________________
Speech is an important medium of preaching and spreading preception. All types of behaviour are influenced by speech. Truth, love and benevolence are assets of a Acārya (head monk) hence, they are known as assets of speech.
SRI DASASRUTSKANDHA SUTRA
There are four categories of speech:
1. INFLUENTIAL SPEECH:
A Guru's precept, his benevolent speech or discourse is not only accepted respectfully by a disciple but also accepted as a proven fact by one and all. Speech which has such an impact on all is called influential speech.
One who tries to accomplish truthful, loving, benevolent and polite speech for a very long time and practices silence also binds specific good karmas that on maturity makes a person's speech influential. Acarya have practiced such penance in their previous birth hence, they have an influential speech.
2. SOFT-SPOKEN SPEECH:
When softly spoken, even grave and stern words fall under the category of softspoken speech. A soft spoken person is loved by everyone. Such a person can easily administer the society. That is why Acarya express the essence of Agama in a soft-spoken manner in their discourse. They never speak harshly or use words that are anti-preception and contrary to Jin vacan (precept).
3. UNBIASED SPEECH:
Nishchit speech (biased speech) is a form in which one expresses himself with possessiveness or hatred. Anishchit speech (unbiased speech) means a form where one avoids the use of possessiveness or hatred in its speech. Acārya should speak peaceful words benevolently in an unbiased manner. Acārya has to command the society on the whole hence he should have unbiased speech.
95
