RIGHT SPEECH

CULTIVATION

BUDDHIST NOBLE EIGHT FOLD PATH

Right speech is about is about being conscious and aware of what we are saying and doing. Morality is not about being judgmental or making us feel unnecessarily guilty. It is about learning how to assess ourselves honestly and being humble when we see we are not perfect, rather than feeling depressed or inadequate. Right speech includes everything we say. We might think perhaps that speech is not as important as an action but speech – and its development, the written word – can have a big impact, leading to either good or bad consequences. Our modern age has a tremendous capacity and range of verbal expression, so it is more important than ever that we practice right speech. Right speech has four elements. The first is abstaining from false speech, or lying, and cultivating truthful speech. Always being truthful helps accord with the reality and dispels illusion. The second is abstaining from harsh speech, shouting insulting, or being sarcastic, and cultivating courteous, friendly speech. This relies on patience an tolerance. The fourth is abstaining from idle chatter, including television, radio, and newspapers, and cultivating speech that is important and valuable. This is supported by mindfulness – not letting our attention be distracted by sensationalism.


quote by BUDDHA

EXAMINATION

Condemnation without investigation is the height of ignorance.

quote by Albert Einstein 

PERCEIVERS

We are perceivers. We are awareness; we are not objects; we have no solidity. We are boundless...We, or rather our reason, forget (this) & thus entrap the totality of ourselves in a vicious circle from which we entrap the totality of our selves in a vicious circle from which we rarely emerge in our life time.

quote by Don Juan

GOSSIP CROP

A trouble maker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. The Bible Proverbs 16:28 

Gossip is to a friendship what weeds are to a garden. as weeds choke a garden, so gossip saps the strength & chokes the growth of relationships. TheBible highlights dozens of friendships & relationships built on qualities like trust, affection, mutual purpose, & mission. Such characterize the intense bond between biblical characters like David & Jonathan & Paul & Silas. When we gossip with close friends, a subtle change affects our friendship. Our dearest friends may become haunted by the persistent thought that maybe they would find their own name as our hot topic in another social circle. Who's to say we wouldn't slice & dice them, too, if the opportunity arose? We may never betray a best friend by gossip, but human nature allows the suspicion to remain. By publicly dismantling another person'sdignity, even within the intimacy of a close circle of friends, we have demonstrated the destruction we are capable of. 

Prayer/Meditaion for the dayToday, Lord, help me deal with gossip in a godly way. Help me spread only good news instead. 

Taken from the book, 'The One Year Daily Wisdom'