As Buddhist teacher Thanissaro Bhikkhu explains, “Right speech, explained in negative terms, means avoiding four types of harmful speech: lies (words spoken with the intent of misrepresenting the truth); divisive speech (spoken with the intent of creating rifts between people); harsh speech (spoken with the intent of hurting another person’s feelings); and idle chatter (spoken with no purposeful intent at all).” Often phrased in the negative, but it can also be seen in a positive way. To practice Right Speech means to tell the truth, to speak warmly and gently, and to talk only when necessary
How is the practice of right speech connected to cultivating compassion?