Shrinking Violets, Tall Sunflowers & an Old Buddhist Teaching

An old Buddhist teaching says that speech should pass through 3 gates before it leaves our mouths:

• Is it true?

• Is it necessary?

• Is it kind?

I have started seeing these questions as a sort of Rorschach test.  👉 Which appears: a shrinking violet or a tall sunflower? Here’s what I mean:

The questions can be cautionary. Careful not to hurt anyone's feelings! Don’t speak when you’re not sure. Or, they can encourage us to speak up when truth, need, and kindness align. Be an upstander. Speak truth to power. Express yourself.

For a long time, I only saw the questions as hurdles to speech, mufflers. 🤫 Shrinking violet.

But I’m starting to see that the gates are open and invite movement through them – that we should speak when things are true, necessary, and kind. 📣📣Sunflower.

As we move into Earth Month — with the literal and figurative illumination of a Full Moon today — my aspiration is to more clearly see the sunflower, big and bright, with the wisdom of kindness, need, and truth. What do you think? What do you see in the “3 gates” – caution, encouragement, a mix of both?

To celebrate the blooming energy of Spring – and all that might emerge – here are a few more resources on speaking up, enjoying nature, and shining together:

🌻 1. Poetic inspiration from Catherine Pierce and James A. Pearson.

🌻 2. Attend a free Earth Day workshop to learn about meaningful climate solutions.

🌻 3. Why little purple flowers are important too!

🌻 4. More encouragement to speak up for the climate (even though I find it uncomfortable).

🌻 5. A reminder of the health benefits of being outdoors from April’s Mamaroneck Living. 

🌻 6. A meditation on the 3 gates.