Tact is better than truth
Answers
Answered by
10
In my on going quest for right speech, I often contemplate the effects of my actions in communication with other entities and intuit the most favorable and positive outcome that can be made at any given time.
Is it better to be direct, and completely honest with people or is it better to hide the reality in discretion so you do not upset harmony?
In Buddhist scripture the fourth precept is"abstain from falsehood" or "practice truthfulness." This is not a commandment or a creed you must believe, but merely a pragmatic truth the Buddha found that helps with awakening. The truth can often hurt and upset you, but it can be helpful. When you are honest it can be a healing process and lift many burdens from our being. Thus the karma of the world is reduced.
But, this is dangerous. Being honest can cause an uproar. It can lead many people to death, and it can essentially cause more division and than harmony. Additionally, people may not be ready to hear the truth, and will either ignore it, or lash out if you present it. This is where being tactful comes into play. You will have to sacrifice your honesty, for the truth. This is playing with fire. Mainly, because they can easily distort the truth since you aren't direct with them.
This, I believe, was Jesus's approach. All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world."
As Newton says "Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy". This can be tremendously useful to actually get people to understand the truth in a way that they will understand it without any conflict. A lot more challenging, but can be more rewarding.
Is it better to be direct, and completely honest with people or is it better to hide the reality in discretion so you do not upset harmony?
In Buddhist scripture the fourth precept is"abstain from falsehood" or "practice truthfulness." This is not a commandment or a creed you must believe, but merely a pragmatic truth the Buddha found that helps with awakening. The truth can often hurt and upset you, but it can be helpful. When you are honest it can be a healing process and lift many burdens from our being. Thus the karma of the world is reduced.
But, this is dangerous. Being honest can cause an uproar. It can lead many people to death, and it can essentially cause more division and than harmony. Additionally, people may not be ready to hear the truth, and will either ignore it, or lash out if you present it. This is where being tactful comes into play. You will have to sacrifice your honesty, for the truth. This is playing with fire. Mainly, because they can easily distort the truth since you aren't direct with them.
This, I believe, was Jesus's approach. All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world."
As Newton says "Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy". This can be tremendously useful to actually get people to understand the truth in a way that they will understand it without any conflict. A lot more challenging, but can be more rewarding.
Similar questions