RIGHT SPEECH
Refraining from Frivolous Speech
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Frivolous speech is
unhealthy. Refraining from frivolous speech is healthy. (MN 9)
Abandoning frivolous speech, one refrains from frivolous speech. One
speaks at the right time, speaks only what is fact, and speaks about
what is good. One speaks what is worthy of being overheard, words that
are reasonable, moderate, and beneficial. (DN 1) One practices thus:
“Others may speak frivolously, but I shall abstain from frivolous
speech.” (MN 8)
A person should examine things in such a way that while examining them,
their consciousness is not distracted and scattered externally, and not
clinging, one does not become agitated. Then there is no origination of
suffering (MN 138)
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This passage
seems written particularly for the 21st century, since so much of what
we encounter every day seems designed to distract our consciousness and
scatter it externally. Such distraction and scattering is in fact the
very origin of suffering, because it leads us to become agitated and
thereby to cling to one outcome or another. The whole process never gets
started if we learn how to avoid or resist the distractions.
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Much of what
distracts us and scatters our consciousness externally is the propensity
for frivolous speech, both in the world around us and within ourselves.
Is it asking too much to practice abstaining from unnecessary or
unworthy speech at least once in a while? These days, learning to steer
away from distraction and the scattering of our minds is a practice in
itself, and we are likely to become less agitated if we are able to do
it well.
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Tomorrow: Reflecting upon Social Action
One week from today: Refraining from False Speech
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