💝 Making Mindfulness Meditation Work For You Part 4 - The Noble Eightfold Path - Right Speech 💝

soulsistashakti (63)in #meditation • 7 years ago

I’m having a lot of fun writing this series and today’s installment we enter into the realm of conduct on the Noble Eightfold Path exploring the element of Right Speech. I wrote this essay recently on lying, Lying: It’s Effects and It’s Solution, and it’s always a topic that fascinates me in looking at the way it creates conditions for negative repercussions. That’s only a very small part of this step on the so let’s jump in and unpack this.

The Buddhist View of Right Speech

A lot of the speech that people engage in is unconscious. People tend to say whatever pops into their heads or as a reaction to something rather than a thoughtful response. We are going to see how the way that we use speech has ramifications for ourselves and everyone around us. I hopped over to tricycle.com a publisher of Buddhist thought and teachings and this is what they had to say about Right Speech:

Right Speech means abstention (1) from telling lies, (2) from backbiting and slander and talk that may bring about hatred, enmity, disunity and disharmony among individuals or groups of people, (3) from harsh, rude, impolite, malicious and abusive language, and (4) from idle, useless and foolish babble and gossip. When one abstains from these forms of wrong and harmful speech one naturally has to speak the truth, has to use words that are friendly and benevolent, pleasant and gentle, meaningful and useful. One should not speak carelessly: speech should be at the right time and place. If one cannot say something useful, one should keep “noble silence.”

Yikes. That seems like a pretty tall order. Luckily if you manage to get down to the last line it gives you an option that doesn’t appear to be such a herculean task and that is “noble silence. But, that can be difficult, too. That is why all these aspects of the path including meditation work together and create the conditions where “awakening” or “enlightenment” can arise and flourish. Awakening is not only dis-identifying with thought but conducting yourself in an ethical and dignified manner. Let’s go through these four categories of undesirable speech we are implored to avoid.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

a) Telling lies

In the Buddhist view not lying, or being truthful, is a lot more than just not telling lies. Speaking with the intent of deceiving or omitting information as well as giving the appearance of something other than what is true. Also, spreading information that you have not fact checked is in this category – and how often is this going on in our society today? It is out of control and it is harming our ability to engage in discourse in this country and others. Covering up the truth is also right up there with lying and these others as in knowing someone is harming others for example sexual abuse but not wanting to speak up for fear of causing trouble. This has a name in Buddhism and it is known as “idiot compassion.” I think the label speaks for itself.

b) Slander, hate speech and divisive rhetoric

We need not look any further than our own current leaders to see this kind of speech in action and the hurt that it causes. The divisive and hateful rhetoric that has been going on the national stage is at a fevered pitch. There is no constructive dialogue that can emerge in this environment and our society is suffering.

c) Harsh, rude impolite or malicious slander

We all know what it means to be rude. But so many people do it. We are nice to the people that we like. But what about the people we don’t like? What about when someone does something we don’t like? Seems like our manners can fly out the window when things do go our way. Yet this behavior will impede our progress on this path and in life in general. It is never a good idea to slander someone but what if someone has actually done something very wrong and justice needs to be served? You can seek justice without engaging in slander it’s that simple. Also, is it justice you are out for or revenge? Only you know.

d) Idle, useless and foolish babble and gossip

Falling under this category is gossip. Even if we don’t think we are gossiping watch the next time you are having a conversation with a friend and talking about a troubling situation that involves someone else that you are trying to figure out. It may start out as asking for advice or you may even feel like you just need to vent. Watch as this can very easily devolve in gossip. It is a slippery slope. As one progresses on the Buddhist path and wisdom is developed one learns that it becomes idle chatter to discuss other people in a negative way behind their back. It is better to seek out a wise elder or professional to discuss whatever needs to be resolved with a real solution in mind. I hope you see the difference between seeking counsel and gossip.

Photo by Randall Bruder on Unsplash

Science Says the Human Brain is Wired For Gossip

Yes, this is true. I’ve read several articles to this effect and here is one you can check out if you are interested Gossip is a Social Skill Not a Character Flaw. So if we are wired for it does that mean it’s OK to do it? Not so fast. We are also wired to pass our genes onto the next generation and to find a mate with the best genes so just because through natural selection we become wired in a certain way does not mean this is good for us modern humans. Yes, many of the same seeming benefits of gossip from then and now such as warning another member of the group, or the office, is a freeloader or somehow not a person to be trusted. But there is another side effect of gossiping: We start to see that bad trait we are gossiping about everywhere. I already demonstrated the confirmation bias in the previous post so we may start feeling like we have to protect ourselves from the traits we are gossiping about because every time we turn around there it is! Not a good way to go about living your life. We should be engaging in behaviors that promote our well being, wisdom and ultimate happiness! Let alone enlightenment. Because we are not “wired” with automatic behaviors for happiness or enlightenment but we are for survival of species. I think we have done OK with propagating the species, don't you? What we really need as the human race is to learn how to treat each other and help each other.

Photo by Mihai Surdu on Unsplash

Use Speech Wisely

We’ve all said things that we regret and we have all been on the receiving end of malicious speech. It can be so easy to fall into this kind of talk when we feel justified and filled with self-righteousness or anger. But I hope that I have illustrated the harm that comes with it not only to others but to ourselves. And thus again we see the wisdom that has been preserved for thousands of years to save ourselves from ourselves. Let’s avoid using our speech as a weapon and commit to using it as an instrument of peace. It’s up to us.

What do you think?