The Surangama Sutra: The Four Clear and Unalterable Instructions on Purity - Refrain from Stealing and Lying, Part 7 of 7, Dec. 23, 2018

The Buddha warns you, warns us that, if you don’t keep the precepts, even just one of them like the lying precept, saying the truth; if don’t keep it, if you don’t avoid lying, then you’re attempting the impossible. Like making a piece of poo become a sandalwood statue like that. If you don't keep the precepts, it is truly that extremely unfavorable for our practice. "If the bhiksus’ minds are as straight as the lute strings, true and real in everything they do, then they can enter samadni and never be involved in the deeds of demons. I certify that such people will accomplish the Bodhisattvas’ Unsurpassed Knowledge and Enlightenment.”