1. MAUNA
(SILENCE)
DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

2. It is interesting to see how speech
reflects the mind of a person and in
turn how regulation of the process of
speech has beneficial influence on
mind!
One of the shlokas (verses in Sanskrut)
says,

3. PAPENAIVA NRUNAANAM
VAANEE BHAVET
KATUKABHASHINEE
DAINYA MAATSARYA
PARAMAA
SHUBHAASHUBHAVIVARJITA
Meaning:
It is because of diseased mind with
utmost lowliness and jealousy that the
speech becomes scalding with no
concern whatsoever for about the
welfare or otherwise of the listener.
In Geeta it is said,

4. ANUDVEGAKARAM VAAKYAM
SAYAM PRIYA HITAN CHA YAT
SVAADHYAAYAABHYASAN
CHAIVA VANGMAYM TAPA
UCCHYATE
GEETA 17.15
Meaning:
Speech which does not humiliate and
thereby hurt the listener is true and
pleasant and beneficial; is really the
product of penance involving the entire
neurophysiological and neuromuscular
processes of speech and articulation
respectively.

5. There is another shloka which
advocates silence during certain
physiological acts.
UTSARGE MAITHUNE CHAIVA
PRASTRAVE DANTADHAAVNE
SHRAADDHE BHOJANAKALE
CHA
SHATSU MAUNAM
SAMAACHARET
Meaning:
During defecation, urination, removal
of secretions (dirt) of nose, skin, ear
and eyes, during sexual intercourse,

6. during bleeding, cleaning of teeth,
during SHRAADDHA (ritual
performed to commemorate pay
homage to the forefathers, on the
occasion their death anniversary) and
while eating food one should observe
silence i.e. speechlessness.
During defecation usually there is
breath holding and contraction of
abdominal muscles. This is essential
for building adequate pressure in the
abdomen so as to move the feces
towards anus. Due to talking the breath
holding ceases and the abdominal

7. muscles also relax and distraction is
caused creating difficulty in
defecation.
Urination also involves increase in
pressure in the abdomen and also in
the urinary bladder. Talking can alter
these pressures and hence the urinary
flow can be disturbed.
When we are removing the secretions
from nose [respiratory secretions],
skin, ears and eyes we should be
careful to remove the dirt carefully so
as to avoid trauma to theses structures

8. In general, all the excretory processes,
viz. defecation, urination, respiratory
secretions, sweating, secretions in the
ear and eye involve autonomic nervous
activity linked with reticular formation
in the brain. Talking can alter
respiration, activity of reticular
formation, and activity of mind,
autonomic nervous activity, endocrine
and metabolic activity and also the
excretory activity.
Sexual intercourse invariably involves
autonomic activity and hence it is

9. strongly recommended that silence is
observed during sexual intercourse. It
is important because the intensity of
the emotional integration and depth of
ecstasy are apparently hindered due to
talking during sexual intercourse.
Bleeding can either be physiological
bleeding as in case of menstrual
bleeding or trauma [injury].
The process of bleeding and arrest of
bleeding are tremendously influenced
by cardiovascular activity, which in
turn is influenced by autonomic

10. nervous activity. Hence talking that
disturbs autonomic activity is
recommended to be avoided.
During cleaning of the teeth there is a
prayerful attitude with respect to the
plants or herbs used in the process. So
talking is avoided. But from practical
point of view, talking during cleaning
of teeth and gums can cause
inadvertent biting of fingers or injury
to the oral cavity.
During SHRAADDHA silence is
probably advised solely for

11. maintaining pious atmosphere, which
is understandable.
During eating the silence advised to
avoid vulgar and even mundane
thoughts being articulated [thereby
hindering the sanctity of the eating] on
the one hand and to avoid accidental
regurgitation of food in the trachea on
the other.
It can be seen how thoughtful our
ancestors were; with respect to
understanding of life! It has to be
appreciated these are relatively

12. superficial aspects of keeping silence.
There may be more explanations as
well.
Learning to keep silence in terms of
avoiding talk is a very preliminary
process of achieving real silence,
which is called KARMANI AKARMA
in Geeta [4.18], and which is full of
peace and activity. It is very real and
deepest personal experience and also
the cosmic phenomenon that links one
with the universe.

13. MANAHPRASAADAH
SAAUMYATVAM MAAUNAM
AATMAVINIGRAH
BHAAVASAUNSHUDDHIRITYET
AT TAPO
MAANASAMUCCHYATE
GEETA 17.16
Inner harmony associated with vocal
silence; that emanates life-giving joy;
is indicator of inner purification or
evolution and referred to as
MANASAM TAPA.

14. If we keep quiet for sometime, then we
can easily observe the turbulence of
thoughts, which keep on crowding our
minds. This observation tells us that
the thoughts are neither our creation
nor are restricted to our body. They are
the results of the interactions between
cosmos and us and illustrate the
continuity between an individual and
the universe.
Keeping silence has a humorous and
practical implication also.

15. AATMANO MUKHADOSHENA
BADHYANTE SHUKA SAARIKA
BAKASTATRA NA BDHYANTE
MAUNAM SARVAARTHA
SAADHANAM
Meaning:
Inappropriate [too long, too harsh,
stupid, meaningless, too enticing]
speech is a cause of slavery,
imprisonment or other type of losses.
Ability to remain silent is extremely
beneficial. This is clear from the
examples of SAARIKA and parrot that
are caught and kept in cage whereas
crane is left free! Hence while

16. negotiating in business or in politics or
even playing cards, silence can play a
pivotal role!
DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR