On the first Full Moon in the Rains Retreat, Ajahn Dhammasiha reminds of the crucial importance of the 4th Buddhist Precept:Musāvādā veramaṇi sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmiI commit to the training-rule to abstain from lyingOf all the defilements, delusion/ignorance ('moha'/avijjā') is the most pernicious. It has serious karmic consequences, and is very difficult to overcome. But if we intentionally, knowingly lie to others, we're increasing their ignorance/delusion, and thus cause them significant harm. At the same time, we create much bad karma for ourselves.However, there is also a deeper aspect of truthfulness, which is relevant to our internal meditative practice. We're fond of lying to ourselves: "Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies, tell me, tell me lies..." is the well known song of Fleetwood Mac, that we love to sing to ourselves all the time.As Dhamma practitioners, we have to be brutally honest with ourselves, so that we can destroy the web of delusions that we're constantly spinning around ourselves:"This feeling will last forever!""If I get this job/partner/money..., I will be perfectly happy!""This is my house/spouse/child..., they belong to me"We have to be uncompromising in our commitment to truth. Whatever social pressure, embarrassment or material losses may result, we stay with the truth, no matter what. If we're committed to even risk our lifes for the sake of truth, then we've got a fighting chance to overcome the deep-seated delusions in our mind as well.www.dhammagiri.org.auwww.facebook.com/dhammagiri-forest-hermitagewww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive