Communication Between Cultures

one to see things as they are. There is a rather famous Buddha saying:“Do not dwell in

the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”

8.Right concentration, although it comes as the final entry in the Eightfold Path

sequence, is one of the most important. It reminds students to aim for a calm, med-

itative mind. This means complete attentiveness to a single object and the

achievement of purity of thought, free from all hindrances and distractions.

When the mind is made still through meditation, according to Buddha, the true

nature of everything is revealed.

Cultural Expressions of Buddhism

The Use of Silence

One of the teachings of Buddha that can influence intercultural communication centers

on the Buddhist view toward language and silence. First, we have already mentioned the

third item on the Eightfold Path,“right speech.”This category was included by Buddha

because he was keenly aware of the power of language to influence others and oneself. He

always encouraged his followers to employ silence when confronted with anger or provoca-

tion. Notice the message being given to employ silence in the following Buddhist sayings:

“The tongue like a sharp knife...kills without drawing blood,”“Remember that silence is

sometimes the best answer,”and“What-

ever words we utter should be chosen with

care for people will hear them and be influ-

enced by them for good or ill.”

Second, Buddha’s view of silence can

be seen in the final item of the Eightfold

Path that stresses the importance of meditation. This means that“self-reflexivity and

critical introspection—the essence of intrapersonal communication—assume a great

importance”^221 for Buddhists. Third, meditation is carried out in silence. One of the

reasons for the emphasis on silence is that Buddhism requires abandonment of views

generated by the use of ordinary words and scriptures. In Buddhism, language can be

deceptive and misleading when a person is trying to understand the universe as it really

is. Brabant-Smith explains this idea:“Ordinary language tends to deal with physical

things and experiences, as understood by ordinary man; whereas Dharma language

(Buddha’s teaching) deals with the mental world, with the intangible non-physical

world.”^222 This notion finds expression in three well-known Buddhist admonitions:

“Beware of the false illusions created by words,”“Do not accept what you hear by

report,”and“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it from without.”These sayings

reflect Buddhists’belief that there is a supreme truth that words cannot reach or teach.

A Buddhist teacher expressed it this way:“A special transmission outside the scriptures;

No dependence upon words or letters; Direct pointing at the mind of man; Seeing into

one’s nature and the attainment of Buddhahood.”^223

Impermanency

While we have already alluded to the notion of impermanency, we briefly return to it, as it

is a fundamental Buddhist concept. For Buddha,“Impermanence means that everything

changes and nothing remains the same in any consecutive moment. And although things

REMEMBER THIS

Buddha sees reality as impermanent, imperfect, and elusive.

Cultural Expressions of Buddhism 149

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