Venerable Sāriputta addressed the monks thus: “Friends, a monk who wishes to reprove another should first establish five things in himself. What five? (1) He should consider: ‘I will speak at a proper time, not at an improper time; (2) I will speak truthfully, not falsely; (3) I will speak gently, not harshly; (4) I will speak in a bene-ficial way, not in a harmful way; (5) I will speak with a mind of loving-kindness, not while harboring hatred.’ A monk who wishes to reprove another should first estab-lish these five things in himself. . . .
“Friends, a person who is reproved should be established in two things: in truth and non-anger. He should reflect: ‘If others should reprove me — whether at a proper time or at an improper time; whether about what is true or about what is false; whether gently or harshly; whether in a beneficial way or in a harmful way; whether with a mind of loving-kindness or while harboring hatred — I should still be established in two things: in truth and non-anger. If I know: “There is such a quality in me,” I tell him: “It exists. This quality is found in me.” If I know: “There is no such quality in me,” I tell him: “It doesn’t exist. This quality isn’t found in me.” ’ ”
Excerpt from: “The Buddha’s Teachings on Social and Communal Harmony: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon” by Bodhi.
Cattāri Brahmavihārā 
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