Indic Wisdom: A Word About Words

Published by
Guruji Shri Nandkishore Tiwari
If we keep repeating instances of mismatched expressions, then over a period of time, we may altogether forget that the meaning of the words keeps changing when consciousness ascends from one layer to another

 

Consider these examples. An astronaut goes on a space exploration mission and spends some time out there and comes back and tells us all that his experience was out of this world. And, we begin to imagine how it would have really been out there! Because we haven’t been there. A child comments innocently, “But, he was very much within this world and not that far away either!” None pays attention to this profound clarity of that innocent child.

None listens to children with that much attention as they really deserve more so in matters which are considered beyond their age by elders. Or, you do? Then, this piece will make much more sense to you than to the ones who don’t. 

There is a mathematician who enjoys mathematics most and her erudition leads her to give a new mathematical theorem to the world for which she is awarded a Nobel prize then she makes a statement on her aforesaid achievement before a team of journalists during the award ceremony that she felt out-of-this- world.

There is a musician who sings so well that not only him but many connoisseurs of music in the audience also feel rapturous by tuning to his renderings. Certain journalists reviewing and reporting his performance wrote about it in the newspaper that it was an ‘out-of-this-world’ rendition. Umpteen numbers of such examples may be cited from our own lives by ourselves. 

What is the point being made and emphasised here? Are we there to put words in everyone’s mouth? Are we advocating dictating words? Quite the contrary by listening to us/you none should feel that way. That’s the point being made here.

Are all these very good examples? Global humanity feels uplifted by identifying with such instances, but none of these instances had an apt description of the experience. None of these was an out-of-this-world experience. All the examples were very much worldly experiences.  

And, none is being finicky here. We all have common sense to understand what was meant to be conveyed to the wider world in all three aforementioned instances by individuals concerned. They knew well that it was not out-of-this-world attainment but merely a sense of overwhelming.

 And, we also know that it is a very much worldly experience which occurs when all senses are pleased beyond usual. Yet, there is a problem here. What is it? How is it? What is its nature (Swarup)? 

Simply put, such exaggerated expressions cause devaluation in the value of words in common perception. That is the problem. Such unmindful yet spirited usage of words damage perception in the collective consciousness. 

Who can be against freedom of expression or creative freedom? Quite the contrary, none would disagree that responsibly utilising the words in any civilized society would make creativity to be perceived with much more impact in the collective consciousness. 

Importance and value of anything is established by its repetitive assertion, reiteration and acknowledgement by responsible and credible people (shastra suchintit puni puni dekhiye). 

Out of this world would still be an apt expression for an experience which is obtained when one transcends body and perceives one’s body as the world from the outside of it

This holds true in the field of communication as well. If we keep repeating instances of such mismatched expressions, then over a period of time, we may altogether forget that the meaning of the words keeps changing when consciousness ascends from one layer to another. That is the stream of strength running beneath truthful and caring dialogue. 

Expression out-of-this-world would still be an apt expression for an experience which is obtained when one transcends body and perceives one’s body as the world from the outside of it. Repeated misplaced use of any expression by reputed people in the society give unnecessary room to doubting. Translation of Vedic Sanskrit literature to English suffers with this chasm most. For example, some places where Gau should mean mother earth translator translates it to mean cow. 

We should remember what the language is in its baikhari form, other than the sum total of symbols embedded in common and collective consciousness indicating the right direction! Achievers would shine much more eloquently in their achievements if they give apt expression to the emotional-high they experience when they achieve something. This piece is neither about any specific word nor about any instance of any specific nature.  

 

 

 

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