Written for the AQA syllabus by Upeksacitta (Robert Ellis), member of the Western Buddhist Order and a former Head of RS.
The fourth precept: avoiding false speech
I undertake the rule of training which consists in abstention from false speech
The fourth of the five precepts focuses on avoiding false speech of all kinds, with the positive counterpart of truthfulness. We have already discussed this precept, and the four of the ten precepts relating to speech, under the heading of Right Speech in the Noble Eightfold Path in 1.e. It only needs to be noted that much of this material can also be used in discussion of the Fourth Precept. Have a look at the further reading below for material focussing specifically on the fourth precept.
Some key points to emphasise here about the focus on truth in the Fourth precept are that:
- Truth is not only emphasised because lies can be harmful, but because Enlightenment is seen as a state in which truth is understood. The whole Buddhist Path is thus a quest for the truth (in a sense in which factual and moral truth come together).
- Subtler forms of truth-telling involve not distorting the truth by exaggeration, selection, or evasion.
- As with the other precepts, breaches can be indirect. One can undermine truth, not just by lying, but for example by not listening to or not believing someone else who is speaking the truth. Working for a newspaper that regularly lies or distorts the truth might also be seen as indirectly breaking the fourth precept, as well as being wrong livelihood.
- As with other precepts, the motive is important, but this does not prevent us from being responsible for our lack of awareness. So we are not responsible for passing on others’ lies when we genuinely believe them to be true, but if more careful observation of others to detect lying could have avoided this situation, then we are at least partially responsible.
Exercise
How do you think the Fourth Precept would apply to these situations, and why?
(Think about the relationship of the Fourth Precept to the other speech precept here, as well as the points immediately above).
- 1. You’re 30 minutes late for a job interview because you didn’t think carefully enough about how long it would take to get there. What do you tell the panel when you arrive?
- 2. You’ve already lied to your teacher three times about a late essay, saying that your computer ate the work you had done. On the fourth occasion, you feel so guilty that you really do do the homework on time, but this time the computer really does eat it. What do you tell your teacher?
- 3. Now imagine you’re the teacher in no.2 above, being told for the fourth time that the student’s homework was eaten by the computer. Do you believe him/her?
- 4. Your friend tells you a story about the dancing abilities of his/her pet guinea pig, which you suspect to be false, or at least exaggerated. What do you say?
- 5. You’re a journalist and are offered an excellent job at the Daily Mail. Do you accept?
Further Reading
Peter Harvey An Introduction to Buddhist Ethics p.74-77
Sangharakshita The Ten Pillars of Buddhism p.75-80
Tricycle Winter 2003 p.41-42