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Austerity of speech?

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TRANSLATION

Austerity of speech consists in speaking words that are truthful, pleasing, beneficial, and not agitating to others, and also in regularly reciting Vedic literature.

 

PURPORT

One should not speak in such a way as to agitate the minds of others. Of course, when a teacher speaks, he can speak the truth for the instruction of his students, but such a teacher should not speak to those who are not his students if he will agitate their minds. This is penance as far as talking is concerned. Besides that, one should not talk nonsense. The process of speaking in spiritual circles is to say something upheld by the scriptures. One should at once quote from scriptural authority to back up what he is saying. At the same time, such talk should be very pleasurable to the ear. By such discussions, one may derive the highest benefit and elevate human society. There is a limitless stock of Vedic literature, and one should study this. This is called penance of speech.

 

 

 

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There is a website that describes some of the experiences of one of Srila Prabhupad's personal assisants (in the words of the assistant himself) whilst Prabhupad was personally present (do a google or Y! search with keywords 'Prabhupada Uvaca').

 

There are many quotes there and in one of them, Prabhupad says anyone that practices the regulative principle with devotion for 12 years attains perfection of speech.

 

Seems very true ... I've had the opportunity to talk many senior devoees and its very telling, how articulate and expressive they are in discussions about Krsna.

 

Hare Krsna!

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