Chapter 18Speech and Yoga · Outer Speech and the Inner Life

Even those who have a strong inner life, take a long time before they can connect it with the outer speech and action. Outer speech belongs to the externalising mind — that is why it is so difficult to connect it with the inner life.

* Talk is more external than writing, it depends more on the physical and its condition. Therefore in most cases it is more difficult to get it out of the clutch of the external mind.

* In talking one has the tendency to come down into a lower and more external consciousness because talking comes from the external mind. But it is impossible to avoid it altogether. What you must do is to learn to get back at once to the inner consciousness — this so long as you are not able to speak always from the inner being or at least with the inner being supporting the action.

* You have to learn not to allow the speaking to alter your condition or else to recover it as soon as the interruption is over.

* In speaking there should be always a sort of instinctive defence — except with those who are free from the ordinary vital impulse.

* To remain aloof from the talk is what you should always do. The detachment is the first necessary condition for being free.