Right Speech

Right Speech is the third factor of the Noble Eightfold Path taught by the Buddha. This does not imply a moral judgement; rather, it means speech that is wise and leads to the reduction of suffering for oneself and others. It requires abstaining from harmful communication such as lying, slandering, gossiping, harsh speech, or idle chatter. When you speak, analyze your underlying intentions by asking: Is it true? Is it timely? Is it beneficial? Is it spoken with goodwill? If the answer is no, sometimes it is better to maintain a Noble Silence.