Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

Buddhist ethical conduct including the Five Precepts (Pañcasikkhāpada), and Eightfold Ethical Conduct (Aṭṭhasīla).
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manas
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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

Post by manas »

Prasadachitta wrote: Thu Oct 14, 2010 8:50 pm
Individual wrote: You do not want others to go through the same consequences -- OK.

But they will.

So, why want something you can't control?

My father is an alcoholic. Should I break down into tears every time he drinks?
Hi Individual.

I dont think wishing a substance abuser wellness necessitates anguish when it does not come to be.

If you feel like tears that's OK too.

Substance abuse has been destructive in my family so I am familiar with it. I think there is a middle way between not caring about what you cant control and letting that caring tear you apart.

Metta

Gabe
Goodwill (metta) is healing and helpful; it's the attachment to family members (or anyone dear) that leads to distress. Of course our love for dear ones is inevitably mixed with some attachment (until a more advanced stage of the Path, as I understand it), but it's good to be aware of the difference between the two. :heart:
To the Buddha-refuge i go; to the Dhamma-refuge i go; to the Sangha-refuge i go.
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dylanj
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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

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"Just as the ocean is stable and does not overstep its tideline; in the same way my disciples do not — even for the sake of their lives — overstep the training rules I have formulated for them... This is the second amazing & astounding quality of this Dhamma & Vinaya because of which, as they see it again & again, the monks take great joy in this Dhamma & Vinaya."

Uposatha Sutta
Born, become, arisen – made, prepared, short-lived
Bonded by decay and death – a nest for sickness, perishable
Produced by seeking nutriment – not fit to take delight in


Departure from this is peaceful – beyond reasoning and enduring
Unborn, unarisen – free from sorrow and stain
Ceasing of all factors of suffering – stilling of all preparations is bliss
mrgrtt123
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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

Post by mrgrtt123 »

As for alcohol, then the main problem is not the alcohol itself, or its effects, but whether it then causes you to break your other vows or harm others. You can take a Buddhist vow to not take any intoxicants. If you do that, you will probably restrain from taking alcohol at all in your ordinary life. :toast:
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pilgrim
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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

Post by pilgrim »

Anyone can develop any opinion he wishes, but according to the Buddha in the Mahanama sutta AN 8.25, those who have taken refuge are Buddhists, and those who keep the 5 precepts well are virtuous Buddhists. Almost every Buddhist I know do not keep the precepts to perfection but I would consider them as somewhat virtuous.

"Mahanama, inasmuch as one has gone to the Buddha for refuge, has gone to the Dhamma for refuge, has gone to the Sangha for refuge; in that way, Mahanama, one is a lay follower."

"Then, venerable sir, in what way is a lay follower virtuous?"

"Mahanama, inasmuch as a lay follower abstains from destroying living beings; abstains from taking what is not given; abstains from sexual misconduct; abstains from lying; and abstains from wine, liquor and intoxicants that are causes for heedlessness; in that way, Mahanama, a lay follower is virtuous."

Keeping the 5 precepts perfectly makes one virtuous in the context of the 5 precepts only. One can still be a pretty nasty job. For eg, a drug pusher does not break the precepts. Neither does a prisoner in solitary confinement.
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Kim OHara
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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

Post by Kim OHara »

pilgrim wrote: Mon Dec 17, 2018 3:38 am Anyone can develop any opinion he wishes, but according to the Buddha in the Mahanama sutta AN 8.25, those who have taken refuge are Buddhists, and those who keep the 5 precepts well are virtuous Buddhists. Almost every Buddhist I know do not keep the precepts to perfection but I would consider them as somewhat virtuous.

"Mahanama, inasmuch as one has gone to the Buddha for refuge, has gone to the Dhamma for refuge, has gone to the Sangha for refuge; in that way, Mahanama, one is a lay follower."

"Then, venerable sir, in what way is a lay follower virtuous?"

"Mahanama, inasmuch as a lay follower abstains from destroying living beings; abstains from taking what is not given; abstains from sexual misconduct; abstains from lying; and abstains from wine, liquor and intoxicants that are causes for heedlessness; in that way, Mahanama, a lay follower is virtuous."
:goodpost:
pilgrim wrote: Mon Dec 17, 2018 3:38 am Keeping the 5 precepts perfectly makes one virtuous in the context of the 5 precepts only. One can still be a pretty nasty job. For eg, a drug pusher does not break the precepts. Neither does a prisoner in solitary confinement.
The Eightfold Noble Path extends the Precepts, and the drug pusher will fail the "Right Livelihood" step.

As for prisoners, in solitary confinement or not, they may be perfectly virtuous people, Buddhist or not. Just think about what was done to Nelson Mandela on Robben Island - https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontlin ... la/prison/ - or to Tibetan monks by China.

:namaste:
Kim
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