When the mind takes a turn within with an initial effect, do
not proceed in that direction. When there is such twist and stress
(amde chadhavu), the bliss of the Self is veiled. Then there is
unhappiness followed by hurt and inner burning, followed by
suffocation, and finally worries set in. But if the root is removed
before it sprouts, it will prevent a tree of misery!
Because one loses awareness of what is beneficial and
detrimental to one’s self, the mind is utilized in any and every
which way, and it gets out of control! This is how restlessness
of the mind increases; so who is at fault here? As long as there
is ignorance, there is ruling of the ego over the mind and for that
reason, there is no ‘control’ over the mind. After Self-
realization, the realm of the Self starts, and then spiritual effort
(purusharth) arises and the mind is contained.
If both ‘knowing and seeing’ are present at every
moment, infinite bliss prevails. One ‘knows’ everything that
happens; one can ‘know’ of what happened in the mind, what
words were spoken, what kind of behavior took place;
however, because one does not ‘see’ who the doer is and who
the real Self is, the experience of bliss is hindered.
Our focused awareness of speech, that is to say, (our)
upayog of speech, is to ‘see’ ‘whose ego has been hurt by our
speech and how it has been hurt.
Why does our speech hurt others? It is not the words in
the speech that hurt the other person; it is the ego behind the
speech that ignites the burn! To hold, ‘I am right,’ is the
protection of the ego. The ego is not to be protected; the ego
is such that it protects itself!
Not a single word should be used to make fun of others.
Not a single word should be used for selfish intents or for taking
advantage of others. When there is no misuse of words – when
not a single word is used with the intent of getting respect; that
is when one’s power of speech will develop.
19