• Table of Contents
  • The Ancient Traveler by Swami Rama
  • Silence Can Be Your Wishing Stone by Swami Veda Bharati
  • A Day Designed In Silence by Warren Garstecki
  • Now, let us share a day of silence. by Pandit Tejomaya
  • Silence Day in Enschede, Netherlands by Riemke de Groot
  • Mauni Amavasya: A Secret Enclosure by Joanne Sullivan (Divya)
  • Mauni Amavasya & the Purpose of Silence by Ahimsa Ishaya
  • Mauni Amavasya in Ludhiana by Sunil Trika
  • Last Desires by Swami Veda Bharati
  • Celebration in Pune!
  • Dear Yoga Mentor, My Question Is…
  • Inspirations 3 by Meeta Jagtap
  • Addendum to Austerity of Speech by Michael Smith
  • Aspects of Effective Speaking by Michael Smith
  • 2014 Events and Beyond
  • Full Moon Meditation Dates
  • Location of our SRSG ashram
• AHYMSIN Newsletter Archive

Addendum to Austerity of Speech

by Michael W Smith

(Note: This is an addendum to last month's article "Austerity of Speech" – Ed.)

Here’s something from Thich Nhat Hanh that would have been a nice addition to the
quotes in Austerity of Speech [which was in the January AHYMSIN Newsletter]:

“Deep Listening and Loving Speech”
(the 4th Mindfulness Training)

Aware of the suffering caused by the inability to listen to others and unmindful speech, I vow to cultivate deep listening and loving speech in order to bring joy and happiness to others and relieve others of their suffering. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I vow to learn to speak truthful with words that inspire self-confidence, joy, and hope. I am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain, and not to criticize or condemn things of which I am not sure. I will refrain from uttering words that can cause division or discord, or that can cause the family or the community to break. I will make all efforts to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.

(from Thich Nhat Hanh’s Creating True Peace: Ending Violence in Yourself, Your Family, Your Community and the World, p. 74)

Editor’s Note:

Austerity of Speech can be read at this link: http://www.ahymsin.org/docs2/News/1501Jan/08.html