Gossip

(Ten Commandments) You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right or conciliation between people. And whoever does that seeking means to the approval of Allah – then We are going to give him a great reward.

O believers, if an evildoer brings you any news, verify (it) so you do not harm people unknowingly, becoming regretful for what you have done.

O believers, Do not let some (men) ridicule others, they may be better than them, nor let (some) women ridicule other women, they may be better than them. Do not defame one another, nor call each other by offensive nicknames. How evil it is to act rebelliously after having faith! And whoever does not repent, it is they who are the (true) wrongdoers. O believers, Avoid many suspicions, for indeed, some suspicions are sinful. And do not spy, nor backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of their dead brother? You would despise that. And fear Allah, Surely Allah is the Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful.

Successful indeed are the believers, those who humble themselves in prayer, those who avoid idle talk..

Do not give attention to what others do or fail to do; give it to what you do or fail to do

These three people are found in the world. What three? Someone easy to measure, someone hard to measure, and someone who is immeasurable. And who is the person easy to measure? It’s a person who is restless, insolent, fickle, gossipy, loose-tongued, unmindful, lacking situational awareness and immersion, with straying mind and undisciplined faculties. This is called ‘a person easy to measure’. And who is the person hard to measure? It’s a person who is not restless, insolent, fickle, gossipy, or loose-tongued. They have established mindfulness, situational awareness and immersion, with unified mind and restrained faculties. This is called ‘a person hard to measure’. And who is the immeasurable person? It’s a mendicant who is perfected, and has ended defilements. This is called ‘an immeasurable person’. These are the three people found in the world.

Those who know don’t tell, those who tell don’t know. By watching what you say, by not having rough edges to catch, by keeping it simple and unconfused, become one with the dust of the way and realize the deep sameness of One Taste. Then you will stop being controlled by love and rejection, by profit and loss, by praise and humiliation, by fame and fortune, by pleasure and power and you will stabilize the highest realization.