Right Speech/Noble Speech
One who practices right speech speaks the truth and is steadfast in truthfulness, trustworthy,
dependable, straightforward with others. He (she) reconciles the quarrelling and encourages
the united. He delights in harmony, seeks after harmony, rejoices in harmony, and creates
harmony by his words. His speech is gentle, pleasing to the ear, kindly, heartwarming,
courteous, agreeable, and enjoyable to many. He speaks at the proper time, according to
the facts, according to what is helpful, according to Dhamma and the Code of Conduct.
His words are worth remembering, timely, well-reasoned, well-chosen, and constructive.
One who practices right speech speaks the truth and is steadfast in truthfulness, trustworthy,
dependable, straightforward with others. He (she) reconciles the quarrelling and encourages
the united. He delights in harmony, seeks after harmony, rejoices in harmony, and creates
harmony by his words. His speech is gentle, pleasing to the ear, kindly, heartwarming,
courteous, agreeable, and enjoyable to many. He speaks at the proper time, according to
the facts, according to what is helpful, according to Dhamma and the Code of Conduct.
His words are worth remembering, timely, well-reasoned, well-chosen, and constructive.
- Cula-hatthi-padopama sutta
The same can be found in the Bible (Matthew 5:37) - sounding very brief and zen: "But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes ' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil."
I remember the time when I first heard about the Right Speech - not so long ago! During my very first vipassana retreat (by Goenka). I understood very well why it was so essential not to speak for 10 days during the retreat. Not even look at each other or use any gestures, body language. We are so much conditioned by "good old" habits how to communicate, and in my personal opinion we are conditioned by the language. So to start with it was good not to communicate at all, no risk for making mistakes! This is called Noble Silence.
Noble Silence
See, it is very difficult to meditate, to go around, to eat, sit, rest in total silence. It is only your brain buzzing all the time in a kind of boring, monotonous fashion. We are used to the constant chattering going around us. Most of us feel embarrased to stay silent when we are more than one person, and there are some who even talk loud when he/she is alone.
We are somehow closed in into our language. Right now it would be rather long to discuss in which way are we closed in into it, but most of our societies are built up on pure verbalism and in that way have gotten very far from the truth.
To understand this: one who practices right speech speaks the truth requires to realize, our language(s) is a poor tool to express our understanding about the truth, and often it is anything but the truth. I don't say that when speaking we are constantly lying. But if we don't make any effort to be aware what we say, and we don't make an effort to talk honestly about what we momentary understand of the truth, then I would say, our speech is not the right/noble speech.
According to Dhamma and the Code of Conduct
Being aware what we are saying means that we constantly put our present understanding in the horinzon of Dhamma before we say anything. Doing this needs really high awareness and very good knowledge and understanding of the Dhamma. It's not impossible though, hence we all have the Dhamma inside us, only needs to be dug up (with meditation and education).
It is much easier to stay silent than to speak only the truth. I experienced the soothing and healing effect of 10-day silence at the retreat. Without the dimension of Noble Silence I would have difficulties to realize what Noble Speech is.
One can say: why do we talk then? Because although language is a poor tool, but we have nothing else better right now to communicate with each other. Is it necessary to communicate with each other? Yes, definetely: we are one and the same, we are connected to each other like pearls on a necklace.
Be straightforward with others.
It means (for me) not to keep back the truth, and only the truth, that is: do not lie. Keep back the truth can mean two things: say false or stay silent when one could actually say the truth. Difficult? Yes, in some situations it is very difficult to decide whether it is better to speak out straightforward what we think or remain silent not to cause disturbances. There are many things to be considered: how the other(s) understanding can be (age, education, intelligence, mental status...almost even the weather!). One should always think ahead what consequences can it bring whether we speak or not. It is part of the truth.
His speech is gentle, pleasing to the ear, kindly, heartwarming,
courteous, agreeable, and enjoyable to many.
Not too loud or harsh, ironic or ambiguous, not too much, not too little either. No backbiting and slander, no making up stories and no idle gossip and meaningless chatter.
