Communicate like a Buddha
When we practice communicating like a Buddhist, we focus on using words that are true, balanced, necessary, and kind.
Communicating like a Buddhist is using words that are true, balanced, necessary, and kind. Words hold energy and reflect our thoughts and intention.
It is important to listen to others and to your own thoughts, and how you communicate them through your words. You are only responsible for what YOU say not what others hear, so it is important to take great care to choose your words so that the listener will hear and understand them with kindness.
Thoughts are powerful things and turn into the words we speak. Speak from the heart in a loving, compassionate, and authentic way. You will avoid hurting others with negative words.
A Good Rule
A good rule to follow is it to tell the truth, don't exaggerate, don't gossip, and use helpful language. When in doubt answer yes to the following questions then it's likely your words are consistent with loving, compassionate and positive energy.
Is what I am about to say true? Is what I am about to say kind?
Is what I am about to say kind?Is what I am about to say helpful?
Is what I am about to say helpful?
If you can implement these principles into your daily interactions, you not only learn how to speak and listen in a way that helps others, you also have a checklist to make sure you're communicating clearly.
How do you do it?
The idea of speaking to others in a way that is kind, honest, and helpful sounds wonderful in theory but how do you actually do it?
It's daily actions we want to implement in our lives. Our thoughts and words are the same. Each morning commit to speaking differently, and in the evening contemplate your communication throughout the day. Communication is not something we are born knowing how to do. We learn to talk, not how to communicate. Communication is a practice, and for you to change how you interact, it's all about practicing in your day-to-day.
Silence is a powerful form of communication
Most of us use silence in conversations without knowing it. Think about situations you've been in where you used silence, maybe to exaggerate your displeasure of a situation, or give someone the cold shoulder. Silence can be used to promote more suffering, or it can be used to balance interactions, and to help us reach clear thinking in difficult and stressful conversations.
Balance is the key in both using kind and compassionate words with others and knowing when silence is of value.
Lee Pryke