So It Was Said 25

The Book of the Ones

Chapter Three

Lying

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, for an individual person who transgresses in one thing, there is no bad deed they would not do, I say.

What one thing?

It is this: telling a deliberate lie.”

The Buddha spoke this matter.

On this it is said:

“When a personage, spurning the hereafter,

transgresses in just one thing—

lying—

there is no evil they would not do.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.