List Behavior
[This reminder was posted on the Gaia discussion list]
Among the innumerable messages I've been reading on the list,
I have found quite a few that adopt a strident tone, often
attacking others quite harshly. I want to emphasize that this
is not appropriate for the Gaia list. I'm therefore posting,
as a guideline for mutually respectful conduct on the list,
the fourth Buddhist precept, as reformulated by the Vietnamese
Gaian Buddhist, Thich Nhat Hanh. I encourage all of us to
take this to heart:
4. Deep Listening and Loving Speech
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability
to listen to others, I vow to cultivate loving speech and deep listening
in order to bring joy and happiness to others and relieve others of
their suffering. Knowing that words can create happiness or
suffering, I vow to learn to speak truthfully, with words that inspire
self-confidence, joy, and hope. I am determined not to spread news
that I do not know to be certain and not to criticize or condemn
things of which I am not sure. I will refrain from uttering words
that can cause division or discord, or that can cause the family or the
community to break. I will make all efforts to reconcile and resolve
all conflicts, however small.