From the article: Right Speech
What does "right speech" mean to you? Has Buddhism changed the way you communicate? Can you think of a time in your life when someone's words made a big difference? Please share! Share Your Experiences
There seems to be a disconnect here...
- There appears to be a problem with the discription of Right Speech here. It's almost like you're saying that there's only one person involved. In reality, there are at least two people. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe speech consists of the one who speaks and the one who listens. I could say the same thing to two people and be accused of lying to one and telling the truth to the other. To me, Right Speech requires me to create Right Understanding. If what I say causes someone to stray from the truth, I've lied, regardless of the "objective" truth of my words. In the Immeasurable Meanings Sutra, the Buddha says, “In these more than forty years, I have not yet revealed the truth.” That is because speaking the Truth would, in fact, be lying, due to the listeners' state of mind.
- —JoeBuddha
The Evil Tongue
- In talmudic tradition, the opposite of Right Speech is known as "lashon ha-ra", meaning, the "evil tongue." An evil tongue spreads hatred, lies and, most of all, slander. It is a weapon of destruction--with today's media, of mass destruction. As I recall, the Gospels have the same message in saying that it is more important what comes out of person's mouth than what goes into it. A relative of mine has for many years listened to a certain well known talk radio personality who devotes his career to spreading rage--perhaps the same one that taxi driver was listening to. Though my relative is in most respects a good man, he spends every Thanksgiving get-together ranting and raving about everything and anything. What we say and how we say it truly is of the utmost importance. If it were not for the fact that my relative is married to a level-headed and fair-minded woman with infinite patience, I fear he would have gone completely off the deep end long ago.
- —Guest David
right speech
- 1- Seeing my own faults and not those of others. This is difficult. A work in progress, although I have made great strides in realizing this task. If I ever refer to another person's faults I like to think that it serves the person of correcting the fault rather than condemning it. Sometimes that's a hard distinction to make. I like to think that the purpose is to correct but perhaps there is a surreptitious negative quality lurking. 2-- If you cannot say anything kind about another person, say nothing. Try to pay more attention to a person's good qualities but be compassionate if you must mention another's missteps.
- —GeorgeDeane
I practice right speech
- I have learned to stop cursing as much as before, and to stop calling people names.
- —Guest Pat
Right Speech
- I practice right speech by remembering to myself before I open my mouth - "Truthful and Useful". I want my words to always be truthful and just as important, I want my words to be useful in some way. Am I successful at Right Speech all the time? No. But, I am working on it. More times than I can count I have witnessed and at times personally experienced both emotional and physical suffering caused by idle, non-useful talk. "Truthful and Useful" - that is my mantra for Right Speech.
- —Guest Jim Cox
The meaning of right speech
- Rioght speech is not the political correct speech that we all hear about. Right speech is filled with compassion, uncoditional love, being nonjudgemental, honest and integraty. I think the most important part is to not just but develope the ability listen to others.
- —thundreams
Opinions
- I need to have people "own" their opinions. By that I mean, they must use "I" before each opinion as follows: "I think..." "I believe..." "I have read..." " My information trells me..." By doing this the possibility of trying to control another person is greatly reduced. Un-owned opinions are like verbal hhand grenades tossed at those who appear weak, victims, needy, looking for a hero.
- —Guest Ed
