Читать книгу 20 MINUTES TO MASTER … BUDDHISM - Kulananda - Страница 18

In the West we tend to divide the individual human being into body and mind, or perhaps body, mind and soul. In Buddhism, however, the traditional division of a person is into body, speech and mind.

In all of nature, speech is the sole prerogative of human beings, and human culture depends upon it – through speech our mothers and teachers educated us, and almost all of our culture depends upon one or another form of vocal or textual expression. Speech gives shape to the world we live in. In naming things we colour them in a particular way, and in expressing our thoughts and feelings we make them part of the public domain we move in. What we express is a large part of who we are and how our world is.

It is very useful experience to keep silent for a few days – avoiding books, television and conversation – and to see what effect that has on your mental state. If conditions are right, as on some Buddhist retreats, most people find that sustained silence has a deeply clarifying and energizing effect.

But we are rarely silent. To live in the world is to speak, and because our speech has such a profound effect on us and on the world around us, it too must be transformed in the light of our glimpse of Perfect Vision. Perfect Speech, therefore, is speech which is first of all true.

If you speak delusions, everything becomes a delusion;

If you speak the truth, everything becomes the truth.

Outside the truth there is no delusion,

But outside delusion there is no special truth.

Followers of the Buddha’s Way!

Why do you earnestly seek the truth in distant places?

Look for delusion and truth in the bottom of your own hearts.2

To follow the Path indicated by our glimpse of Perfect Vision means to always uphold the truth in every situation, however uncomfortable that may be.