Speak to give people peace of mind, not a piece of your mind
When people do something infuriating, we feel like giving them a piece of our mind, blasting them for being irresponsible, insensitive, intractable or whatever else. [...]
Focus not on the harsh truth, but on the gentle healing
Whenever surgeons operate, they try to minimize the distress caused by the surgery. Physically, they administer pain medicine. And emotionally, they solace the patient by [...]
Speak because you have something to say, not because you have to say something
When we socialize with someone unfamiliar, we may struggle to find things to speak. Such conversations are usually stilted and inane. When they end, both [...]
To learn to speak well, learn when not to speak
Some of us may lament that we are not fluent in speaking. By training and practice, we all can improve our speaking ability. Even if [...]
To use the truth for beating people on the head is to abuse the truth
When we understand that the Bhagavad-gita contains timeless truths meant for everyone, we may feel impelled to convince those around us about these truths. Such [...]
Don’t just tell it like it is – tell it like it can be
People who speak candidly often say, “I just tell it like it is.” In an increasingly spin-doctored world, hearing the truth spoken unvarnished can be [...]
Don’t just talk about the other – talk with the other
The other refers to any person whom we consider as distant from, even hostile to, us. Talking about the other means talking with various people [...]
Choose words that make the heart soar, not sore
The human heart is very sensitive to words. Few things can dishearten an inspired heart as much as callous or critical words. And conversely, few [...]
Speak not “to reveal the truth about others,” but to realize the truth about yourself
Gossipers often act as if they are doing a valuable social service by “revealing the truth about others.” However, they frequently don’t check whether that [...]
When self-righteousness obscures rightness…
When we share Gita wisdom with others, we sometimes find them arguing for the sake of arguing, holding on to positions that are illogical and [...]
Let our words be like windows, not walls
Words are indispensable tools for communicating our ideas and feelings with others. These verbal tools have become increasingly critical in our hi-tech age of phones [...]
Memorizing scripture doesn’t burden the head – it unburdens the heart
The Bhagavad-gita (17.15) recommends regular recitation of scriptures as a means to discipline our power of speech. Such regular recitation becomes easy when scripture is [...]
Careless words can cause cureless wounds
The Bhagavad-gita (17.15) explains that speaking the truth in a way that is beneficial, pleasing and non-agitating is the discipline of speech. Neglecting this verbal [...]