An Exposition on The Art and Science of Human Communication
Is effective communication impossible?
Many modern communication experts say communication is impossible – that it is always an open loop. It would be really tragic if this were true. If you think about it, our whole life is essentially a struggle to communicate – to understand others and to ensure that others understand us. To understand our lives and circumstances and to communicate that understanding to others in the form of books, poems, stories, movies, plays, dance-dramas etc or…a simple conversation over a cup of coffee! In animals, communication is much simpler and more direct, but in humans it takes a myriad forms. And still, there is a feeling that we have not made enough progress in our ability to truly communicate. Let us now dig deeper into this subject and see what we can learn.
Grammarly’s 2024 State of Business Communication report highlights the staggering $1.2 trillion cost of workplace miscommunication in 2022, with its impact worsening as remote and hybrid work expands. While written communication increased by 18% in 2023, its effectiveness declined, and the reliance on digital tools blurred work-life boundaries, leading to burnout for 60% of workers. Miscommunication is rampant, with 66% of leaders encountering it daily, and nearly half experiencing it multiple times a day. The repercussions are profound: diminished trust in leadership (40%), impaired collaboration (42%), strained colleague relationships (29%), and significant impacts on job satisfaction (50%) and stress (42%). Alarmingly, miscommunication has prompted 15% of workers to consider changing teams and 22% to think about leaving their jobs. In 2024, the advent of AI has prompted businesses to prioritize better communication over more communication, tackling these critical challenges.
What are the barriers to effective communication?
– Mental chatter
– emotional disturbance
– mental models
– past samskaras and vasanas that blur your vision
– an unhealthy preoccupation with the self
– A lack of genuine interest in the other person
– being extremely judgmental of the other person
– an inability to appreciate nuances of a topic
– lack of intellectual depth
– Lack of clarity of thought
– an inability to effectively put thought into words
– a weak and dysfunctional Vishuddhi chakra
– lack of self-awareness
The list is endless. It therefore makes sense to look at what are the characteristics of effective communication and some methods to achieve it. For this we dive into both western and eastern approaches.
Communication from an Aristotelian perspective:
The most consistent feedback for leaders is the need to improve communication skills. Rarely does anyone critique a leader for communicating too much or too well. Effective communication, as Aristotle outlined thousands of years ago, hinges on three key elements: ethos, pathos, and logos.
1. Ethos (Credibility): A communicator’s credibility is built through technical expertise, integrity, and character. Leaders gain trust when they demonstrate knowledge in their domain and uphold ethical behavior.
2. Pathos (Emotional Connection): Emotional bonds are essential for effective leadership. Leaders achieve this by showing genuine interest in their teams, giving undivided attention, and being enthusiastic about the organization’s mission. Pathos often has the strongest impact on how followers perceive their leader’s communication.
3. Logos (Logical Reasoning): Clear reasoning and logical structure are vital for leaders to articulate ideas persuasively. Data, strategic thinking, and analytical clarity are tools leaders use to communicate decisions effectively. However, presenting facts in a way that connects data, analysis, and conclusions is critical, as facts alone don’t influence outcomes.
These three elements work together, reinforcing one another. For example, relying on logic (logos) can build credibility (ethos), while emotional connection (pathos) enhances the receptivity of both. Mastering all three leads to exceptional communication and stronger leadership. This is also expressed in terms of Facts, Emotions and Metaphor.
Integration with Mehrabian’s Rule
Albert Mehrabian’s “7-38-55 Rule” highlights the significant role of tone (38%) and body language (55%) over words (7%) in communication, especially when verbal and nonverbal cues conflict. While nonverbal communication is vital, Aristotle’s ethos, pathos, and logos emphasize that leaders must align their words, tone, and body language to communicate effectively.
Great communicators balance Mehrabian’s insights on nonverbal influence with Aristotle’s framework. Leaders can use ethos to project credibility, pathos to emotionally connect through tone and gestures, and logos to convey logical clarity. Combining these approaches ensures communication resonates across all channels—verbal and nonverbal—leading to trust, engagement, and clarity.
