WHY ONE SHOULD NOT NOT SPEAK A DELIBERATE LIE EVEN IN JEST

[1]

One day
the Buddha came to Rahula, pointed to a bowl with a little bit of water in it,
and asked: “Rahula, do you see this bit of water left in the bowl?”

Rahula
answered: “Yes, sir.”

“So
little, Rahula, is the spiritual achievement of one who is not afraid to speak
a deliberate lie.”

[2]

Then the
Buddha threw the water away, put the bowl down, and said: “Do you see, Rahula,
how that water has been discarded?

“In the
same way, one who tells a deliberate lie, discards whatever spiritual achievement
he has made.”

[3]

Again, he
asked: “Do you see how this bowl is now empty?

“In the
same way, one who has no shame in speaking lies is empty of spiritual achievement.”

[4]

Then the
Buddha turned the bowl upside down and said: “Do you see, Rahula, how this bowl
has been turned upside down?

“In the
same way, one who tells a deliberate lie turns his spiritual achievement upside
down and becomes incapable of progress.”

[5]

Therefore,
the Buddha concluded, one should not speak a deliberate lie even in jest.