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Lying

Iti 25 · Musāvādasutta

Water flowing gently around weathered stones and moss in a mountain stream.

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.

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Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.