Tao Thay Shang Men - English

From : Lim Pai Fuk
Question :
According to Tao principle, are small stuffs like cheating during tests or lying defined as sins? If it is not causing disadvantages to others, is it wrong to do it?
Answer :
Human beings are always trapped into own self definition, for example: “sin”. What is the definition of sin? If we agree to define that sin is an act which causes others to suffer a loss or a disadvantage, we definitely can obtain the answer. Taoism teaches Its people to act according to “Hek Ching, Hek Li, Hek Fa”. It means that our act must follow etiquette and all existing rules in society. On top of that, it must also follow constitutions. In daily life, we sometimes need to lie, don’t we? (not for a bad purpose).
About “cheating during test”, it is not causing others to suffer, but it causes own self to suffer. It makes us lazy and dependent to others, etc. And in the end, it would lower our “character”, also creating difficulties to our life. It is true that in Taoism as if there is no “prohibition”, however It requires Its people to think logically. So they could see things clearly and could also decide which are the things can be done, must be done, or must be avoided, etc. Such thinking is more precious to own by human.