Good Words Offered to Those Near Us

Today's teaching invites us to look at where good words and good teachings come alive. The world already has excellent scriptures and teachings, religious words, and wise sentences. With even a brief search online, good words overflow.

Yet no matter how many good words there are, if I cannot say the words that the person right beside me longs to hear, that teaching remains far from life. Good words are not found only in excellent sentences far away. They must appear as the words needed by the person beside me now.

At times, the words I love you, thank you, or I am sorry are needed. Sometimes the needed words are: I respect your choice, your thought may be right, or I am thinking of you. When such words arise at the right time, they are the finest teaching.

To praise when praise is needed, apologize when apology is needed, and give thanks when gratitude is needed is more than simple etiquette; it is practice. Compassion and kindness do not end with knowing many great Dharma talks. They come alive when we can offer the words needed by those close to us.

Today, instead of searching only for good words far away, look at what the person beside you may long to hear now. Do not withhold words of gratitude, apology, respect, love, and recognition. Offering warm words to someone near you is today's finest Dharma teaching.