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. | 
