Dharma Study Session: Practicing with Right Speech (Zoom only)

In one of his teachings on Right Speech, the Buddha said,

"And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, abstaining from divisive speech, abstaining from harsh speech, abstaining from idle chatter: This, monks, is called right speech." - Maggavibhanga Sutta, SN: 45:8

In another sutta, the Buddha clarified this teaching thus:

"Monks, a statement endowed with five factors is well-spoken, not ill-spoken. It is blameless & unfaulted by knowledgeable people. Which five?

"It is spoken at the right time. It is spoken in truth. It is spoken affectionately. It is spoken beneficially. It is spoken with a mind of good-will." - Vaca Sutta, AN 5.198

These teachings provide a wise guide to help us to learn to speak with greater care to avoid causing suffering. Since we speak frequently throughout each day -- to colleagues, to family members, to friends and neighbors, and to strangers -- opportunities arise often for us to speak impulsively and unskillfully, or carefully and mindfully. 

In this Dharma study session, we will focus on learning to use the Buddha's wise teachings to speak more skillfully, with care and compassion, and to be more mindful of abstaining from harmful speech. There will be multiple opportunities over the course of the morning to practice speaking more skillfully as well as time for questions and group discussion. I hope you can join us.

"The problem is not one of being wrong or right, but one of being more or less skillful."  - Thich Nhat Hanh