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May 1, 2025 Right Speech (By Way of Right Listening)   These days the Buddhist concept of right speech might bring to mind political discourse or the media—social or mainstream—and the lack of right speech therein. But this quality, part of the eightfold path and also one of the five precepts, starts on a personal level.  The four kinds of verbal misconduct to avoid are false speech (or lying), harsh speech, useless speech, and idle speech (or gossip). But refraining from this kind of unwholesome communication can be difficult; patterns of speech, often rooted in long-held habits or beliefs, can be hard to overcome.  It might be helpful to start with close listening and recognizing positive intentions. After all, as nurse practitioner and mindfulness teacher Beth Roth says, “Without the capacity to listen deeply, all the right speech in the world was of little use.” Practicing right listening and focusing on intentions won’t just help with receiving the wrong, or right, speech of others, but will also help illuminate what effective and positive speech looks like.  This week’s Three Teachings shares advice for developing and sticking to right speech, by way of right listening. Forward today's teachings to a friend » Right Speech Reconsidered By Beth Roth In a teaching and personal reflection on attempting to communicate with her teenage son, a nurse practitioner and mindfulness teacher realizes the importance of right listening in the context of right speech, which she calls a lifelong kind of mindfulness practice. Read more » What Do You Say? By Mudita Nisker Drawing on systems theory and Buddhist principles, a communication coach shares guidance on developing skillful communication habits, focusing first on how to respond to other people’s speech. Read more » The Buddha’s Communication Toolbox With Oren Jay Sofer ​​In this four-part Dharma Talk, insight meditation teacher and nonviolent communication trainer Oren Jay Sofer shares three foundations of mindful communication to bring your deeper values and intentions into every interaction. Learn to create the conditions for understanding, use basic building blocks of good conversation, and identify and skillfully express your needs. Watch now »