# The penalty for perjury is less than for the truth

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-perjury-better-than-electric-chair
- Themes: humour, truth, fear
- Life situations: needing a laugh

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A man on trial for murder in New York, facing the electric chair, is caught lying under oath. The judge warns him about perjury. He replies that the penalty for perjury is far less severe than the penalty for telling the truth.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

there was years ago a man who was on being tried in New York he was accused of murder at a time when there was a death penalty if he got convicted by the jury and the judge that he would go to the electric chair so this was serious stuff and during his testimony under oath it was very clear that he was lying so the judge intervenes sir do you not realize the penalty for perjury for lying under oath is very severe yes your honor but it's far less severe than the penalty for telling the truth which is the electric

## Teaching point

(Joke about why people lie when the truth is fatal — used to open a reincarnation discussion.)

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

A murder suspect caught lying under oath tells the judge perjury carries a lighter sentence than the truth would. Ajahn Brahm's point: people lie when honesty is punished. In families and couples, make the truth safe. When someone confesses a mistake, thank them and help. That's how trust grows.

## Source

- [Reincarnation | Ajahn Brahm | 3 Feb 2017](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIrtqS0LkYQ) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 12:14 to 13:06: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIrtqS0LkYQ&t=734s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Patience and Renunciation | Ajahn Brahm | 19 January 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TNyHK0hbnA) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 43:30 to 44:17: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TNyHK0hbnA&t=2610s
- [Responding to Tragedy in Modern Life | Ajahn Brahm | 30-05-2014](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWJP8r61KIU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 18:50 to 19:19: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWJP8r61KIU&t=1130s