Gentle and Truthful Words Carry Strength

In the Dhammapada, there is a teaching to meet people with gentle and truthful words and to live with a giving heart. Gentle speech is not weak speech. It is a deep strength that appears when the mind is upright and truthful.

As we live, there are times when our voice grows louder because we want to convey our point, and when it feels as if only anger will make the situation move. But a loud voice is not the same as powerful speech.

The words of someone whose practice is truly deep and whose wisdom is present carry weight even when they are quiet. Because that person's life supports the words, people listen even to the gaze and to a short sentence.

By contrast, the more we feel that our words have no strength, the more loudly we try to speak and the more forcefully we try to insist. At such times, before blaming the other person, we can look back and ask whether our own mind and practice are steady enough.

Today, instead of making your words louder, clear the mind and set the root of speech in truth. Gentle and truthful words can move the heart without pressing anyone down.