Curiously, amongst the old Indian laws are verses which are not really laws at all, verses which have just slipped into common parlance.
I quote MMY:- Many people say, 'I am truthful and that's why people dislike me because I say something on their face.' Truth is not characterized by whips. If you say a truth, fine that the truth is there, but it should have some sweetness to it. Manu said - Manu, the first law-giver to human race - Manu he said, about speech he said Satyam bruyaat, priyam bruyat, na bruyat satyam apriyam' - 'Speak the truth, speak that is sweet, don't speak the truth that is not sweet.' Not that you can take liberty with truth and massacre the whole field of behaviour. The truth, simple, natural which is supporting life, which is nourishing life. Truth is always life-supporting if it is really truth but it must come from a melted heart and not from a very unconcerned mind.254 This statement is dynamite! Certainly it would not go down in the courts of justice where truths are frequently revealed which are far from sweet. Strangely enough, the Maharishi, had himself told only half the truth about this very verse for it continues with the words: 'Priyam cha na anritam pruuyaat esah dharmah sanatanah.' In the Penguin Classic version of The Laws of Manu the verse (in its entirety) is translated with an altogether different emphasis: A man should tell the truth and speak with kindness; he should not tell the truth unkindly nor utter lies out of kindness. This is a constant duty.255 Furthermore the translators ascribe this work (known variously as Manu, Manusmritti or Manu Samhita) to no one author: The Laws of Manu, like all other works we have from the ancient period of India, was composed by members of the social class (varna) called Brahmins or 'Priests'. Indeed, the text is not only by priests but to a large extent for priests. 256 Excerpt from chapter 19 of 'The Maharishi' © Paul Mason 2005 http://www.paulmason.info/themaharishi/mmych19.htm --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Rick Archer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I think he was referring to things like the Manu Smriti, which is full of > brutal punishments for minor crimes. > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
