Don’t Speak of the Faults of Others

Among the grave precepts, there is one I’ve seen people do endless mental gymnastics to avoid. And yet its strength and power is inescapable if we yield to it: don’t speak of the faults of others.

Just on its face we begin immediately looking for the exception case — when it’s appropriate for us to place blame somewhere else. It’s hard at first to understand why it’s even there, why there’s a prescription for this. We might theorize it is because there is no self and no other, but I think even that misses the mark somewhat.

The moment that we actually stop trying to assign blame elsewhere — the moment that we stop trying to push the situation that we find ourselves in, and the responsibility for addressing the issues that we find, somewhere else — we can actually begin to get down to work addressing what’s actually here.

And so it’s very important for us to look at this precept, to cultivate a deep understanding of it, and to embody it. A recognition that if I don’t, who will? A recognition that all the suffering that we encounter is on our watch.

And the good news is this: when we live in this place, when we embody this practice in this way, we also have all the resources required to address all the suffering that we find.

So today, look carefully for places where you’re trying to assign blame elsewhere, or kind of abscond your responsibility. Recognize that you’re stepping down from your own Dharma throne when you do that.

Don’t speak of the faults of others. Let’s just embody this practice and get down to work!

Have a wonderful morning. I look forward to seeing all of you for meditation tomorrow at 6:30!