We should mind our own business

and not the business of others.

This advice from Great Master Yinguang speaks to us of gossiping. It is incredibly easy to slip into the habit of gossiping. Consider what you talk about with others. A project you’re working on, or your co-workers? What you just learned, or what you heard someone did?

When we gossip, we indulge in speculation and spreading rumors. But even if what we say is true, is it really our business to discuss it with others? Are we breaking the trust someone placed in us?

We can justify our gossiping by telling ourselves that the other person will never know. But the one we told knows. Perhaps they will think less of us. Very likely, we will have planted negative thoughts in their minds. How? We don’t gossip by saying how wonderful someone is! We talk about perceived wrongdoing.

Instead, we should not talk about what others have done but focus on what we ourselves are doing and correct our faults before others gossip about us.