Understanding the fourth precept

Buddhist ethical conduct including the Five Precepts (Pañcasikkhāpada), and Eightfold Ethical Conduct (Aṭṭhasīla).
User avatar
Lazy_eye
Posts: 996
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:23 pm
Location: Laurel, MD
Contact:

Re: Would this break the fourth precept?

Post by Lazy_eye »

Unless you were deliberately setting out to deceive, I don't think it's a breach of the precept. Informal/conversational language tends to be loose and flexible, like a pair of baggy jeans.

Still, I think it's a good idea to try and use more precise language, as imprecision can create misunderstandings.

A therapist named David Burns has suggested that habitual use of "always" and "never" can fuel psychological afflictions, as these terms lend themselves to unhealthy self-talk ("I'll NEVER get this right," "I ALWAYS screw this up", etc).
User avatar
Modus.Ponens
Posts: 3853
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:38 am
Location: Gallifrey

Re: Would this break the fourth precept?

Post by Modus.Ponens »

I think we must not be fundamentalists. When the Buddha says something like "There are 1000 other world systems", do you think it's actualy exactly 1000? Don't you think it's like rounding up the time in your clock saying "It's 5:15" when it's actualy 5:14?
'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.' - Jhana Sutta
Dennenappelmoes
Posts: 48
Joined: Thu Apr 25, 2013 10:34 pm

Re: Would this break the fourth precept?

Post by Dennenappelmoes »

I am very much a fan of Ajahn Brahm when it comes to this. In all of his talks that listened to (and there were many) he never mentioned "honesty" (in the sense of speaking factual correctness). He always talks about skillful speech. Also, he stresses that to him, the definition of truth is that which brings peace and harmony. If something leads to argument, to disagreement, to division, how can it be true? Following this argument, saying "you don't look fat in that at all" can be 'true'/skilfull even when it isn't a factual truth.

To me, I tend to focus on what the speech causes. If someone was nervous about doing something and then asks "did I do ok?" when they didn't, I may well say "yes" because this conveys that I have confidence in them, which is the truth, whereas saying "no" would convey that I did not have confidence in them, which would be false. However, this is a slippery slope and the way I see it, it needs to be balanced with humble, honest personal reflection to ensure the intention wasn't to deceive, just as the others have mentioned.

But the best advice is to just always eat pasta with sauce, you avoid the problem and it's much healthier and less gross as well! :namaste:
Last edited by Dennenappelmoes on Sun Apr 28, 2013 9:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Tom
Posts: 293
Joined: Sat Aug 04, 2012 9:50 pm

Re: Would this break the fourth precept?

Post by Tom »

Buckwheat wrote:
ccharles wrote:If you say to someone "I never eat pasta without sauce", meaning you hardly eat pasta without sauce, not literally never, would this be a breach of the fourth precept?
Did the listener understand what you really meant?
I didn't actually say these exact words, I'm using "I never eat pasta without sauce" as an example. But if the person saying these words didn't have the intention to suggest that he/she literally never eats pasta without sauce, what significance does the listener's own understanding of what the speaker said have?
Tom
Posts: 293
Joined: Sat Aug 04, 2012 9:50 pm

Re: Would this break the fourth precept?

Post by Tom »

daverupa wrote:
Buckwheat wrote:
ccharles wrote:If you say to someone "I never eat pasta without sauce", meaning you hardly eat pasta without sauce, not literally never, would this be a breach of the fourth precept?
Did the listener understand what you really meant?
Was there an intention to mislead (false speech), or is the idiom frivolous (idle speech)?
If there isn't an intention to mislead, would this be considered idle chatter?
daverupa wrote:Does the fourth precept make reference to the four speech acts referred to in kammapatha, or is it to be understood as only one of those four?
I'd like to know this as well
User avatar
seeker242
Posts: 1114
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2012 3:01 am

Re: Would this break the fourth precept?

Post by seeker242 »

"While you are performing a verbal act, you should reflect on it: 'This verbal act I am doing — is it leading to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both? Is it an unskillful verbal act, with painful consequences, painful results?' If, on reflection, you know that it is leading to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both... you should give it up. But if on reflection you know that it is not... you may continue with it. MN 61 http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
Does speaking non-literally about your pasta sauce eating habits lead to "self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both"? Does it have " painful consequences, painful results"? I am going to venture a guess and say probably not. :)
D1W1
Posts: 615
Joined: Sat May 30, 2015 5:52 am

Re: Would this break the fourth precept?

Post by D1W1 »

Ben wrote:Unless you were intentionally attempting to deceive someone, you might be guilty of not being very mindful of your communication style.
Its always good to be as precise as possible when using language, but sometimes we fall into habitual modes of expression.
The fourth precept has four factors:
atatham-vatthu — a falsehood.
visam-vadana-cittam — the intention to speak a falsehood.
tajjo vayamo — the effort is made.
parassa ta-dattha-vijananam — others understand what was said.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... ha.html#qa" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
All four factors need to be present for a breach of the fourth precept to occur.
kind regards,

Ben
Hi Ben,

Just came across this thread.
Can you please elaborate what does it mean by "parassa ta-dattha-vijananam — others understand what was said"?


Does it mean others deceived by our words? If others understand what was said that means they're not deceived, right?
Thanks.
User avatar
Ben
Posts: 18438
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:49 am
Location: kanamaluka

Re: Would this break the fourth precept?

Post by Ben »

Hi D1W1,
It means that for the precept is broken if all four factors are present including that the message we conveyed was understood.
Note that the commentary provided does not stipulate that deception has to occur for there to be a break of the precept, only that words were communicated and understood. So, attempted deception would break the precept.
Kind regards,
Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
D1W1
Posts: 615
Joined: Sat May 30, 2015 5:52 am

Re: Would this break the fourth precept?

Post by D1W1 »

Ben wrote:Hi D1W1,
It means that for the precept is broken if all four factors are present including that the message we conveyed was understood.
Note that the commentary provided does not stipulate that deception has to occur for there to be a break of the precept, only that words were communicated and understood. So, attempted deception would break the precept.
Kind regards,
Ben
If someone receives food as a gift and say "Thank you, the food is delicious", although the food is not eaten yet. The giver understands it as an expression of thank you but the giver is not deceived by the words, because he knows the food is not eaten yet.
Is this "what others understand what was said" mean?
User avatar
subaru
Posts: 257
Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2015 11:13 am

Re: Would this break the fourth precept?

Post by subaru »

I hope not.. because I would be breaking alot of precepts without knowing it..
because my grammar is not perfect, English is not my first language, <-- weak excuse I know
more importantly, I have no ulterior motive and tried my utmost best to articulate my true intention.
but we never know , do we ?
:candle:
dennis
Posts: 55
Joined: Sun May 05, 2013 5:03 pm

Re: Would this break the fourth precept?

Post by dennis »

From Wikipedia:

"A lie is a statement that is known or intended by its source to be misleading, inaccurate, or false. The practice of communicating lies is called lying, and a person who communicates a lie may be termed a liar. Lies may be employed to serve a variety of instrumental, interpersonal, or psychological functions for the individuals who use them. Generally, the term "lie" carries a negative connotation, and depending on the context a person who communicates a lie may be subject to social, legal, religious, or criminal sanctions. In certain situations, however, lying is permitted, expected, or even encouraged. Because believing and acting on false information can have serious consequences, scientists and others have attempted to develop reliable methods for distinguishing lies from true statements."

"Because believing and acting on false information can have serious consequences..."

Without two parties a lie can not be told. The harm you do another is the root problem, whether the lie is intentional, or not. It can easily become part of your everyday life, if it is not already.

Lying and it's approval or rejection have become such an ingrained part of our societies that we make up reasons why lying is good in both business and personal life.

Mindfulness will lead you away from lying, if you are diligent. Just remember humans are analog, so don't expect instantaneous digital results.

:namaste:
dennis
Posts: 55
Joined: Sun May 05, 2013 5:03 pm

Re: Would this break the fourth precept?

Post by dennis »

But, oh what a world this would be.

Can you imagine it? :woohoo:

Peace on you my brothers and sisters.

:namaste:
Digity
Posts: 1445
Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2011 2:13 am

Re: Would this break the fourth precept?

Post by Digity »

I've been guilty of being hyper-neurotic in the past about breaking the precepts, etc. However, I think it's the wrong attitude to have and I've loosened up since then. I mean, if someone asks what time it is and it's 5:58 and you say it's 6:00....is that breaking the precepts? I mean...once you start worrying about small stuff like that i think you're just getting neurotic about the whole thing.
SarathW
Posts: 21184
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: Would this break the fourth precept?

Post by SarathW »

Intention is Kamma.
Even a thirty seconds of time difference can be critical in some cases.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
User avatar
subaru
Posts: 257
Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2015 11:13 am

Re: Would this break the fourth precept?

Post by subaru »

Digity wrote:if someone asks what time it is and it's 5:58 and you say it's 6:00....is that breaking the precepts?
This reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend who become a monk. He mentioned that he was obsessed with minute details about keeping precepts. he described it as being obsessed and paranoid about it, he is a fairly intelligent fella, and he could not figure out why he fall into such predicament

many years later.. I suspect I know why.. Bhantes and friends, lets discuss about this and correct me if I am wrong.. am just trying to learn
1) When the mind is idle, it will try to find things to cling on.. being obsessed about precepts is not ideal, but it's better than engaging in relatively unwholesome mental proliferation
2) One should always check if the mind is playing tricks on one into breaking precepts... when one realized the harm an untrained mind can do to one's spiritual progress... it is very difficult to avoid being paranoid

For those who are able to do it, let's take this opportunity to watch this Tanha as it manifest itself right in front of us
:candle:
Post Reply