MAUNA (SILENCE)

DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

It is interesting to see how speech reflects the mind of a person and in turn how regulation of the process of speech has beneficial influence on mind!

One of the shlokas (verses in Sanskrut) says,

PAPENAIVA NRUNAANAM VAANEE BHAVET KATUKABHASHINEEDAINYA MAATSARYA PARAMAA SHUBHAASHUBHAVIVARJITAMeaning:It is because of diseased mind with utmost lowliness and jealousy that the speech becomes scalding with no concern whatsoever for about the welfare or otherwise of the listener.

In Geeta it is said,

ANUDVEGAKARAM VAAKYAM SAYAM PRIYA HITAN CHA YAT

SVAADHYAAYAABHYASAN CHAIVA VANGMAYM TAPA UCCHYATE

GEETA 17.15 Meaning:Speech which does not humiliate and thereby hurt the listener is true and pleasant and beneficial; is really the product of penance involving the entire neurophysiological and neuromuscular processes of speech and articulation respectively.

There is another shloka which advocates silence during certain physiological acts. UTSARGE MAITHUNE CHAIVA PRASTRAVE DANTADHAAVNESHRAADDHE BHOJANAKALE CHA SHATSU MAUNAM SAMAACHARETMeaning:During defecation, urination, removal of secretions (dirt) of nose, skin, ear and eyes, during sexual intercourse,

during bleeding, cleaning of teeth, during SHRAADDHA (ritual performed to commemorate pay homage to the forefathers, on the occasion their death anniversary) and while eating food one should observe silence i.e. speechlessness.

During defecation usually there is breath holding and contraction of abdominal muscles. This is essential for building adequate pressure in the abdomen so as to move the feces towards anus. Due to talking the breath holding ceases and the abdominal

muscles also relax and distraction is caused creating difficulty in defecation.

Urination also involves increase in pressure in the abdomen and also in the urinary bladder. Talking can alter these pressures and hence the urinary flow can be disturbed.

When we are removing the secretions from nose [respiratory secretions], skin, ears and eyes we should be careful to remove the dirt carefully so as to avoid trauma to theses structures

In general, all the excretory processes, viz. defecation, urination, respiratory secretions, sweating, secretions in the ear and eye involve autonomic nervous activity linked with reticular formation in the brain. Talking can alter respiration, activity of reticular formation, and activity of mind, autonomic nervous activity, endocrine and metabolic activity and also the excretory activity.

Sexual intercourse invariably involves autonomic activity and hence it is

strongly recommended that silence is observed during sexual intercourse. It is important because the intensity of the emotional integration and depth of ecstasy are apparently hindered due to talking during sexual intercourse.

Bleeding can either be physiological bleeding as in case of menstrual bleeding or trauma [injury].

The process of bleeding and arrest of bleeding are tremendously influenced by cardiovascular activity, which in turn is influenced by autonomic

nervous activity. Hence talking that disturbs autonomic activity is recommended to be avoided.

During cleaning of the teeth there is a prayerful attitude with respect to the plants or herbs used in the process. So talking is avoided. But from practical point of view, talking during cleaning of teeth and gums can cause inadvertent biting of fingers or injury to the oral cavity.

During SHRAADDHA silence is probably advised solely for

maintaining pious atmosphere, which is understandable.

During eating the silence advised to avoid vulgar and even mundane thoughts being articulated [thereby hindering the sanctity of the eating] on the one hand and to avoid accidental regurgitation of food in the trachea on the other.

It can be seen how thoughtful our ancestors were; with respect to understanding of life! It has to be appreciated these are relatively

superficial aspects of keeping silence. There may be more explanations as well.

Learning to keep silence in terms of avoiding talk is a very preliminary process of achieving real silence, which is called KARMANI AKARMA in Geeta [4.18], and which is full of peace and activity. It is very real and deepest personal experience and also the cosmic phenomenon that links one with the universe.

MANAHPRASAADAH SAAUMYATVAM MAAUNAM AATMAVINIGRAHBHAAVASAUNSHUDDHIRITYETAT TAPO MAANASAMUCCHYATEGEETA 17.16

Inner harmony associated with vocal silence; that emanates life-giving joy; is indicator of inner purification or evolution and referred to as MANASAM TAPA.

If we keep quiet for sometime, then we can easily observe the turbulence of thoughts, which keep on crowding our minds. This observation tells us that the thoughts are neither our creation nor are restricted to our body. They are the results of the interactions between cosmos and us and illustrate the continuity between an individual and the universe.

Keeping silence has a humorous and practical implication also.

AATMANO MUKHADOSHENA BADHYANTE SHUKA SAARIKABAKASTATRA NA BDHYANTE MAUNAM SARVAARTHA SAADHANAMMeaning:Inappropriate [too long, too harsh, stupid, meaningless, too enticing] speech is a cause of slavery, imprisonment or other type of losses. Ability to remain silent is extremely beneficial. This is clear from the examples of SAARIKA and parrot that are caught and kept in cage whereas crane is left free! Hence while

negotiating in business or in politics or even playing cards, silence can play a pivotal role!

DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR