07/01/10
Proper communication The Buddha's lesson-Mayawati calls for capturing power in
Delhi- Great News
Filed under: General
Posted by: @ 8:49 am
Proper communication The Buddha's lesson
Priyanka KURUGALA
The Buddha always uttered the serene words, and that was meant for the whole
endless universe. Many incidents in his life teach the modern society the apt
way of communication. Abhayarajakumara Sutta, found in Majjhima Nikaya, is one
such discourse with a valuable communication lesson.
One of the Buddha's contemporaries was Nigantha Nataputta, who claimed himself a
popular teacher of non-violence. And certainly he had the support of a large
crowd.
Nataputta's non-violence was too extreme, to the extent that he swept the ground
by a sheaf of peacock feathers before he walked on. This was to save the lives
of innocent creatures such as ants from being trampled. He and his followers
never consumed water without boiling it first, to make sure no microscopic
creature is killed. Interestingly he did not brush his teeth and stayed naked
all the time.
One day Nataputta had a visitor, Prince Abhayaraja, one of his disciples.
Nigantha wanted to brief him about the way the prince should approach and
verbally beat the Buddha gradually. Teacher's keen interest nevertheless puzzled
the student.
"How could I do that?" He asked.
Nataputta then disclosed what he had in his mind. Abhayaraja was to question the
Buddha whether the latter uttered disagreeable and distasteful words.
"If the answer is yes," Nataputta offered, "then you should ask the Buddha the
difference between you and the run-of-the-mill. Well, if the answer is negative,
then you should raise the issue of Devadattha. The Buddha's words were
distasteful for Devadatta because he said the monk would stay in Samsara till
the end of this world cycle."
Nataputta fancied that the Buddha would neither be able to swallow nor spit the
words. Ironic is the way Nataputta had his thoughts, especially when he claimed
himself a non-violent person. Nataputta could convince the prince, who
ultimately agreed on visiting the Buddha for a debate.
Abhayaraja worshipped the Buddha and noticed that the sun was about to set. So
he had the Buddha, along with three more monks, in for alms giving. Following
the alms, Abhayaraja was ready for his mission.
"Blessed Sir, do you talk disagreeable and distasteful words to the people".
Notice the Buddha's response: "I could not say, directly. It depends on the
situation."
What was Abhayraja's response right off the bat? "Nigantha is finished!"
The Buddha posed him a question as if he didn't have inkling about anything:
"Why do you say so?"
Then prince Abhayaraja related the whole story to the Buddha. That's when the
Buddha spotted the infant on the prince's lap.
"Suppose your baby get something stuck in its throat. What will you be doing the
first thing?"
"First I will try my best to fish it out. Failing, I will hold his head steady
with my left hand and give it a try once more. And perhaps even pull it out even
if his throat will bleed. All because of my love for my child, exclaimed
Abhayaraja." Abharaya replied in length.
That was enough for the Buddha.
"It's just the same with my words, prince."
1. If any word is false, useless or distasteful and disagreeable I will not
utter it.
2. Should any word be true, but useless, or distasteful and disagreeable I will
not utter it.
3. If any word is true and useful, but disagreeable and distasteful I will utter
it.
4. If any word is false and useless but agreeable and tasteful, to others still,
I will not utter it.
5. If any word is true, useful, agreeable and tasteful, I will say that word.
All because of my mercy and loving kindness for beings.
Abhayaraja was convinced, better yet he had another question for the Blessed
One.
"There are numerous kinds of people who come to you with various types of
questions. These people may be wise, warriors, Brahmins, businessmen,
householders.
Are you prepared in advance in your answers or do you answer according to the
situation?"
The Buddha knew the answer fully well, and yet he shot the prince with another
question.
"Prince, you have a good knowledge of vehicles, I suppose?"
"That's true, Blessed Sir."
"Well in that case, say someone approaches and questions you about vehicles.
Will you be able to handle it properly?"
"Sure I can, Blessed Sir."
"Is it simply because you have been prepared in advance or do you answer
accordingly? "
"I don't need preparation. I answer accordingly. "
"In the same way, prince I do answer accordingly. I do not need preparation in
advance."
The chain of events in the discourse is a good example for management of
communication among individuals. Though the technology is far more advanced,
communication tends to be confusing at times. The Buddha's message is not to
utter useless words.
Communication is the most developed subject of the world. The world now has many
a communication equipment, thanks to man-made communication systems and
networks. Similarly there are number of communicators. Messengers and receivers
are always ready to catch up with very new stories. This is certainly a complex
process.
The same complex process will generate wrong and disorganized messages, which is
the root cause of a confused society. This is very much true when it comes to
media world in particular. Disorganized messages confuse the receiver who in
turn responds in the same confusing manner.
The wrong communication will at times sabotage the serenity and peace of a
family too. Unpleasant words are not for the development of soul, after all.
This causes the direct deterioration of modern society.
It's about time we had taken the initiative to utilize communication to
rehabilitate the society as a whole. Let's roll our sleeves up on this Poson day
itself!
NEWSSPECTRUM
Mayawati calls for capturing power in Delhi
Mayawati calls for capturing power in Delhi Lucknow, June 25 Delhi appears to be
the next target of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
president Mayawati, who Friday called for capturing power in the national
capital. Addressing a meeting of her party activists from Delhi and Uttarakhand
at her official residence here, Mayawati said that millions of people from Uttar
Pradesh have moved to Delhi in search of employment, but alleged they continue
to receive step-motherly treatment at the hands of successive governments. "That
is the reason we need to strengthen our party base in the national capital so
that we can form a BSP government there and ensure that the Uttar Pradesh's
population gets its due," she said. The BSP supremo also chalked out a strategy
to broaden the BSP base in Delhi and urged her party men to follow her
guidelines. She gave similar instructions to her party leaders from Uttarakhand
where her party has minimal presence, largely on account of a very low SC/ST
population in the hill state. On the other hand, there was much more scope for
BSP to spread its wings in Delhi among the large SC/ST population and where
Mayawati herself grew up. Mayawati calls for capturing power in Delhi
Great News …..
Mayawati'Ji carved a new district called Chattrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar out
of Sultanpur and Rae Bareli districts on Thursday. Congress strongholds Amethi
and Rae Bareli will be parts of the new district.
"The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to restore the district status to
Chattrapati Sahuji Maharaj Nagar," an official spokesman told reporters.
The new district includes three Sultanpur Assembly seats and two seats of Rae
Bareli.
Back in 2003, the Congress wanted to name the new district Rajiv Gandhi Nagar
after the late prime minister. But the BSP-led government wanted the district to
be named after the SC/ST OBC icon from Maharashtra.
MAY YOU BE EVER HAPPY, WELL AND SECURE
MAY YOU LIVE LONG
MAY ALL SENTIENT AND NON-SENTIENT BEINGS BE EVER HAPPY
MAY YOU BE ALWAYS HAVE CALM, QUIET, ALERT,ATTENTIVE AND
EQUANIMITY MIND WITH A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT
NOTHING IS PERMANENT
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/
PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com
TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/
Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
No comments:
Post a Comment