Noble Eightfold Path, Day 3, Dhamma Talk

On the third day of retreat on the Noble Eightfold Path held in April 2015 at the Bhavana Society in West Virginia, abbot Bhante Gunaratana speaks on Right Speech. "There is a saying where the Buddha said Whatever the Tathagata utters, speaks and proclaims between the day of his enlightenment and the day he dies all that is factual, not otherwise. That is why we have Four Noble Truths. He spoke not simple truths, but noble truths. That is why we are so fascinated with his teachings. When we speak the truth, it strengthens our dignity…. You can see the difference between one who speaks the truth and one who does not speak the truth. .. The Buddha gave very beautiful advice to Rahula…. When you lie you can do anything wrong and say any thing. .. When one violates one Dhamma, there is nothing that he cannot do. It is such a powerful practice, a meaningful practice to maintain our honor, dignity and respect ad to make out mind free from remorse. When we lie, in our mind we think somebody someday might find it out, what will be my position, if I tell a lie? Therefore, we all know, the disadvantage and harm we can cause when we lie. So Buddha said abandon false speech and abstain from false speech."