Harsh Speech

How many times have we told someone, “If not for your tongue, you could be more successful in life. Please try to speak sweetly.”

On the other hand, people say that although their speech might sound harsh, it is not deceitful. They speak straight from their heart.

The Srimad-Bhagavatam states that cosmic creation takes place on the basis of goodness, but devastation takes place because of irreligion. That is the way of material creation and devastation. Here it is stated that the cause of devastation is Adharma, or Irreligion. The descendants of Irreligion and Falsity, born one after another, are Bluffing, Cheating, Greed, Cunning, Anger, Envy, Quarrel, Harsh Speech, Death, Fear, Severe Pain and Hell. All these descendants are described as signs of devastation.

If a person is pious and hears about these causes of devastation, he will feel aversion for all these, and that will cause his advancement in a life of piety. It is interesting to note that Harsh Speech is included as one sign of devastation.

What then is the antidote?

Piety.

Lord Chaitanya recommended the process of cleansing one’s heart as the “piety” for this age, especially chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

What about harsh words uttered by great saintly people? Do such people have a license? Are they immune from the aftereffects?

Once, when asked as to how to spiritualize today’s civilization Srila Prabhupada said, “Any civilization devoid of God consciousness, or Krishna consciousness, is no civilization at all. It is simply a polished type of animal society.”

Ouch! Why such harsh language? People would bristle at Srila Prabhupada’s cutting remark, without stopping to consider whether or not there is truth in his claim.

“He is a spiritual person?” they might querulously ask. “Whatever his opinion, how could he speak so insensitively? Just because I don’t follow him, that makes me an animal? Did he expect to win converts with this offensive bluntness?”

Admittedly, “polished type of animal society” and “polished animalism” are a bit harsh on the ear. And coming from a person of saintly stature, they seem even harder to accept. The popular image of a saint is that of someone meek, benign, someone with an extreme aversion for harsh speech, incapable of even thinking contemptibly of another.

You can, then, easily imagine Srila Prabhupada’s barbed criticism offending some people’s sensibilities.

Here is a conversation which lays bare the compassion and love behind the so-called harsh words of a saintly person.

Disciple: Prabhupada? They say why do you worry so much about death? We are living. We are enjoying life, why do you worry about death?

Prabhupada: Because we are intelligent. I love you. Therefore, you might become a dog after death, so I am anxious for you to not have such an afterlife. Every human being is anxious.

An example is a child flying a kite, going this way and that way on the roof. Now he’s on the edge of the roof, so one gentleman standing nearby says, “Hey, you’ll fall down.” That is his duty.

The child says, “Why are you checking me?” (laughter)

“Because I am a human being. You are a foolish boy. Therefore, I am checking you.” That is natural. Even a child who is not his son, but because he is a gentleman, he wants to protect him from danger. Such is the duty of a gentleman.”

—Syamananda Dasa