it could easily be argued that the Buddha did not have our level of comfort, nor did his disciples.manas wrote:Hi cittasanto,Cittasanto wrote:Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:When you're tired and need a rest, its OK to lie.
to speak that which is not true? never, unless it is unwittingly done. i.e. when you do not know or accidentally say something incorrect.
I can think of a few other instances, for example if one's life or another's is at stake. I agree that lying is an awful practice, but if it could save a life, or save someone from torture, or some other horrible situation...in those particular instances, as a temporary measure, why not?
If some brutal government had high voltage wires strapped over sensitive parts of my body, and if lying could end the agony, I would lie - so long as my lying did not endanger the lives or wellbeing of others, that is. Otherwise, I hope I'd be able to endure it. But can you see my point? It's so easy, from our current state of comfort, to condemn all lying, in all circumstances...
it is easy to come up with scenarios where it would be appropriate to lie, but the simple truth of the matter is we don't know what we would do, or how effective it would be.