The Buddhist Path to Enlightenment (study)
by Dr Kala Acharya | 2016 | 118,883 words
This page relates ‘Abstention from slander (pisuna-vaca)’ of the study on the Buddhist path to enlightenment. The Buddha was born in the Lumbini grove near the present-day border of India and Nepal in the 6th century B.C. He had achieved enlightenment at the age of thirty–five under the ‘Bodhi-tree’ at Buddha-Gaya. This study investigates the teachings after his Enlightenment which the Buddha decided to teach ‘out of compassion for beings’.
2.3.2. Abstention from slander (pisuṇa-vācā)
[Full title: The Noble Eightfold Path (Ariya-aṭṭhaṅgika-magga)—(3): Right Speech—(b): Abstention from slander (pisuṇa-vācā)]
He avoids slanderous speech and abstains from it. What he has heard here he does not repeat there, so as to cause dissension there; and what he has heard there he does not repeat here, so as to cause dissension here. Thus he unites those that are divided; and those that are united he encourages. Concord gladdens him, he delights and rejoices in concord; and it is concord that he spreads by his words.[1]
Slander or tale-bearing (pisuṇa-vācā) is the next evil that the tongue can commit. The Pāli word, literally, means ‘breaking up of fellowship’. To slander another is most wicked for it entails making a false statement intended to damage someone‘s reputation. The slander often commits two crimes simultaneously; he says what is false because his report is untrue and then his back-bites.
There are four components of slanderous speech. They are:
- A person to be divided,
- The disposition to create a division or to win affection and trust for oneself,
- The effort, and
- The communication of the meaning.[2]
In Sanskrit poetry the back-biter is compared to a mosquito which though small is harmful. It comes singing, settles on you (us), draws blood and may, if a female, give you malaria. Again tale-bearer‘s words may be sweet as honey, but his mind is full of poison.
Then should avoid tale-bearing and slander which destroy friendships. Instead of causing trouble should speak words that make for peace and reconciliation.[3] Instead of sowing the seed of dissension, should bring peace and friendship to those living in discord and enmity. ‘Be united; quarrel not’, said the Buddha. ‘Concord alone is commendable’ (samavāyo eva sādhu)[4] was inscribed by Asoka on stone. Since we depend on one another, we must learn to live together in peace, friendship and harmony (sahajāta).
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
MN I, p. 61
[2]:
AN III, p.430
[3]:
MN II, p. 174; SN I, p. 27
[4]:
Inscription, No. 12