Comments on: The Importance Of Speech

By: Si Dawson

Si Dawson — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:17:20 +0000

A key realisation before any of this can be considered is that you are not your thoughts. You can control them.

Therefore, thinking kind thoughts or unkind thoughts is a choice.

As with choosing what you say, you can also choose what you think. We're generally not used to doing this, so it can take practice (at least to begin) but it IS very possible.

Same with exclaiming things (eg the gruesome murder). You could use that opportunity to turn to the person you're with & say "I'm glad you're alive. I love you." There are many possible responses, of course, but as with thinking, it is always your personal choice.

By: vvn

vvn — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:59:46 +0000

Buddha is wise alright, and I believe speaking kindly, and truthfully when necessary are all positive characterisitics. However, when you suggested thinking kind thoughts, I really believe this is quite impossible. It is easy to think kind thoughts when one sees a friend. One can still manage to think of kind thoughts about the thief that stole a bag of rice from his neighbor. Perhaps he had children. Perhaps he will repay it someday. However, how do you think of kind thoughts about a man who decides to rape a ten year old girl, murder her, and then dispose her corpse in a river? One can't think of kind thoughts in this situation. Secondly, on a less serious note, what do you perceive as "necessary"? Surely, it is necessary to warn others of danger. It's even necessary to tell one's spouse about when dinner is ready. However, if one was watching TV about a gruesome murder and one exclaims "Oh, how horrifying!" Is that immediately deemed "unecessary"? Surely, it didnt help find the criminal. It didn't provide any facts to others. But we say it anyways.

By: Yeswanth

Yeswanth — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:07:00 +0000

morvelous post....

full inspirational.....

I request every one to follow......

By: Si Dawson

Si Dawson — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:36:30 +0000

Yep, alwaaaaaays room for improvement. It's something I've been working on ever since I wrote this, more than a year ago. I'm gradually getting there *smile*.. which is all I'm looking for. Slowly slowly in the right direction.

By: Charlie Angel

Charlie Angel — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:34:50 +0000

I'm reading some blogs to find out about this whole crazy internet world we live in. Thank you for posting this. Buddha is wise. I will take this with me and keep it always. Great life lesson. I believe I operate mostly by that standard already, but having a concrete checklist will hold me accountable.

By: purrsikat

purrsikat — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:08:59 +0000

This is an ace post. I love it. True. Necessary. Kind. So much to learn.

By: Si Dawson

Si Dawson — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:11:53 +0000

ha ha! Hey, thank you :)

By: Andrea

Andrea — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:19:02 +0000

OMG, you are too funny =D

Your voice really shows through in your writing and is truly a pleasure to read.

Andrea

By: Si Dawson

Si Dawson — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:51:41 +0000

*laugh* I suspect I was expressing all manner of unkind, unnecessary things.

Funny how all these traditions say more-or-less the exact same thing on the subject. To me that's a good sign it's True (capital T)

Also funny how I remembered it completely differently. Ahh memory, you trickster!

*hug*

By: marg

marg — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:39:22 +0000

I suspect you were expressing less than complimentary opinions about one or more of your siblings.
I always said "Say only the good things that people need to hear."
That is a paraphrase of; "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4: 29.