How to have a debate

In light of the recent debates here in the US for the nominee of the Democratic Party (I support Obama by the way), my colleague, Thrig recently pointed out a nice sutra in the Pali Canon about debates, and how to have a constructive one. This is the Kathavatthu Sutta (AN 3.67) and in this sutra, the Buddha explains to the monks what kind of people are worth debating and which aren’t.

For example, this paragraph:

“Monks, it’s through his way of participating in a discussion that a person can be known as fit to talk with or unfit to talk with. If a person, when asked a question, wanders from one thing to another, pulls the discussion off the topic, shows anger and aversion and sulks, then — that being the case — he is a person unfit to talk with. But if a person, when asked a question, doesn’t wander from one thing to another, doesn’t pull the discussion off the topic, doesn’t show anger or aversion or sulk, then — that being the case — he is a person fit to talk with.

I think when watching the Debates that will be going on until November, it’s worth watching the debates and seeing if any of the candidates follow the Buddha’s criteria of an unfit, or a fit person to talk with. It’s wishful thinking, but how people debate can also be an indication as to their mindset, even more so than the rhetoric and cliches they use.

Of course, this also applies to debates with people of other religions, political discussions in one’s own life,* or any other such debates. Some people can carry on a constructive debate, while some just don’t have the mental furniture to listen to the other side, and just ignorantly cling to their own view, no matter how wrong it is.

In any case, the sutra also provides excellent advice on what right speech in this set of verses below:

If wise people, knowing the right time,
want to speak,
then, words connected with justice,
following the ways of the noble ones:
That’s what the enlightened ones speak,
without anger or arrogance,
with a mind not boiling over,
without vehemence, without spite.
Without envy
they speak from right knowledge.
They would delight in what’s well-said
and not disparage what’s not.
They don’t study to find fault,
don’t grasp at little mistakes.
don’t put down, don’t crush,
don’t speak random words.

Enjoy!

Namuamidabu

* – The older I get, the more I realize that talking politics, and to some degree religion, are never a good idea with someone you don’t know well. Unless they happen to share the same view, it’s almost guaranteed to turn into an ego-battle on both sides and drive a wedge between them. As the Buddha said, right speech should be “timely, honest and with kind intentions”.