Yogi: Doing business or sales at work, sometimes we are forced to lie. What’s the effect when we lie with mindfulness? (When defilement is stronger than wisdom, and we go along with it, is it still useful to maintain awareness?)

Sayadaw: Because of mindfulness, the mind is still knowing (collecting information). Knowing is not nothing; it is something.

If the mind is being aware and gathering information, over time, one day if the mind is balanced, then wisdom can decide whether to do it or not. When wisdom decides that we should not do, then we won’t.

Until then, try to be aware whenever we go along with the defilement.