What is the truth taught by a liar?
Josh’s random soundbite from his show, “The Almighty Payout” resonates deeply with the timeless wisdom found in various Eastern philosophies and religions. In Buddhism, for example, the concept of “Right Intent” (Samma Sankappa, sometimes called Right Thought or Right Resolve as well) is a cornerstone of the Noble Eightfold Path.
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Right Intent encompasses intentions of renunciation, goodwill, honesty in speech, and harmlessness. It speaks to the purity of one’s underlying motivations. For a spiritual leader, this translates to genuinely desiring the welfare of their students, free from self-serving motives or desires for power, bolstered reputation/fame, and undue control.
Needless to say, deliberately spreading misinformation also goes against the Buddhist tenet of Right Speech — failing to satisfy the first and most basic of four “gates” ~ Is it true?..
