If we tell lies to save lives, will that be a sin?

Question

This page, Lay Buddhist Vows, says,

3. Do not distort fact

   This one is usually translated as: don't lie. Again: it wider than that. Sometimes the use of words can make something seem acceptable, when it could also have been said very differently and be totally unacceptable. This would not be a lie, but it would be a distortion of fact.

As per above phrase about 3rd precept of Pancha Sila, as a Buddhist if we tell lies it's definitely a sin. But in this modern world sometimes we have to lie: we will lie to our wife, we will lie in the working place, we will lie to our mother father; in this world you cannot find a person who has not lied.

So my question is, if tell so many lies to save lives, will it be a sin?

Answer 1

I think this question is a duplicate of:

• Enlightened Lies - Can lying be the correct action in certain situations?
• Should a person never lie?

"Duplicate" means that the answers to those questions should answer your question.

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You wrote,

we have to lie, we will lie to wife, we will lie in the working place, we will lie to our mother father

... but I'm not sure that's true. If you read the definitions of Right Speech on Access to Insight, it includes,

He speaks in season, speaks what is factual, what is in accordance with the goal ...

If you feel the need to lie about something (e.g. your behaviour) then perhaps you should change your behaviour instead of lying about it. Therefore "not lying" becomes a "training rule".

The subject is difficult to talk about, though, because you didn't describe examples of the various lies, which you say we have to lie about to almost everyone.

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Lastly, about the phrase you quoted.

The first bit of it, i.e...

don't lie

... is presumably clear enough.

So if you have a question about the quoted phrase, then maybe the question is about the next bit:

1. Sometimes the use of words can make something seem acceptable, when it could also have been said very differently and be totally unacceptable.
2. This would not be a lie, but it would be a distortion of fact.

The second sentence isn't clear to me: it seems to me that a "distortion of fact" maybe is a lie by definition. See also e.g. Sankha's answer here for a more precise Theravada definition of lying.

Because I clearly don't understand the second sentence, I also don't understand the first:

• The first might be talking about telling the truth in an acceptable way, e.g. about whether the truth is spoken gently and at the right time (which is acceptable) or harshly and at the wrong time (which is less easily accepted)
• But it might also be talking about the opposite situations, "sugar-coating" a lie to make it seem acceptable, e.g. "I'll just tell my boss this little white lie: everyone else lies like this and I have to lie too."

Answer 2

There are no sins in Buddhism, only skillful and unskillful behaviors. You have to ask yourself whether the behavior causes suffering. If it causes suffering you shouldn't do it. Not because it is a sin, but because it causes suffering.

Answer 3

What matters is whether the lie teller has sinful intentions or not when telling the lie. The precepts where never meant to be mechanically followed because we read it in the Vinaya. The precepts are guidelines, not commandments.

Answer 4

Silence is not a lie. Honesty is spoken. If your believe in sin you do not understand self.

Answer 5

An Arahant is said to never deliberately tell a lie. That draws the line and it gives a categorical answer to your question.

A lie is always best not told.

Answer 6

Honored Buddhaparisada, Good householder, interested,

Telling what isn't true, to lie, means taking away what is true, stealing, harming. Having harmed, what one gives, one receives.

But be clear that abstaining from "taking away, destroying, lie, does not require to give something. Simply not taking is enough. Understand the way out of doing simply wrong anyway?

(Note that this isnt given for trade, exchande, stacks or what ever binds one here, but to escape from this wheel, release!)

Answer 7

JK_431_HARITA-JATAKA Which precept is the most important? How to avoid Sexual Misconduct?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y-rLyzavgw

"...In certain cases a Bodhisatta may destroy life, take what is not given him, commit adultery, drink strong drink, but he may not tell a lie, attended by deception that violates the reality of things. ..."

[If you find out one small / white lie in Buddha teaching, then all Buddha teachings are worthless... become entertainment..... even a small lie to save million lives.... Buddha talked, spoken from what he saw and know .. not from brainstorm thinking, logic for argument like mind driven people such as socialists, globalists, communists, idealist, philosopher, dogmatic professors …. which look like very reasonable (because of words / senses limitation by the speaker & listeners) but may not true .....They said what they guess not what they see .... they said by mind driven for the "End justify the mean"...]