Is consciously lying always a bad thing?

Question

or are there times when lying is okay?

Answer 1

Lying and that too consciously is very bad... always and ever! In the law of karma... we never get forgiven for lying. The doctrine of karma is absolutely clear... what goes around comes back! As we behave so shall our future be. We cannot expect mangoes to grow on a guava tree! In the cosmic crux of life speaking truth all the time is desirable.

Human beings are not supposed to cut across the cosmic system. It would always reflect back on us either in the present manifestation or the future manifestations. Lying degrades our life... why follow the path of animals as a human being. We are intelligent animal beings... the last manifest stage in the cosmic life cycle.

It is only as a human being we gain enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) and finally salvation (moksha). Reaching the end of the cosmic life is our birthright. Why not follow the path of truthfulness all the time and escape the inconveniences that would follow otherwise. More on truthfulness - http://www.godrealized.org/truce_with_my_inner_self.html

Answer 2

For the most part honesty is the best policy and one should try to strive for honesty at all times. However, there are times when lying is the lesser of two evils.

For instance, which is worse, to lie, or to unnecessarily hurt someone's feelings, such as a young child, a friend or family member, etc.

If a young child asked you if her picture that she had drawn on her first day in kindergarden was good or not, and all you could see was a bunch of scribbling, would you say:

1) No, it's just a bunch of scribbling.

or

2) Yes, of course, it very good. It's beautiful!

Would you sacrifice her feelings for the truth and crush her?

Or would you leave her feeling good about herself and wanting to go back to school the next day with positive reinforcement?

Which is worse? Lying or being a nasty person and not treating someone the way you would like to be treated?

I say the latter!

Answer 3

Consciously lying - Bad / Okay?

Wow, that is a big, big , great question.
As one of the answerers said, would you lie to a child who draws badly?
Wow, that is also a great question.

Lying

"Have we all really know the real truth? If we are not, we are lying every single words we say."

First, what is consciously lying? It means you lie for you know. You know you lie. And there is sometimes when people subconsciously / unconsciously lie to others. When emotions take controls over the mind, they speak too fast till everything that seems to be true is actually lie.

Second, is it a bad thing? For specific fields which usually need manipulation on humans, such as politics, that is called a kind of TECHNIQUE. And for religion, lying is never good thing. Lying is the doing for people who is not intelligent.

For the question asked for would you lie to a child who draws badly? You just need to answer intelligently. As answer should be, " Dear, drawing is a big knowledge, for my view, i think you draw good. Every piece of drawing is art, there is no good and bad."

Cheers
Yee Cs

Answer 4

there's no such thing as a justified lie because it's not a rule that could be made into a universal rule

lies would lose their meaning and the whole principle of "lying when it is beneficial" wouldn't make any sense anymore

Answer 5

Is there such a thing as lying unconsciously? lying is one of the most conscious act a human person can do - but what differs is the end by which it is utilized.

Answer 6

Absolutely.

If someone asked your whereabouts because they plan to harm you -- I would lie, lie, lie. Although, I could tell them the truth and where you are.

If someone wanted to abuse your child -- I would lie, lie, lie. Although, I could tell the pedophile where to find your child.

If your government was tyrannical and oppressing you -- I would lie, lie, lie. Although, I could turn you into government authorities.

Moralists suffer in trying to compose absolute moral codes.

Answer 7

Now that is a question for a politician

Answer 8

"Oh, the tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive."