Mindfulness of Speech

~ By Ajahn Jayasāro ~

Mindfulness of speech is a challenging practice, because at the same time that we try to be aware of our own speech we also have to try to be aware of our reactions to the other person’s speech.

Our responses to the person we are talking to may be improved by memorising the following checklist.

Speech may be

1.  Timely or untimely

2.  True or untrue

3.  Gentle or harsh

4.  Beneficial or unbeneficial

5.  Kindly meant or unkindly meant.

There are many possible permutations, and it is good to reflect on them.

For example, a person might address us at an appropriate time and place, speak true, beneficial words in a harsh manner, and those words could be motivated by either kindness or some other emotion such as malice or contempt.

Whatever the other person’s intentions might be, our task is to maintain the stance of good friend. Then, politely, we speak only those words that we know to be true, timely and beneficial.

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"Food for the Heart", a series of Dhamma teachings handwritten weekly is posted on the Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives page with Ajahn's kind permission.

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For other teachings by Ven. Ajahn Jayasāro, please visit the Panyaprateep Foundation website.