Deaf Toll Rises

It was nearing 10 pm and the dark blanket was slowly cushioning the city for a sleep. In this high footfall clinic of a neurosurgeon (medicine), waited some ten patients (rather impatiently) to be seen by the Doctor and then head home. Like in most Dr's clinic, this had some posters...one of them read "if you come later than your appointment token number that you have picked up, you will have to take another appointment".
The buzzer rang for the 30th patient and he wasn't around. The 31st  patient charmed at the "absence" and hurried his legs for the check-up.

After about 5 min, the 30th patient showed up...he was in very bad shape. The receptionist vetoed the condition that afforded him the pardon of missing his turn. But the 32nd patient got angry and suddenly all the quiet & sad & weak faces somehow from nowhere got into animated energetic beings. Well in the end, the 32nd patient had his way because he didn't want to indulge in any form of discussion...for him the poster was cast in stone.
It led me into the lanes of what Michael Sandel [Prof of Justice @ Harvard University] said in one of his internet talks..."Humanity today is fast degrading and losing the Art of Listening, the Art of Reasoning & the Art of Respectful Debate".
The scene at the Dr's Clinic is no different from some of the highest rated Debates on TV News Channel these days. Pre-decided agenda, masked defence and no roots of reason are not uncommon. Add to it the tone and pitch of voice...gosh some Drs in the country have started prescribing not to watch these shows to some of the people who report sleeping disorders.
I am also reminded of the great scholar Yagnavalkya few hundreds of years ago...Once after coming back from Raja Janak's Shaastraarth [Shaastrarth used to be Profound Inquiries and Debates amongst scholars], he lamented the erosion of the instrument called language. He said that this instrument called Language/Speech has become more of a weapon and people are just chopping others to impress upon one's superiority or intelligence. Its not for nothing that Swami Sukhobodhananda mentions a great phrase "Mauna Vakya Prakatita Parabrahma Tatvam Yuvanam". It says that in this world where we transact with language, Silence is the vehicle to God and Godly Ways. A similar account is observed in Buddha & Ananda anecdote where Buddha mentions that 'Silence is God". In contemporary times, Julian Treasure [Sound Scientist] says that "Language is Decorated Silence".
I guess "Mind your Language" needs "Soul your Language" as Mind too and is too caught in the game of life.
Happy Art of Listening.
Happy Art of Reasoning.
Happy Art of Respectful Dissent.

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