Consuming alcohol

[Zenmei]

I've been sober for somewhere around 200 days. Yes, seeing alcohol or other drugs does make me want to use sometimes. I avoid situations where drinking is the focus because it's just not worth the risk to me. Even so, I get plenty of chances to practice letting go of this particular attachment, nearly every day.

If someone who usually drinks asks me if drinking around me is a problem, I tell them it's fine and I thank them for their concern. That's a kind gesture, and it actually makes it easier for me not to drink.

Using drugs creates suffering. Banning them creates more suffering. Drug abuse is an expression of the underlying pain of being human. The only way to stop the suffering that drug abuse causes is to stop the suffering that causes drug abuse.

Grasshoppers,
Dudley
(sat)

[Rich]

The desire to have or be something other than what is right here and now is strengthened by habit of repetition. With practice his habit can be loosened and the bondage broken.

Sat today

[Doshin]

I like snakes. I moved two diamondback rattlesnakes off the road last night (do that alot this time of the year since the monsoons bring them out, you know, save all sentient beings). But I do like and appreciate the copyrighted Jishin quote.

Doshin
sattoday

[Sekishi]

I like snakes. I moved two diamondback rattlesnakes off the road last night (do that alot this time of the year since the monsoons bring them out, you know, save all sentient beings). But I do like and appreciate the copyrighted Jishin quote.

That is hilarious, I wondered when you would show up in this thread. I even considered posting a followup like:

"Snakes? What is wrong with snakes? Some of the finest beings I know are snakes! Some of them even make cool rattling noises!" - Doshin (c) 2016



Gassho,
Sekishi
#sattoday

[Sekishi]

Sekishi, nice quote too. Remembering your previous post in this thread now, it's a good thing what you do.

Thanks, but it is literally the least I could do. Deep bows to all that struggle with this.

Gassho,
Sekishi

#sattoday

[Doshin]

That is hilarious, I wondered when you would show up in this thread. I even considered posting a followup like:

"Snakes? What is wrong with snakes? Some of the finest beings I know are snakes! Some of them even make cool rattling noises!" - Doshin (c) 2016



Gassho,
Sekishi
#sattoday

Sekishi, you know me well. I am so obvious on how I feel on FB.

Doshin
sattoday

[Jishin]

Here are some cool snakes but they are pretty harmless:





Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Kyotai]

Nice tats Jishin

Gassho, Kyotai
ST

[Mitty-san]

Nice tattoos, Jishin. If Trump wins, you could surely move to Japan and join the Yakuza.

Dudley and Jishin, thanks for sharing you experience. I've been fortunate to have never suffered from addiction myself. From what you and others have said and I've seen from others, it sounds to me like underlying pain (and genetic factors) drive people to drugs/alcohol but having these things so readily available makes it easier to fall into the trap instead of finding a healthier way to cope, such as practicing Zen at Treeleaf. I tried searching about this on Google Scholar to see what the research says but unfortunately a lot of the articles about alcoholism are behind paywalls.

Thanks again for your sharing and insights.



Paul

Sat today.

[Kaishin]

I've found that alcohol consumption is incompatible with practice.

I still drink sometimes, because I really love craft beer, but I always regret it.

[Makkusu]

Hello all,

this topic interests me very much. I started drinking a little bit of alcohol just two years ago. Some funny and drunken nights with friends full of embarassing moments followed, but I was never really into it. I see some people in my age who go to vacation to get drunk every single day. There seems to be no end. I was never really much of a drinker, I wasn't drunk that often, maybe 10 times in total. But then, in February, I discovered buddhism and stopped drinking alcohol completely. It wasn't hard as I wasn't much of a drinker anyway. I gained some surprised comments on why I cut it off completely, but my friends were very understanding. I don't care about the looks I get from a waiter/waitress ordering a glass of water at a bar. But now, reading all of your comments, I see that drinking a beer with friends doesn't have to be a bad thing at all. I guess I'll never drink more than 2 or 3 beers though, I don't really want to get drunk anymore as it's very easy for me to break the other precepts while having such a fuzzy mind.

It's interesting to see how the different buddhist schools see this precept. I know some buddhists, mostly theravadan, who are completely against it. Both views are neither good nor bad, but I prefer the one who feels more like the "middle way" to my monkey mind. Oh and sorry if my English sounds weird from time to time, I'm more used to read English than to write in it.

Gassho, Max
#s@ttoday

[Jishin]

Hi,

Alcohol is neither good or bad. It's just alcohol. Until you drink it. Then you find out.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[FabianS]

Alcohol is okay for me as long as it stays a nice add-on to harmonic evening with friends or the icing on the cake for a (im)perfect dinner. You have to be aware what you do and not indulge/drown in the substance. I guess that goes for everything. With a bit more freedom in wording many posts here are valid for drugs less obvious, like smartphone usage, being online, gambling, heck, even Zazen if you start feeling miserable without sitting one day (when circumstances not allow). Then it's not by choice but an addiction.

I personally refrain from alcohol during/before work and practise as well as driving and usually stay sober for the better part of the week. When I drink it's only because I enjoy the taste of it and not beyond a level that I feel uncomfortable with or that indulges my mind too much. I want to know what I act and speak at any time.

The important part for me is to be sort of a role-model. Don't encourage others to drink, even when I think it's tasty. They should decide all on their own. Unless they had too much already, then by all means, stop them from having even more. Don't show it to kids or people who are by choice avoiding alcohol. It should go without saying that you shouldn't make others uncomfortable with your behavior. You wouldn't want the same vice versa.

Gassho, Fabian
#justSat

[Makkusu]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share something a friend sent me today. What do you think about this?

"A young man was discussing the precepts with Ajaan Fuang and came to number five, against taking intoxicants: "The Buddha forbade alcohol because most people lose their mindfulness when they drink it, right? But if you drink mindfully it's okay, isn't it, Than Phaw?"
"If you were really mindful," he answered, "you wouldn't drink it in the first place.”
Excerpt From: Ajaan Fuang Jotiko. “Awareness Itself.”

Gassho, Max

[Kyonin]

Hi Max!

I fully agree with this. But we'll come to this Precept and then I'll write why

Gassho,

Kyonin
#SatToday