Yuvacharya Mahashraman
Freedom From Reaction
Sticks and stones will break my bones but harsh words will break my heart. Good, carefully chosen, sweedy spoken words have a lasting impact on the listeners. These words reflect a person's thinking. They also affect his or her behavior and communication. In fact use of appropriate words is a skill that one can acquire. Words can resolve complicated situations or also cause problems. Sweet and kind words are like sweet smelling flowers, that spread a feeling of happiness and positively. Bitter lies and unkind words are like razor wounds, are cause of misery only.
Once Bhikshu swami was passing through a city and a traveller chanced to cross his path. They both started walking and talking. The traveller asked Bhikshu his name.
Monk Bhikshu replied that he was a Bhikshu.
On hearing this, the traveller replied in a fearful voice, that it was an unfortunate day. The first thing he saw was a Bhikshu. He, the traveller was doomed to hell.
Bhikshuswami took these nasty words in his stride. His reply was sweet and gentle. He asked the traveller, if you were going to hell after seeing my face, where would I go after seeing your face.
The traveller replied that he Bhikshu would go to heaven certainly after seeing his face.
Bhikshu swami told the traveller even though he did not believe any body would go to heaven or hell after seeing someone's face, but he considered himself fortunate that he would go to heaven, and the traveller could decide where he was going.
It is rightly said - Talking without thinking is a big troublemaker. Even in ornaments what we wear around our neck makes the neck look beautiful in the eyes of the world without making a noise, while ankle bells jingle in such a way, telling everyone that there is something on their feet.
