{"id":1880,"date":"2021-06-23T06:59:12","date_gmt":"2021-06-23T01:29:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chinmayaupahar.in\/blog\/?p=1880"},"modified":"2021-06-25T12:00:05","modified_gmt":"2021-06-25T06:30:05","slug":"triple-filter-test-communication","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.chinmayaupahar.in\/index.php\/2021\/06\/23\/triple-filter-test-communication\/","title":{"rendered":"Communication: Triple Filter Test"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018Communication is power. Those who have mastered its effective use, can change their own experience of the world and the world\u2019s experience of them. All behaviour and feelings find their original roots in some form of communication.\u2019 \u2013 Tony Robbins. Famous American Author and coach.<\/p>\n

\u2018The most important thing in communication is hearing what is not said\u2019 – Peter Drucker. Austrian management consultant.<\/p>\n

\"communication\"<\/p>\n

The most important thing for living life successfully and happily is communication. For success in life, your external communication is important and to live life happily, your internal communication \u2013 what you talk to yourself, is important.<\/p>\n

Are you aware of the golden rule prescribed for effective communication? It is called the Triple filter Test. Let me tell you an anecdote from the life of Socrates.<\/p>\n

In ancient Greece, Socrates, was visited by\u00a0an acquaintance of his. Eager to share some juicy gossip, the man asked if Socrates would like to know the story he\u2019d just heard about a friend of theirs. Socrates replied that before the man spoke, he needed to pass the \u201cTriple-Filter\u201d test.<\/p>\n

The first filter, he explained, is Truth.\u00a0\u201cHave you made absolutely sure that what you are about to say is true?\u201d<\/em> The man shook his head. \u201cNo, I actually just heard about it, and \u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Socrates cut him off. \u201cYou don\u2019t know for certain that it is true, then. Is what you want to say something good or kind?\u201d<\/em> Again, the man shook his head. \u201cNo! Actually, just the opposite. You see \u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Socrates lifted his hand to stop the man speaking. \u201cSo you are not certain that what you want to say is true, and it isn\u2019t good or kind. One filter still remains, though, so you may yet still tell me. That is Usefulness or Necessity. Is this information useful or necessary to me?\u201d<\/em> \u00a0A little defeated, the man replied, \u201cNo, not really.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, then,\u201d<\/em> Socrates said, turning on his heel. \u201cIf what you want to say is neither true, nor good or kind, nor useful or necessary, please don\u2019t say anything at all.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\"communication\"<\/p>\n

The wisdom shared by Socrates is very much applicable in today\u2019s times. Especially when the means of communication have multiplied due to technological developments. Communication with the world is at our finger tips or at the press of a few keys, so to say.<\/p>\n

Truth, goodness, and usefulness are the foundation of Socrates\u2019 triple filter test. Socrates the Greek philosopher belonged to the 5th<\/sup> century BCE. Generally we look towards the experts from Europe or America to advise us about skills of effective communication.\u00a0 I have also started this blog by quoting two personalities and anecdote from Socrates.\u00a0 But are we aware that the Indian [actually Bharatiya] ancient literature has all the lessons to offer for the effective communication?<\/p>\n

The most famous transforming communication happened around 5000 years ago on the battle field. Yes, I am referring to the Bhagavad Gita<\/span>,<\/a> the song of the Lord at Kurukshetra. Bhagvan did not use any magic or impart any technique to equip Arjun to fight the Mahabharat war,<\/p>\n

We see in the first chapter, the dejected Arjun throwing down his Gandeeva and refusing to fight. The Lord through communication, dialogues, questions and answer brings about the transformation. To be precise, in 700 verses (shlokas), we find a transformed Arjuna is ready to fight the war with clarity in thinking. His delusion is gone. He has gained the physical vitality to face the enemy.<\/p>\n

Bhagvan gave some elaborate answers for some of the questions Arjuna did not even ask. So now we can guess the source for the statement that Peter Drucker said. He must have read the Bhagvad Gita.<\/p>\n

Now we can guess from where Socrates would have drawn his inspiration. There are some more specific instructions regarding communication given by Bhagvan. In the 17th<\/sup> chapter HE tells us about how speech can be tapas (austerity).<\/p>\n

\u0905\u0928\u0941\u0926\u094d\u0935\u0947\u0917\u0915\u0930\u0902 \u0935\u093e\u0915\u094d\u092f\u0902 \u0938\u0924\u094d\u092f\u0902 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u093f\u092f\u0939\u093f\u0924\u0902 \u091a \u092f\u0924\u094d |
\n\u0938\u094d\u0935\u093e\u0927\u094d\u092f\u093e\u092f\u093e\u092d\u094d\u092f\u0938\u0928\u0902 \u091a\u0948\u0935 \u0935\u093e\u0919\u094d\u092e\u092f\u0902 \u0924\u092a \u0909\u091a\u094d\u092f\u0924\u0947 || 15||<\/p>\n

Speech which causes no excitement, and is truthful, pleasant and beneficial, and the practice of the VEDAS, constitute the \u2018austerity of speech\u2019<\/p>\n

Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda<\/a><\/span> in his commentary on Bhagvad Gita \u2013 The Holy Geeta<\/a><\/span> gives the following pointers to the art of communication:-<\/p>\n