Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

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

Post by mettafuture »

Sanghamitta wrote:
mettafuture wrote:
Sanghamitta wrote:If by moderation we mean the occasional glass of wine..or a beer on a hot day. I think so..yes. But not everyone agrees...
I think we have to decide for ourselves what enhances or threatens or is neutral in terms of our mindfulness. And that mindfulness is the essence of the precept. Its not that certain things are taboo in general terms. Although for a given individual they might be. It is to some degree an individual issue.
But how can one who chooses to undertake the 5th precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs still drink? That doesn't make any sense to me. It would be like saying "I will not buy anymore meat products", and then you go out and order a steak. Aren't you just lying to yourself?
What we undertake to do is to refrain from that which causes heedlessness and intoxication.
But that's not all what the precept says though.
For many people a glass of wine or beer does not cause intoxication or heedlessness.
But why do you need to drink at all? What's wrong with sticking with non-alcoholic drinks that don't give you a buzz, or "help take the edge off"? Why can't natural methods that don't depend on external intoxicants be used if a person needs help getting comfortable?
Furthermore it is not a commandment.
Everyone already knows that. I forgot that I have to be extra careful with my wording around here. I didn't mean for my use of the word "can" to be so blown out of proportion.
The reference to undertaking not to eat meat and then buying a steak is a non sequitur. We dont undertake not to eat meat.
But what you're undertaking isn't one of the Buddha's precept. It's your own version of a precept.
Last edited by mettafuture on Fri Oct 15, 2010 8:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

Post by Sanghamitta »

You are once more assuming that I drink. I have not spoken at all about my own habits.
I do know lots of lay Buddhists who do more for the Dhamma than many of us, who have a glass or two. I suppose you could say that constitutes their version of THAT precept. And as they are consenting adults that is fine with me. Why do they do it ? I assume its because they like it.
Cue the " slippery slope " fallacy......... :popcorn:
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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

Post by Sanghamitta »

Shonin wrote:In my experience, the intoxicating effect of Buddhist forums (addictive fascination with intellectual debates, and especially with on's own opinion) is a far more significant obstacle to practice than an occasional tipple. What I mean is that I have actually missed meditation time because of it as well as finding myself mentally distracted by on-going debates. Whereas I have not missed meditation time due to alcohol.
A very very good point. And one that comes uncomfortably close to the bone in my case. In fact I am off to adress that.
The going for refuge is the door of entrance to the teachings of the Buddha.

Bhikku Bodhi.
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mettafuture
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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

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Sanghamitta wrote:You are once more assuming that I drink.
I meant "your" in a general sense.
I assume its because they like it.
But why do they like it? I'm not asking you specifically. I'm asking everyone. As a person who has never had a drink, I just don't get it.
Individual wrote:In moderation, alcohol has skillful uses: It has mixed health effects, such that moderation in some cases may or may not have a net health benefit
Vitamins and natural herbs can also help you, and they can do so without giving you buzz, or poking holes in your liver.
and it may act as an "ice-breaker" for social events.
Why can't people be social while drinking water?
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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

Post by tiltbillings »

Sanghamitta wrote:
Shonin wrote:In my experience, the intoxicating effect of Buddhist forums (addictive fascination with intellectual debates, and especially with on's own opinion) is a far more significant obstacle to practice than an occasional tipple. What I mean is that I have actually missed meditation time because of it as well as finding myself mentally distracted by on-going debates. Whereas I have not missed meditation time due to alcohol.
A very very good point. And one that comes uncomfortably close to the bone in my case. In fact I am off to adress that.
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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

Post by Paññāsikhara »

mettafuture wrote: I really didn't mean for it to be that complicated.

If I had more room in the subject line, I would have put "Can a person who calls themselves a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?" If one chooses to undertake the 5 precepts, can they still drink alcohol in moderation? That's all I was wondering.
Okay, so somebody on one had chooses to makes the statement "I undertake the training to refrain from alcohol and intoxicating substances leading to negligence", but "can they drink alcohol in moderation"?

