I was taught as a child that words are very powerful, and should be used with care. As a child, I generally stuck to this advice. However, somewhere down the line, while growing up, I seem to have forgotten this advice and started to use words as they came to my mind. I always spoke my mind, without caring for the words that came out of my mouth. I started to feel that words had no power, even though many a times I could see them affecting others around me... adversely or positively. My parents had taught me the Gayatri Mantra as a child. As a child I could overcome any problem by just reciting this wondrous mantra. I had never questioned the power of this mantra, but as I grew up, doubts began to form in my mind about how a mantra could be powerful... rationality had started to overtake faith, until.......
One day in 1995. A Swami from the Ramakrishna mission had been invited to speak to the Army officers from the Madras Regiment in the staff college auditorium. We were also extended the invitation, which was of course voluntary, as the fauj believes in being religion neutral. During this talk the Swamiji was trying to explain to all of us the power of the word 'Om'. Looking at our faces, he decided to give us an example about the power of the word. This example had a profound impact on me. He said......
"Suppose you are at home and the telephone rings. You pick up the receiver and the person on the other side asks you if you are so-and-so. On your saying 'yes', he tells you, 'I am calling from xyz hospital and I am sorry to inform you that your father is no more'. What happens? You break down, and start to cry. A little later the phone rings again. The same person is on the line again. He says, 'I called you a little while ago and gave you some bad news. I am extremely sorry but that news was incorrect - it was not your father who expired, it was the person on the bed next to your father who expired. Sorry again'. You suddenly feel relieved and the sadness vanishes immediately".
After narrating the above story, he asked us a rhetorical question. "What had transpired - nothing but a few words, and these little words had the power to change you completely". This example has stayed with me - it always reminds me that words are potent as they are the expression or containers of ideas, emotions, feelings and can affect people to think, speak and act in many different ways and thus should be used with care.
The power of words can also be judged from one word, 'Swaraj'. A very simple word indeed - 'self rule'. It was, and is, a very positive word and had the power to transform the minds of millions of Indians; who thought of this possibility, spoke about it, wrote about it and then got together to act against the British rule, eventually leading to the independence of India.
Every word is a container of thoughts, emotions, feelings, and more. Positive words can have a very positive impact and negative words can be very damaging - these are also not easily forgotten. Have you ever been publicly praised or ridiculed in front of co-workers, family or friends? If yes, have you forgotten it? Never would most likely be your answer. That then is the power of words. Many years later, the thought of such an ordeal can still bring up the same emotions that one felt then.
I somehow am very averse to negative thoughts and words and try to stay away from people who are prone to use them - negativity can, and is damaging.
We Indians are probably a unique people. We all love our motherland dearly, and are at a loss as to why we are the way we are as a nation; we criticise everything; we call it constructive criticism. However, I believe constructive criticism would focus on 'how' to improve, rather than on 'what' is wrong with us. We all know what is wrong - corruption, poverty, politicians, illiteracy, etc. Even when some good happens we the people, our politicians, our media and bloggers generally ignore it, and instead focus on 'what could have happened' or only on the negative aspects of the good that happened. We conjure up negative thoughts, which get translated to negative words, and negative actions, and this eventually leads to an endless chain of negativity.
Can we instead build an endless chain of positive thoughts and words about our country. We blame our politicians and our bureaucrats for the state of affairs in our countries. I do agree that most of the ills can be rightfully attributed to them, but we must also remember that our politicians and bureaucrats are a miniscule part of the 1.28 billion that we are. How can we blame all of our ills on them then; some part of the ills would surely need to rest on our shoulders too.
What then is the way forward. We need to change for the better; when we change, change would happen automatically in every facet of our country - including our politicians. Let us think and speak positively about our country and see the transformation in every thing around us. Let's believe in the power of the word, and try it for a change. We have nothing to lose.
Do you agree?
One day in 1995. A Swami from the Ramakrishna mission had been invited to speak to the Army officers from the Madras Regiment in the staff college auditorium. We were also extended the invitation, which was of course voluntary, as the fauj believes in being religion neutral. During this talk the Swamiji was trying to explain to all of us the power of the word 'Om'. Looking at our faces, he decided to give us an example about the power of the word. This example had a profound impact on me. He said......
"Suppose you are at home and the telephone rings. You pick up the receiver and the person on the other side asks you if you are so-and-so. On your saying 'yes', he tells you, 'I am calling from xyz hospital and I am sorry to inform you that your father is no more'. What happens? You break down, and start to cry. A little later the phone rings again. The same person is on the line again. He says, 'I called you a little while ago and gave you some bad news. I am extremely sorry but that news was incorrect - it was not your father who expired, it was the person on the bed next to your father who expired. Sorry again'. You suddenly feel relieved and the sadness vanishes immediately".
After narrating the above story, he asked us a rhetorical question. "What had transpired - nothing but a few words, and these little words had the power to change you completely". This example has stayed with me - it always reminds me that words are potent as they are the expression or containers of ideas, emotions, feelings and can affect people to think, speak and act in many different ways and thus should be used with care.
The power of words can also be judged from one word, 'Swaraj'. A very simple word indeed - 'self rule'. It was, and is, a very positive word and had the power to transform the minds of millions of Indians; who thought of this possibility, spoke about it, wrote about it and then got together to act against the British rule, eventually leading to the independence of India.
Every word is a container of thoughts, emotions, feelings, and more. Positive words can have a very positive impact and negative words can be very damaging - these are also not easily forgotten. Have you ever been publicly praised or ridiculed in front of co-workers, family or friends? If yes, have you forgotten it? Never would most likely be your answer. That then is the power of words. Many years later, the thought of such an ordeal can still bring up the same emotions that one felt then.
I somehow am very averse to negative thoughts and words and try to stay away from people who are prone to use them - negativity can, and is damaging.
We Indians are probably a unique people. We all love our motherland dearly, and are at a loss as to why we are the way we are as a nation; we criticise everything; we call it constructive criticism. However, I believe constructive criticism would focus on 'how' to improve, rather than on 'what' is wrong with us. We all know what is wrong - corruption, poverty, politicians, illiteracy, etc. Even when some good happens we the people, our politicians, our media and bloggers generally ignore it, and instead focus on 'what could have happened' or only on the negative aspects of the good that happened. We conjure up negative thoughts, which get translated to negative words, and negative actions, and this eventually leads to an endless chain of negativity.
Can we instead build an endless chain of positive thoughts and words about our country. We blame our politicians and our bureaucrats for the state of affairs in our countries. I do agree that most of the ills can be rightfully attributed to them, but we must also remember that our politicians and bureaucrats are a miniscule part of the 1.28 billion that we are. How can we blame all of our ills on them then; some part of the ills would surely need to rest on our shoulders too.
What then is the way forward. We need to change for the better; when we change, change would happen automatically in every facet of our country - including our politicians. Let us think and speak positively about our country and see the transformation in every thing around us. Let's believe in the power of the word, and try it for a change. We have nothing to lose.
Do you agree?
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