The Buddhist Path to Enlightenment (study)

by Dr Kala Acharya | 2016 | 118,883 words

This page relates ‘Abstention from Frivolous Talk or Gossip (samphappalapa)’ 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’.

2.3.4. Abstention from Frivolous Talk or Gossip (samphappalāpa)

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[Full title: The Noble Eightfold Path (Ariya-aṭṭhaṅgika-magga)—(3): Right Speech—(d): Frivolous Talk or Gossip (samphappalāpa)]

He avoids frivolous talk and abstains from it. He speaks at the right time, in accordance with facts, speaks what is useful, speaks of the Dhamma and the discipline; his speech is like a treasure, uttered at the right moment, accompanied by reason, moderate and full of sense.

The fourth and last virtue concerned with right speech is to abstain from frivolous talk or gossip which brings no profit to anyone, anywhere. People are too fond of idle talk, of unkindly others. The newspapers in their gossip columns are just as bad. Men and women with time on their hands indulge in endless chatter, amusing themselves at the expense of others. The Buddha‘s golden advice is: ‘When, monks, you have gathered together there are two things to be done, either talk about the Dhamma (the Doctrine) or keep nobly silent.’

The two components of frivolous talk are:

The disposition to engage in frivolous talk, and
The act of engaging in such talk.^[1]

The Buddha was very critical of idle chatter, scandal and rumour for they disturb serenity and concentration. ‘Better than a thousand sentences -a mere jumble of meaningless words—-is one sensible phrase on hearing which one is pacified.’

A sage is sometimes called by the Pāli word muni which means one who keeps silent. Yes, ‘silence is golden’ so do not speak unless you are sure you can improve on silence.

‘One does not become a wise man just by talking a lot;^[2] neither is he versed in the doctrine (Dhammadhara) because he speaks much.’^[3] And lest one should misunderstand the silence of the muni, the Buddha also says: ‘To keep silent does not turn a foolish ignoramus into a sage (muni).’^[4]

In conclusion let us listen to the discourse on ‘Good Speech’:^[5]

‘The good say:
1. Noble speech is apt;
2. Speak the Dhamma^[6] not Adhamma:
3. Say what is pleasant, not unpleasant;
4. Speak what is true, not lies.

Speak only words that do not bring remorse
Nor hurt another. That is good speech, indeed.
Truth is immortal speech, it is an ancient law.
In truth, well and Dhamma the sages are established.
The Buddha’s words of peace to Nibbāna lead,
To suffering’s end. Such words are good indeed.’