The Noble Eightfold Path: Step Three: Right Speech

The Noble Eightfold Path: Step Three: Right Speech

From Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver by Susan Piver

February 20, 2026 · 26 min · Season 1 · Episode 44

About this episode

In this episode, Susan Piver explores the third step of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Speech, emphasizing its connection to Right Listening and the impact of our inner world on our communication.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I explore the third step of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Speech, and why it might more accurately be called Right Listening. I begin with a story about the so-called “Marcus Syndrome”, the habit of using someone else’s speaking time to prepare your reply. From there, I revisit Right View and Right Intention, and how the way we hold our inner world naturally shapes the words we send out into the world. We look at the classical categories of unskillful speec...

People in this episode

Host: Susan Piver

Topics covered

  • Noble Eightfold Path
  • Right Speech
  • Right Listening
  • communication
  • mindfulness

Keywords

  • Noble Eightfold Path
  • Right Speech
  • Right Listening
  • communication
  • mindfulness
  • Marcus Syndrome
  • unskillful speech

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