Abstaining from Intoxicants Is a Buddhist Precept I Use as a Guide, not Firm Commitment
Commentary by Tracy Simmons | FāVS News
I love starting my morning with a piping hot pour over coffee, and ending my day with an ice cold craft IPA.
I thought about this when I decided to take the five Buddhist precepts. Was I really going to have to give up caffeine and alcohol?
The fifth and final lay precept is to refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind.
A Buddhist nun explained to me that I didn’t have to take all the precepts, but also that the principles serve as guidelines, not as firm and fixed rules.
This is how Thich Nhat Hahn originally wrote the full text of the precept:
“Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I vow to cultivate good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking, and consuming. I vow to ingest only items that preserve peace, well-being and joy in my body, in my consciousness, and in the collective body and consciousness of my family and society. I am determined not to use alcohol or any other intoxicant or to ingest foods or other items that contain toxins, such as certain TV programs, magazines, books, films, and conversations. I am aware that to damage my body or my consciousness with these poisons is to betray my ancestors, my parents, my society, and future generations. I will work to transform violence, fear, anger, and confusion in myself and in society by practicing a diet for myself and for society. I understand that a proper diet is crucial for self-transformation and for the transformation of society.”
What Does Not Taking a Precept Look Like?
Because this precept specifically says, “I am determined not to use alcohol or any other intoxicant or to ingest foods or other items that contain toxins …” I chose not to take this precept.
I have a sweet tooth. I drink. I watch trash TV sometimes and knew this is a vow I would break from time to time.
Instead, I practice limitations and remain cognizant about why I do these things.
Am I snacking on Hot Tamales or drinking a Bale Breaker because I’m trying to fill a void, or a sadness, or a loneliness? Or because I’m socializing with friends and unwinding from work?
Am I watching the latest Netflix dating show on the couch with my partner because I’m trying to escape from my own reality, or because it’s a fun and silly thing for us to do together at the end of the day?
Before I reach for a second drink, or think about adding another scoop of ice cream to my bowl, I try to remind myself that I’ve already indulged and to be content. To be honest, I could do better.
Because, as Ven. Thubten Chodron of Sravasti Abbey explained, what I consume physically or mentally, isn’t just about me. It affects those around me too.
She once wrote, “To keep your body and your consciousness healthy is to do it for your ancestors, your parents, and future generations. You do it for your society and for everyone, not just yourself.”
My Moral Code
I’m getting married at the end of this month. What I put into my body and mind doesn’t just affect me anymore. It’s an inspiration to do better, not just at being mindful of the fifth precept, but the others as well.
As I explained when I started this series five months ago, I took these precepts as a lay person so I could follow a code of conduct to help me do better at living a moral life. I’m still practicing and learning and messing up sometimes, but like who I’m becoming on the journey.
“Why I Am a Buddhist” introduces this series by Tracy Simmons. She writes about the first Buddhist precept in “Why the Buddhist Precept ‘Abstaining from Taking Life’ Resonates with Me,” the second Buddhist precept in “Selfless, Intentional Love Teaches Me to ‘Abstain from Taking What Is not Given,” the third Buddhist precept in “Refraining from Sexual Misconduct Opened Me Up to Love” and the fourth Buddhist precept in “The Buddhist Precept of Refraining from Wrong Speech Teaches Me to Honor Others with My Words.”
It seems from the wording–“refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind”–the emphasis is on not clouding of the mind, not on any specific beverage such as coffee or a Cloud IPA.
Aside from that coffee was not a topical beverage at the time these precepts were created, I cannot bring myself to believe that COFFEE clouds the mind! I have untreated Adult ADHD, and if I don’t start my day with a super-strong cup of coffee, my mind is completely muddy–virtually useless.
Strong caffeine (in lieu of Ritalin or Adderall) enables me to focus in the morning, and actually CLEARS my mind. So I don’t know who’s telling you not to drink coffee, but I would certainly take issue with that teaching.
On the IPA, perhaps since it’s just before bedtime, the necessity of having a clear mind is not such a factor. You’re going to go to sleep anyway. However, if I drink an alcoholic beverage, I get into a state I dislike, involving a kind of fuzziness and loss of lucidity. So I can see where alcoholic beverages are intoxicants in this sense. Nothing toxic about coffee in my book!
Though I no longer identify as a Buddhist, at one time I did. My main Buddhist influence in the 70’s was Chogyam Trungpa, who drank sake during his lectures. He is generally considered to have been an alcoholic, and he died at the age of 48. He had some other disturbing issues, but as far as clear-thinking, he always seemed pretty lucid to me.
So I tend to be leery of all-or-nothing commitments when it comes to the body/mind. One size does not fit all when it comes to one’s self-care. I feel you are wise to take this precept as a guide, not as a strict commandment.
Thanks for your comment Andy! I know many Buddhists avoid caffeine entirely, mostly because of the risk of addiction. But not me!
The day I stop drinking coffee will be the day I die. Thanks for understanding. 😉
same!
I wonder if Jesus is singular amongst great religious teachers in promoting the drinking of wine and in hanging out with drinkers!
He may well have been, if not singular, at least rare.
I was exposed to some false teaching at one point, insisting Jesus was an Essene and therefore into complete abstinence from alcohol. They taught that the apostles actually drank grape juice at the Last Supper, and that the wine referred to in the Bible was fermented in such a way that it was really only grape juice, with no intoxicant effect.
The absurdity of this false doctrine flies in the face of all the accounts of drunkenness in the O.T., from Lot’s daughters forward. This line of thinking appears to come from a social movement to discourage the drinking of alcoholic beverages. So, like many social-political forces, the meaning of Scripture is tainted to suit their agenda.
I recently met with Dr. Gier who convinced me that Jesus was not an Essene nor even influenced by them. I personally don’t care for wine, but I’m pretty sure those guys, Jesus & the gang, drank wine.
I love this article ,
; dealing with these same issues & determined to strike a balance ; thanks for the great thoughts , Tracy , I agree with your outlook as well ~
Thanks Michael!