The Triple Filter Test

Hi, and welcome to your Daily Mindfulness. Today, we're going to explore something called the triple filter test. So the triple filter test comes from Socrates who used to live in ancient Greece, and he was a renowned man of great wisdom and intelligence. So one day one of his friends comes to him and says, "Do you know what I just heard about Ilonus, the philosopher from Athens?" "Hold on a moment," said Socrates. "Before you tell me about this, man, let's run what you have to say through three filters.

The first filter is the filter of truth. So are you absolutely sure that what you're about to tell me is true? Do you know it to be true from your own firsthand experience?" "Uh, no, the friend said. "Actually I just heard it from the guy at that..." "Okay," Socrates said. "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Okay.

So let's run it through a second filter, the filter of goodness. Is what you want to tell me something that will spread goodwill and connection in the community rather than ill will, animosity or division?" "Uh," said the friend, "not necessarily." "Okay," Socrates continued. "Okay. So you want to tell me something bad about him and you don't know if it's true? Okay. There's one filter left and this is the filter of usefulness.

Is what you want to tell me about this person, in some way, helpful or useful for me to know?" "Uh," again, the friend said. "I guess not really." "Okay," said Socrates. "If what you want to say is not definitely true, not good and not useful, then my thinking is that it's better not to tell me at all. What do you think?" The friend agreed. So I think the triple filter test is just as relevant and helpful an idea today as it was in ancient times, because how we communicate really matters because our words can be like weapons that cause harm, suffering, division and discord, or they can be bringers of connection, comfort, and love.

And gossip is one way that I see that we often kind of just slip into habits that can harm. So if all of this kind of resonates with you as something that's important and valuable in your life, I invite you to try out the triple filter test. So when you're about to speak to others about others, asking yourself, do I know for sure in my own direct experience, what I'm going to say is true? Is it good? As in, will this spread goodwill and connection in the community? And is it useful? Does the person that you're talking to really need to know about this? Does it enhance their own wellbeing? Is it practical for them? So, is it true? Is it good? Is it useful? If you resonate with this, I invite you to give it a try. And as always, thank you so much for your practice and your presence here with us. Let's settle in for meditation.