Master Dayuan: How to keep the precept not to lie

Master Yin Guang---Buddha regards lying as a fundamental precept. The purpose is to prevent hypocrisy, so that true cultivation can be achieved.

Since ancient times, eminent monks, whether it is the return of ancient Buddhas or the appearance of Bodhisattvas, have always regarded themselves as ordinary people, and they have never said that I am a Buddha or a Bodhisattva. The Buddha particularly emphasized in the Surangama Sutra: "After my extinction, all Bodhisattvas and Arhats will transform into various images, appear and be reborn to save all sentient beings. You are not allowed to say that you are a true Bodhisattva or a true Arhat, thereby revealing the Buddha Unless he leaves a will to explain before his death, the wise master is the incarnation of Sakyamuni Buddha. He will not reveal it before his death. The purpose is to encourage future students to practice intensively, so as not to become self-righteous and treat others as saints. Today's devils make nonsense claims that they have attained Taoism, enlightenment, and magical powers, and that they are Bodhisattvas. They have not yet attained the truth, and have not yet attained the truth. This attracts ignorant people to imitate them. They are great lies who disrupt the Buddha's Dharma and mislead all sentient beings. This sin of lying is hundreds of thousands of times more serious than the five evils. Masters and disciples who lied a lot will fall into the endless hell forever, suffer extreme suffering forever, and will not be able to escape. Why bother to endure long-lasting punishment and torture for temporary fame and fortune? Practitioners must hide their virtues and reveal their sins. If you are bluffing and pretending, even if you have some spiritual practice, it will be wiped out by the hypocrisy. Therefore, the Buddha takes lying as a fundamental and important precept, with the purpose of preventing hypocrisy, so that true cultivation can be achieved. Practitioners should not boast about their efforts to anyone.

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