contemplating the praktis of mindful speech

WORLD-WORD-TRANSFORMATIONS
"...to speak a true word is to transform the world."
--paulo freire

THE FOURTH MINDFULNESS TRAINING
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I am committed to cultivating loving speech and deep listening in order to bring joy and happiness to others and relieve others of their suffering. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I am determined to speak truthfully, with words that inspire self-confidence, joy and hope. I will not spread news that I do not know to be certain and will not criticise or condemn things of which I am not sure. I will refrain from uttering words that can cause division or discord, or that can cause the family or the community to break. I am determined to make all efforts to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.

FLOWER WATERINGS AND OFFERINGS
by Brother Phap Dung (Deer Park Monastery | Escondido, CA)
'Flower watering' is just an expression of taking care of the ones we care for and love so they do not become garbage. This can be done in many forms all of which include loving speech and deep listen, and just truly being there with them. Formal practice of this can help generate peace and an open atmosphere for sharings from the heart to happen more easily; an atmosphere of trust.

Expression our appreciation for another is a deep practice because we have a tendency to forget the wonderful things about another person and to more often see their weaknesses and what is going wrong rather than what is going right. When we tell someone of their good qualities, we 'water' their good seeds and encourage them to blossom more in them and also in us and everyone else present. It is a wonderful practice.