Conviction by Unverified Testimony

The Original Text of the Fourth Section on the Five Precepts for Upāsakas: The Buddha addressed the bhikkhus: "I have used various means to admonish against false speech and to praise those who speak truthfully. Even in jest, one should not speak falsely; how much less so intentionally. In this context, the offender is as follows: If a male lay devotee (Upāsaka), without knowing or seeing, claims to possess superhuman noble states, declaring himself to be an Arhat or aspiring to be an Arhat, he commits an unpardonable offense. If he says, 'I am an Anāgāmin,' 'I am a Sakṛdāgāmin,' 'I am a Sotāpanna,' or even 'I am aspiring to Sotāpanna,' or if he claims to have attained the first dhyāna, the second dhyāna, the third dhyāna, or the fourth dhyāna."

Explanation: The Buddha told the bhikkhus that he used various words and analogies to admonish those who engage in false speech and to praise those who are truthful and honest. Sentient beings should not engage in false speech even in jest with each other, let alone intentionally; it is even more imperative not to commit it. Regarding one who violates the precept against false speech: If an Upāsaka or Upāsikā (female lay devotee) who has taken the Five Precepts does not know and has not witnessed that they have manifested saintly states surpassing ordinary beings, such as those of an Arhat, yet tells others they are an Arhat aspirant or an Arhat, they commit an unpardonable offense. Similarly, if an Upāsaka claims to be an Anāgāmin, a Sakṛdāgāmin, a Sotāpanna, or an aspirant to Sotāpanna, they commit an unpardonable offense. If an Upāsaka claims to have attained the first, second, third, or fourth dhyāna, they commit the unpardonable offense of major false speech.

Original Text: If he claims to have attained the immeasurable minds of loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. If he claims to have attained the formless concentrations: the concentration of infinite space, the concentration of infinite consciousness, the concentration of nothingness, the concentration of neither perception nor non-perception. If he claims to have attained the contemplation of impurity, mindfulness of breathing (ānāpānasmṛti), that devas come to where I am, that nāgas, yakkhas, piśācas, gandharvas, kumbhāṇḍas, or rākṣasas come to where I am, that they question me and I answer them, or that I question them and they answer me—all these constitute unpardonable offenses. If he intended to say 'Arhat' but mistakenly said 'Anāgāmin,' he commits a medium-level pardonable offense. The same applies to other such errors.

Explanation: If an Upāsaka claims to have attained the four immeasurable minds (loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, equanimity), or claims to have attained the formless concentrations—the concentration of infinite space, the concentration of infinite consciousness, the concentration of nothingness, the concentration of neither perception nor non-perception—without having actually done so, they commit an unpardonable offense. If they claim to have perfected the contemplation of impurity or mindfulness of breathing, but have not actually done so, they commit an unpardonable offense.

If they falsely claim that devas come to their dwelling, that nāgas, yakkhas, gandharvas, piśācas, kumbhāṇḍas, or rākṣasas come to their dwelling and converse with them—claiming the devas ask them questions and they answer, or they ask the devas questions and the devas answer—all such false speech constitutes an unpardonable offense. If they intended to say they are an Arhat but mistakenly said they are an Anāgāmin, they commit a medium-level pardonable offense. Mistakenly claiming to be a Sakṛdāgāmin (once-returner) or a Sotāpanna (stream-enterer) similarly constitutes either an unpardonable offense of major false speech or a medium-level pardonable offense.

Intentional major false speech is an unpardonable offense. Unintentional major false speech is a pardonable offense, which can be eradicated through sincere repentance. Major false speech offenses are divided into three levels of severity: the highest level is unpardonable; the medium and lower levels are pardonable. The lower level can be completely eradicated through sincere repentance. The medium level may not be completely eradicated even after repentance. The highest level cannot be eradicated through repentance; the offense of false speech remains.

Original Text: If a male lay devotee (Upāsaka), when asked by someone, 'Have you attained the Path?' remains silent or indicates by gesture (that he has), he commits a medium-level pardonable offense. Even claiming, 'Whirlwind spirits and earth-bound ghosts have come to where I am,' constitutes a medium-level pardonable offense. If an Upāsaka actually heard something but says he did not hear it, actually saw something but says he did not see it, suspects something exists but says it does not, or suspects something does not exist but says it does—all such false speech constitutes pardonable offenses. If he forms the intention to speak falsely but does not yet speak, he commits a lower-level pardonable offense. If he speaks but does not fully express his intention, he commits a medium-level pardonable offense. If he voluntarily tells someone he has attained the Path, he commits an unpardonable offense. If he is insane, mentally disturbed, or unaware of what he is saying, there is no offense.

Explanation: If an Upāsaka, when asked by someone, "Have you attained the Path?"—knowing he himself has not attained it—remains silent without explanation or indicates through gestures that he has attained it, he commits a medium-level pardonable offense. Even falsely claiming that whirlwind spirits and earth-bound ghosts have come to his dwelling constitutes a medium-level pardonable offense.

If an Upāsaka actually heard something but claims he did not hear it, actually saw something but claims he did not see it, clearly suspects something exists but says it does not, or clearly suspects something does not exist but says it does—all such false speech constitutes pardonable offenses.

If he forms the intention to speak falsely but has not yet uttered it, he commits a lower-level pardonable offense. If he speaks but does not finish expressing his intention, he commits a medium-level pardonable offense. If he tells someone he has attained the Path, but has not actually done so, he commits an unpardonable offense. If he is insane or mentally disturbed, unable to be aware of what he is saying, he does not commit the offense of false speech.