Right Speech

~ By Ajahn Jayasāro ~

Five areas in which to practise mindfulness of the speech of ourselves and others:

The suitability of time and place for the conversation

The truthfulness of the words spoken

The value/benefit of the conversation

The motivations of those involved

The quality/style of speech

For our own part, practising Right Speech in light of these considerations, we try to speak only true and useful words at appropriate times and places. We speak politely, our hearts established in loving-kindness.

Some observations on mindfulness of others speech:

The person in front of us is usually either telling the truth, deliberately telling an untruth, or telling an untruth believing it to be true. As the latter is always a possibility, we should not jump to conclusions if we detect an untruth.

The value or benefit meant here is not restricted to content. Someone may, for example, be speaking to us on a relatively trivial matter, but it is calming them down, allowing them to come to terms with some pain. If so, we might consider that to be beneficial speech. Benefit may be intellectual, emotional or spiritual.

Peoples’ motivations are often mixed. We should remind ourselves that we can’t read minds. All we can know are our own fallible assessments of their mental states.

Coarse speech tends to upset and alienate. Polity speech does not. Hearing views expressed politely, we are more inclined to listen. Politeness is intelligent.

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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.