Inadequacy
of language
“If
you have really experienced the divinity of the Almighty, why then
are you escaping by saying that words are not capable of explaining
about the experience?” a foreign journalist was grilling a Yogi.
Somehow, the Yogi appeared to be defensive in his attitude.
At
this juncture, a farmer came there with a bunch of roses and offered
it at the feet of the Yogi and said, “Sir, these roses were grown
in my farm”.
“Every
flower has to grow somewhere, what is so great about it?” responded
the Yogi disinterestedly. The farmer did not know what to say. The
journalist who was observing all this interfered and said, “this
farmer is very happy because pretty roses have blossomed in the rose
plants in farm.”
“Very
happy? How much is the happiness?” the Yogi asked. The journalist
could sense that the Yogi was drawing him into a trap. “This
farmer is unable to explain his happiness properly because he is not
an educated person,” said the journalist.
The
Yogi started smiling. At this point in time, a senior lawyer came
there and prostrated to the Yogi. “Master, I am just returning
from the capital, where I had been to argue about a legal clause and
its correct meaning.”
“Why?
Don’t they write everything correctly while they draft the law?”
asked the Yogi innocently.
“Of
course they do! Still, arguments crop up time and again. In the present
case I am arguing in the court of law, there is a Supreme Court ruling
too. But that ruling itself is being questioned now,” said the
senior lawyer.
“Where is the fault? Is it because of the inexperience of those
who drafted the laws? Or is it because the Supreme Court Judge could
not interpret that law properly? Or is it because you guys are simply
inventing doubts unnecessarily?” asked the Yogi.
“It
is not like that! It is impossible to lay down laws that are absolutely
unambiguous,” explained the lawyer patiently.
“Why so?” the Yogi asked.
“There
are several reasons. However, the fundamental reason is the inadequacy
of language. Languages, being man made, have always lagged behind
when it comes to expressing opinions and feelings and experiences.
It is not anybody’s fault. It is because of the limited power
of language!” explained the lawyer.
The
journalist silently got up and prostrated before the Yogi.