Right Speech : Wisdom from Prince Gautama the Buddha.

 ...Right speech, right action, and right livelihood may be treated together, as collectively they make up the first of the three divisions of the path, the division of moral discipline (silakkhandha). Though the principles laid down in this section [of the eightfold path] restrain immoral actions and promote good conduct, their ultimate purpose is not so much ethical as spiritual. ... Though the training in moral discipline is listed first among the three groups of practices, it should not be regarded lightly. It is the foundation for the entire path, essential for the success of the other trainings.

The observance of sila leads to harmony at several levels — social, psychological, kammic, and contemplative. At the social level the principles of sila help to establish harmonious interpersonal relations, welding the mass of differently constituted members of society with their own private interests and goals into a cohesive social order in which conflict, if not utterly eliminated, is at least reduced. At the psychological level sila brings harmony to the mind, protection from the inner split caused by guilt and remorse over moral transgressions. At the kammic level the observance of sila ensures harmony with the cosmic law of kamma, hence favorable results in the course of future movement through the round of repeated birth and death. And at the fourth level, the contemplative, sila helps establish the preliminary purification of mind to be completed, in a deeper and more thorough way, by the methodical development of serenity and insight. (Bhikkhu Bodhi https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/waytoend.html#ch4)

So, to sum up: Right Speech, Action, and Livelihood are really important! For all four of the reasons Bhikkhu Bodhi cites above we have to apply mindfulness to our actions of body, speech, and mind if we want to live peacefully, both internally and externally. When we are acting, we are creating kamma in the present that may have consequences in the future. Our actions strengthen (or weaken) our mental habits and may have profound effects on those around us. The waves and ripples that our actions - speech in particular - initiate may go on for a long time, even for generations.

Right Speech: The Buddha divides right speech into four components:

1. abstaining from false speech,
2. abstaining from divisive speech,
3. abstaining from harsh speech, and
4. abstaining from idle chatter.

We could rephrase these as:

1. Being truthful, not generally but specifically, and all the time;
2. Speak in ways that bring harmony, not discord, between or among people;
3. Speak gently whenever possible, and it's almost always possible;
4. If it's not worth saying, if it doesn't need to be said, let the moment pass in silence.

In the next post we'll take a closer look at what the Buddha said about truthfulness.