On Right Speech

Basic Explanation of Sammavaca

Bhikkhus, what is sammavaca like? The intention to refrain from false speech, the intention to refrain from divisive speech, the intention to refrain from crude speech, and the intention to refrain from frivolous speech, Bhikkhus, this is what we call "sammavaca."

Standard For Scrutinizing "Spoken Karma"

Rahula, when you desire to do any verbal kamma, first reflect upon that kamma: "This verbal action that I desire to do, does it lead to harm for myself, lead to harm for others, or lead to harm for both sides; is it an unwholesome verbal action with dukkha as its return and dukkha as its result?" Rahula, if you reflect and then feel that it is so, then you absolutely should not do such a verbal action.

Rahula, if you reflect and then feel that: "This verbal action which I desire to do, does not lead to harm for myself, does not lead to harm for others, and does not lead to harm for both sides; it is a wholesome verbal action, that has joy as its return and has joy as its result"; then, Rahula, you ought to do such a verbal action.

[One also reflects while doing the verbal kamma and after completing it.]

Well-Spoken Words Are Sammavaca

Bhikkhus, words having these five characteristics are words well-spoken, are not words badly-spoken, are blameless words which the wise do not criticize. What are these five characteristics? The five are:

spoken at the proper time
spoken in line with the truth
spoken gently
spoken beneficially
spoken with a friendly heart

(Kalena bhasita hoti)
(Sacca bhasita hoti)
(Sanha bhasita hoti)
(Atthasanhita bhasita hoti)
(Mettacittena bhasita hoti)

Bhikkhus, speech having these five characteristics are words well-spoken, are not words badly-spoken, are blameless words which the wise do not criticize.

For more "Teachings From the Buddha's Own Lips"
concerning Right Speech please click here.

Ten Subjects Worthy of Discussion (gathavatthu)

subjects suitable for discussion among bhikkhus,
topics which ought to be discussed by Sadhammika comrades.

Appiccha-gatha: talk about or favorable to wanting little, words that inspire us to have few wants and desires.
Santutthi-gatha: talk about or favorable to contentment, words that inspire satisfaction with what we have and disinterest in conveniences and luxuries.
Paviveka-gatha: talk about or favorable to solitude and seclusion, words that inspire physical, mental, and spiritual solitude (freedom from disturbances).
Asamsagga-gatha: talk about or favorable to not mingling together, words that inspire us to not waste precious time and energy socializing.
Viriyarambha-gatha: talk about or favorable to perseverance and summoning effort, words that inspire effort and striving in our practice.
Sila-gatha: talk about or favorable to virtue and good conduct, words that inspire us to to be well established in morality (normality).
Samadhi-gatha: talk about or favorable to well-established, stable, focused, integrated minds, words that inspire clarity and stability of mind.
Pañña-gatha: talk about or favorable to intelligence and wisdom, words that inspire or lead to the arising of spiritual insight.
Vimutti-gatha: talk about or favorable to liberation, words that lead the mind toward kilesa and dukkha.
Vimutti-ñanadassana-gatha: talk about or favorable to the knowledge and vision of liberation, words that inspire interest and understanding regarding knowledge and vision of liberation from upadana and dukkha.

(Sources: M.i.145; iii.113; A.v.129.)

Please limit all conversations on the Buddhadasa list to these vatthu (matters)..