The precept is not "I undertake the training to refrain from becoming intoxicated", but "... to refrain from intoxicating substances".

They "can" do whatever they like, and "call" themselves whatever they like, but personally I would say that they are saying one thing, and doing something else, thus being either very deluded, a hypocrit or a liar.

If they didn't take that precept, I'd still personally say that they are a little foolish, but at least they wouldn't be saying one thing and doing another. I really have a strong dislike for hypocrisy.
My recently moved Blog, containing some of my writings on the Buddha Dhamma, as well as a number of translations from classical Buddhist texts and modern authors, liturgy, etc.: Huifeng's Prajnacara Blog.
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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

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_/\_
Last edited by Hanzze on Sun Oct 31, 2010 7:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Just that! *smile*
...We Buddhists must find the courage to leave our temples and enter the temples of human experience, temples that are filled with suffering. If we listen to Buddha, Christ, or Gandhi, we can do nothing else. The refugee camps, the prisons, the ghettos, and the battlefields will become our temples. We have so much work to do. ... Peace is Possible! Step by Step. - Samtach Preah Maha Ghosananda "Step by Step" http://www.ghosananda.org/bio_book.html

BUT! it is important to become a real Buddhist first. Like Punna did: Punna Sutta Nate sante baram sokham _()_
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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

Post by Sanghamitta »

Paññāsikhara wrote:
mettafuture wrote: I really didn't mean for it to be that complicated.

If I had more room in the subject line, I would have put "Can a person who calls themselves a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?" If one chooses to undertake the 5 precepts, can they still drink alcohol in moderation? That's all I was wondering.
Okay, so somebody on one had chooses to makes the statement "I undertake the training to refrain from alcohol and intoxicating substances leading to negligence", but "can they drink alcohol in moderation"?

The precept is not "I undertake the training to refrain from becoming intoxicated", but "... to refrain from intoxicating substances".

They "can" do whatever they like, and "call" themselves whatever they like, but personally I would say that they are saying one thing, and doing something else, thus being either very deluded, a hypocrit or a liar.

If they didn't take that precept, I'd still personally say that they are a little foolish, but at least they wouldn't be saying one thing and doing another. I really have a strong dislike for hypocrisy.
Then you would dislike me I guess Pannasikhara. I am frequently deluded, a hypocrite and a liar. I frequently project and judge others. I frequently withhold the full truth out of a desire to appear better than i am. I frequently say one thing and do something else. I constantly fall short of my own aspirations.
Probably it would be better fro you to "invisible" me rather than dwell in aversion. As for me I would sooner spend time with a compassionate drinker than with a puritan who judges others.
The going for refuge is the door of entrance to the teachings of the Buddha.

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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,

I think that regardless of how we approach the matter, I think we would all agree that the cultivation of Right Intention (samma sankappa) is an important aspect of the Noble Eightfold Path.
Bhikkhu Bodhi wrote:The Buddha explains right intention as threefold: the intention of renunciation, the intention of good will, and the intention of harmlessness. The three are opposed to three parallel kinds of wrong intention: intention governed by desire, intention governed by ill will, and intention governed by harmfulness. Each kind of right intention counters the corresponding kind of wrong intention. The intention of renunciation counters the intention of desire, the intention of good will counters the intention of ill will, and the intention of harmlessness counters the intention of harmfulness.
In my opinion, it is as apt for volition regarding drinking as it is about volition regarding anything.

Metta,
Retro. :)
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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

Post by Paññāsikhara »

Sanghamitta wrote:
Then you would dislike me I guess Pannasikhara. I am frequently deluded, a hypocrite and a liar. I frequently project and judge others. I frequently withhold the full truth out of a desire to appear better than i am. I frequently say one thing and do something else. I constantly fall short of my own aspirations.
Probably it would be better fro you to "invisible" me rather than dwell in aversion. As for me I would sooner spend time with a compassionate drinker than with a puritan who judges others.
I said I dislike hypocrisy, not that I dislike hypocrites (if there is such a thing).
For hypocrites, compassion is the best approach.
There is no judging of anyone in this case.

