“If one of our character defects is dishonesty, we can think about situations in our lives where we normally lie and imagine how it would feel, to tell the truth for a change.”
” . . . [then] we may feel a sense of relief at the possibility of a life free from having to cover small deceits with major fabrications….“ (It Works, How & Why, p. 46) “It is a true saying that ‘One falsehood leads easily to another.’ “ – Cicero (106 BC – 43 BC) Roman philosopher/statesman
What “big chunks of truth” were revealed thru a “little lie,” you told, lately?
Lies, Lies, Lies – Thompson Twins (3:09)
Why People Lie (3;23)
Living In Truth Meditation (32:09)
Fool of The King :
Long ago there lived a king. Writers, poets, and musicians came from many places to see him. The king liked to hear their stories, poems, and music. But there was one man whom the king liked better than the others. His name was Mahamood. He knew many tricks, sang funny songs and danced well. He could make the king laugh and the people called Mahamood the Fool of The King. There was one thing that the king did not like in Mahamood. He ate very much. This little man ate from morning till night.
The king thought, “My poor Mahmood will die soon if he eats so much.”
Then he called together all his ministers and servants and said, “Listen to me. For one day you must not give Mahamood anything to eat. Do not give him wine, nor fruit, nor meat. Do not give him even a piece of bread! He must not sit at my table. He must not have anything to eat the whole day.”
“Oh, yes, my King, that’s right. He is too fat,” said one of the ministers. So the next day there was no place for Mahmood at the king’s table. He went to the wall and stood there. He thought, “I shall wait. Soon the servants will bring me food and drink.”
But the servants did not bring him anything. He did not ask for food, because he was afraid of the king.
“If a man makes the king angry, that man will die,” he thought.
Poor Mahamood was very hungry. Then one of the servants dropped a little piece of bread. Mahmood quickly picked it up. Now I have something to eat,” he thought. ‘I shall eat it when the king is not looking at me.”
When dinner was over, the poets read their poems, the musicians played and the dancing girls began their beautiful dances.
“Now the king is watching the dancing girls,” thought Mahmood, “I shall eat my piece of bread.” But the king was watching Mahmood all the time. He asked the musicians to stop, called Mahamood to come to him and asked, “I hear that you have a donkey. Where did you get it?”
“I bought it in Tripoli, my King!” answered Mahamood. “Oh, I see,” said the king.
So the musicians were playing and the girls were dancing. Then Mahmood wanted to eat his piece of bread. But the king asked him to come nearer and said.
“How much did you pay for your donkey in Tripoli?”
Mahmood put the bread in his pocket quickly and answered. “Sixteen gold coins, my King.” The king went on like this all afternoon.
When Mahmood tried to eat his piece of bread, the king always asked him a question. At last, evening came. Mahmood could not stand. He was so hungry and tired. When the feast was over, Mahmood ran to the kitchen, but the kitchen was locked and Mahmood had only his small piece of bread to eat. He ate it up and went to his room. But he could not sleep. He was very hungry.
Then he ran to the king’s room. He knocked at the door. The king asked angrily, “Who is knocking at my door so late?”
“Oh, my King,” said Mahmood. “I am sorry, but I must tell you that I did not buy my donkey in Tripoli, but in Benghazi.”
The king thanked him and told him to go away.
A few minutes later Mahamood knocked at the door again. “Oh, my King, but I told you a lie this afternoon. I did not pay sixteen gold coins for the donkey. I paid twenty gold coins for it.”
“Oh, you fool,” cried the angry king. “I shall cut off your head for your silly tales about the donkey and give your body to the jackals!”
Mahmood listened to the king and smiled: “Oh, yes, I know that. But before I die may I say my last wish? Only one wish!”
“What is your last wish?” asked the king.
“My last wish is to have a good supper.”
The king understood everything. He laughed and told his servants to bring the best food to his room. He sat down at the table with Mahamood. They ate and laughed until morning came. After that Mahmood was never without food. And he was always happy.
Little lies are a snowball effect. I have to ask myself why I had the need to do that. Only then can I find that it has to do with, selfishness,insecurities, control, fear etc and then can i really become aware. I caught myself sugarcoating adivse someone asked. hoping to control how they took it when in reality that is selfish, and manipulative.” (Orig. post by Byron 9/11/2020)
Little lies have always been more harmful to me than big ones. Little lies are the ones I tell myself and fester and become my truth the more I repeatedly tell myself them
I cannot let the day go unacknowledged. I try to tell myself that people dying somewhere else has no impact on me and yet when I tell myself that, it is a lie. I grieve deeply for every unnecessary loss of life. I can only wish them eternal rest (dona eis requiem, sempiternam). And peace to us all. Namaste.
Ahhh yes my old friend self justification.. Makes the surface feel better for a while but before I know it back on that same treadmill …
Lately I’ve been struggling with these feelings regarding my co-workers. While I know, intellectually, feelings are not facts, its still a difficult to put them into proper perspective. I have to keep asking myself have I really forgiven or am I lying to myself about that and then trying to defend lying to myself because I feel justified in the way I feel.
Lying can be an instant defense mechanism which can be directly tied to pride…another character defect which In turn can be tied to insecurity which also can be tied to self esteem issues. Dishonesty is a great tool to cover a lot of bases… But at what cost?