08/22/2012
"Monks, there are these five aspects of speech by which others may address you:
Timely or untimely,
True or false,
Affectionate or harsh,
Beneficial or unbeneficial,
With a mind of good-will or with inner hate. Others may address you in a timely way or an untimely way.
They may address you with what is true or what is false.
They may address you in an affectionate way or a harsh way.
They may address you in a beneficial way or an unbeneficial way.
They may address you with a mind of good-will or with inner hate.
In any event, you should train yourselves:
'Our minds will be unaffected and we will say no evil words.
We will remain sympathetic to that person's welfare,
With a mind of good will,
And with no inner hate.
We will keep pervading him with an awareness imbued with good will and,
Beginning with him,
We will keep pervading the all-encompassing world with an awareness imbued with good will — abundant, expansive, immeasurable, free from hostility, free from ill will.'
That's how you should train yourselves.
Gautama Supreme Buddha, Kakacupama Sutta: The Simile of the Saw. [MN 21 PTS: M i 122 ]
Translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu (www.accesstoinsight.org)
