Each part of the Noble Eightfold Path complements the others. Thus, Right Speech can be practiced concurrently with Right View and Right Intent. The whole purpose is to attain ultimate happiness in this life, also known as Nirvana. The good news is that practicing the Noble Eightfold Path also results in worldly happiness and success.

Previously, we explored what Right Intent is. In the context of Right Speech, it means speaking or communicating with the intention of not furthering craving and ill will in ourselves and others. In addition to that, we consciously avoid harming others through our communication.

When we view the Noble Eightfold Path as a holistic guide to life, Right Speech is no longer limited to verbal communication but also includes our digital expression and body language.

In that sense, sharing inflammatory information online that promotes ill will is considered Wrong Speech. Wise people recognize that this is an unskillful action because it leads to animosity in society and, when blown out of proportion, can cause social unrest and violence. Ultimately, it will boomerang back to us.

So how do we define Right Speech, and how do we practice it?

The Buddhist approach is to abstain from Wrong Speech — namely, lying, divisive words, harsh words, and idle talk.

Let’s start with abstaining from lies. This is a major aspect of the practice of Right Speech because lies create misunderstanding about the truth. Lies sow suspicion, fear, resentment, and break down relationships and unity. Even animals know how to group together for self-preservation. Why, then, should intelligent human beings purposely act to undermine unity?

Lies told by politicians and people in power have great repercussions, harming countless beings. Worst of all, the impact can last for generations, as people react to those lies and continue to suffer from them. Unfortunately, these arrogant men and women do not understand that they will experience the aftermath of their lies in their future existences. Why so? Simply because they have created a new reality for their minds — and that reality becomes the basis for their next existence. Imagine creating a war with lies, only to be reborn into that new reality after death. If we understand that this is how existence works, who in their right mind would want to create a living hell for themselves?

Fortunately, most of us are not politicians or rulers. Nonetheless, lies told within our small social circles also affect us adversely. We may lie to protect something, but those lies may end up causing us to lose something far more important. When there is no one left willing to believe anything we say, that feeling is utterly lonely. It is as if we cease to exist in the eyes of others. After all, speech and communication are expressions of our thoughts and feelings to others. When nobody is willing to listen or believe what we say, isn’t it akin to talking to the walls of a prison cell? Isn’t that lonely?

When we lie habitually, our minds become twisted by falsehood. We subconsciously train ourselves to reject reality and accept falsehood instead. Since Nirvana is the achievement of Ultimate Truth, aren’t we distancing ourselves from Nirvana by lying habitually? In this way, lying becomes a significant hindrance to our quest for enlightenment.

Moreover, one lie often leads to another. When we tell one lie, we need additional lies to cover the first. This creates stress in our minds as we must constantly keep track of the lies we’ve told, for fear of being caught. Such stress is not conducive to mental well-being — nor is it helpful for attaining Nirvana.

With so many negatives surrounding lies, we might wonder: are there any positivities surrounding truth?

One day, while going for alms, Angulimala witnessed a woman struggling in childbirth. Moved by compassion, he thought, “How much beings suffer!” Upon returning to the monastery, he told the Buddha, who advised him:

“Go to Savatthi and say to her, ‘Sister, since I was born, I have never purposely deprived a living being of life. By that truth, may you and the infant be safe!'”

Angulimala replied, “Venerable Sir, would that not be a falsehood? I have taken many lives.”

The Buddha then instructed, “Say instead, ‘Since I was born into the noble life, I have never purposely deprived a living being of life. By this truth, may you and the infant be safe!'”

Following the Buddha’s guidance, Angulimala visited the woman. A curtain was placed between them, and seated behind it, he made the asseveration of truth. Soon after, the woman safely gave birth to her child. This story serves as an inspiration in regards to the positive effect of telling the truth or invoking the power of a truth.

We shall explore other aspects of Right Speech in the next post. For now, let us remind ourselves of the importance of truth and the negativity surrounding falsehood. Let us do our part by spreading truth and refraining from spreading falsehood.

May all beings be well and happy.