Section outline
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Lesson 3.4.3 Vācāsuttaṃ – What Are the Characteristics of Blameless Speech?
Communication in general should be friendly, polite, agreeable and to the point, with its nature often depending on one’s objective. When driven by the positive desire for affability, speech becomes well-spoken (subhāsitā) and blameless (anavajja); based on a feeling of anger or envy, speech becomes badly-spoken (dubbhāsitā) and blameworthy (avajja). Of the various explanations the Buddha provided about well-spoken and blameless speech, the Vācāsutta highlights five essential qualifications that should be considered and utilized. When one’s words lack these essential characteristics, it’s wise to reflect on one’s intent before speaking, for the benefit of both oneself and others.