Devarim Betalim (useless chatter) by Rabbi Chaim Vital zt’l, reprinted with the kind permission of: Daf Yomi Review.
Rabbi Chaim Vital was unquestionably the leading disciple of the Holy Arizal, Rabbi Isaac Luria, and his foremost interpreter. The Ari himself wrote very little and what is commonly known as the “Ari’s writings”, were in fact transcribed by Rabbi Chaim.
The Divine flow experienced by the Ari was so overwhelming that he was unable to commit it to writing. As he himself expressed it: “When I begin to reveal a Torah secret to you the flow of knowledge becomes like a mighty stream and I look for ways to open a small channel that you will be capable of absorbing .”Rabbi Chaim Volozhin bears witness to the fact that when he mentioned the Ari to the Vilna Gaon the Gaon’s whole body trembled (hakdama l’sefer dtzinuata).
The following is a quote from the book Petach Einayim Nedarim 22.
“When a man speaks and expels hevel (breath) from his mouth – this breath is his lifeforce (chiyuso). The proof of this is after the soul has left the body, there is not left in him neither breath nor speech. Therefore we find that this breath that comes out from his mouth when he speaks is a chelek nishmaso (a part of his soul). And therefore we have been commanded to not speak useless speech – which causes a loss of part of his soul.” (Petach Einayim Nedarim 22, in name of Rav Chaim Vital zt’l)
The Vilna Gaon also writes on the subject:
(from Igeres HaGra. Watered down translation.)
Man will be judged for everything he says; even the slightest expression is not overlooked. Therefore I exhort you to train yourself to sit as much as possible, because the sin of the tongue is the most severe, as our Sages said (Tosefta Pe’ah 1): “These are the things…and lashon hara is equivalent to them all.” I don’t have to elaborate on this most serious sin of all. “All man’s toil is for his mouth” (Koheles 6:7). Our Sages said that all man’s mitzvos and teachings are not enough to counterbalance what comes out of his mouth. “What should be a man’s pursuit in this world? He should be silent” (Chullin 89a). One must seal his lips as tight as two millstones. Idle words are like powerful weapons which can reach from one end of the world to the other. Now this is true concerning mere excessive speech. Where forbidden speech is concerned – e.g. lashon hara, mocking, swearing, vowing, fighting and cursing – especially in the synagogue, and on Shabbos and Yom Tov – for every utterance of this type it is impossible to imagine the pain and suffering one will receive (Zohar)! No word is lost; everything is recorded. Winged beings attach themselves to everyone, recording all they say. “For a bird of the skies may carry the sound, and some winged creature may tell the matter” (Koheles 10:20). “Let not your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger that it was an error. Why should G-d be angered by your speech and destroy the work of your hands?” (ib. 5:5).
also,
#62. devarim betelim – hakol bklal levad ma shetzarich le massa umatam v’gam mipne hakavod, aval tov leharchik…ein heter…tzarich lishkol bmozne sichlo techila al kol dibur vdibur sherotze lehotzi mipiv im hu muchrach… (the prohibition of useless words – everything is included, except what is necessary for business dealings and honoring others, but it is good to distance oneself. There is no heter, one must weigh with the scales of his intellect, in the beginning, on each word that he wants to speak whether it is necessary.) (hanhagos of Gra)
Important note: These are words from highly advanced torah scholars and may not be practical for most of us. Casual speech is essential for building and maintaining positive relationships. The main thing though is to understand that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Mishlei 18:21) and one should always think and weigh his words beforehanding to anticipate if they will build or destroy.
see also:
http://www.aish.com/spirituality/48ways/Way_20_The_Art_of_Conversation.asp by Rav Noach Weinberg. (a practical explanation of all this)
Devarim Betalim (useless chatter) by Rabbi Chaim Vital zt’l, reprinted with the kind permission of: Daf Yomi Review.
