From a series of tweets by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo (@jalpalyul) on November 1, 2010
Lies are the refuge of the ignorant and slothful. One cannot win with lies! If one is not truthful to oneself, there is no possibility of telling the truth to others.
Lying, especially about one’s spiritual accomplishment is a heinous crime according to Lord Buddha’s teaching. Lying to divide the Sangha is also root breakage. Lying to harm another Dharma practitioner is a very strong non-virtue; like breaking Samaya. It will poison the Sangha, the Third Jewel. Lies destroy the liar, not the victim, although they are cruel. The liar will reap their karma.
Once I had a student who lied destructively. She suffered terribly, when she came back and corrected non-virtue, she was then like the prodigal child – well loved, respected and reinstated.
It is taught that if one lies to destroy a practitioner the karmic result is:
1) A speech or face deformity resulting in the inability for pleasant speech
2) In a future life one will suffer hellish gossip oneself
3) One will never truly accomplish right or virtuous recitation. There is no mantra accomplishment.
To lie is to dishonor the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. And as representative of the Three Jewels, one brings shame to the Lama.
Another fault of lying is that others have great difficulty trusting again. This may seem ordinary, or not so bad. I have known people who are never trusted, since birth. This truly is tragic!
I have not taught like this to cause suffering. These teachings are Dharma and it is necessary to understand cause and effect; for the sake of those who have hopes of us; they wait and suffer for Bodhisattvas to arise with proper connections in order to be of benefit. One must develop good qualities!
© Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
