The Related Suttas Collection 8.5

1. With Vaṅgīsa

Well-Spoken Words

At Sāvatthī.

There the Buddha addressed the bhikkhus, “Bhikkhus!”

“Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

“Bhikkhus, speech that has four factors is well spoken, not poorly spoken. It’s blameless and is not criticized by sensible people. What four? It’s when a bhikkhu speaks well, not poorly; they speak on the teaching, not against the teaching; they speak pleasantly, not unpleasantly; and they speak truthfully, not falsely. Speech with these four factors is well spoken, not poorly spoken. It’s blameless and is not criticized by sensible people.”

That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“Good people say well-spoken words are foremost; second, speak on the teaching, not against it; third, speak pleasantly, not unpleasantly; and fourth, speak truthfully, not falsely.”

Then Venerable Vaṅgīsa got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha, and said, “I feel inspired to speak, Blessed One! I feel inspired to speak, Holy One!”

“Then speak as you feel inspired,” said the Buddha.

Then Vaṅgīsa extolled the Buddha in his presence with fitting verses:

“Speak only such words as do not hurt yourself nor harm others; such speech is truly well spoken.

Speak only pleasing words, words gladly welcomed. Pleasing words are those that bring nothing bad to others.

Truth itself is the undying word: this is an eternal truth. Good people say that the teaching and its meaning are grounded in the truth.

The words spoken by the Buddha for finding the sanctuary, Nibbana, for making an end of suffering: this really is the best kind of speech.”