BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Buddhist Monastic Code IChapter 8.1Pācittiya: The Lie ChapterPācittiyaAs explained in the preceding chapter, this term is most probably related to the verbpacinati, "to know," and means "to be made known" or "to be confessed." There are92 rules in this category, divided into eight chapters of ten, and one of twelve.1. A deliberate lie is to be confessed."Now at that time Hatthaka the Sakyan had been overthrown in debate. Indiscussions with adherents of other religions, he conceded points after havingdenied them, denied them after having conceded, evaded one question withanother, told deliberate lies, made an appointment (for a debate) but then didn'tkeep it. The adherents of other religions criticized and complained and spread itabout..."The bhikkhus heard them... and having approached Hatthaka the Sakyan, askedhim: 'Is it true, friend Hatthaka, that in discussions with adherents of other religions,you conceded points after having denied them, denied them after having conceded,evaded one question with another, told deliberate lies, made an appointment (for adebate) but then didn't keep it?'"'Those adherents of other religions have to be beaten in some way or another. Youcan't just give them the victory!'"A deliberate lie is a statement or gesture made with the aim of misrepresenting thetruth to someone else. The K/Commentary, summarizing the long "wheels" in theVibhaṅga, states that a violation of this rule requires two factors:1) Intention: the aim to misrepresent the truth; and2) Effort: the effort to make another individual know whatever one wants tocommunicate based on that aim.Intention. The aim to misrepresent the truth fulfills this factor regardless of whatone's motives are. Thus "white lies" — made with benevolent intentions (e.g., to aperson whose state of mind is too weak to take the truth) — would fall under thisrule, so a bhikkhu who wants to shield an emotionally weak person from harsh truthshas to be very skillful in phrasing his statements. Also, outrageous lies meant asjokes — to amuse rather than to deceive — would fall under this rule as well, a pointwe will discuss further in the non-offense section.233