Empty Gossip & Void
Babble Infects & Spoil any Social Sphere!
Once in
Savatthi the Blessed
Buddha said this:
What, householder friends, is the Dhamma explanation befitting for oneself?
Here, householder friends, any Noble Disciple reflects thus: If someone were to
to address me with gossip, idle chatter, empty babble, hearsay, and void
prattle,
that would neither be pleasing, nor agreeable to me. Similarly, if I were to
address
another with gossip, idle chatter, empty babble, hearsay, and void prattle,
that
would neither be pleasing, nor agreeable, nor acceptable to that other being either!
What is displeasing and disagreeable to me, is also displeasing and
disagreeable
to any other being too. How can I disturb & bore another being with what provoke
annoy and exasperate myself? Having reflected repeatedly thus, then gradually:
1: He/she will carefully avoid all gossip, idle chatter, empty babble, & void
hearsay...
2: He/she will persuade others also to avoid all pointless good-for-nothing speech...
3: He/she will praise speaking well formulated reasoned facts worth remembering...
In this very way, is this advantageous verbal behaviour purified in
these 3
aspects!
Gossip returns!
One
should never defile other beings by polluting them with empty speech!
More on not polluting the social soup with foolish words:
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Three_Doors.htm
And on Right Speech (Sammā Vācā):
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/samma-vaca.html
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Truth_Triumphs.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Not_Splitting.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Not_Scolding.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Not_Deceiving.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Not_Gossiping.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Speech.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Fourfold_Right_Speech.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Optimal_Observance_IV.htm
Source
(edited extract):
The
Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta
Nikāya. [V:355]
section 55: Sotāpattisamyutta.
Thread 7: To the people at the Bamboo gate...
