In this Dhamma talk, Bhante Joe reflects on truthfulness, keeping promises, and the Buddhist training in right speech. Beginning with the Buddha’s description of the Tathāgata as one who “does as he says and says as he does,” he explores how hypocrisy weakens faith, how clear goals support honest speech, and why trustworthy conduct matters both outwardly and inwardly. He also explains how to balance firm commitment with wise uncertainty, using phrases like “I’m planning to” or “I’ll try to” when conditions are unclear. Drawing on Ajahn Chah, the Cankī Sutta, and practical examples, he shows how keeping our word builds integrity, self-trust, and strength on the path to the end of suffering.
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 — Opening: The Tathāgata Does as He Says
00:00:13 — Avoiding Hypocrisy in Religious Life
00:00:36 — Keeping Promises and Speaking Truthfully
00:01:03 — Goal-Setting as a Support for Honest Speech
00:01:45 — Doing What We Say Becomes a Habit
00:02:17 — When Goal-Oriented Speech Goes Too Far
00:03:31 — Ajahn Chah: Speech Without Uncertainty
00:03:48 — Protecting Truth with Wise Phrasing
00:04:21 — Discernment: Balancing Confidence and Ambiguity
00:04:42 — The Near Enemy of Ambiguous Speech
00:05:25 — The Cankī Sutta: Saying What We Actually Know
00:05:55 — The Power of Being Around Trustworthy People
00:06:15 — How Punctuality and Culture Shape Speech
00:06:49 — Living Among People Who Break Their Word
00:07:42 — Choosing Supportive Conditions for Virtue
00:08:10 — Balancing External and Internal Supports
00:08:25 — Becoming Trustworthy to Yourself
00:08:54 — Determination Through Difficult Times
00:09:04 — Less Hypocrisy, Clearer Goals, Stronger Practice
00:09:29 — Using Uncertainty to Protect the Truth
00:09:39 — Truthfulness as Support for the Buddhist Path