(Clearwisdom.net)
The issue of the cultivation of speech when we are doing Dafa work is a question that we should pay special attention to. Many losses in Dafa work are related in various degrees to practitioners not practicing cultivation of speech.
1. Some Practitioners Have Incorrect Understandings in Their Ways of Thinking
Incorrect understanding #1: There's no problem with practitioner "A". Practitioner "A" will certainly not talk about things when he is not supposed to.
Perhaps there isn't a problem with Practitioner "A". However, "A" also thought that "B" was trustworthy, so he told "B." Not long after this, "C", "D", "E" and "F" all knew about it. When things have progressed to this point, who can guarantee that everyone is trustworthy? Many practitioners tell everything to their non-practitioner family members, using the details of Dafa work as special material to explain the facts to their families. How can one ensure security and safety in doing so? In such a manner, it is very easy to spread the news to bad people and thus incur interference to practitioners who are doing crucial Dafa work.
Incorrect understanding 2: Using examples of practitioners who do Dafa work well to inspire other practitioners.
I often hear this: "Practitioner 'A' has done really good Dafa work." Perhaps this comment can inspire fellow practitioners, but it can also cause trouble to practitioners who do Dafa work. Actually, when we share experiences, we don't necessarily have to mention specifics such as real names, locations, etc. We can just say: "There was this occurrence, and a person..." and still have the same effect.
2. Not Practicing the Cultivation of Speech is Usually Caused by the Mentality of Showing-off
I think that cultivation of speech is the cultivation of one's thoughts. Saying something that you don't need to say--this is usually driven by the mentality of showing-off, thoughts like "See, what a great deal I've accomplished, how remarkable!" or "See, I know this person who is so important and I know so much that you don't know..." When you fail to get rid of your mentality of showing-off, even though you know perfectly well that you shouldn't say something, you still have to say it anyway to feel satisfied.
As a cultivator, the mentality of showing-off is actually very foolish. Cultivation is to cultivate one's self. To let others know how well we have cultivated ourselves--is this going to have a positive effect on our own cultivation? Quite the opposite, the effect is always negative, and it is always an obstacle to our cultivation. From the perspective of Fa-rectification, this mentality of showing-off is the point where demons take advantage of and persecute Dafa and Dafa disciples. We should understand the damaging effect of the mentality of showing-off from the perspective of being responsible to Dafa and to fellow practitioners. We should see through the deceitful tricks of the evil demons' utilizing our existing attachments to persecute Dafa. We should practice the cultivation of thought and speech.
Moreover, when we tell details about specific Dafa work to fellow practitioners who are not involved in it, and thus don't need to know about it, we are in fact shouldering them with extra burdens. If they fail to handle themselves well, the losses brought to Dafa will be even greater. In our area, we have learned a difficult lesson in this regard. Afterwards, we came to the understanding that no matter who a person is, or how well this person may seem to have cultivated, do not tell this person anything confidential that you don't need to tell him or her.
This is just my shallow understanding. Please correct me if there's anything improper.