Dhamma Principles › The Discourse to Prince Abhaya: Six Kinds of Speech
The Discourse to Prince Abhaya: Six Kinds of Speech
Everyday life

The Discourse to Prince Abhaya: Six Kinds of Speech

Abhayarājakumārasuttaṃ

Does the Buddha say things people don't want to hear? He speaks only what is true and beneficial, and knows the right time to say it — whether the listener likes it or not.

6 points

In the Abhayarājakumāra Sutta of the Majjhima Nikāya, Nigaṇṭha Nātaputta coaches Prince Abhaya to ask a two-horned question: "Would the Tathāgata say words that are unwelcome and disagreeable to others?" If yes, how is he different from an ordinary person? If no, why did he predict that Devadatta was bound for a state of deprivation?

At the time, Abhaya had a baby boy on his lap. The Buddha asked: if this child put a stick or pebble in his mouth, what would you do? Abhaya said he would get it out at once, even if he had to hook it out with a finger and draw blood, out of compassion for the child. The Buddha said the Tathāgata is the same, and then described six kinds of speech — which he speaks and which he doesn't.

  1. 1

    Untrue, unbeneficial, unwelcome — not spoken Abhūtaṃ atacchaṃ anatthasaṃhitaṃ appiyā

    Speech that is untrue, incorrect, unbeneficial, and unwelcome and disagreeable to others, the Tathāgata does not utter.

    Applying it in daily life

    Slander and unverified negative rumours all fall here.

  2. 2

    True but unbeneficial and unwelcome — not spoken Bhūtaṃ tacchaṃ anatthasaṃhitaṃ appiyā

    Speech that is true but unbeneficial and unwelcome to others, the Tathāgata does not utter either.

    Applying it in daily life

    Bringing up someone's old mistakes when it helps nothing shouldn't be said, even if true.

  3. 3

    True and beneficial, though unwelcome — knows the time to speak Bhūtaṃ tacchaṃ atthasaṃhitaṃ appiyā ... kālaññū

    Speech that is true, correct and beneficial, though unwelcome and disagreeable to others — the Tathāgata knows the right time to utter it.

    Applying it in daily life

    A necessary warning must be spoken even if unwelcome, but choose a time and manner the person can receive — like taking a pebble from a child's mouth out of compassion.

  4. 4

    Untrue and unbeneficial, though welcome — not spoken Abhūtaṃ atacchaṃ anatthasaṃhitaṃ piyā

    Speech that is untrue and unbeneficial, even if welcome and agreeable to others, the Tathāgata does not utter.

    Applying it in daily life

    Exaggerated flattery or false comfort shouldn't be spoken, even if the listener likes it.

  5. 5

    True and welcome but unbeneficial — not spoken Bhūtaṃ tacchaṃ anatthasaṃhitaṃ piyā

    Speech that is true and welcome to others but unbeneficial, the Tathāgata does not utter either.

    Applying it in daily life

    Gossip that's true and fun but helps no one improve is the clearest example.

  6. 6

    True, beneficial and welcome — knows the time to speak Bhūtaṃ tacchaṃ atthasaṃhitaṃ piyā ... kālaññū

    Speech that is true, correct, beneficial, and welcome and agreeable to others — the Tathāgata knows the right time to utter it.

    Applying it in daily life

    Even true, useful praise needs good timing. Praising someone in front of others can sometimes embarrass them.

Try it in daily life

This settles a common confusion about whether to tell truths people don't want to hear. Truth alone isn't enough: it must also be beneficial, and the timing must be right. Whether the listener likes it isn't the deciding factor.

The other side matters equally: don't say what people like to hear if it's untrue or useless, like exaggerated flattery or entertaining but pointless gossip. Read alongside "Five Marks of Well-Spoken Words".

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