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toothfairy et al.

TalismanTalisman Veteran
edited June 2011 in Buddhism Basics
Is telling a kid there is a toothfairy/santa clause/easter bunny a breach of the precept to refrain from lying?

Comments

  • genkakugenkaku Northampton, Mass. U.S.A. Veteran
    Be aware and take responsibilities for your lies.
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited June 2011
    Yes tell them about disease and old age instead. Just kidding hehe. Break them in gradually.

    Perhaps show them a christmas carol by dickens in winter.
  • santhisouksanthisouk Veteran
    I think the question of guilt comes to mind. Would you feel so guilty in telling your kid that Santa Claus exists that it would make you think they will have a hard life, or do you think you would suffer great consequences from telling them that? If not then it's really not that big of deal. This would not count as a broken precept, or one that would cause you to not gain beneficial meditation.

    metta
  • vinlynvinlyn Colorado...for now Veteran
    Well, Buddha often told fables to make points. So do you think he was lying?
  • cazcaz Veteran United Kingdom Veteran
    It doesnt benefit them does it ? It only sets an example of telling mistruths.
    Better to be honest when it comes to things like this, You dont have to ruin christmas but simply install correct view instead that such a time is for practising virtue like generosity and love toward one and other.
    How dissapointing is it to find out Santa isnt real...better not build a house on sand.
  • taiyakitaiyaki Veteran
    it doesn't matter if the buddha was lying or not. the audience probably understood that it was a story and the message was in the story, which doesn't matter if it is false or true. It's all about the message or some truth.

    But here the child doesn't know the difference between truth and false. Nor does the child understand that a story is a visual/conceptual representation of something that isn't real.

    Children take what we say as reality and it is written in their subconscious. We hand them our beliefs. I am still getting over unconscious Christian beliefs that were drilled into me as a child.

    All of our beliefs are merely conceptual and only exist in the realm of thought. Children do not know this.

    So it would be wise not to tell your child but at the same time you cannot shelter your child forever. Naturally the child will find out these things to be false and the process will happen regardless of how much you shelter your child. Think about the
    buddha and his father and how he wanted to shelter the buddha and give a false reality.

    it all falls down in the end lol.
  • ZaylZayl Veteran
    edited June 2011
    Well when my grandparents broke it to me, in the case of santa and the easter bunny they said they still exist as the good natures of the people on those holidays, that is why we all give give gifts and be happy with each other. I was satisfied with this explanation as a kid, so I plan to give it to my children as well.
  • vinlynvinlyn Colorado...for now Veteran
    Well when my grandparents broke it to me, in the case of santa and the easter bunny they said they still exist as the good natures of the people on those holidays, that is why we all give give gifts and be happy with each other. I was satisfied with this explanation as a kid, so I plan to give it to my children as well.
    Similar in my life. I had a nephew who was about 9 years younger than me. And one day he said something about Santa Claus. I didn't ruin it for him, but I made a funny face in front of my aunt. She took me aside and said something along the lines of, "Do you remember when you gave your favorite teacher that Christmas gift last week on the last day of school before winter vacation? That was the spirit of what Santa Claus means -- being generous to others. Like when you gave Grandpa that tie last year...how he felt getting what you had personally picked out just for him. Santa Claus is just that spirit of giving and being generous."
  • RicRic
    lol when I learned that Santa didnt exist, sure I was sad...for a minute then I got over it. I still had great times thinking he existed and trying to catch him and I am happy I had those experiences.

    and I never thought, well if they lied about Santa it means I can lie about stuff too.

    I dont think 5 year olds need the cold hard truth...
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    Its kind of like being in love with your first girlfriend. Should someone tell you that you are high on love? Perhaps, but that is just part of society in the world. We cannot have an ideal society that is trying to fix samsara. I don't know about raising children but I'm sure you can do it either way telling the truth or entertaining a fantasy.
  • DhammaDhatuDhammaDhatu Veteran
    Well, Buddha often told fables to make points.
    For example? Where? :confused:
  • DhammaDhatuDhammaDhatu Veteran
    edited June 2011
    Is telling a kid there is a toothfairy/santa clause/easter bunny a breach of the precept to refrain from lying?
    Yes. Best to say "I don't know; I've never seen one". Then if the kid wishes to believe what they see or hear, let them.

    Leave the decision to the child. :)

  • vinlynvinlyn Colorado...for now Veteran
    Well, Buddha often told fables to make points.
    For example? Where? :confused:
    Sorry, I meant to say parables. Not sure why my hands typed fables.

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