Conviction by Unverified Testimony

Original text of Section Four of the Upāsaka Five Precepts Sūtra: The Buddha addressed the Bhikkhus, "I have used various means to censure false speech and to praise those who do not speak falsely. Even in jest, one should not speak falsely, let alone intentionally speak falsely. Among these offenses, if an Upāsaka, without knowing or seeing, without having attained the supramundane Noble Dharma, claims, 'I am an Arhat,' or 'I am progressing toward Arhatship,' he commits an unpardonable offense. If he says, 'I am an Anāgāmin,' 'I am a Sakṛdāgāmin,' 'I am a Srotāpanna,' or even 'I am progressing toward Srotāpannaship,' 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 had used various words and analogies to censure those who speak falsely and to praise those who are honest and refrain from false speech. All beings, even when joking with each other, should not speak falsely, let alone intentionally speak falsely—this must not be violated. As for those who violate the precept against false speech: if an Upāsaka (or Upāsikā) who has taken the Five Precepts does not know and has not seen that he has manifested a sage's state surpassing that of ordinary beings, such as that of an Arhat, yet tells others he is progressing toward Arhatship or that he is an Arhat, he commits an unpardonable offense. Similarly, if an Upāsaka claims to be an Anāgāmin, a Sakṛdāgāmin, a Srotāpanna, or progressing toward Srotāpannaship, he commits an unpardonable offense. If an Upāsaka claims to have attained the First, Second, Third, or Fourth Dhyāna, he commits the unpardonable offense of major false speech.

Original text: ...If he claims to have attained the Four Immeasurable Minds of loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. If he claims to have attained the Formless Absorptions: the Sphere of Infinite Space, the Sphere of Infinite Consciousness, the Sphere of Nothingness, the Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception. If he claims to have attained the contemplation on impurity, or mindfulness of breathing (Ānāpānasmṛti). If he claims that devas come to where I am, that nāgas, yakṣas, piśācas, vetālas, 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 moderately retractable offense. The same applies to other such mistakes.

Explanation: If an Upāsaka claims to have attained the Four Immeasurable Minds of loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, or claims to have attained the Formless Absorptions—the Attainment of Infinite Space, the Attainment of Infinite Consciousness, the Attainment of Nothingness, the Attainment of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception—without having actually done so, he commits an unpardonable offense. If he claims to have cultivated the contemplation on impurity or mindfulness of breathing without having done so, he commits an unpardonable offense.

If he falsely claims that devas come to his dwelling, that nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, piśācas, kumbhāṇḍas, or rākṣasas come to his dwelling and converse with him—that they ask him questions which he answers, or that he asks them questions which they answer—all such false speech constitutes an unpardonable offense. If he intended to say he is an Arhat but mistakenly said he is an Anāgāmin, he commits a moderately retractable offense. Mistakenly claiming to be a Sakṛdāgāmin (Second Fruit) or a Srotāpanna (First Fruit) similarly constitutes either an unpardonable offense of false speech or a moderately retractable offense.

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

Original text: If someone asks an Upāsaka, 'Have you attained the Path?' and he remains silent or indicates by gesture (that he has), he commits a moderately retractable offense. Even claiming, 'A whirlwind spirit or earth spirit came to where I am,' constitutes a moderately retractable 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 retractable offenses. If he forms the intention to speak falsely but has not yet spoken, he commits a minor retractable offense. If he speaks but does not fully express his intended meaning, he commits a moderately retractable offense. If he voluntarily tells someone he has attained the Path, he immediately commits an unpardonable offense. If he is mentally deranged or confused and unaware of what he is saying, there is no offense.

Explanation: If someone asks an Upāsaka, "Have you attained the Path?" and the Upāsaka, having not actually attained it, remains silent without explanation or indicates through gestures that he has attained it, he commits a moderately retractable offense. Even falsely claiming that a whirlwind spirit or earth spirit came to his dwelling constitutes a moderately retractable offense.

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

If he forms the intention to speak falsely but has not yet uttered it, he commits a minor retractable offense. If he speaks but does not fully express his intended meaning, he commits a moderately retractable offense. If he tells someone he has attained the Path when he has not, he commits an unpardonable offense. If he is mentally deranged or confused and unaware of what he is saying, he does not commit the offense of false speech.