Restrain the Heart Before You Speak
[Verse 1]
Before you enter someone’s home,
Walk with respect and leave pride alone.
Do not command what you cannot own,
Do not ask for more than you need to be shown.
Do not whisper words that create doubt,
Do not let hidden motives find their way out.
Know your place, and know what is right,
Let kindness and wisdom become your light.
[Verse 2]
A faithful companion walks with care,
Not too distant, not too close to bear.
Speak at the proper time and place,
Serve with wisdom, humility, and grace.
When sights and sounds come through the door,
Do not let craving control you anymore.
When taste and touch disturb the mind,
Be patient, be mindful, leave greed behind.
[Chorus]
Restrain the heart before you speak,
Let wisdom guide the words you seek.
Before you praise, before you blame,
Look deeply first, and know the truth behind the name.
Restrain the heart, restrain the tongue,
Let mindful words be wisely sung.
Think before you act, let compassion lead,
Peace begins within when we abandon greed.
[Verse 3]
Guard the senses, keep the mind awake,
Walk the path for your own freedom’s sake.
Speak less, but let your words be true,
Let right view guide all that you do.
Do not be stingy with place or gain,
Do not let jealousy poison the brain.
Do not cling to status, praise, or fame,
The Dhamma shines beyond a worldly name.
[Verse 4]
Before you praise, examine well,
Before you criticize, pause and dwell.
A careless word can wound a heart,
A mindful word can make peace start.
Wrong view can lead the mind astray,
Wrong speech can darken the path each day.
Right effort, mindfulness, and understanding
Keep the heart peaceful, clear, and standing.
[Chorus]
Restrain the heart before you speak,
Let wisdom guide the words you seek.
Before you praise, before you blame,
Look deeply first, and know the truth behind the name.
Restrain the heart, restrain the tongue,
Let mindful words be wisely sung.
Think before you act, let compassion lead,
Peace begins within when we abandon greed.
[Bridge]
Be patient when the world attacks,
Do not let anger pull you back.
Guard your mind from hate and fear,
Let understanding make the pathway clear.
No jealousy, no selfish gain,
No careless words that cause another pain.
When wisdom rises and desire grows still,
The heart discovers freedom through its own will.
[Final Chorus]
Restrain the heart before you speak,
Let wisdom make the spirit strong, not weak.
Before you praise, before you blame,
See things clearly, without hatred or shame.
Restrain the heart, restrain the tongue,
Let peace be found in everyone.
Think with wisdom, act with care,
Let compassion rise and fill the air.
[Outro]
Restrain the heart before you speak,
Let wisdom guide the path you seek.
Guard your body, guard your mind,
Leave anger and jealousy behind.
From one calm heart, let peace begin,
From mindful words, let harmony win.
The Dhamma lives when we understand:
Peace begins within our own heart and hands.
The Andhakavinda Chapter: Fivefold Principles for Self-Discipline, Concentration, and Trust
The Andhakavinda Vagga, found in the Aṅguttara Nikāya, Pañcaka Nipāta, Tipiṭaka Volume 22, presents ten discourses: the Kulupaka Sutta, Pacchāsamaṇa Sutta, Samādhi Sutta, Andhakavinda Sutta, Macchariya Sutta, Vaṇṇanā Sutta, Issā Sutta, Diṭṭhi Sutta, Vācā Sutta, and Vāyāma Sutta. Together, these teachings address monastic discipline, proper conduct within society, sense restraint, concentration, and the importance of careful reflection before speaking or judging others.
The Kulupaka Sutta begins with five behaviors that can cause a monk entering a family to lose affection, respect, and confidence. These include becoming overly familiar with people who are not yet close, giving orders despite having no authority, associating with people who are unwelcome within the family, whispering privately, and asking for too much. The teaching emphasizes humility, appropriate boundaries, and freedom from exploiting social relationships for personal benefit.
The Pacchāsamaṇa Sutta examines the qualities required of a monk who accompanies another monk. A poor attendant may walk either too far away or too close, fail to receive an alms bowl when appropriate, fail to prevent conduct approaching an offense, interrupt conversations, or lack wisdom. A suitable attendant, by contrast, acts with awareness, restraint, timing, and intelligence.
The Samādhi Sutta connects sense restraint with right concentration. A practitioner should learn to endure the impact of forms, sounds, smells, tastes, and bodily sensations. Such endurance prevents the mind from being controlled by sensory stimulation and provides a foundation for mental stability and concentration.
The Andhakavinda Sutta presents five fundamental qualities for a newly ordained monk: restraint according to the Pātimokkha, guarding the sense faculties, speaking little, cultivating bodily calm, and establishing oneself in right view. These principles provide a systematic foundation for entering monastic life through discipline, self-control, mindful communication, and correct understanding.
The final six discourses—Macchariya, Vaṇṇanā, Issā, Diṭṭhi, Vācā, and Vāyāma—focus on conditions that lead toward decline. They address stinginess concerning residences, families, gains, social status, and Dhamma; careless praise and criticism; jealousy; wrong view; wrong intention; wrong speech; wrong action; wrong effort; and wrong mindfulness. A recurring concern is the damage such behavior can cause to the faith and confidence of the wider community.
The central lesson can therefore be expressed as “reflect before speaking, praising, criticizing, or acting.” Unconsidered praise of the unworthy or criticism of the worthy can create misunderstanding and undermine public confidence. This principle remains highly relevant in the modern information age, when opinions and information can spread rapidly.
Viewed as a whole, the Andhakavinda Vagga is not merely a collection of rules for monks and nuns. It is also a practical framework for human development: knowing one's boundaries, respecting social space, enduring sensory stimulation, restraining speech, cultivating right view, and using wisdom before making judgments.
From the perspective of Buddhist peacebuilding, these teachings are especially significant. Avoiding unnecessary interference, excessive demands, jealousy, stinginess, careless speech, and premature judgment can reduce conflict and strengthen trust within a community.
The enduring message of the Andhakavinda Vagga can therefore be summarized as follows:
Restrain yourself, endure what arises, speak mindfully, think wisely, and protect the faith and trust of others.
These principles remain applicable not only within the Buddhist community but also in families, workplaces, organizations, and society as a whole.
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