To lie or not to lie, that is the question?

 

Many of us have noticed how small babies are given small balls of food, with the caregiver showing them the moon in the bright sky while coaxing the baby to eat the full quantity. Some mischievous children who do not finish their food will see another side of the mother. She may scare them by saying that a big demon with horns and teeth is in the sky and will take away the whole food and the baby while they sleep, or she may share some other fearful incident or story to force them to eat and obey.

Stories become ingrained in our minds during childhood. Don't mention if you grew up in old family houses with grandparents. Nowadays, fewer grandmothers used to tell numerous mythological stories and folk tales. Many of the things presented to us as stories in childhood are simply lies. So, why don't we begin lying?

We have another story from the Epic Mahabharata: When it was certain that Dronacharya, the mighty warrior, couldn't be defeated and killed, Lord Krishna found a way and suggested to Bhima to kill an elephant named Ashwatama, and then claimed to Drona that he had killed Drona's son Ashwathama. However, Drona did not believe Bhima's words and approached Yudhisthira.

 Drona was aware of Yudhisthira's unwavering commitment to truth. When Drona asked Yudhisthira if his son was truly killed in battle by Bhima, Yudhisthira responded with the cryptic Sanskrit phrase "Ashwathama hathaha iti, narova kunjarova", which means "Ashwathama is dead. But, I am not certain whether it was a human or an elephant."

 Krishna also knew that Yudhisthira couldn't lie outright. Following Krishna's instructions, the other warriors blew trumpets and conches, creating a tumultuous noise in such a way that Drona only heard "Ashwathama is dead." Eventually, Drona, disarmed out of grief, was killed through trickery and deceit.

That's how we, who were innocent, begin telling small lies. Is it such a serious offense? Parents attempt to discourage such 'harmless' habits in children with corporal punishment.

Many believe lying is a bad thing and that those who lie will be punished by God. Who on earth has not lied? Why would people have started telling lies? Is lying such a big sin? Isn't lying an art in a sense?

In today's language, a "lie" is the act of knowingly providing false information to another person. There are various types of lies, such as innocent lies, dangerous lies, circumstantial lies, coercive lies, stonewalled lies, etc.

 Many heroes in our society share their experiences in the form of stories. These stories are often exaggerated but generally accepted as valid. This is why most people enjoy listening to these storytellers. In some situations, it is acceptable to bend the truth, and it should not be considered a crime. When we think about the stories created by writers, they are essentially lies, but we appreciate them as products of imagination. In this light, it could be argued that not all lies should be considered crimes.

Sometimes, the tranquility of society is disrupted by false propaganda spread by individuals who are willing to harm others or themselves. It is important to oppose only those falsehoods that are harmful or distressing to others.

"Lying is a unique ability given to humans by God, unlike other animals. Humans had to learn to use this ability wisely. But, one might wonder, did God forget that the same man who dared to eat the forbidden fruit should also show wisdom in using this ability?"

In any case, healthy and enjoyable lies can be beneficial. Judging whether a lie is a crime should be based on the intention behind the lie.

Do you agree?. I will leave it to your better judgment.