16
votes
Accepted
Does downvoting an answer qualify as divisive and harsh speech?
Divisive speech is speech that sets people up against each other. Divisive speech sows the seeds of conflict and suffering.
A typical example of divisive speech is telling one person or group of ...
- 58.3k
9
votes
Why does the Buddha, in the Pali Canon, periodically engage in harsh speech?
The answer to this comes in the Kesi Sutta:
As he was sitting there, the Blessed One said to him: "You, Kesi, are
a trained man, a trainer of tamable horses. And how do you train a
tamable ...
- 37.4k
7
votes
How do you decide when to stick up for yourself and when to let things go?
you said:
One shouldn't attach him/herself (to material matters).
One should move toward truthfulness in all things and correct harm.
but... the second one does not sound like a Buddhist ...
- 58.3k
7
votes
What is the Karmic Effect of Harsh Speech?
The mind & body is disturbed, with agitation & stress ('hell').
Friends may be lost or social status (such as a job) may be lost, which results in deficiency & need ('hungry ghost').
...
- 40.5k
6
votes
Can another being/thing be credited or blamed for causing your emotions?
There is a famous parable by a founder of Tibetan Buddhism guru Padmasabhava comparing Right Concentration / Attention with Lion's Gaze. Modern Tibetan Buddhism teacher ven. Khenchen Palden Sherab ...
- 58.3k
6
votes
Does downvoting an answer qualify as divisive and harsh speech?
The purpose of upvoting and downvoting answers on this site is to give the community the chance to determine the quality of the answers.
So, the better the answer (in terms of being on-topic, correct, ...
- 37.4k
5
votes
Accepted
Can another being/thing be credited or blamed for causing your emotions?
If something upsets you, it is because you are delusional.
If something upsets someone else, it is because they are delusional.
If you want to avoid upsetting someone out of compassion then avoid ...
- 335
5
votes
Accepted
Can an objective criticism of somebodies work, which might hurt feelings, violate 'Right Speech' precept?
MN58 Abhaya Sutta:
(1) In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be unfactual/untrue, unbeneficial, and unendearing/disagreeable [i.e. painful - AV] to others -- he does not say them.
(...
- 58.3k
5
votes
Ignoring Someone as Wrongful Speech
As a Buddhist, your boundaries & conduct in relationship should be clearly communicated. Just be honest with her.
- 40.5k
4
votes
Right view of the external modern world
The first thing that the story (i.e. "not got a particular position she rightfully deserved due to a conspiracy") reminded me of was verse 3 of the Dhammapada (i.e. "he robbed me" ...
- 46.3k
4
votes
How do you decide when to stick up for yourself and when to let things go?
The answer is up to you, since it will be you who affirms his power.
Letting go of the outcome means that you can be ok with either decision, I.e. You can act accordingly either way without becoming ...
- 191
4
votes
Why does the Buddha, in the Pali Canon, periodically engage in harsh speech?
The Pali word for "harsh" may be pharusa. According to the dictionary it's used figuratively, and its meanings include "cruel".
As pointed out in a comment the most important question maybe isn't ...
- 46.3k
4
votes
Can an objective criticism of somebodies work, which might hurt feelings, violate 'Right Speech' precept?
Potaliya, four kinds of people exist and can be found in the world.
What four kinds? The four kinds are:
Some people blame those who should be blamed, according to the truth,
at the proper ...
- 40.5k
4
votes
Accepted
Is actively reporting wrongdoing considered divisive speech?
Apparently, according to the commentary on rule number 3 of the Pācittiya section of the Pāṭimokkha, one of the defining characteristics of divisive speech is that one has to have the intention of ...
- 650
3
votes
If someone insults you what should you do?
Notice that when you are reacting to something you are always assuming a self. An ego. So this could be a reaction to anything from the outside, not just insults. For example, if someone praises me, I ...
- 2,234
3
votes
If someone insults you what should you do?
Well actually your question has 2 different aspects,so does the Buddhism. They are 'laukika' and 'lokottara'.
The excellency of Buddhism always goes with its 'lokottara' content, where the path to ...
- 131
3
votes
How do you decide when to stick up for yourself and when to let things go?
Right Speech and Right Effort. Those are the two pieces of the Eightfold Path that will answer your question in regards to decisive action.
What is Right Speech?
What is Right Effort?
Right Speech ...
- 5,151
3
votes
Accepted
Right view of the external modern world
The way Buddha explained these things, was not as much about justice/injustice as with references to how the world/society works.
For example he would say, if someone were to rob people, he will ...
- 58.3k
3
votes
Can another being/thing be credited or blamed for causing your emotions?
The Buddha does not admit to a self AFAIK, therefore the presumptions your question are based on don't have a great base to start on. However, conventionally , this can be said in regards to your ...
- 814
3
votes
How irony and sarcasm are seen in Buddhism?
Buddha himself his speech was full of irony and sarcasm, its all over the pages I have read in the Chinese Classical Sutras. I can recall easily some from my memory:
When criticizing those who ...
- 2,291
3
votes
If someone insults you what should you do?
There are basically two ways to aproach everything. Two approaches to truth.
Someone could answer this question and
say, "If someone insults you then do X"
I will try to answer more like, "Do X, ...
- 7,144
3
votes
Accepted
Question on Divisive Speech
Perhaps, according to Buddhism and modern psychology, it isn't helpful to "speak about it to someone to let off steam".
If you are in some abusive relationship, then doing something about it ...
- 46.3k
3
votes
Does downvoting an answer qualify as divisive and harsh speech?
I personally avoid downvoting and harsh comments unless it is extremely necessary because it hurts the sentiments of poster and vilifies the atmosphere.
Buddha criticised many times but it was out of ...
- 1,183
3
votes
Accepted
Is exposing immoral behavior divisive speech?
I'd answer by referencing the Vinaya.
Not because journalists are bound by the Vinaya;
nor because the Vinaya is intended to regulate the behaviour of lay society;
but because I find it instructive (&...
- 46.3k
2
votes
Buddhism and political correctness
Political correctness is obviously false speech. False speech is defined as follows:
If he doesn't know, he says, 'I know.' If he does know, he says, 'I
don't know.' If he hasn't seen, he says, 'I ...
- 40.5k
2
votes
Is it ok for a Buddhist to participate in a demonstration?
To demonstrate... in regard of doing ways of Demon, straight
Protesting in such ways requires wrong, absence of right view, demanding, claiming for one/his, ingratitude:
There is the case where a ...
- 218
2
votes
What is idle chatter?
Right speech is
1. Speech about Dhamma
2. Practical speech about matters of living
Everything else is idle chatter. Examples are speech about wealth, women, men, the lottery, politics, religion,...
- 21
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible