“There is a kind of person whose mouth never seems to stop moving, and everything they say is hurtful and malicious. They take pleasure in harming others by spreading gossip and rumors, which eventually causes great trouble.”
White Tara continued:
“When one harms others with speech, that is poisonous speech. In future lives, such people will fall into the three lower realms and be reborn as venomous snakes. If they fall into the lower realms, they may also become venomous beasts, venomous birds, or other venomous creatures. Even if they are reborn as humans, they will still argue endlessly and delight in deception.”
We often hear about the following:
Gossipers: People who often visit other people’s homes and enjoy discussing their faults and shortcomings.
Spreaders of rumors: People who talk about the right and wrong of others.
Friendship saboteurs: People who deliberately create conflict between close friends.
Hypocrites: People who are deceitful and two-faced.
Stubborn arguers: Two sides, each insisting they are right.
These people can produce all kinds of justifications, but those justifications are twisted and cause harm to countless people.
In fact, the harm caused by poisonous speech should not be underestimated. It can lead to:
Wars between countries.
Wars between clans.
Wars between races.
Wars within families.
Wars between individuals.
In religion—
Devadatta’s poisonous speech was extremely destructive. He exaggerated the flaws in the Buddha’s life.
Those lies spread through the Sangha.
As a result, the Sangha split in two: half the monastic community left the Buddha and followed Devadatta, while the other half remained faithful to the Buddha.
The Sangha was torn apart.
This was one of the Buddha’s ten worries, and it was one of his greatest concerns at the time.
There will inevitably be similar people who spread rumors and create discord within our True Buddha School.
They gossip about this and that.
These people may appear to be True Buddha disciples, but their actions only create disharmony among the followers. Therefore, wise people should pay close attention and listen carefully so they can detect such situations.
Who is causing rifts within the Sangha?
Who is causing discord among disciples?
Who is forming exclusive cliques?
It is very obvious.
(I will not name them, but disciples should remain alert.)
***
White Tara said:
“Speak kind words.”
She continued:
“Silence is golden. Learn to speak less and recite Buddha epithets and mantras more.”
White Tara said:
“Refrain from speaking.”
I observed:
Some people openly create discord.
Some people indirectly create conflict.
Some people privately isolate others by spreading rumors.
All these actions fall under the category of creating discord. Such people are equally guilty of harmful speech. A dharma propagator with poisonous speech will end up in the three lower realms.
Why not search within your heart and ask:
Do I have a poisonous tongue?
If so, it is important to repent quickly and purify yourself through appropriate practice.
It is extremely easy to commit faults because of the bad habit of a poisonous tongue. Some people even take pleasure in their hurtful words. The harm caused to others is the same as the harm caused to oneself. It is something to fear!
