When You Talk about Others
One disciple asked his teacher, “You said backbiting hurts three people.”
“Yes. It turns the backbiter, the listener, and the one who gets backbitten into victims.”
“So what should I do in order not to backbite others?”
Pleased with his disciple who was going to do as he learned, the teacher responded with a smile, “Think of three things before you talk about others: First, ‘Did I hear and see it myself?’ Second, ‘Is what I’m trying to say a good thing?’ Third, ‘Is it necessary for me?’ ”
Not to forget his teacher’s teaching, the disciple repeated to himself what his teacher told him. Looking at him, the teacher said again with a gentle smile, “The simplest and easiest way is to think the person whom you are talking about is right next to you.”
