Everyone can benefit by mastering successful speech.

Secrets for gaining the most from your surroundings with least effort
Part 5: The secret of successful speech
by Global Good News staff writer

(See June & July archives for parts 1, 2, 3, and 4, entitled 'Secrets for gaining the most from your surroundings with least effort')
12 September 2007

Everyone can benefit by mastering successful speech. Speech is the means for expressing one’s desires and for executing actions. Even if one is communicating by letter or email, this form of written speech can also be a powerful tool for success. Whether one is making a
presentation in class, managing a work force, explaining to one’s parents why one needs a raise in allowance, or organizing an information booth on global warming, every student and adult needs to have clear, precise, effective speech. Through speech one sets out the smooth, straight path for accomplishing one’s plans and desires.

Even more important, speech enables one to communicate subtle feelings and profound thoughts. To cultivate meaningful relationships and to share deep insights and rich ideas requires a natural skill in creating
a smooth, simple, and meaningful flow of language. Every person wants his speech to convey the best of who he is. Every person wants mastery over language so that the flow of pleasing words sets in motion the most advantageous sequence of events to fulfil his desires and share the bliss of life.

How does one accomplish skilful, eloquent, effective speech? Speaking is so spontaneous and natural, how can one direct the flow of words so they transmit strong ideas and/or delicate emotions to the listener?

The art of speaking

In presenting the art of speaking, in his book, The Science of Being and Art of Living, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi gives useful and sometimes surprising, insights for:

1. speaking in a way that consumes the least energy
2. speaking rightly
3. speaking harmoniously
4. speaking pleasingly
5. speaking powerfully
6. speaking usefully
7. speaking in a way that the speaker remains free from the binding influence of speech.

Speaking in a way that consumes least energy

Speech expresses one’s thoughts. Therefore, one’s speaking ability directly depends on the clarity and power of one’s thoughts. Maharishi points out that there must be a clear coordination between the mind and speech in order that thought flows into clear, precise, powerful words.

Maharishi also advises not to waste energy on speaking if one’s surroundings and circumstances are not favourable. Here is Maharishi’s useful formula for speaking with minimum consumption of energy:

‘Speak according to the time. Speak in accordance with the surroundings—to the level of conscious receptivity of your surroundings. Speak in accord with your own circumstances. Do not speak as and when you feel.’

If the above formula sounds difficult or cramps your style, Maharishi assures the reader that cultivating this manner of speech on an intellectual basis is impossible and would cause strain. In order to cultivate right speech in a natural, spontaneous way, one simply practises Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation Technique. This
effortlessly brings harmony between a person’s thoughts, surroundings and the flow of his speech. One’s speech becomes naturally right for one’s environment and brings the maximum effects, with least effort.

Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation Technique enlivens the whole range of the mind from its surface level of concrete thoughts to finer levels of feeling and intellectual discrimination, to the finest value of the source of thought, the Unified Field of Consciousness, also known as the Self, the Self of all beings. By developing strong coordination between all these aspects of the mind, mental clarity improves. One enjoys broader comprehension along with improved ability to focus attention.

In addition, appreciating one’s environment from the level of unity enables one to express ideas in a way best suited for one’s audience. Through the practice of Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation Technique, one does less and accomplishes more.

Speaking rightly

Maharishi explains that just one word spoken by anyone reveals his whole state of evolution and development. Maharishi describes speech as the expression of both heart and mind together. The fine emotions create softness of speech, while the clarity of mind produces logic and creativity in speech. Thus, for speech to be correct and right, an individual must be engaged in both right thinking and right feeling. Maharishi:

‘Speech is a very delicate medium between the man and his surroundings. It is highly important for the well-being of the individual and his surroundings that all the
people should cultivate the art of speech, because one wrong word spoken gives wrong impressions in the
atmosphere. The man may change his attitude, his decision, or his course of behaviour, but the word that has gone out of his mouth can never be withdrawn. The influence that he has created in the audience and in the atmosphere around him can never be withdrawn. Therefore, it is highly important that one should know the art of speech and should know how to speak rightly.’

Maharishi explains that speech has to be in keeping with the environment. Words that are unsuitable to the surroundings are useless words. Most people are not experts in assessing their environment and in calculating the perfect words for the occasion.

Fortunately, there is a technique for opening the door to spontaneous right speech. Maharishi explains that the key to suitable, productive speech can only be in cultivating both one’s heart and mind, and this
can be easily accomplished through the practice of Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation Technique.

During the practice of Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation Technique, one allows one’s mind to settle and experience the field of Being, the silent, unified level of consciousness, the Self of all beings. The Self is a field of perfect harmony, because it is a universal field,
underlying all existence. The Self is also the home of all the Laws of Nature, which give rise to all thoughts and all physical creation.

