Before we get into the step on the Noble Path of Right Speech, I think its important to spell something out for those of you who haven’t done much study on Buddhism. Mainly, the Eightfold Path isn’t like the Ten Commandments for Buddhists. If you violate one of the principles, Buddha won’t smite you, nor will you make him cry. The path is meant to ease ones own experiences on the wheel of samsara. The one most affected by the transgression is the transgressor and their “victims” for lack of a better word. Whatever interpretation of god you have doesn’t really care about how much you stick to the eightfold path. So, with that in mind, let’s talk about Right Speech.
And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, abstaining from divisive speech, abstaining from abusive speech, abstaining from idle chatter: This, monks, is called right speech. SN 45 Translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Right Speech is probably one of the easiest parts of the path to contemplate. First, don’t lie. Lies nearly always end poorly. Lies complicate ones life to an absurd degree, even if the lie does not cause any apparent harm, there is still the problem of keeping track of who knows what.
When we speak what we say should be beneficial, or put another way, we should talk about things that help people rather than injure them. Refraining from gossip is probably the most obvious way to perform this facet of right speech. Not only does gossip do injury to the person talked about, it injures the person gossiping. When we spend our time talking ill of other people we are focusing on things that upset us or annoy us. Gossip forces us to look for the unseemly in the world. In doing so, we become more unseemly.
That which is endearing improves the world we live in. Does this mean we should only say nice things to people? Certainly not, but criticism should be given in a spirit of charity, not as a way to degrade someone. Frankly, the world is full of horrible things and people, right speech asks us to help them out of their despair, not make it worse with harsh language.
Of course, propriety is also important. Telling the world that a woman used to beat her children, which is why they hadn’t talked to her in years at the woman’s funeral is inappropriate and useless. Timing is difficult no matter what you have to say. Despite the fact what you have to say is beneficial and true, if it is said at the wrong time, nothing will be gained.
I really do think that right speech is probably one of the easiest of the Noble Eightfold Path to perform, and also one of the most important. Your speech is everyone’s first impression of you. While it is certainly true that actions speak louder than words, your words are what people take away most readily.
