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aspect on the eight-spoked wheel of the Eight-fold Path. The expression and understanding of Right Speech is absolutely crucial on our spiritual journey if we are to attain an enlightened life.
    When we practice Right Speech, we are constantly mindful of the vibration and impact upon ourselves and others of all the words we speak. If all of us were truly mindful of all our words, how different they would be.
    With every utterance, a vibration is sent forth. Therefore, when we speak angry words, harsh words, toxic words, curse words, a like vibration is emanating from us and enfolding us and those around us like a blanket. On the other hand, when we speak words of loving-kindness, compassion, caring, tenderness, a vibration in kind is being sent out and embracing all. These vibrations, negative or positive, do not dissipate quickly.
    Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Buddhist Monk with whom I have studied in France, has said that we in our Western culture are very quick to turn to anger. I could not agree more. We so quickly become irritated over insignificant things, small matters, that we soon escalate to a state of uncontrollable anger. Our speech reflects our misperceptions as we attempt to make things matter that do not.
    To live as conscious beings we must practice Right Speech every moment of our lives—not just our waking moments. We must bring this awareness even into our dreams, so that even in our dream states we become more aware. As we become more conscious and learn to do so, the living of our lives begins to become seamless. And this awareness in time will even filter down into our dreams. What we perceive in our awake reality begins to wed to our dream states. These different realities of mind begin to become connected, and a universal consistency begins to emerge.
    In Right Speech we realize that absolutely every utterance has an impact on us, on those around us, on our animals, on our plants, on our environment. Therefore, we cease from saying anything that would harm, such as swearing and using words in anger that become toxic. This takes tremendous effort and a retraining of our minds It does not mean we suppress, but it does mean we learn to release the anger and fear that results in harsh, unkind, sarcastic, caustic communication.
    While driving with a friend, a delightful spiritual teacher, a driver on the freeway did an unconscious maneuver and caused the man with whom I was traveling to take quick action to avoid a collision, which he executed with skill. Then he started to swear a blue streak. It was every bit as rattling as the other driver’s erratic moves. It wasn’t the time to say anything to my friend, but it was a reminder that living consciously does not take a holiday when another person drives poorly. It takes constant practice, practice, practice to bring a life-transforming philosophy into every moment of our lives, even while driving on the freeway.
    We do this first by being the observer and noticing what we are allowingto escape from our mouths. We hopefully are mature enough not to use the childish excuse, “I just can’t help myself when those words come out of my mouth.” The only person ever responsible is the person yelling and verbalizing anger.
    Next we take the angry and fearful feelings we are about to express as harsh words and we consciously release them to: the clear light, a divine presence, a bodhisattva, etc. Next we are consciously aware not to go back and pick them up again. If our speech causes anyone to suffer, then it is not Right Speech.
    The Buddha teaches that if we need to have a conversation with someone who is agitated, or who has a difficult personality, we need to continuously be mindful, consciously breathe in and breathe out, and listen deeply to that person for one hour. If, during that hour, you begin to feel agitated yourself, say to the other dear one, “I truly want to listen to you, but I find myself unable to continue. So let us agree to stop for