The Three Gates

We’ve all found ourselves in that position where we are just about to say something we shouldn’t, haven’t we? Learning how to pause and pass through the three gates can be a game-changer! Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?

Transcript

Namaste everybody and welcome to In the Flow with Laurie Albert.

So have you ever gotten really close to saying something that you really shouldn't say or you did say something that you really know that you shouldn't say?

Yeah we've all been,

I mean everybody has done that right?

I mean I'm sure that everybody's done that.

You can't really,

You know,

We've all said things that we don't mean.

We've all said things that just blah come out of our mouth,

Right?

So you know throughout my spiritual studies it's been,

There's this,

Okay so let me put it this way.

There is a Sufi poet whose name is Rumi and he in the 1200s he wrote about so many things and there's so many quotes and if you ever want to see it,

Very amazing,

Like really amazing quotes attributed to him.

But there is this one quote that has always kind of stuck with me right there,

You know?

I mean it just sticks with you,

Something that's just like,

You know,

Just like oh,

Right?

And it is this,

Before you speak let your words pass through three gates.

Is it true?

Is it necessary?

And the third gate is,

Is it kind?

And what's interesting about this is,

Is that I believe that probably every religion has some version of this.

Like I was raised Catholic so Catholicism has the do unto your neighbor,

Blah,

You know,

That kind of thing.

In Buddhism there's right speech which is do no harm,

You know,

That sort of thing with your,

With your speech.

But can you imagine a world,

I know this is me pie in the sky,

Right?

But can you imagine a world where we all stopped to think before we,

Before we spoke and asked ourselves those three questions.

Is it true?

Is it necessary?

And is it kind?

Can you imagine our world if we did that?

But here's the thing,

In recent years I've actually started doing that.

Like I'll,

Before I say something,

Now I'm not like the biggest sort of wit in the world.

I don't,

I mean,

Okay,

Obviously I speak to you guys all the time,

Right?

But and so I have no trouble talking,

But I'm not a huge wit,

You know,

Now my husband,

Whole other story,

He's got wit like that,

Right?

But I've stopped to think about what I want to say in recent years and it has changed how I communicate.

And so I wanted to bring that up today because I'll just put it this way.

I have seen so many people live,

Like people in my life,

But also people that you see out in the world that really should stop and think about what they're going to say and ask themselves,

Is it true?

Is it necessary?

Isn't that amazing?

Like to think that through.

Okay.

Is it true?

That's kind of black and white.

Is it necessary?

Do you really have to say what you really want to say?

And is it kind,

You know,

And it's so funny because every time,

Every time I think about or I see the concept of,

Of the three gates,

I think about the movie.

What about the email?

You've got mail with,

With Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in it,

Right?

And there's this one part in this,

In the movie where she says,

You know,

Did you ever say,

Like,

I've never been able to say something that I really want to say right at the moment I want to say it.

And she says,

And you know what,

When I was confronted with something I really didn't want to want to be confronted with,

I was able to say at that moment,

Everything I wanted to say,

I held back and everything came out of my mouth just as I wanted to say it.

And then instantly she says,

And I realize it's a movie,

But it's a great point.

She says,

Instantly I felt remorse.

Isn't that amazing?

I mean,

To me,

That is so such a beautiful point,

Such a beautiful point.

So it goes back to the three gates.

Is it true?

Is it necessary?

And is it kind?

So that's what we are going to meditate on today.

We're going to meditate on,

And check this out.

This is why I love how all the religions of the world,

To me,

Have different versions of different things,

Different aspects.

And I love that this concept,

Whether it's the actual three gates or right speech or love your neighbor,

That sort of thing,

I love how it's universal.

It's universal.

So today our mantra is Sat Naam,

And Sat Naam means this.

Sat means truth.

And Naam is the existence or I am.

So basically when you meditate or you repeat Sat Naam,

You're basically saying to yourself,

To the world,

You're saying,

I am truth.

I just love that.

So that is our mantra for today.

So let's get comfortable.

Our mantra today is I am truth.

Yeah,

I love that.

Okay.

Yes,

Let's just get that frog out of our throat.

And let's close our eyes.

When you feel comfortable,

Close your eyes.

Let's take a nice deep,

Deep breath in and release it.

Let's do that one more time.

Take a deep,

Deep breath in,

Deep into your lungs,

All through your body and release it.

It's beautiful.

Now taking that deep breath helps us to become calm and relaxed.

So as we get ready to start our mantra,

Before we start,

What are you grateful for today?

What is going great in your life today?

It can be one thing.

It can be 10 things.

What are you so appreciative and thankful for today?

So our mantra for today,

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

I want you to try.

We're going to take our practice to a little bit deeper of a level.

Let's try really hard to keep the mantra the entire time that we are sitting in silence.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

As we begin the mantra,

If you lose the mantra,

That's okay.

But try to bring it back and try to take it and make it go deep into your being.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

I will keep the time.

Let's begin.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Sat Nam.

Let's start bringing our awareness back to our bodies.

Let's take a nice deep breath in,

Breathing in truth.

And release.

Gorgeous,

Gorgeous,

Gorgeous energy today.

Whenever you feel comfortable,

You can open your eyes.

How awesome.

Meditating on truth.

So as you go,

Challenge yourself today.

As you go throughout your day,

Challenge yourself and just see if you can stop before you start to talk and go through the three gates.

Is it true?

Is it necessary?

Is it kind?

Three gates.

So thank you so much for joining today.

As always,

I love you all so much.

And have yourself a beautiful day.

And from my heart to yours,

Namaste.

Reviews

Aww thanks for this reminder that we seem to forget from time to time! What stands out to me this morning is just because it’s true does not mean it’s necessary ! I hope I remember this next time!! 💜