The Color of Right Speech

“The only thing

more frustrating than slanderers

is those foolish enough

to listen to them.” 
(Criss Jami, Killosophy)

As municipal elections are approaching in Alberta, political discourse abounds. Some of this discourse reflects robust debate of issues affecting our communities. Much of the proffered speech, on the other hand, is at its core unkind and quite possibly un-true.

Many of our world's sacred writings instruct us in the way of, what Buddhism calls, "right speech" - words that bring healing to our world. Right speech, in the Buddhist example, is defined by words that are:

• true
• kind
• beneficial
• hearable by the listener
• spoken at the right time and in the right place

If we were all to adhere to these dictums, much of our conversation would not happen. All to often I find myself the recipient of words that are spoken in criticism about somebody else; gossip of sorts, or at the very least, unkind speech. I have also spent my fair share of lung capacity fueling speech that in no way reflects the above list of virtuous discourse.

“Often those that criticise others

reveal what he himself lacks.” 

(Shannon L. Alder)

 

What we say is a window into our perspective on ourselves, and on life as we experience it. As one adage states, "other people's opinions of you are none of your business." Thus, when we are critical of each other in our speech it unveils very little about the other, and a great deal about ourselves.

“How would your life be different if…

You walked away

from gossip and verbal defamation?

Let today be the day…

You speak only the good you know

of other people

and encourage others to do the same.” 

(Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free)

I'm not sure why normally kind and gentle people often feel they have cultural permission to speak very negatively about political leaders/candidates, however, I observe it happening. No good can come of this; this does not heal our world. If we are frustrated we need to seek change, not slander. 

Let us commit to right speech today. Let's pledge ourselves to words that are true, kind, beneficial, hearable, and timely. Let us do this because it reflects the truth of the soul - that we are created as an expression of Love. Let us do this because the world we live in has already heard enough criticism and slander; I really can't imagine that any amount of goodness has ever arisen from hurtful words.

My hope this election time - that candidates would speak honorably of each other; that their words would reveal their most noble character. Then we would have someone worth electing.

I leave the last word to Jean-Yves Leloup:

“Lead us toward a speech,

which is as beautiful as silence,

and toward a silence,

which is as beautiful

as the sweetest and truest of words.” 

(Jean-Yves Leloup, Compassion and Meditation)

The color of right speech...

sunshine and rain upon the soil of our being.

Sticks and stones

heart and bones

some lives mended

some lives groan

some words heal

or sharpen steel

cut you through

the words you wheal

Speak

Listen

Pray

To Ponder Further:

- From the Bible: "Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For 'Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.'" (1 Peter 3.9-11)

 - From Buddhism: "One should speak only that word by which one would not torment oneself nor harm others. That word is indeed well spoken." (Thag 21)

-From Hinduism: "All things are determined by speech; speech is their root, and from speech they proceed. Therefore he who is dishonest with respect to speech is dishonest in everything. (Laws of Manu 4.256)