Right Speech in Dating Profiles

Buddhism
Philosophy
Author

Lam Fu Yuan, Kevin

Published

May 16, 2020

In Race Restrictions: Just a Preference?, Corvino argues that individuals should not express their racial preferences on their dating profiles. This is because such an expression of racial preferences “reinforces the racist environment” for an “already marginalised group”. In this post, I argue that the expression of racial preferences in dating profiles is inconsistent with the practice of Right Speech if it is performed with the intention to either create rifts between people or hurt others’ feelings.

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 an individual does not practise Right Speech if he speaks with negative intention(s). He also teaches that an individual speaks with negative intentions if he speaks with the intention to either create rifts between people (i.e., divisive speech) or hurt others’ feelings (i.e., harsh speech).

Therefore, the expression of racial preferences in dating profiles is inconsistent with the practice of Right Speech if it is performed with the intention to either create rifts between people or hurt others’ feelings.


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 form the doctrinal foundation of Theravada Buddhism.

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