To put communication skills into perspective, it’s helpful to recall an Emerson quote: “What you do shouts so loudly in my ears I can’t hear a word you’re saying.” That sheds light on why lovers don’t have to speak to each other when they are so deeply in love. Silence speaks volumes.
There is a gigantic difference in communicating with words that are not your truth and communicating from the deepest part of your being. Even if people don’t agree with you, they will listen to you, because you are authentically real. Truth has power. A clear example of that comes from the life of Swami Vivekananda. Addressing the Parliament of Religions in Chicago, on September 11, 1893, Vivekananda looked out on the crowd of seven thousand people. Most of these people had never heard or seen a Hindu monk before.
But when he addressed them with the words: “Sisters and Brothers of America…” the whole audience went into an unexplainable divine rapture–a standing ovation that lasted for more than three minutes. There were more than words being communicated when he spoke. It was the power of his presence. That was holistic communication.
Vivekananda spoke from the source of his being and that resonated with the source of being of everyone in the audience. His insight and perception awakened their inner perception. It was an experience of inspired oneness. How else could it be explained, that the simple words, “Sisters and Brothers of America” could create such a reaction. The spiritual energy released brought everyone to their feet.
That reminds me of a quote I ran across in my college days. “There are no great poets without great audiences.” Do you see the significance? The significance, or meaning of any communication, is not in the intention of the communication; it’s in how it was received.
If you are giving a speech, and you are speaking from the depth of your soul, and your passion is felt by the audience, then that audience will be inspired to respond. A very great audience, indeed, as in the Vivekananda example.
They will receive the message you are communicating on a much deeper level. They will resonate with it. They will do more than think about what you say. They will do more than say “nice speech.” They will act.
If you spoke in this manner on meditation, they will go home and meditate. If you spoke on the ecstatic feelings you had when you read a book of poetry by Rumi, then there is a good chance they will go out and buy a book of Rumi poetry. When you give that speech, you communicate with every ounce of your being-your eyes, your voice, your hands-everything is congruent. Emerson hears you perfectly. The poet is truly a poet. That is holistic communication. That is public speaking. It comes from aligning yourself with your highest levels of caring, of wanting to reach into the heart of your listener and implant into it that you care about them, that you love them, that you are one with them.
Tuning Fork Metaphor
It’s like taking a tuning fork and hitting it forcefully against the edge of a desk. The pure sound will cause other tuning forks of the same pitch to start vibrating and making the same sound. That is a metaphor for holistic communication. That is holistic communication at its highest.
If it is your intent to communicate holistically, you need to align yourself with the source of your being. Make that the highest priority of your life. Every cell of your body will become attuned to this new higher vibration. Everything about you will communicate this–your body language, your walk, your eyes. You will communicate this to others without saying a word, because what you are speaks loud and clear.
Everyone you come in contact with will benefit from your presence. Your world will become more peaceful because your consciousness will have shaped it for you. Communication doesn’t get any better than that.
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[...] meaning was also exemplified by Vivekananda, whom I referred to in my post about communication skills. He was totally invested in his head before he met his master, Ramakrishna. Before meeting [...]