THE KARMIC CONSEQUENCES OF VERBAL KARMA
I cannot emphasise this enough. You do not cultivate your mind with your mouth. Just because you have a silver tongue does not necessarily mean that you are excellent in your cultivation of the mind. If you are serious about cultivation, you should try your best to speak less.
When many Buddhist friends visit us here at the Oriental Radio, they would see many youngsters standing at the side quietly, looking extremely devout, and very dignified.
Take a look at the Dharma Protectors standing beside Guan Yin Bodhisattva. How about those beside the Lord Buddha? Don’t all of them look dignified? Think about it, how can a talkative person ever appear dignified in any way?
Those who rarely speak would grab the attention of others the moment they speak up. After all, who would take a talkative person seriously?
I genuinely hope all of you would guard your speech strictly. This is an area that many practitioners often neglect and is the easiest transgression to commit.
Talking has become habitual for many. If a talkative person is prohibited from speaking, they would be in such agony that is worse than death to them. Really, talk less. If you can refrain from talking, it is even better.
Oftentimes, the precept that is often neglected is the precept that is most commonly violated. What is even more scary is that many people are committing negative karma of speech without even realising that they are violating the precept.
A genuine Buddhist practitioner should understand how detrimental karma of speech can be. Think about it, almost all trouble originates from the mouth. Everything untoward that happens can be traced back to negative speech.
Did you know how many people are hated, scolded and beaten up due to their bad mouth? There are leaders in some countries who speak impetuously, stirring up a deluge of trouble. I hope all of you remember that karma of speech is the easiest transgression to commit.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Volume 9 Chapter 15
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