Great Lakes Buddhist Vihara, Michigan, USA

Dhamma 101
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We have three outputs:
The first is our thoughts .
The mind yields thoughts when it processes the information dumped from the inputs .

The second is our bodily deeds --expressions, actions etc.

The third is our words .

If we are to avoid all evil, just like the good athlete,
we must train our mind to filter out and ignore
the inputs that cause the outputs to be bad.
In other words, we must train our mind
to control the outputs.

To me
    it seems
                the easiest output
                                            to control
                                                            is our words.

What are the ways in which our words can cause evil (micca vaci kamma )?

According to the Dhamma there are four components of bad speech:

false speech,
slanderous speech,
harsh speech and
idle chatter.

When we address speech we should recognize its offshoot, the written word. The same four
components are present in written word too.
Refraining from bad speech is called RIGHT SPEECH ( samma vaca ).
When you take the fourth of the five precepts you undertake to abstain from false speech
(Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami )

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Great Lakes Buddhist Vihara, Monks Residence, 21491, Beech Road, Southfield, Michigan 48033, USA
Telephone: (248)353-8155 , (248)232-7383 Fax: (248)232-1267
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