Tag Archives: Three Gates of Speech

Ahimsa: Word Of The Day + The Three Gates

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Do no harm. It’s really a simple way to live.

Found on Pinterest

Ahimsa is an ancient Indian ethical principle meaning nonviolence, non-harm, or harmlessness toward all living creatures.

It’s a core virtue in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It forms the first restraint (yama) in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, and inspired Mahatma Gandhi’s peaceful resistance movements.

Non-harming: Avoiding injury or pain to any living being, including animals and insects, through the smallest footprint possible.
Three Levels: Practiced through thoughts, words, and physical deeds.
Universal Benevolence: Cultivating an inner attitude of peace, empathy, and love instead of malice or aggression.

I think we need to include the Three Gates that I annoy the Ferals with on a regular basis.

When they’re being obnoxious to each other, I ask if what they’re saying passes through the three gates…

The three gates of speech are a mindful communication framework often attributed to Sufi mystic traditions and the poet Rumi, as well as Buddhist teachings.

They act as a filter to pause and evaluate our words before we speak:

Is it true?
Is it necessary?
Is it kind?

I think we all can benefit from the practice of Ahimsa and think before we speak, right?

World Kindness Day

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This year’s theme for World Kindness Day is “Be Kind Wherever Possible”, to highlight the significance of kindness to be practiced all over the universe and in each part of our lives.

The motivation behind World Kindness Day is to focus on the positivity and empathy that joins all of us. A crucial part of the human experience, kindness rises above political, racial, religious, gender, and geographical limits.  

One of the themes of the Angels’ bedroom is “kindness” and I’ve hung these quotes on the wall, to persistently, if not also subliminally, get my message across.

I don’t know how many times I’ve had the same conversation with Angel Boy 2.0 about Rumi’s Three Gates, especially regarding his little sister…

Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates
At the first gate, ask yourself, “Is it true?”
At the second gate ask, “Is it necessary?”
At the third gate ask, “Is it kind?”

Best of all, Krispy Kreme is giving donuts away to the first 500, so I better leave now so I can get in line. I could use some of that sort of kindness!

Be kind to ourselves, and be kind to others.