The principles of communication according to Buddhism are very important, since the harmony of a given context largely depends on the good use made of words and silences.
Last update: May 31, 2020
Buddhism supports the existence of 4 principles of communication which must be observed to achieve harmony among human beings. These principles are not imposed, but suggested when we are motivated by a genuine desire to maintain healthy relationships with others.
The 4 principles of communication according to Buddhism seek to bring greater clarity and respect in our relationships with others. Human beings use the word to communicate ideas, feelings and emotions. When we manage to communicate correctly, we are better understood, and consequently the quality of our relationships increases.
The principles of communication according to the Buddhism they are: truthfulness, kindness, usefulness and harmony. Each of these has the purpose of making our communication more fluid and incisive. Consciousness and work are required to observe these principles.
"Observe, listen, shut up, play little and ask a lot."
-August Graft-
The principles of communication according to Buddhism
1. Truthfulness
The first principle of communication is truthfulness. A much more complex concept than it may seem at first glance. To be truthful is to accept the truth or reality. The problem is that we don't always know them, often ending up deceiving ourselves.
To be truly truthful, therefore, we must first do an exercise in honesty towards ourselves. If no one tells the truth, no one will be able to communicate it to others. We can therefore be truthful only by speaking directly from the heart, with the sole intention of expressing ourselves, without other interests.
2. Generosity
There is a big difference between being honest and being direct, disrespectful, or curt. Respect and consideration for the other person are fundamental conditions for healthy and fulfilling communication to be possible. There are many difficult situations generated simply by the use of disrespectful expressions that sometimes accompany our communication.
Anger and fear are actually expressions of our ego. In turn, the ego leads us to behave in an imposing or disrespectful manner towards others. In these cases, it is our ego that speaks and not our heart. All of this generates a whole series of difficulties with others that we do not need. Better to speak only when we are at peace with ourselves.
3. Utility
Buddhists insist on the importance of learning to appreciate silence. For many, the latter is just an empty space, to be filled as soon as possible. Buddhism, on the other hand, considers silence a natural space for listening, whether it is towards oneself or towards others. Without listening there can be no communication, since this can only happen when there is mutual listening.
Talking so much to talk is a form of anguish that very often deprives the word of its value. Words without value prevent the opening of true communication. An empty word empties the mind and impoverishes relationships with others. Indeed, it often feeds the most mundane emotions we feel at that moment.
4. Harmony
The last of the 4 principles of communication according to the Buddhists is harmony. For Buddhism, words are justified only when they represent nourishment for goodwill and peace between people. All messages that do not have this purpose contribute to gender misunderstandings or negative feelings.
Harmonious communication is also that which chooses the clearest and most concise words to make its message understood. Turns of words, subtleties and unnecessary frills generate communicative noise. They are not conducive to understanding and, on the contrary, they cause confusion and cause you to lose focus on the main message.
All these communicative principles can be bizarre for Western civilization, but they are very useful to disconnect from a culture in which it is increasingly difficult to find peace and silence. We are so bombarded with information and stimuli that we have become accustomed to the absence of silence, rather than the absence of noise.
We live in years in which most of the communication we are subjected to is dedicated to trivial issues. This not only affects our inner harmony, but limits our thinking and makes us less and less capable of expressing ourselves and knowing how to listen. The word has lost its value, and who knows if this is not one of the causes of the widespread malaise of our culture.
