Right Speech – ☕️

In Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path comprises Ethical Conduct, Mental Discipline and Wisdom. Ethical Conduct comprises Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood. Mental Discipline comprises Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. Wisdom comprises Right Thought and Right Understanding. In this post, I meditate on Right Speech.

In the Magga-Vibhanga Sutta, Right Speech is defined as the abstention from lying, divisive speech, abusive speech and idle chatter:

“And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, abstaining from divisive speech, abstaining from abusive speech, abstaining from idle chatter: This, monks, is called right speech.” (SN 45.8)

In Right Speech, Thanissaro Bhikkhu teaches that Right Speech “focus[es] on intent”. In particular, an individual practises Right Speech if and only if he speaks without negative intention(s).

Negative Intentions

On the one hand, an individual speaks with negative intentions if

He speaks with the intention:

To misrepresent the truth (i.e., false speech);
To create rifts between people (i.e., divisive speech); or
To hurt others’ feeling(s) (i.e., harsh speech); or

He speaks with no intention (i.e., idle speech).

Positive Intentions

On the other hand, an individual speaks with positive intentions if

He speaks with the intention:

To represent the truth (i.e., true speech);
To create bridges between people (i.e., harmonious speech); or
To heal others’ feeling(s) (i.e., comforting speech); or

He speaks with some [other] positive intention (i.e., meaningful speech).

Additional Resources

Buddhist teachings on Right Speech can be accessed here.

Notes. The Magga-Vibhanga Sutta is a sutta (discourse) in the Magga-Samyutta. The Magga-Samyutta is a samyutta (chapter) in the Maha Vagga. The Maha Vagga is a vagga (section) in the Samyutta Nikaya. The Samyutta Nikaya is a nikaya (collection) in the Sutta Pitaka. The Sutta Pitaka is a pitaka (basket) in the Tipitaka. The Tipitaka is the Pali Canon which forms the doctrinal foundation of Theravada Buddhism.