Best to just not take that precept, I figure.
My recently moved Blog, containing some of my writings on the Buddha Dhamma, as well as a number of translations from classical Buddhist texts and modern authors, liturgy, etc.: Huifeng's Prajnacara Blog.
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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings bhante,
Paññāsikhara wrote:Best to just not take that precept, I figure.
Possibly.

Would it be better for someone to take the precept, and avoid drinking on 9 out of 10 occasions (motivated by the precept they have taken), lapsing because on one occasion unwholesome states got the better of Right Intention.... or would it be better to not take the precept at all, and drink on every occasion?

Possibly it depends on whether one regards them as vows or training precepts?

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

Post by Hanzze »

_/\_
Last edited by Hanzze on Sun Oct 31, 2010 7:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Just that! *smile*
...We Buddhists must find the courage to leave our temples and enter the temples of human experience, temples that are filled with suffering. If we listen to Buddha, Christ, or Gandhi, we can do nothing else. The refugee camps, the prisons, the ghettos, and the battlefields will become our temples. We have so much work to do. ... Peace is Possible! Step by Step. - Samtach Preah Maha Ghosananda "Step by Step" http://www.ghosananda.org/bio_book.html

BUT! it is important to become a real Buddhist first. Like Punna did: Punna Sutta Nate sante baram sokham _()_
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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

Post by Sanghamitta »

retrofuturist wrote:Greetings bhante,
Paññāsikhara wrote:Best to just not take that precept, I figure.
Possibly.

Would it be better for someone to take the precept, and avoid drinking on 9 out of 10 occasions (motivated by the precept they have taken), lapsing because on one occasion unwholesome states got the better of Right Intention.... or would it be better to not take the precept at all, and drink on every occasion?

Possibly it depends on whether one regards them as vows or training precepts?

Metta,
Retro. :)
Precisely so.
The going for refuge is the door of entrance to the teachings of the Buddha.

Bhikku Bodhi.
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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

Post by Phra Chuntawongso »

retrofuturist wrote:Greetings bhante,
Paññāsikhara wrote:Best to just not take that precept, I figure.
Possibly.

Would it be better for someone to take the precept, and avoid drinking on 9 out of 10 occasions (motivated by the precept they have taken), lapsing because on one occasion unwholesome states got the better of Right Intention.... or would it be better to not take the precept at all, and drink on every occasion?

Possibly it depends on whether one regards them as vows or training precepts?

Metta,
Retro. :)
Hi Retro.A person who takes the precept and who may occasionally slip up is understandable.We are all human after all.No need to beat yourself up over this.(not you personally)
I think the discussion was about taking the precept and drinking regardless(this is how I see it)
I posted earlier that if a person is aware that they may want to take a drink on any given day then perhaps the best thing to do would be to omit the precept that day,rather than break it.I have even heard of people who have taken back the vow because a situation has come up unexpectedly.I guess that works as well.
With metta
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Hanzze
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Re: Can a Buddhist drink alcohol in moderation?

Post by Hanzze »

_/\_
Last edited by Hanzze on Sun Oct 31, 2010 7:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Just that! *smile*
...We Buddhists must find the courage to leave our temples and enter the temples of human experience, temples that are filled with suffering. If we listen to Buddha, Christ, or Gandhi, we can do nothing else. The refugee camps, the prisons, the ghettos, and the battlefields will become our temples. We have so much work to do. ... Peace is Possible! Step by Step. - Samtach Preah Maha Ghosananda "Step by Step" http://www.ghosananda.org/bio_book.html

BUT! it is important to become a real Buddhist first. Like Punna did: Punna Sutta Nate sante baram sokham _()_
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