Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

“Speech, Bhikkhus, that is well spoken and not badly spoken, that is faultless and not blameworthy to the wise, should be endowed with five characteristics.

What are the five?

It should be spoken at the proper time, it should be spoken truthfully, it should be spoken gently, it should be connected with advantage and should be spoken with a mind full of metta.

These, Bhikkhus, are the five characteristics that speech should be endowed with if well-spoken and not badly spoken, that is faultless and not blameworthy to the wise.”

* Vācāsuttaṃ: Vācā + suttaṃ: speech + suttaṃ.