Page 73 - The Buddha‘s Noble Eightfold Path

Speaking the truth really means being ourselves. Not in the

conventional, social sense, as when we are said to 'be ourselves'
at a party, which usually means not being ourselves at all, but in

the sense of giving expression in terms of speech to what we
really and truly are and know that we are. Speaking the truth,
however, even in this more rarified sense, this fuller, deeper and

more spiritual sense, is not done in a vacuum. You do not just go
up to the top of the Post Office Tower and speak the truth to the

stars. The truth is always spoken to someone: to another person,
another human being. This brings us to the second level of
Perfect Speech, or the second stage of communication.

(2) The Level of Affectionateness

Perfect Speech is not only truthful, even in the fullest sense; it is
also affectionate and loving. It is the truth spoken in or with love.
It does not mean just using terms of endearment, or anything of

that sort. Speaking with affection, or with love, in this context
means speaking the truth in its fullness with complete awareness

of the person to whom you are speaking. Now how many of us
can do this? If we think about it, we will realize that when we
speak to people we do not usually look at them. Have you ever

noticed this? It is probably true in your case, and in the case of
the people who speak to you. When they speak to you, or when

you speak to them, you do not look at them. You look over their
shoulder, you look at their forehead, up at the ceiling, down at
the ground — anywhere, almost, except at the person to whom

you are speaking. If you do not even look at them (and this is one
of the things we try to correct in our communication

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