‘Communication is power. Those who have mastered its effective use, can change their own experience of the world and the world’s experience of them. All behaviour and feelings find their original roots in some form of communication.’ – Tony Robbins. Famous American Author and coach.

‘The most important thing in communication is hearing what is not said’ – Peter Drucker. Austrian management consultant.

The most important thing for living life successfully and happily is communication. For success in life, your external communication is important and to live life happily, your internal communication – what you talk to yourself, is important.

Are you aware of the golden rule prescribed for effective communication? It is called the Triple filter Test. Let me tell you an anecdote from the life of Socrates.

In ancient Greece, Socrates, was visited by an acquaintance of his. Eager to share some juicy gossip, the man asked if Socrates would like to know the story he’d just heard about a friend of theirs. Socrates replied that before the man spoke, he needed to pass the “Triple-Filter” test.

The first filter, he explained, is Truth. “Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to say is true?” The man shook his head. “No, I actually just heard about it, and …”

Socrates cut him off. “You don’t know for certain that it is true, then. Is what you want to say something good or kind?” Again, the man shook his head. “No! Actually, just the opposite. You see …”

Socrates lifted his hand to stop the man speaking. “So you are not certain that what you want to say is true, and it isn’t good or kind. One filter still remains, though, so you may yet still tell me. That is Usefulness or Necessity. Is this information useful or necessary to me?”  A little defeated, the man replied, “No, not really.”

“Well, then,” Socrates said, turning on his heel. “If what you want to say is neither true, nor good or kind, nor useful or necessary, please don’t say anything at all.”

The wisdom shared by Socrates is very much applicable in today’s times. Especially when the means of communication have multiplied due to technological developments. Communication with the world is at our finger tips or at the press of a few keys, so to say.

Truth, goodness, and usefulness are the foundation of Socrates’ triple filter test. Socrates the Greek philosopher belonged to the 5^th century BCE. Generally we look towards the experts from Europe or America to advise us about skills of effective communication.  I have also started this blog by quoting two personalities and anecdote from Socrates.  But are we aware that the Indian [actually Bharatiya] ancient literature has all the lessons to offer for the effective communication?

The most famous transforming communication happened around 5000 years ago on the battle field. Yes, I am referring to the Bhagavad Gita, the song of the Lord at Kurukshetra. Bhagvan did not use any magic or impart any technique to equip Arjun to fight the Mahabharat war,

We see in the first chapter, the dejected Arjun throwing down his Gandeeva and refusing to fight. The Lord through communication, dialogues, questions and answer brings about the transformation. To be precise, in 700 verses (shlokas), we find a transformed Arjuna is ready to fight the war with clarity in thinking. His delusion is gone. He has gained the physical vitality to face the enemy.

Bhagvan gave some elaborate answers for some of the questions Arjuna did not even ask. So now we can guess the source for the statement that Peter Drucker said. He must have read the Bhagvad Gita.

Now we can guess from where Socrates would have drawn his inspiration. There are some more specific instructions regarding communication given by Bhagvan. In the 17^th chapter HE tells us about how speech can be tapas (austerity).

अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् |
स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते || 15||

Speech which causes no excitement, and is truthful, pleasant and beneficial, and the practice of the VEDAS, constitute the ‘austerity of speech’

Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda in his commentary on Bhagvad Gita – The Holy Geeta gives the following pointers to the art of communication:-

• Speech is a powerful vehicle of the speaker and reflects his Intellectual caliber, Mental discipline and Physical self-control. If not integrated, his words will have no magic.
• If this power is used correctly, it can bring benefits to the speaker as well as to others.
• Speech should cause no shock. It should neither be irritating nor obscene. The test to check this is the reaction of the listener through their instantaneous facial expressions and body language.
• Speech should be True, Acceptable and Beneficial to all.
• When the Truth is disagreeable to others, the speaker should maintain discreet silence.
• The speaker is expected to study the scriptures regularly and reflect. Thus ensuring the self-profiting and self-creative words.

From Dwapar Yuga, let’s dive a little deeper to Treta Yuga and learn something about the communication skills from then. In the Ramayana, Hanumanji meets Lord Rama and Lakshmana for the first time in the forests. He introduces himself and his master Sugriva. This is the first meeting of Hanuman with Lord Rama.

