MN 58 Abhayarajakumara Sutta - To Prince Abhaya

"In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be factual, true, beneficial, and endearing & agreeable to others, he has a sense of the proper time for saying them. Why is that? Because the Tathagata has sympathy for living beings." - an abstract from MN 58 Abhayarajakumara Sutta - To Prince Abhaya

In this Sutta, it is interesting that the Tathagata laid down how should the right speech be.
The right speech should not just be factual, but also be beneficial and endearing. It is non-disputable. It shows that Tathagata encourages or requires his disciples to question. Its nothing new throughout the Tipitaka.

This sutta points out that speech have to be beneficial as well. Thus I believe in saying things not what I want to say but what has to be said or at least what the hearer wish to listen. If not, any words are just useless chatters.

At the end of the sutta, Prince Abhaya asked whether Buddha has thought of what the questions that would be asked before being asked and prepared the answer. Buddha replied by examples of how Prince Abhaya knows his chariot parts. Knowledge that has been well learnt, when challenged, could be answered from the spot.

What I have learnt is the spirit of asking question, answering questions and how important it is to have a composed mind in answer questions. Just like how the lake will reflect our image when it is still and calm.