[hygtfrdes]

Originally Posted by Element However, the Dharma also teaches action is intention.

For example, if during a war, we provide refuge for certain children and soldiers come to kill those children and ask us: "Are the children with you?" and we answer: "No", this is not unwholesome speech

Good example. If in this instance its a choice between saving life or telling the truth, then naturally we wouldn't tell the truth.

... Such as telling a woman she looks pretty if she asks you (even if she may be fat or ugly). Lieing to spare someone's feelings is acceptable in my opinion anyway.

Personally I don't think this is an acceptable reason to lie. If for some reason I asked someone how I looked...say before going to a professional meeting ...I'd want to know the truth so that I could make modifications if necessary !


I would agree with you here Aloka ... the first example as described has intent to avoid harm occuring. The second example seems to seek to stroke egos - it looks like acting to say to someone of the opposite sex ( not sure about this, however the way the term woman is used, I am guessing it is written by a man) that they look nice when the individual doesn't actually think they do ( again I am supposing that to the writer fat or ugly precludes looking nice in this scenario) so to avoid hurting the questioners feelings, they say yes ....