A Dangerous Weapon

Bad speech is regarded as a dangerous weapon. Why is it regarded as dangerous? Because it can harm people from far and near. What is the characteristic of a person who speaks bad speech? The Buddha said in Dasa Nipata Anguttara Nikaya, “The main aspect of his character is that he always speaks swear words, praises a bad person and blames a good person”.

With this saying of the Buddha, now we can ask ourselves if we have such a characteristic or not. If we have, we must stop speaking like that and change our speech into the opposite. We must speak words of wisdom, praise a good person and blame a bad person, or help him with good advice. So we will have a good weapon to protect ourselves and help others. We will be loved by others because of our speech. Speech is an echo which will return to the speaker as he gives it; if he speaks good words, he will be loved and praised. If he speaks bad words, he will be hated and blamed. This is the truth, it cannot be otherwise. Right speech must be practised here and now.