SAMAJ WEEKLY UK
Dr. Satinder Pal Singh
Among the countless eternal/physical gifts bestowed by Parmatma, upon creation of living beings, few are as remarkable as the power of expression. The Divine Creator has fashioned every living being with faculties perfectly suited to its nature and purpose. The creatures of the sea possess abilities unlike those of the forest; the inhabitants of the wilderness differ from those that dwell beside humankind. Diversity is the very language of creation. Yet, amid this magnificent variety, certain endowments are shared by all. Speech, in one form or another, is one such universal gift.
Every living creature communicates according to its own nature. Birds sing, animals call, and each voice carries meaning within its own world. Human beings may recognize these sounds, yet seldom comprehend the language they embody. More striking still is the restraint observed throughout nature. Animals and birds speak only when necessity calls. Man alone has transformed speech into an almost ceaseless obsession.
Among all living beings, only the human being appears to require no occasion to speak. Words pour forth at every hour, in every place, often continuing long until their purpose has expired and the listener’s patience has quietly withdrawn. The modern mobile phone has magnified this tendency beyond measure, allowing conversation to accompany every walking moment. Sensible conversation once a cherished companion of reflection, has become an unwelcome stranger. The longing to express one’s thoughts and emotions is perfectly natural. Indeed, it is one of the finest qualities of human existence. Yet every virtue loses its nobility when it exceeds its proper bounds. Beauty is born of proportion; meaning flourishes within restraint. Whether in speech or in silence, excess disturbs the harmony upon which life itself depends. The ancient wisdom remains eternally relevant: Neither excessive speech nor excessive silence is desirable.
Every faculty entrusted to humanity carries with it both a purpose and a responsibility. Their highest fulfilment lies not merely in possessing them, but in employing them wisely. Speech was never intended simply to multiply words. It was given that hearts might understand one another more readily, that relationships might deepen, and that society might be woven together by threads of mutual trust and affection. There was a time when words built bridges. Today, too often, they erect walls. The very instrument created to unite souls has become, through misuse, a means of division. Relationships are wounded not by the short of language, but by its abundance without wisdom. The deepest source of this disorder lies within the human ego. Few diseases afflict mankind more profoundly than the relentless desire to establish one’s own superiority. The ego delights in self-praise and finds equal satisfaction in diminishing the worth of others. Slander, criticism, gossip, and unnecessary argument are but different garments worn by the same restless pride.
The tragedy of the ego is that it is incapable of contentment. Like a fire fed by its own flames, every attempt to satisfy it only enlarges its appetite. Consequently, humanity’s attachment to words has grown ever stronger. One sees people speaking while walking, travelling, dining, working, resting, shopping, or merely passing the time . Conversation has become so constant that silence appears almost unnatural. Yet much of what is spoken neither enlightens the speaker nor enriches the listener. It passes into the air without purpose, leaving behind only fatigue of mind and disturbance of spirit. Such speech is not communication; it is noise. It represents the misuse of one of the Creator’s most precious gifts. Every misuse inevitably bears its own consequences. Relationships become strained. Friendships weaken. Families lose their quiet harmony. Inner peace slowly gives way to restlessness, and the mind, deprived of silence, forgets how tolisten—not merely to others, but to itself. Wisdom therefore lies neither in fearful silence nor in unrestrained eloquence, but in discovering the delicate balance between them.
A necklace of pearls offers a beautiful lesson. It is never excessively long, nor are its pearls ostentatiously large. They proclaim nothing about their own worth. Their value is discerned only by the experienced jeweller. A garland of flowers presents a striking contrast. It captivates immediately with colour, fragrance, and splendour. Yet within a short while it fades, its beauty surrendered to time. The pearl remains. Quiet. Modest. Enduring. Its worth increases precisely because it never seeks to advertise itself. So should our words be. Speech should resemble pearls rather than flowers—measured rather than abundant, enduring rather than momentary, precious rather than profuse. The excellence of language lies not in speaking much, but in speaking truthfully, gently, purposefully, and with compassion. Words attain their highest dignity when they awaken love instead of resentment, inspire faith rather than doubt, and draw human hearts closer to one another and to the Divine. Such speech becomes an instrument of grace. It enriches both speaker and listener, strengthens the moral fabric of society, and leaves behind an inheritance far more enduring than eloquence itself. Whenever we speak sensibly for the welfare of all, we quietly accomplish our own. It creates a cycle of wisdom making the earth worth living.
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