The great danger in lying (sutra)

Why'd you go and come back, Dad?

The discourse called the Ambalatthika-Rāhulovāda Sutta taught by the Buddha at Ambalatthikā (near Veluvana) to his son, the young Buddhist monk Ven. Rāhula deals with falsehoods.

Like an insignificant drop of water is the recluseship of those who do not shrink away from deliberate lying. It is thrown away, upset, empty, and void.

There is no harm they will not do who do not avoid lying. They run every risk, like an elephant who does not guard his trunk.

The Buddha had a son or two, Rahula and Ananda

One should practice constant reflection, thereby abandoning all things conducive to suffering, either to oneself or others, and develop self-control and purity (MN.i.414-20).

Ven. Rāhula was evidently very young at the time of this sutra, for we find the Buddha making use of frequent similes and pointing them out to him.

Well, Son, if you go with your father, I'll become a nun, too. Really, Mom, can I?

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Let's get out of samsara [this simulation].

According to the Commentary, he was at the time only 7-years-old (MA. ii. 636), meaning in the first year of his training as a novice, a "little recluse" (samanera) in training.

The Commentary states that it was taught because very young novices might be tempted to say things both proper and improper; they were likely to imagine things.

This sutra is to warn Ven. Rāhula against the use of lies (MA.ii.635f.; AA.i.145; ii.547).

The Ambalatthika-Rāhulovāda Sutta is among the portions of scripture mentioned in the Bhābrā Edict of Asoka as being essentially worthy of study by all monastics. (See Mookerji: Asoka, p.119) (v.l. Ambalatthiya°). More

• What is samsara? (It is the Wheel of Life and Death, the Endless Round of Rebirth, the Sea of Suffering, the "Simulation" we're trapped in until we awaken).

SUTRA: Teaching Rahula

I will show you the way to enlightenment. But as you are very young, I will show it in similes.

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(MN 61) The Buddha taught this to his son, Ven. Rāhula, at Ambalaṭṭhika. Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was living at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels’ Sanctuary.

Now on that occasion Venerable Rāhula was living at Ambalaṭṭhika. Then when it was evening, the Blessed One rose from meditation (seclusion) and went to Ven. Rāhula at Ambalaṭṭhika.

Ven. Rāhula saw the Blessed One coming. When he saw him, he made a seat ready and set out water for washing feet. The Blessed One sat down on the seat made ready, and he washed his feet.

Ven. Rāhula bowed and sat respectfully to one side. Then the Blessed One poured out the remaining quantity of water into the water-dipper and addressed Ven. Rāhula:

“Rāhula, do you see this small quantity of water poured into the water-dipper?”

“Yes, venerable sir.”

“Unless people are careful not to knowingly speak falsehood, there is as little of the monastic in them as this.” Then the Blessed One threw away the small amount of remaining water, and he addressed Ven. Rāhula:

“Rāhula, do you see that small remaining amount of water thrown away?”

“Yes, venerable sir.”

“Unless people are careful not to knowingly speak falsehood, what there is of the monastic in them is thrown away like that.” Then the Blessed One turned the water-dipper upside down, and he addressed Ven. Rāhula:

“Rāhula, do you see this water-dipper turned upside down?”

“Yes, venerable sir.”

“Unless people are careful not to knowingly speak falsehood, what there is of the monastic in them is turned upside down just like that.” MN 61: Ambalaṭṭhikarāhulovādasutta—Nyanamoli Thera (translation) (suttacentral.net)

• MN 61: Ambalaṭṭhikarāhulovādasutta—Bhikkhu Sujato (translation)
• MN 61: Ambalaṭṭhikarāhulovādasutta—I.B. Horner (translation)
• G.P. Malalasekera, Dictionary of Pali Proper Nouns (palikanon.com); Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly