Exploring the Self and Language: Profound Questions Answered

Relevance of ancient Indian scriptures: Seeking one’s origins

"The one distinguishing factor that sets homo sapiens - the humans - apart from other animals is the capacity to speak the language." - Sri M

The question being asked is, who is this Self that is activating the mind? Who is this Self that says I am thinking? Is there a thinker other than the thought? So, the next one is, Kena pranah prathamah praiti yuktah? It means, this life, what is it that gives the first impetus to life? Where does it all originate? Who is the source of all this life that you see? Who or what is the source of the seed growing into a beautiful plant and then soon into a tree? Then flowering and giving forth seeds and fruits again? What was the first impetus that started the movement of this prana, or life energy?

Kenesitam vacamimam vadanti? It means, what is it that gives impetus to speak? How was language invented? What does it mean? Who understands the meaning of a word? You know, the one distinguishing factor that sets homo sapiens—the humans—apart from other animals is the capacity to speak the language. It was with the coming of language or rather it was after the brain had expanded, enhanced and evolved to an extent where language could be conceived of, that civilisation seems to have broken forth into a run, or advanced suddenly. So, language is very important.

Vacam, Vaca, the word, the beginning was the word.

Prajapati vai idam agre aseet

Tasya vag dvitiya aseet

Vag vai paramam Brahman.

This means, That which increases, expands, and is the first, is language. The beginning, the word and that word—because of its creative potential—is a manifestation of the Supreme Being, God. From where does this word spring?

Caksuh srotram ka u devo yunakti? It means: When I say, ‘I see’, who sees? What is it that sees? And, who is the Deva, who is the Lord who hears when I say, ‘I hear’? Now, does that seem unreasonable to ask who hears when I hear? Or, who sees when I see? Or, who thinks when I think? You say, “It’s very simple; the answer is, Mr M, or Sri M, or whoever. So, what is so complicated?” If you look carefully, go carefully into any one of these aspects of human experience—sight or hearing, or speaking, or thinking—vast vistas of understanding open in front of us.

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