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Thank you for that comment about my podcast. It has What criteria or internal guidelines can we use in
been my hope that it is a somewhat fun space to explore our daily lives to determine whether our speech
the Dharma and discover ‘everyday’ reflections and aligns with Right Speech?
practices that listeners can adopt as their own.
There is a set of ten vows in Buddhism, referred to as
I was initially drawn to Buddhism in my late teens/early the Freedom Vows. They are grouped by the three
20’s, as I searched for something to ease panic attacks gateways (body, speech, and mind). Of the ten, three are
and fear of death. My older brother gave me the book related to the body, three are related to the mind, and
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse and I started exploring four are related to speech—emphasizing the primary
from there. importance of speech.

I started the podcast the year I turned 65, as a challenge Right speech is truthful, gentle, peaceful, and meaningful.
to not give in to aging, and to share what I learned in There are four restraints and their antidotes to be aware
my training as a Sensei with the Bright Dawn Center of of in practicing right speech. They are:
Oneness Buddhism. I had decades of study, practice, and
teaching experience across Buddhist schools and lineages 1) Refrain from lying; practice truthful speech.
within Tibetan, Shin, and Zen Buddhism, but I wanted to 2) Refrain from divisive talk; practice peaceful speech.
connect with those who wanted to learn about Buddhism 3) Refrain from harsh words; practice gentle speech.
in a way they could bring into their everyday lives. 4) Refrain from idle talk; practice meaningful speech.

Right Speech is one of the core practices in the This practice includes guidelines you can use to see if
Eightfold Path, emphasizing ethical and mindful what you are about to say aligns with Right Speech. Ask
living. Can you explain what the Buddha meant by yourself:
Right Speech, and why it is grouped with Right Action
and Right Livelihood under Sīla, or ethical conduct? • Is it factual and true?
This is harder than it sounds. Other than guarding
They are grouped together because they work together against outright lying, it is important to be mindful
in a holistic way, reinforcing each other to support of small fibs or white lies, that if repeated enough
ethical or wholesome behavior. I think it is our most can create a pattern of being comfortable speaking
important and difficult daily practice. untruths.
Also, everyone’s truth is true for them. It is
Other than thinking, what do you spend most of your important to try to anchor what you say to some
time doing, in your active waking hours??? Talking. Even objective truth or fact that can be agreed on.
when we’re listening, we’re talking—mentally creating
our responses. I view my thoughts as speech, as well. • Is it helpful or beneficial? Does it create harmony?
Divisive speech is driven by ill-will, resentment,
As your question highlighted, Right Speech emphasizes sarcasm, self-righteousness, or envy, in a misguided
both ethical and mindful living. The mindful living part effort to protect or support ourselves. Instead of
is critical. Since we’re always talking, if we don’t take the divisive speech, we should try to create harmony
opportunity to be mindful of this speech consistently, with our speech.
reactivity can cause us to speak before we think.
Years ago, I vowed never to share anything on social
Speech can ruin relationships, create enemies, and media unless it was a positive message. When I
start wars, or it can share compassion and wisdom, slipped up, I noticed it wasn’t that I posted blatantly
heal divisions, and create peace. Mindfulness can hateful comments, but the subtle ones that proudly
restrain our tongues and avoid the harmful effects declared my allegiance/belief in something or
of reactive speech while cultivating the peaceful and sarcastically poked fun at “the other side.”
loving aspects of Right Speech.