By tapping the unified source of one’s Being, where all the Laws of Nature are lively, one enlivens the support of Natural Law in one’s thought, speech, and actions. One develops spontaneous right thinking and a developed level of feeling. One speaks from the level of unity,
harmony, and inner fullness. Thus, one’s speech naturally flows in a manner that is useful, positive, and effective for one’s environment. Imagine what a relief it would be to know one could relax and trust that the just right words would spontaneously flow!

Speaking harmoniously

In the past, people may have felt that it is correct to speak out the truth and exactly what one feels, whether this upsets the environment or not. If one analyzes the consequences of such reckless speech, it becomes clear that disharmonious speech does not accomplish any goal.
Maharishi points out that this kind of tactless speech creates discord that interferes with the purpose of speech. If one antagonizes or hurts one’s listener, certainly they will turn a closed ear to any proposal.

Maharishi emphasizes the importance of harmonious, appropriate, and suitable speech. The key to harmonious speech is clear thinking and an innocent, simple, positive way of expression. One should express what one feels, only if the thought is suitable to the occasion. Maharishi
explains:

‘If one feels a certain way and if the surroundings will be hurt by the expression of that feeling, then it is better not to speak. It is not right to hide one’s feelings; it is right to speak exactly how one feels, but it is the art of speech that demands that a thought not be spoken if it will displease anyone, disturb the surroundings, or
produce disharmony in the atmosphere.’

‘So,’ one asks, ‘what if I have to say “no” to someone and that “no” will certainly upset the harmony?’ Good question. Maharishi emphasizes the need for tact:

‘Even if "no" is to be said at any point, the art of
speech demands that it should be expressed in words that will not be apparently abusive or harsh.’

Speak truth which is pleasing

Maharishi explains that the art of speech lies in being truthful while at the same time not hurting anyone. When one has a developed level of feeling, then one naturally does not want to hurt the feelings of another. When one is established in inner bliss and contentment, which comes from experiencing one’s Self, then one is naturally more sensitive to the feelings of others. One naturally speaks in a harmonious way.

Maharishi continues:

‘Even if you have to give a ruling against something, express it in decent words. This quality of kindness and delicacy of the heart develops when the heart begins to melt at the experience of bliss and great happiness of transcendental Being. The heart becomes softer and
then, by nature, a man cannot be harsh or displeasing to anyone. Speech will naturally flow in all harmony.’

Speaking pleasingly

Maharishi points out that one cannot strain to manipulate one’s thoughts or speech. This will create an artificial effect and will be a strain to both the speaker and the listener. Pleasing speech comes naturally from a mind and heart full with happiness. Therefore, the
key, once again, is to infuse the inner bliss of Being into the nature of the mind. This is accomplished by regular practice of Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation Technique.

The inner experience of one’s transcendental bliss consciousness fills one with inner peace and contentment. Stress and strain is removed and one enjoys a broader, expanded perspective on one’s surroundings. It is natural that after meditation, one radiates that increased fullness through pleasing, uplifting speech. The environment responds, reflecting back softness and positivity from all directions.

Speaking powerfully and usefully

Maharishi points out that powerful, useful speech

depends on powerful thoughts. It also depends on the thoroughness of knowing the subject of speech and on purity of heart and mind. During the practice of
Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation Technique, one gains increasing purity of consciousness, softness
of feeling, and increased intelligence. When one increases the power of his mind from within, his speech reflects this increased intelligence, energy, and effectiveness.
 
An audience responds to the person speaking, as much as to his words. No amount of speech training can take the place of strengthening the entire mind and personality by contacting their source, the Self.

Speaking in a way that the speaker remains free from the binding influence of speech

Maharishi explains that the influence of action (karma) of a man at any particular time is fathomless. To understand the influence of one’s speech and action is beyond the scope of the human mind. Therefore, it
is not possible to determine what is right or wrong on an intellectual level. Fortunately, it is possible to set the path of individual life in accordance with cosmic law, all the Laws of Nature running the universe. Through the practice of Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation
Technique, one brings the mind in tune with Transcendental Consciousness, the home of all the Laws of Nature.

Maharishi:

‘This brings hope to every man in the world that he might tune in his life with the natural laws which maintain life and sustain the individual’s regular progress and evolution. He then produces through his thought, word, and action, an influence of good for himself and for
all others, for the present and for all times.’

Transcendental Consciousness is a field of pure positivity—all good. Through realigning one’s life with cosmic intelligence, one is freed from the binding influence of speech. Maharishi sums up this ability to
have an all-positive influence in one’s life and his environment by attuning oneself to cosmic existence as the ability ‘to do all good by being all good.’

Copyright © 2007 Global Good News(sm) Service