His words are worth remembering, timely, well-reasoned, well-chosen, and constructive.
Well, you might say it is way too demanding! Don't worry about it. I believe one who understood the Dhamma and is keen to live according to the Dhamma, one who pracices the Dhamma and meditates, lights the fire of love and compassion in his/her heart and lives a simple life accoring to the ethical principles doesn't have to worry about the Right Speech and doesn't have to put extra effort into observing his/her speech. It comes with the practice. Ones mind is getting sharper and sharper, and one be able to have a proper distance to be aware of his/her own words. Compassion in your heart, compassion in your speech.
I remember the time when I first heard about the Right Speech - not so long ago! During my very first vipassana retreat (by Goenka). I understood very well why it was so essential not to speak for 10 days during the retreat. Not even look at each other or use any gestures, body language. We are so much conditioned by "good old" habits how to communicate, and in my personal opinion we are conditioned by the language. So to start with it was good not to communicate at all, no risk for making mistakes! This is called Noble Silence.
Noble Silence
See, it is very difficult to meditate, to go around, to eat, sit, rest in total silence. It is only your brain buzzing all the time in a kind of boring, monotonous fashion. We are used to the constant chattering going around us. Most of us feel embarrased to stay silent when we are more than one person, and there are some who even talk loud when he/she is alone.
We are somehow closed in into our language. Right now it would be rather long to discuss in which way are we closed in into it, but most of our societies are built up on pure verbalism and in that way have gotten very far from the truth.
To understand this: one who practices right speech speaks the truth requires to realize, our language(s) is a poor tool to express our understanding about the truth, and often it is anything but the truth. I don't say that when speaking we are constantly lying. But if we don't make any effort to be aware what we say, and we don't make an effort to talk honestly about what we momentary understand of the truth, then I would say, our speech is not the right/noble speech.
According to Dhamma and the Code of Conduct
Being aware what we are saying means that we constantly put our present understanding in the horinzon of Dhamma before we say anything. Doing this needs really high awareness and very good knowledge and understanding of the Dhamma. It's not impossible though, hence we all have the Dhamma inside us, only needs to be dug up (with meditation and education).
It is much easier to stay silent than to speak only the truth. I experienced the soothing and healing effect of 10-day silence at the retreat. Without the dimension of Noble Silence I would have difficulties to realize what Noble Speech is.
One can say: why do we talk then? Because although language is a poor tool, but we have nothing else better right now to communicate with each other. Is it necessary to communicate with each other? Yes, definetely: we are one and the same, we are connected to each other like pearls on a necklace.
Be straightforward with others.
It means (for me) not to keep back the truth, and only the truth, that is: do not lie. Keep back the truth can mean two things: say false or stay silent when one could actually say the truth. Difficult? Yes, in some situations it is very difficult to decide whether it is better to speak out straightforward what we think or remain silent not to cause disturbances. There are many things to be considered: how the other(s) understanding can be (age, education, intelligence, mental status...almost even the weather!). One should always think ahead what consequences can it bring whether we speak or not. It is part of the truth.
His speech is gentle, pleasing to the ear, kindly, heartwarming,
courteous, agreeable, and enjoyable to many.
Not too loud or harsh, ironic or ambiguous, not too much, not too little either. No backbiting and slander, no making up stories and no idle gossip and meaningless chatter.
His words are worth remembering, timely, well-reasoned, well-chosen, and constructive.
Well, you might say it is way too demanding! Don't worry about it. I believe one who understood the Dhamma and is keen to live according to the Dhamma, one who pracices the Dhamma and meditates, lights the fire of love and compassion in his/her heart and lives a simple life accoring to the ethical principles doesn't have to worry about the Right Speech and doesn't have to put extra effort into observing his/her speech. It comes with the practice. Ones mind is getting sharper and sharper, and one be able to have a proper distance to be aware of his/her own words. Compassion in your heart, compassion in your speech.
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