Tales for Transforming Adversity by Khenpo Sodargye

Author:Khenpo Sodargye
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wisdom Publications

The Power of Pleasant Speech

When communicating with others, language is vital. When we are gentle with our words, wrongs aren’t created and merits are accumulated. If someone is hurt by something you say, the wound may take a long time to heal. As Mencius says, “One kind remark can make people feel warm in the severest of winters; malicious words can make people feel cold even in summer.”

Some believe that harsh words are more powerful because they help to advance some goal. In truth, this belief is mistaken. There is an ancient fable about this. The North Wind and the Sun once competed to see who would be able to remove a traveler’s cloak. The North Wind displayed its might first, blowing fiercely. The harder it blew, however, the more tightly the man wrapped the cloak around himself. The Sun then took its turn. As the wind stopped and the sun came out, the man felt so warm that he had to take the cloak off.

Pleasant words are like the Sun, while harsh words are like the North Wind. Fools believe that in order to succeed, harsh words must be used, while the wise can handle things perfectly with gentle speech.

Besides using gentle words, it’s critical that you also make your meaning clear. The Way of the Bodhisattva says, “When talking, I should make the words pleasant, the meaning clear, and the content relevant.” Some people rattle on for a long time without anyone knowing what to make of it. When talking, besides considering others’ feeling, be as clear as you can!

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