Words are not mere sounds strung together. They energize how we think, how we act, and how we experience the world. Long ago, when a customer approached us with a request, we called it an inquiry. An inquiry invokes the energy for an answer. We began calling them as opportunities. An opportunity invokes the energy to grab it. This shift was not about semantics; it was about energy.
This is the essence of Shabda Brahma—the divine power of words. In Business Yoga, I have shared how words can elevate or diminish our actions. BeeGees’ song It’s only words, and words are all I have do carry a profound meaning. Words can move nations, soften hardened hearts, or set battles in motion.
When the ceremonial boulevard leading up to the Indian Parliament was renamed from Rajpath (the King’s Way) to Kartavya Path (the Path of Duty), the difference was profound. A road once symbolizing subjugation got re-energized with responsibility. Likewise, when politicians use the word rule, it reeks of arrogance. When they use serve, it evokes humility.
As a younger man, I once had a confrontation with the Customs Department. The adjudicating officer demanded I use the word ‘prayer’ in my appeal. I resisted. I do not pray to human beings—I only ‘request’. I took refuge under religion (I won’t tell whose last refuge it is…😊). I insisted on this as my religious belief, the officer backed down. Religion is an effective medium to bulldoze ideas into the heads of those who do not understand logic. Even today, India’s judicial system continues to use the colonial term prayer for petitions.
The same principle applies globally. Consider:
- A ‘Department of Defense’ sounds protective, while a ‘Department of War’ sounds aggressive.
- A ‘restructuring’ feels purposeful, a ‘downsizing’ sounds merciless.
- Calling employees ‘resources’ dehumanizes them, while calling them ‘team members’ dignifies them.
These are choices when exercised shape behavior, policy, and culture.
And the energy associated with words.
In the yogic sense, the throat chakra (Vishuddha) governs communication. When it is balanced, words become clear, truthful, and uplifting. But when it is clouded, words can wound, divide, and distort reality. That is why Business Yoga urges us to pay deep attention to language. Words are not cosmetic; they are energetic.
So the question is not merely: What do we mean? The deeper question is: What vibration do our words carry into our world?
Every time we speak, we are planting seeds—of harmony or disharmony, of arrogance or humility, of domination or service. At Kariwala Industries Ltd, I keep reminding the newer members of my team that words are sacred energy. If we choose them with awareness, they can transform not just conversations but entire lives.
Btw, here’s the Words song 😍: https://youtu.be/tccpGP80oik?si=wrOKriXm0oxDIwFC
