Threefold Purification of the Precepts (Sīla) #5: Not Slandering — Veḷudvāreyya Sutta (SN 55.7)

6. Pisuṇavācā — Abstaining from Divisive Speech

6.1 Puna caparaṃ, gahapatayo, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati:

Furthermore, householders, the noble disciple reflects in this way:

• The noble disciple continues the same method of wise reflection (paṭisañcikkhati), now applying it to divisive or slanderous speech (pisuṇā vācā).

6.2 Yo kho maṃ pisuṇāya vācāya mitte bhindeyya, na metaṃ assa piyaṃ manāpaṃ.

If someone were to cause my friends to become divided from me through divisive speech, that would not be pleasing or agreeable to me.

• The disciple considers his/her own experience. He recognizes that having someone damage his friendships through slander, or words that create division, would be painful and unwelcome.

6.3 Ahañceva kho pana paraṃ pisuṇāya vācāya mitte bhindeyyaṃ, parassapi taṃ assa appiyaṃ amanāpaṃ.

And if I were to cause another person's friends to become divided from them through divisive speech, that would likewise be unpleasant and disagreeable to that person.

• The disciple now applies the same reflection to another person. Just as I would not want someone to destroy my friendships through divisive speech, another person would not want this done to them.

6.4 Yo kho myāyaṃ dhammo appiyo amanāpo, parassa peso dhammo appiyo amanāpo.

Whatever is unpleasant and disagreeable to me is likewise unpleasant and disagreeable to another.

• This is the principle of ethical reciprocity. Other people experience the loss and disruption of relationships just as I do.

6.5 Yo kho myāyaṃ dhammo appiyo amanāpo, kathāhaṃ paraṃ tena saṃyojeyyan’ti.

Whatever is unpleasant and disagreeable to me, how could I inflict that same thing upon another?

• The disciple turns the recognition into a moral question: if I would not want my relationships damaged through divisive speech, how could I deliberately cause the same harm to someone else?

6.6 So iti paṭisaṅkhāya attanā ca pisuṇāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, parañca pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇiyā samādapeti, pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇiyā ca vaṇṇaṃ bhāsati.

Having reflected in this way, he/she himself/herself abstains from divisive speech, encourages others to abstain from divisive speech, and speaks in praise of abstaining from divisive speech.

• The reflection produces three levels of ethical practice:

1. Personal restraint — he/she refrains from divisive speech.
2. Encouraging others — he/she encourages others to abstain from divisive speech.
3. Praising the virtue — he/she speaks in praise of abstaining from divisive speech.

Thus, the teaching is not merely about avoiding gossip. It concerns protecting relationships, preventing conflict, and using speech to maintain harmony.

6.7 Evamassāyaṃ vacīsamācāro tikoṭiparisuddho hoti.

In this way, his verbal conduct becomes purified in three respects.

• This is the second of the verbal precepts in this sequence. His/her verbal conduct (vacīsamācāra) becomes threefold pure through his own restraint, encouraging others to practise restraint, and praising the value of avoiding divisive speech.

Further Notes

1. I abstain from divisive speech.

• I avoid gossip — such as forwarding rumours about a friend in a WhatsApp group.

• I do not speak badly about one person to another — such as criticizing a colleague behind their back.

• I do not add fuel to arguments — such as making negative comments when two friends quarrel.

• I do not share private conversations that cause mistrust — such as forwarding a friend's personal message without permission.

• I do not post insulting comments that divide people online — such as attacking someone for having a different opinion.

• I do not spread rumours that create conflict — such as sharing unverified news about a neighbour or others.

2. I encourage others to abstain from divisive speech.

• I gently discourage gossip — such as saying, “Let us not talk badly about someone who is not here.”

• I encourage people with disagreements to speak calmly — such as suggesting that two friends discuss their misunderstanding peacefully.

• I encourage others to verify information before spreading it — such as saying, “Let us check whether this news is true before forwarding it.”

• I encourage people to include everyone — such as inviting a lonely classmate to join an event.

• I encourage respectful discussions — such as reminding friends, “We can disagree without insulting one another.”

• I encourage forgiveness and reconciliation — such as suggesting that two family members settle their misunderstanding peacefully.

3. I speak in praise of abstaining from divisive speech.

• I praise those who respect people's privacy — such as saying, “I appreciate how you keep people's personal matters confidential.”

• I praise people who bring others together — such as telling a community leader, “I admire how you unite everyone.”

• I praise those who resolve disagreements peacefully — such as saying, “You handled that argument with great patience.”

• I praise people who promote friendship online — such as appreciating a message that encourages harmony.

• I praise family members who speak kindly about others — such as saying, “It is wonderful that our family discusses others with respect.”

• I praise those who unite people from different backgrounds — such as saying, “I am happy to see everyone working together despite their differences.”