Borrow Some Salt, Not an Opinion: A Buddhist Lesson on Gossip

Have you ever formed an opinion about someone based entirely on what another person told you?

People often form opinions about others based on gossip, rumors, assumptions, or one-sided accounts. But accepting another person’s judgment without independently examining what is true creates a “borrowed opinion.”

The Teachings of The Buddha encourage a Practitioner to develop discernment: to listen carefully, investigate what has been said, and make decisions based on an accurate understanding of reality rather than hearsay, speculation, or social pressure.

You may need to borrow some salt from another person, but it would be unwise to borrow their opinion.

As you progress along The Path to Enlightenment, it is important to develop an increasingly clear understanding of “true reality” and the ability to make wise decisions.

This is how the mind gradually moves towards Enlightenment—a state in which it is permanently peaceful, calm, serene, content, and joyful.

Everything taught by The Buddha is grounded in discernment: the ability to understand reality clearly and make wise decisions based on that understanding.

When you make wise decisions, you produce wholesome results—wholesome Kamma.

However, when decisions are based on falsehoods, assumptions, or misunderstandings, they produce unwholesome results—unwholesome Kamma. This occurs because the decisions are not grounded in an accurate understanding of “true reality”.

Gossip and slander are common examples of unwise behavior.

People will sometimes gossip or slander in an attempt to make themselves appear good by making someone else appear bad. But in reality, this behavior reveals a lack of wisdom within the person who is speaking.

An individual may not recognize this because their mind has not yet developed sufficient wisdom. However, through repeatedly gossiping and slandering, they damage their own reputation. Over time, more people will recognize that gossip and slander are unwise, harmful, and untrustworthy forms of speech.

An unwise person may listen to gossip and slander and then form an opinion about someone based entirely on what they have heard.

This is a “borrowed opinion”.

Rather than seeking to understand “true reality” for themselves, the individual adopts the opinion of another person. The mind does not actually know the truth. Instead, it conforms to someone else’s thinking without independently examining or verifying what has been said.

When you borrow another person’s opinion, you are no longer thinking for yourself.

This is especially unwise when the opinion comes from someone who is engaging in gossip or slander. A person who chooses to gossip or slander is demonstrating a lack of wisdom. Therefore, adopting that person’s opinion means allowing their lack of wisdom to influence your own mind and decisions.

You might choose to borrow some salt, but it would be highly unwise to borrow an opinion.

Thinking for yourself does not mean refusing to listen to others. You can listen carefully to what people have to share while still practicing discernment.

When someone speaks truthfully, gently, beneficially, and with a mind of loving-kindness, their words may be worthy of thoughtful consideration.

But when someone speaks through gossip, slander, hostility, or speculation, it would be wise not to accept their words as truth.

Listen carefully.

Examine what has been said.

Seek to understand “true reality” for yourself.

Do not allow another person’s unwise speech to determine how you perceive or treat someone else.

You might borrow some salt, but never borrow an opinion.

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David Roylance is a dedicated Practitioner, Teacher, and published author who has taught The Teachings of The Buddha since 2005. Based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, he guides Household and Ordained Practitioners worldwide through courses, retreats, and special events on The Path to Enlightenment.