R E S O U R C E S
8x Path - Speech
gaurded
Speech, along with Action & Livelihood, are three primary ways by which we engage with the world. This is how we "act." As path factors these three join under the "Morality" group (+ wisdom and concentration).
It is noteworthy that of all the facets of our life that could be considered, in relation to a path of spiritual practice, speech gets its own 'slot.' The power of speech is not to be underestimated and, with our means of communication rapidly extending, we need to be especially gaurded here. One or two of your words can make the difference between someone having a good day or not; let alone starting a war - or paving the way to peace. Speech is one quality that distinguishes humans from other species. We have a great many choices over the words we use. We can enoble or degrade.
The Buddha divides right speech into four components:
• abstaining from false speech
• abstaining from slanderous speech
• abstaining from harsh speech
• and abstaining from idle chatter.
False speech:
This specific mode of speech is also found as the fourth of the five precepts [ § ]. In this context there are two sides to consider - restraining the negative (not lying) and the positive gain of speaking truthfully.
"Herein someone avoids false speech and abstains from it. Speaking the truth, devoted to truth, reliable, worthy of confidence, not a deceiver of people. Being at a meeting, or amongst people, or in the midst of relatives, or in a society, or in the king's court, and called upon and asked as witness to tell what they know, they answer, if knowing nothing: "I know nothing," and if knowing, answers: "I know"; if they have seen nothing, they answer: "I have seen nothing," and if they have seen, they answer: "I have seen." Thus they never knowingly speak a lie, either for the sake of their own advantage, or for the sake of another person's advantage, or for the sake of any advantage whatsoever."
Anguttara 10:176
Human society is only possible in an atmosphere of mutual trust. It is the nature of lies that they multiply - another lie needed to cover the first, and so forth. There is no peace. One translation of 'dhamma' is "the truth of the way things are." The spiritual journey is a quest for truth - the dispelling of delusion, falsehood. We can begin with speech - making a commitment to what is real, what is true.
watch the mouth
Springing from aversion or hatred slander slander is a particularly unwholesome kamma. The underlying intention is to cause harm to others, to divide, to pull them down (and thus raise me up). When the slanderous statement is false the unwholesome kamma is considerable.
"He avoids slanderous speech and abstains from it. What he has heard here he does not repeat there, so as to cause dissension there; and what he has heard there he does not repeat here, so as to cause dissension here. Thus he unites those that are divided; and those that are united he encourages. Concord gladdens him, he delights and rejoices in concord; and it is concord that he spreads by his words." Anguttara 10:176
The kammic result of abstaining from slander is gaining of a group of friends who can never be turned against one by the slanderous words of others.
or bullying
"He avoids harsh language and abstains from it. He speaks such words as are gentle, soothing to the ear, loving, such words as go to the heart, and are courteous, friendly, and agreeable to many." Anguttara 10:176
As with slander, harsh speech arises through some form of anger or aversion. The intention is to cause pain, or to intimidate another. This defilement often arises quite impulsively so isn't as kammically unwholesome as slander; often planned or consciously undertaken. Harsh speech can appear as insult, abuse, sarcasm, insolenceor or name calling.
"The bases of abuse are rank of birth, personal name, clan name, work, art, disease, physical appearance, mental stains, faults, and other bases. There are both direct abuse and sarcasm and ridicule or teasing." Vinaya IV,4-11
To balance the impulsive nature of harsh speech we need to develop compassion - to see the mutual suffering in unpleasant situations. We need to cultivate patience and tolerance - both with ourselves and others. We need to see the danger in reacting too quickly in heated moments - to reflect (in un-heated moments) on the unwholesome kamma, the result of speaking harshly.
blah de blah blah
"He avoids idle chatter and abstains from it. He speaks at the right time, in accordance with facts, speaks what is useful, speaks of Dhamma and Vinaya; his speech is like a treasure, uttered at the right moment, accompanied by reason, moderate and full of sense." Anguttara 10:176
Idle chatter is void of substance or real meaning, generally pointless with no depth. It is the kind of chatty fluff that fills up social spaces but doesn't really communicate much of value. There is certainly a place for social or affectionate 'small talk' or polite conversation in business and the like but care is needed as this can rattle on well beyond its useful function, filling the mind with .... blah blah blah ... the noise sheep make?
The same energy of restraint around filling the mind with clutter can also be applied in relation to the huge array of 'information' devices currently available: television, radio, newspapers, pulp journals, cinema, cell phones, mp3 players, the internet. Most of the material that comes to us via the media is not relevant to our life and only succeeds in dulling our senses, our clarity and discernment - the very things needed for developing the spiritual path.
Our speech is very much an expression of our inner world. Developing right speech is a key support in developing our inner, spiritual world. Silence and solitude are of great value in this work. Even right speech can distract us from looking deeply within and it is not uncommon for meditation retreats to use noble silence.
Talk favourable to wanting little; to contentment; to seclusion; to not mingling together; to making effort; to good conduct; to concentration; to understanding and insight; to deliverance; and talk favourable to the knowledge and vision of deliverance. Talk which leads to harmony, to unity, to truth, to concord, clarity and understanding.