Discernment Guided by Compassion

RYUEI MICHAEL MCCORMICK on right speech: When should we use forceful words, or gentle ones? Or none at all?

IS IT RIGHT SPEECH to speak up for the truth if others find your words controversial, even offensive? Presumably, Buddhist practitioners endeavor to avoid falsehood, malicious or divisive speech, harsh or abusive speech, and even idle chatter or gossip. This is right speech as the Buddha defined it (e.g., Saleyyaka Sutta 45.8). In the Saleyyaka Sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya, the Buddha taught that to be in accord with the dharma one should speak what is true, what unites people, what is agreeable, and what is timely. He taught that one should speak in a way that is reasonable, moderate, and beneficial. That’s pretty straightforward. The problem is that all of us have found ourselves in situations where we felt the need to speak up for what we believe is true…

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Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's Quarterly (Digital) - 1 Issue, Summer 2024

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