[268] "Bhikkhus, suppose a man were to come carrying a hoe and a basket, and he were to say thus: 'I shall make this great earth to be without earth.' He would dig here and there, scatter [the soil] here and there, spit here and there, and urinate here and there, saying: 'Be without earth! Be without earth!' What do you think, bhikkhus—could that man make this great earth to be without earth?"
"No, venerable sir. Why is that? Because this great earth, venerable sir, is deep and immeasurable; it is not easy to make it be without earth. That man would only reap his share of weariness and vexation."
"Even so, bhikkhus, there are these five courses of speech by which others, when speaking, might address you: at a proper time or at an improper time; with what is true or with what is untrue; with gentle words or with harsh words; with words connected with benefit or with words unconnected with benefit; with a mind of loving-kindness (mettā) or with inner hatred. Bhikkhus, when others speak, they may speak at a proper time or at an improper time; bhikkhus, when others speak, they may speak with what is true or with what is untrue; bhikkhus, when others speak, they may speak with gentle words or with harsh words; bhikkhus, when others speak, they may speak with words connected with benefit or with words unconnected with benefit; bhikkhus, when others speak, they may speak with a mind of loving-kindness or with inner hatred. Therein too, bhikkhus, you should train thus: 'Our mind (citta) shall not become perverted, nor shall we utter evil speech; we shall abide sympathetic for their welfare, with a mind of loving-kindness, without inner hatred; and we shall abide pervading that person with a mind imbued with loving-kindness; and, taking that person as the basis, we shall abide pervading the entire world with a mind similar to the earth—abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without enmity, without ill will.' Thus indeed, bhikkhus, should you train."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.