Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein – Ep. 247 – Right Speech, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 44

Honing in on Right Speech and maintaining harmony, Joseph Goldstein encourages listeners to develop a commitment to telling the truth and refraining from slander.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the 44th part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, CLICK HERE to start at the first episode.

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In this episode’s exploration of the Satipatthana Sutta, Joseph Goldstein reviews:

  • Practicing Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood with the same dedication as meditation
  • The influence of our speech on our lives (our relationships, minds, karmic outcomes)
  • Truthfulness as the most basic concept of right speech in Buddhist ethics
  • Investigating the deeper motivations behind what we say and how we say it
  • The harmful ripple effects of lying on trust, connection, and societal cohesion
  • Insights from the Buddha: why truth must be spoken at all times, regardless of a perceived advantage
  • Lies of omission and the subtle ways we distort or avoid truth
  • Cultivating the courage and mindfulness required to speak honestly in daily life
  • Refraining from gossip and slander in order to avoid disharmony
  • Examining the emotional tone of speech—choosing words that are gentle, compassionate, and unifying
  • How harsh language does not serve good communication
  • Transforming the divisive world we live in through right speech
  • How we listen as an equally important component of right speech
This episode was originally published on Dharmaseed

Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE

“This doesn’t mean that there should be a suppression of what we’re feeling. It’s not a papering over of the truth of our emotions, but rather, it’s to be mindful enough that we can communicate what we’re feeling in a way that promotes connection rather than promotes divisiveness. This is a practice. Right speech is a practice.”  – Joseph Goldstein

Photo via Raul_Mellado

Listen to more from Joseph:

In the search for liberation, we must explore the nature of our existence. Joseph investigates the wisdom of impermanence in Insight Hour Ep. 2.

There are deeper levels of truth about reality. Joseph explores different ways of freeing the mind by understanding the habits of preference and the emptiness of thoughts in Insight Hour Ep. 41.

It’s possible to smile at the antics of one’s own mind. Joseph offers responses to questions about selflessness, shame, cravings, and more in Insight Hour Ep. 111.

Metta practice can penetrate deeply. Joseph explores how love, kindness, gratitude, and friendship can revolutionize our lives in Insight Hour Ep. 117.

Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein