Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Triple Filter...


A great story about what you should and what you should not talk about Friends...



In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day one fellow met the great philosopher and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?". 


"Hold on a minute," Socrates replied. "Before telling me anything I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test.". "Triple filter?". "That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say. That's why I call it the triple filter test. 


The first filter is Truth


Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?" "No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and...". "All right," said Socrates. "So you don't know if it's true or not. 


Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. 


Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?" . "No, on the contrary...". "So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left.


The third filter is the filter of Usefulness


Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?" "No, not really." "Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"


The same lesson my guruji has been teaching me and following himself for years:


Don't participate in any loose talk for at-least anyone you know - its not worth it.


Always avoid talking or listening behind the back about your near and dear friends.

In fact guruji says - why only friends?? you should put triple filter (Truth, Goodness & Usefulness) even while you are talking or listening about your bosses, colleagues, neighbors, family, etc...