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A group of friends went lunching together at a food court. As they sat to eat, as if it\u2019s the most natural thing in the world, everyone\u2019s tongue begins wagging, instead of mindfully munching their food. A bonding session some would say this is, where the like-minded gather to often vent their displeasures on particular subjects or someone.<\/p>\n
In the Noble Eightfold Path, I would think Right Speech is the easily to uphold and to ‘break’. What is Right speech?<\/p>\n
[1] Do I speak at the right time, or not?<\/strong>
\nSensitivity of timing is crucial. E.g. Don’t tell a recently bereaved mother how wonderful other kids are.<\/p>\n[2] Do I speak of facts, or not?<\/strong>
\nSpeculations and exaggerations are not facts.<\/p>\n[3] Do I speak gently or harshly?<\/strong>
\nHarsh speech can hurt, though gentle devious speech can too.<\/p>\n[4] Do I speak profitable words or not? <\/strong>
\nSpeech that does not benefit anyone is basically useless.<\/p>\n[5] Do I speak with a kindly heart, or inwardly malicious?<\/strong>
\nSpeech spoken out of spite furthers hate.<\/p>\n\u2014 AN V (From The Patimokkha, \u00d1anamoli Thera, trans.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Most of us are probably guilty of failing one or more of the above once in a while. When untimely, untrue, unbeneficial and unkind speech is spoken it is as good as a terrorist planting a time bomb. When a matter is being blown out of portion, it could even cost lives in the worst case scenarios. Malicious speech can KILL, even if one might not have that intention.<\/p>\n
There’s a cautionary Chinese idiom that made a great impression on me since young… The famous actress Ruan Lingyu was herself a victim of gossip. She was hounded by tabloids and under severe pressure, she finally decided to take her own life to prove her innocence – by overdosing on sleeping pills on the early morning of 8th March 1935. She left a suicide note that made this idiom famous – \u4eba\u8a00\u53ef\u754f – ‘Human speech is a fearful thing’. Thank goodness, on the other side of the spectrum, human speech can be made with compassion and wisdom.<\/p>\n
A slip of the tongue can lead to much misunderstanding. A mouthful of gossip can indirectly lead to the breaking of the first precept of not killing. Imagine a girl, who decided to fill her balcony with dandelions. Every day, she takes great care of them, ensuring she waters and fertilises them well. One day, a strong gush of wind sweeps by, causing her fully blossomed dandelions to float away. She was upset, but she could not do much. The petals were carried far and away, drifting towards various directions. Some land on fertile soil and blossom aplenty. Every seed of wrong speech can grow into more seeds. That, is the nature of gossip!<\/p>\n