San Mg Bu Pm Pc 1Lying
Pāli / Sanskrit:Musāvāda
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
THE SUTTA ON LYING (MUSĀVĀDA)
From the traditional Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka
Background
The Sutta on Lying is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Sāmaṇera Pātimokkha, the code of ethics for novice disciples. This is one of the most basic legal principles in the system of Theravāda Buddhist discipline.
According to the Theravāda tradition, this sutta arose from events during the Buddha’s lifetime, when disciples encountered situations involving false speech. The Vinaya Piṭaka records specific situations that the Buddha witnessed or that were reported to him, from which he established rules and admonitions to guide the thoughts and actions of practitioners.
Main Content
Lying (musāvāda) is defined as the act of speaking words that do not accord with the truth, with the intention of concealing or distorting the truth. In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, this is not merely a simple fault, but a matter concerning the integrity of the mind and the path of practice.
According to the Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka, lying is prohibited in different degrees depending on the circumstances. For bhikkhus, lying is considered a Pārājika, the highest class of offense, leading to exclusion from the community of practice. This reflects the importance of honesty in Buddhism.
The sutta notes that lying arises from such factors as greed, hatred, and delusion, the three unwholesome roots (akusala). When a person lies, they create a separation from truth, thereby producing darkness in consciousness. The Vinaya Piṭaka emphasizes that Buddhist practice requires a firm foundation of honesty, because only when the mind is freed from deceit can it progress toward higher levels of meditation and wisdom.
Practical Meaning
The deep meaning of the Sutta on Lying lies in building a firm ethical foundation. Lying harms not only others but also the person who lies, through the pollution of consciousness.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.