Holding Ones Tongue

Holding Ones Tongue

By A Disciple
"Who keeps his tongue, doth keep his soul."

The tongue has puzzled the sages; it has interested them; and all who have honestly tried to train it in the way it should go ...have found that it is a flaming fire, which only spiritual power can turn into a blessing. For the Tongue is the true echo of what a man is in his heart. It is the little acid dropper, or the great blessing giver; it is the true echo of the Real Self. An undeveloped man who is burning with anger from some hurt to his ego, spits forth ...hard and bitter words that are like corroding acid; the Enlightened Man may be flaming with indignation, but he refuses to blister tongue, or paper, with blighting words, and waits to speak —until he has transmuted anger into power, and then he utters what is kind, and just, and true, and courteous. For courteous words accompany an Enlightened Heart. And each man chooseth the way his tongue shall go. And by his choosing —each man gives to the world ...his exact measure; his real standard; his own translation of his soul.

The boneless tongue, so small and weak, which the Greeks declare, "Can curse or kill," has been of special interest to silent men, much given to thought. By deep pondering upon the ways of the Tongue they have found these grains of wisdom:

Obedience to the Tongue —brings quick repentance.
The sword wounds the body, but the Tongue wounds the soul.
The heart is the treasury of the Tongue.
The Tongue of the wise is in his mouth; the foolishness of the fool —lieth on the tip of his Tongue.
More than one war has been caused by the Tongue.
Do not tell a friend anything you would conceal from an enemy.
A secret is in my custody, if I keep it;—but should it escape me, it is I who am the prisoner.
The tree of silence bears the fruit of peace.
The Tongue can speak a word whose swiftness outspeeds the steed.
Those who know much, speak little; those who know little, speak much.
The wise man thinks before he speaks; the foolish man speaks —and thinks afterwards.
Good words upon the Tongue —are like pearls upon a string.
Listen much; speak little, say nothing to another that will cause regret.
"Wise people do not contend against the Tongues of fools."
"Don't let your Tongue cut off your head."
"Don't tie a knot with your Tongue that you cannot loosen with your teeth."
The Tongue destroys far more than does the sword.
"If any man seem to be religious and bridleth not his Tongue . . . that man's religion is vain."
"If a man offend not in word, the same —is a perfect man —and able to bridle the whole body."

And these words —which crown the whole:

"Who keep his Tongue —doth keep his soul."

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