The Right Way To Speak
[Presented by Dr.Han Tun @ SariputtaDhamma/JTN]
SN 8.5 Subhaasita Sutta: Well spoken [Excerpt]
(translation by Ven Bhikkhu Bodhi)
"Bhikkhus, when speech possesses four factors, then it is well spoken, not badly
spoken, and it is blameless, not blameworth among the wise. What four?
[1] Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu speaks only what is well spoken, not what is badly
spoken.
[1] Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu subhaasita.myeva bhaasati no dubbhaasita.m.
[2] He speaks only on Dhamma, not on non-Dhamma.
[2] dhamma.myeva bhaasati no adhamma.m.
[3] He speaks only what is pleasant, not what is unpleasant.
[3] piya.myeva bhaasati no appiya.m.
[4] He speaks only what is true, not what is false.
[4] sacca.myeva bhaasati no alika.m.
When speech possesses these four factors, it is well spoken, not badly spoken,
and it is blameless, not blameworthy among the wise."
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Han: Ven Bhikkhu Bodhi remarked that in AN III 243, and 244, well-spoken speech
is defined by way of five different factors: (i) it is spoken at the proper
time, (ii) is truthful, (iii) gently stated, (iv) beneficial, and (v) spoken
with a mind of loving-kindness.
But I cannot find AN III 243, and 244. What I could find was in MN 21
Kakacuupama Sutta: The Simile of the Saw (translated by Ven Bhikkhu Nanamoli and
Ven Bhikkhu Bodhi):
11. "Bhikkhus, there are these five courses of speech that others may use when
they address you: their speech may be (i) timely or untimely, (ii) true or
untrue, (iii) gentle or harsh, (iv) connected with good or with harm, (v) spoken
with a mind of loving-kindness or with inner hate."
227. "Pa~ncime, bhikkhave, vacanapathaa yehi vo pare vadamaanaa vadeyyu.m (i)
kaalena vaa akaalena vaa; (ii) bhuutena vaa abhuutena vaa; (iii) sa.nhena vaa
pharusena vaa; (iv) atthasa.mhitena vaa anatthasa.mhitena vaa; (v) mettacittaa
vaa dosantaraa vaa."
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Love Buddha's dhamma,yawares/sirikanya