Vani Bane Veena
(Let the Speech be Melodious)
Chapter 40
The animals are in distress because they do not possess voice of language (power of expression by words). They are mute.
The human being is sad because he is garrulous and at times uses incoherent and unrestrained language.
The sense-organ of taste, the tongue, works simultaneously in two ways; to taste and to speak.
The Human being possesses a mind which controls his speech using a prudence discriminating between the useless and the useful.
The speech is rewarded with supernatural power by its restraint use; but to achieve it, one has to be forbearing, patient and tolerant. Quick utterance is not called as a skilled speech.
Excess speech and quick speech is regarded as the lack of greatness and gravity.
Achharya Shri never gave any haste answers when asked complicated questions concerning the Jain Scripture or spiritualism. First he would meditate deeply on that subject or thing and then gave its logical, rational and decisive answer.
Once a shravak asked, “Maharaj Shri why don’t you ever give a quick reply?” Achharya Shri retorted, “Do you take me as omniscient? Have you assumed that the omniscience can be achieved only by renouncing or relinquishing the loins-cloth?
It is possible that an answer given without thinking prudently may be contrary to the scriptures, so I do not want to have an abode in the hell by making any statement contrary to the scriptures.”
“It is likely that some people may have an impression about me as lacking in knowledge but it will do no harm to me in on the subject of scriptures.”
Great people are not egoists. They humbly accept ignorance about the wealth of knowledge which they do not posses and do not camouflage their ignorance in the guise of ostentation.
Achharya Vidya Sagar Ji expressed these thoughts in his treatise i “Mookmati” as given under:
“He who conquers his tongue,
Is always away from sadness.
He lives long with happiness.
His speech becomes life-saving herb,
Curative of all grieves, of self and others.”
