Pravachan: Nowadays, there is often talk about etiquette. At home, parents often teach this lesson to their children. Despite so much emphasis on etiquette, be it the courtyard of the house, the school grounds or the office cafeteria. Most of the complaints of the people are about etiquette i.e. people’s behaviour. What is etiquette? Why is this necessary and what is its importance in daily life, let us know-
Etiquette is a Sanskrit word. Which means best conduct.
And charetsadanyebhyo vachchatyanyeryatha narah.
Humble: Courteous: Thankful, Helpful Bhavan:॥
That means we should behave as we want from the other person. We should always be humble, polite, grateful and cooperative.
In all religions, special emphasis has been given on conduct and thoughts. In today’s fast-paced life, the importance of etiquette is becoming limited. The way the language and dialect of people, especially the young generation, has changed is a matter of concern. The condition of Gen Z generation is even more worrying. They have their own separate dictionary, in which words are not being used on the basis of meaning but like binary code. Words have an impact on the mind and brain, which is reflected in your conduct and thoughts. This plays an important role in building your image.
The special importance of words has been explained in Sanatan Dharma. Words are a medium to express thoughts. These are based on sound which directly affects our mind and brain. It is also the most powerful medium to express emotions. In Hinduism the word is called ‘Brahma’.
Words have special importance in etiquette. Kabir says that-‘Speak such words that your mind will lose its temper, it will cool others, you will cool yourself. Here speech also has the meaning of etiquette. That means our behavior should always be exemplary for others. In today’s modern life, people are forgetting this.
No medicine can make a person have good clothes, good food and the conduct of a person getting a big salary should also be polite. In the true sense, etiquette has nothing to do with them. Yes, if despite all this your conduct is full of etiquette then it is like icing on the cake. Such people get respect in the society. They become exemplary. Ratan Tata can be an example of this.
If you see successful people around you, you will find that they are humble despite having high positions and wealth. His speech is sweet and his behavior is humble. This couplet by Shabina Adib confirms this-
Those who belong to a rich family have a mild temperament.
Your tone is telling, your wealth is new
What a little blessing from nature that you are sitting in the first row.
Why did you start flying in the air now, the fame is new now?
Keep in mind that etiquette is what makes a man a human being. A person who does not have etiquettes yearns for respect. Ravana had everything… knowledge, immense power. His family was also good, but his manners were not there. Due to which he had to feel embarrassed again and again. Everyone knows how it ended.
Etiquette is not a style of living, it is a hidden gem in personality, which earns a person respect and honor everywhere. Everyone knows what a rude person is called in the society.
Naruntudah syadaartospi na pardrohkarmadhih.
Yayasyodvijate vacha nalokyam tamudirayet.
It means that it is the duty of a man not to hurt someone by hurting him, even if he himself suffers the pain. Do not harbor unnecessary hatred towards anyone and do not disturb anyone’s mind by saying harsh things.
The Eightfold Path of Lord Buddha which is also called Madhyama Pratipada and Madhyam Marg. 8 parts of this path have been described-
| Eightfold Path (What is Ashtangik Marg) |
| 1 | right vision |
| 2 | proper resolution |
| 3 | proper speech |
| 4 | proper karmaant |
| 5 | right life |
| 6 | proper exercise |
| 7 | right memory |
| 8 | Samyak Samadhi |
These eight concepts are divided into three categories-
- Pragya (intellect)
- conduct
- Samadhi (concentration)
Lord Buddha says that one can enter spiritual life only when one’s conduct is pure.
This is etiquette. Otherwise, do anything, because this busy world never wastes its time for anyone. That’s why if the conduct is not good then…the man dies in a few meetings.
