Episode 198 - The Five Gatekeepers of Speech
Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox
Release Date: 09/24/2024
Episode 210 - Aṅgulimāla: Practicing Non-violence
Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox
In this episode, we practice one of the most powerful antidotes to anger and aversion: compassion. I know—when we’re irritated, hurt, or downright fuming, compassion is usually the last thing on our minds. But in Buddhism, compassion isn't weakness—it’s strength. It’s the most powerful way to interrupt the cycle of harm and start creating peace, inside and out. The Story of Aṅgulimāla The Buddha’s radical teachings on non-violence reveal how to respond rather than react when things get heated. I also share the story of Angulimala—yes, the guy who was literally collecting...
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Episode 209 - No Self: Discovering Limitless Potential
Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox
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Episode 208 - Smells like dukkha
Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox
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Episode 207 - Giving as an Antidote to Attachment
Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox
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Episode 206 - The Buddhist Practice of Giving
Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox
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Episode 205 - Antidotes to Attachment
Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox
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Episode 204 - Tranquility Meditation
Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox
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Episode 203 - Breaking the Barriers to Spiritual Growth
Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox
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Episode 202 - Beyond Good and Bad
Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox
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Episode 201 - Welcome Everything
Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox
In this episode, we dive into the very heart of Buddhist wisdom: the Four Noble Truths. These foundational teachings illuminate why we experience suffering and dissatisfaction and the path to inner peace and freedom. Buddha explained that dukkha, translated as suffering or dissatisfaction, arises from craving (attachment) fueled by ignorance. To use these Truths in daily life, Buddhist Teacher JoAnn Fox suggests a powerful practice for letting go of attachment: “Welcome Everything.” Welcome Everything What does it mean to truly embrace life as it unfolds, without clinging or resistance? We...
info_outlineThe Buddha, in his gentle wisdom, offered us a path to mindful speech through what he called "The Five Gatekeepers of Speech." These gatekeepers stand like sentinels, reminding us to pause before we speak. We ask ourselves:
Is it true?
Is it kind?
Is it beneficial?
Is it necessary?
Is it the right time?
Our speech, whether it lands on another's heart or drifts unnoticed through the air, always leaves its karmic mark on us. If we are kind to others with our speech, we create causes for our own happiness. When we are unkind to others, we create suffering for ourselves.
Words are the most powerful tool we carry, shaping not only the world around us but also the spirit within us. With every sentence, we build up or break down—not just others but ourselves. This power is so profound because we wield it constantly. Each time we speak, we either sow seeds of healing or harm. And those words linger. Even when forgotten by others, their echoes remain within us, shaping our character--shaping our future.
Beautiful speech
Beautiful mind
Beautiful world
The Buddha taught us to tend to our speech mindfully, as one would a garden. The mind, planted with our words, will grow the fruits we eventually consume. So, let us speak with intention, knowing that every word has the power to uplift or diminish, and in the end, each of us must live among the gardens we plant.
Whoever speaks
What is true, informative, and not harsh,
Who gives offense to no one,
I call a brahmin.
--Buddha, The Dhammapada (Verse 408)
The Five Gatekeepers of Speech
Buddha taught that we should check that our speech passes through these five gates before we speak:
Is it true?
Is it kind?
Is it beneficial?
Is it necessary?
Is it the right time?
The Four Downfalls of Speech
Lying
Divisive speech
Harsh speech
Idle gossip
References and Links
Buddha.The Dhammapada. Translated by Gil Fronsdale. (Kindle). Shambala, Boston and London, 2011.
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