always take care of not speaking discouraging words or harshly with anyone. Not even with our juniors and those who serve us like the house helpers or office helpers or people involved in cleaning our roads and sewages. They are also human beings like us and have hearts and feelings just as we do.  If you learn to speak nicely with them take it for granted that they will not only feel good about it but the quality of their work will also become better which in the longer run will prove to be good for your peace of mind.  Do good to others and it will surely come back to you.  This is 'Karma'.

Speaking unnecessarily also is bad.  It wastes our energy and keeps us away from rightful thinking and also from doing the right thing.

Hence, it is important for the betterment of our ownselves to abstain our tongues from rumour mongering, discouraging someone or speaking harshly and unnecessarily in our lives and thereby contribute towards building a beautiful, wonderful and peaceful world.

S.S. Thaper

27.07.18