Episode 34 :: Doug McGill :: Right Speech

By Ted Meissner | October 15, 2010

Doug McGill

Professional journalist and founder of the Rochester Meditation Center in Southeast Minnesota, Doug McGill, speaks with us about the challenges of right speech in our modern world.

Lately there’s been a great deal of talk on the internet about concepts which challenge us, as Buddhists, to practice right speech. There is a split in our community, between those who accept rebirth, and those who don’t. These discussions have sometimes stayed within the guidelines of avoiding lying, divisive, or harmful speech, but have also occassionally crossed the line, certainly in the area of divisiveness.

Of course, we as Buddhists want to demonstrate that our practice has prevented us from falling into wrong speech, and often it does. Not always, I’m guilty of wrong speech every bit as much as the next person. So what is it about that axe in our mouths called a tongue, that we have so much trouble keeping in line?

Our interview today is with professional journalist Doug McGill, founder of the Rochester Meditation Center in Rochester, Minneosta, and we’ll take on some of the challenges of right speech to his profession, and to all of us in our modern world.

So, sit back, relax, and have too old, cold black coffee. Because that’ll put you in the frame of mind of a busy newsroom.