Different levels of communication at different levels of consciousness: a chakra perspective
The above are often the symptoms or conditions that reflect lower levels of consciousness associated with the lower chakras of Muladhara, Swadhisthana and Manipura chakra – essentially animal consciousness. It is only when the consciousness enters the Anahata chakra that the human consciousness flowers. Anahata chakra is considered the seat of unconditional love – a higher state of oneness with others and all creation. This is also a state of joy that is not to be found in lower levels of consciousness. As the consciousness rises to the higher chakras beyond the Anahata into the Vishuddhi and beyond, the divine consciousness starts to flower. In any case, we are interested in developing the ability to enter witness consciousness where one’s mind is naturally calm and stable, and one is able to listen without the incessant chatter of the mind (or at least totally ignore it) and take a genuine interest in what the other person has to say. The seven chakras are: Muladhara (Root), Swadhisthana (Sacral), Manipura (navel), Anahata (Heart), Vishuddhi (Throat), Ajna (Third eye) and Sahastrara (Crown).
The four degrees of human speech per Indian Knowledge Traditions
According to ancient Indian knowledge, there are four degrees of human speech—Vaikhari, Madhyama, Pashyanti, and Para—represent progressively subtler levels of perception and expression, each embodying a unique reality and shakti (energy):
- Vaikhari (Audible Speech): Ordinary verbal speech powered by kriya shakti (action). It operates in the waking state (jagrat) and focuses on past deeds, present activities, and future exploits, manifesting as outward, physical communication.
- Madhyama (Mental Speech): Internal, unspoken verbalization driven by jnana shakti (knowledge). This is the realm of rational thought and emotional intention, used by the subconscious mind during the dream state (svapna).
- Pashyanti (Perceptive Speech): Subtle, undifferentiated speech governed by iccha shakti (desire). It bridges intention and verbalization, representing the unconscious mind in dreamless sleep (sushupti). Here, subject and object merge, reflecting clarity of intent.
- Paravani (Supreme Speech): Pure, cosmic intention powered by ambika shakti (the supreme Mother Goddess). Para transcends all dualities and objects, existing in motionless, equipoised subtlety. It is accessible through the superconscious state (turiya) and reflects the will of ultimate reality.
Each level aligns with specific states of consciousness, progressing from the gross (Vaikhari) to the subtle (Para). Uniting these levels harmoniously can lead to transcendent states of awareness and connection with higher realities leading to progressively more powerful levels of communication.
Communication Through Silence: Silence as a Medium of Truth
Sri Ramana Maharshi emphasized silence (mauna) as the highest form of teaching. For him, truth cannot be fully articulated through words because words are limited by the mind’s dualities and concepts. Silence, on the other hand, directly conveys the essence of truth without distortion. In silence, the seeker is drawn inward, bypassing intellectual debate, to directly experience the Self (Atman).
Ramana Maharshi’s speech primarily resonates with the Para (Supreme Speech) level. His teachings often emerge from a state of pure intention, unadulterated by personal preference, duality, or ego. Para speech is the expression of ultimate reality and cosmic will, characterized by profound silence, equipoise, and universality—qualities that embody Ramana Maharshi’s communication.
For Ramana Maharshi, even his silence is considered the highest form of teaching, reflecting the nature of Para, where words are unnecessary because truth is directly experienced beyond dualities. When he did speak, his words were minimal, yet deeply impactful, bridging the higher states of consciousness with accessible guidance. This unique quality aligns his spoken words with Pashyanti, as they carried clarity of intention and transcended ordinary verbalization, while his inner state clearly resided in Para.
Inner Resonance Over External Expression
Silence operates at a level where the teacher and seeker connect through shraddha (faith), bhava (feeling), and consciousness. This creates a field of shared understanding, where communication occurs beyond the intellect, in the realm of intuition and inner realization.
Transcending Duality
Words inherently create divisions—speaker and listener, subject and object. Silence dissolves these dualities, fostering unity. In the silent presence of a realized master, the seeker often experiences profound peace and clarity, which cannot be fully explained but only felt.
