Yesterday, I found these instructions from the Buddha on right speech:
The criteria for deciding what is worth saying
[1] “In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be unfactual, untrue, unbeneficial (or: not connected with the goal), unendearing & disagreeable to others, he does not say them.
[2] “In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be factual, true, unbeneficial, unendearing & disagreeable to others, he does not say them.
[3] “In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be factual, true, beneficial, but unendearing & disagreeable to others, he has a sense of the proper time for saying them.
[4] “In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be unfactual, untrue, unbeneficial, but endearing & agreeable to others, he does not say them.
[5] “In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be factual, true, unbeneficial, but endearing & agreeable to others, he does not say them.
[6] “In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be factual, true, beneficial, and endearing & agreeable to others, he has a sense of the proper time for saying them. Why is that? Because the Tathagata has sympathy for living beings.”
—Abhaya Sutta: To Prince Abhaya
(On Right Speech)
So I thought I would draw out a flow chart
I’m not sure my flowchart makes it less convoluted….
but food for thought.
Your flow chart is great! It appears the deciding factors are “beneficial,” and “true.” All the options that are unbeneficial or untrue end up with don’t say the words. That is very clear!
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Thank you! 😊❤️
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Nice! Factual, beneficial and true needs to wait for the best time, whether they are appealing or popular or not.
Unfactual or unbeneficial means be quiet.
great stuff. Thanks for sharing.
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handy flow chart. More people should follow.
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Thanks Simon!
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