Impressed with the way Hanumanji communicated, Lord Rama admires his communication skills.  I am sharing both the Sanskrit shlokas from Valmiki Ramayan and the meaning thereof. Hanumanji is eloquent in his speech. So he passes the triple filter test with flying colours.

In fact Bhagvan says his words flow from the bottom of his bosom, his throat and his head. (Refer to the first pointer given by Gurudev)

तमभ्यभाष सौमित्रे सुग्रीवसचिवं कपिम्।वाक्यज्ञं मधुरैर्वाक्यैस्स्नेहयुक्तमरिन्दम ।।4.3.27।। नानृग्वेदविनीतस्य नायजुर्वेद्धारिणः।नासामवेदविदुषश्शक्यमेवं विभाषितुम् ।।4.3.28।। नूनं व्याकरणं कृत्स्नमनेन बहुधा श्रुतम्। बहु व्याहरताऽनेन न किञ्चिदपशब्दितम् ।।4.3.29।। न मुखे नेत्रयोर्वापि ललाटे च भ्रुवोस्तथा। अन्येष्वपि च गात्रेषु दोषस्संविदितः क्वचित् ।।4.3.30।। अविस्तरमसन्दिग्धमविलम्बितमद्रुतम्। उरस्थं कण्ठगं वाक्यं वर्तते मध्यमे स्वरे ।।4.3.31।। संस्कारक्रमसम्पन्नामद्रुतामविलम्बिताम्। उच्चारयति कल्याणीं वाचं हृदयहारिणीम् ।।4.3.32।। अनया चित्रया वाचा त्रिस्थानव्यञ्जनस्थया। कस्य नाराध्यते चित्तमुद्यतासेररेरपि ।।4.3.33।। एवं विधो यस्य दूतो न भवेत्पार्थिवस्य तु। सिद्ध्यन्ति हि कथं तस्य कार्याणां गतियोऽनघ ।।4.3.34।।

O Saumitri, conqueror of enemies this monkey, Sugriva’s minister, is skilled in friendlycommunication. Reply to him in words gentle and sweet.।।4.3.27।। Unless well versed in Rigveda, Yajurveda and Samaveda, for sure, it is not possible for anyone to articulate so well.।।4.3.28।। Surely, he seems to have studied well the whole of grammar, for there is not a single mispronunciation in his entire speech.।।4.3.29।। No fault can be found in his face, eyes, forehead, between the eyebrows or any other part of his body (during his expression). ।।4.3.30।। His sentences are not too elaborate, not ambiguous, not dragging, not fast, raised in the chest or throat, in a medium tone.।।4.3.31।। His words are auspicious. They are refined. Neither fast nor slow, his utterances captivated the heart.।।4.3.32।। His colourful words flow from all the three sources: the bottom of his bosom, his throat and his head. Whose mind will not adore them even if one happens to be an enemy holding a sword?।।4.3.33।। O sinless one, how can a king, whoever he be, not accomplish his goal in the past with such an ambassador?।।4.3.34।।

The Manu Smriti which is one of the ancient legal text advising about how to behave in a society says as under:All our scriptural texts seem to drive home the same point, irrespective of the time period it belongs to.

सत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयान्न ब्रूयात् सत्यमप्रियम् ।
प्रियं च नानृतं ब्रूयादेष धर्मः सनातनः ॥ १३८ ॥

Which means ‘He shall say what is true; and he shall say what is agreeable; he shall not say what is true, but disagreeable; nor shall he say what is agreeable, but untrue; this is the eternal law.—(138)’

In the gurukul system of learning, when the students completed their studies, they received the convocation address from their teacher. In the Taittiriya Upanisad in anuvak 11, the student is advised     सत्यम् वद, धर्मं चर. Swami Chinmayananda in his commentary on this says ‘truthfulness is not merely giving out one’s honest feelings truly and effectively. It implies the attunement of the mental thoughts with one’s intellectual convictions.’

Thus when the communication happens adhering to the triple filter test, it will surely lead to happiness within and success outside.

Written by Smt. Manisha Deole