Principles Underlying Communication Through Silence
Presence as the Message
The silent presence of a sage exudes an energy or vibration that speaks directly to the heart. This presence itself is the teaching, conveying peace, love, and the ultimate reality.
Often, Maharshi would remain silent while his devotees sat in his presence. They reported experiencing transformative insights or deep inner calm, which he attributed not to his words but to the silent awareness of truth.
Mauna (Silence) as Active Communication
Silence is not the absence of communication but a dynamic state of being. It invites seekers to turn inward, quiet their minds, and engage in self-inquiry.
Philosophical Foundation: Our ancient texts describe silence as a form of para vidya (higher knowledge), where words and thoughts fail, and the ultimate truth reveals itself.
Catalyst for Self-Realization
Silence creates an environment where the seeker can confront their inner noise and transcend it. This space of quietness encourages introspection and a deeper connection with one’s own consciousness.
Key Insights on Silent Communication
- Universal Accessibility: Silence is not bound by language, culture, or intellect. It is a universal medium through which wisdom can be transmitted without barriers.
- Mutual Transformation: The silence of the teacher is not a passive state but a shared experience that impacts both the teacher and the seeker. The teacher’s silence amplifies the seeker’s inner journey, creating a space for self-realization.
- Symbolism in Silence: Silence can be seen as the substratum of all sound and speech, just as the Self is the substratum of all existence. By practicing silence, a teacher like Sri Ramana Maharshi embodies this profound reality.
Contemporary Relevance
Non-Verbal Leadership
Leaders can communicate through presence, stillness, and calmness, inspiring trust and confidence without the need for excessive words. This aligns with the idea that silence often carries more weight than speech in moments of significance.
Meditative Practices
Silent retreats, meditation, and mindfulness practices draw inspiration from this principle, emphasizing the transformative power of quiet introspection.
Conflict Resolution
Silence, when practiced skillfully, can de-escalate conflicts by allowing space for reflection and cooling emotional reactions.
Practical Steps to Communicate Through Silence
Cultivate Inner Stillness: Practice meditation or mindfulness to develop a state of inner quietude.
Be Fully Present: Offer your complete, undistracted presence to others. Presence itself communicates volumes.
Create Space for Silence: In conversations or teaching, allow pauses and moments of silence to foster deeper reflection.
Rely on Intuition: Trust that what needs to be communicated will be felt, rather than explicitly said.
Communication through being, embodying the idea or concept
communication becomes superior when you are already resonating at the level of the thought and feeling you are trying to communicate through words.
It is said communication is most effective when thought, word and deed are aligned (manasi, vachasi, kaye).
We now add an important component – consciousness. For example, if you say, “Loka samastha sukhino bhavanti” – May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all, if there is someone or some people for whom you do not wish the above, there will be a certain dissonance in your communication.
Thus communication is not only about saying or putting thoughts into words, but about being what you are saying. If you are already resonating at the level of “Loka samastha sukhino bhavanti” you may not even need words to communicate that. And you may not need words from the other person to understand where he or she is coming from.
This is the profound truth about communication: it is most effective and transformative when it emerges from a deep alignment of thought (manas), word (vach), action (kaya), and consciousness (chitta). This principle underscores the essence of authentic expression and resonance in human interaction.
“Your actions speak so loudly, I cannot hear what you are saying.” This quote is often attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson. This further conveys the idea of the importance of being the idea you wish to communicate.
When you say something as powerful as “Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu”, its impact depends not just on the words themselves, but on the state of being from which those words arise. If there is internal dissonance—if the intention or consciousness is not in harmony with the sentiment—then the communication loses its authenticity and power. True communication transcends the verbal plane when:
- Resonance is Achieved: When you fully embody the thought and feeling you wish to communicate, words become secondary. The energy of your state naturally conveys the message, often more profoundly than speech can.
- Being Reflects the Message: If your very existence resonates with “Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu,” others intuitively feel it. Your actions, presence, and even silence radiate this truth, making your communication effortless and impactful.
- Consciousness Aligns Communication: Consciousness acts as the foundation that unites thought, word, and deed. When your consciousness is rooted in universal love and harmony, even simple words or gestures carry extraordinary meaning. Conversely, when there is a gap in your consciousness—such as harbouring ill will toward someone—the dissonance diminishes the effectiveness of your words.
This is why the highest forms of communication—such as the silent teachings of sages or non-verbal understanding in telepathic resonance—are deeply rooted in being rather than saying. Words are tools, but the state of consciousness from which they arise is the true medium of communication.
To extend this idea: When individuals or communities reach a shared state of consciousness—whether of love, understanding, or higher unity—communication transcends all barriers, even language. This is the essence of intuitive understanding and empathy, where we no longer “interpret” others but simply know them, and they, in turn, know us.
Communication as per the Indian Knowledge Traditions
Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), including the Natyashastra, offer profound principles of communication that emphasize not just the transfer of information but also emotional, intellectual, and spiritual connection. These principles align with holistic and contextual approaches to effective communication.
Communication Principles from Indian Knowledge Systems
1. Sadharanikaran (Universalization)
Communication must transcend individual perspectives to resonate universally. It involves creating shared meaning by addressing common human emotions and contexts. Thus, a story in a performance or conversation should appeal to the audience’s shared values and emotions to ensure engagement.
2. Rasa Theory (Emotional Resonance)
Communication should evoke rasa (emotions) to connect deeply with the audience. The Natyashastra outlines nine primary rasas:
1. Shringara (Love/Beauty/Romance)
2.Hasya (Laughter/Joy)
3.Karuna (Compassion/Pathos)
4.Raudra (Anger/Fury)
5.Veera (Courage/Heroism)
6.Bhayanaka (Fear/Terror)
7.Bibhatsa (Disgust/Aversion)
8.Adbhuta (Wonder/Amazement)
9.Shanta (Peace/Tranquility) that guide how messages should be crafted for emotional impact.
Example: A leader using stories or metaphors to inspire (veera) or empathize (karuna).
3. Vakrokti (Indirect Expression)
Artful communication often employs suggestive, layered, and indirect methods to engage the audience’s imagination. This principle highlights the importance of subtlety and nuance using poetry, allegory, or parables in public speaking or negotiation.
4. Satya and Dharmic Context
Communication must align with satya (truthfulness) and dharma (righteousness). Authenticity and ethical alignment ensure trust and clarity in interactions.
5. Samskara (Refinement and Clarity)
Clarity, refinement, and linguistic elegance are emphasized to enhance the aesthetic and intellectual appeal of communication. This includes well-structured arguments and polished expressions. Using precise language and culturally resonant symbols in presentations is the key.
6. Anekantavada (Multiplicity of Perspectives)
This Jain philosophy emphasizes accommodating multiple viewpoints to foster understanding and consensus. Communication must acknowledge diversity and context. For example, engaging in dialogue that values differing opinions and fosters collaboration.
7. Manas (Mental Preparation)
The communicator’s state of mind influences the effectiveness of their message. A calm, focused, and disciplined mind ensures clarity and impact. Mindfulness before delivering a critical message or presentation.
8. Samvada (Dialogic Approach)
Indian traditions emphasize dialogic engagement rather than monologue. Samvada involves two-way communication where mutual respect and listening are key. Encouraging questions and discussions in teaching or decision-making.
9. Sandesha (Purposeful Messaging)
Communication must have a clear purpose, whether it is to inform, persuade, or inspire. This purpose aligns with the larger dharma or the intended action. Leaders clearly stating the intent of a speech or meeting.
10. Shruti and Smriti (Oral and Recorded Transmission)
Communication should balance the immediacy of spoken interaction (shruti) with the reliability of documentation (smriti), ensuring both connection and continuity. Following up verbal instructions with written clarity in organizational contexts, for instance.
Sadhana is the root practice that brings about the various changes discussed above
All said and done, it is through sadhana that one can begin to resonate at the level of the ideas that one wants to communicate. Sadhana in simple terms involves purification of the chitta (chitta Shuddhi) which stabilizes the manas and sharpens the buddhi with dharmic logic and weakens the ahamkara (sense of separateness) thus removing the factors that cause distortion between thought, word and deed!
