How Insistent Are You in Observing Your Fifth Precept?

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bodom
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Re: How Insistent Are You in Observing Your Fifth Precept?

Post by bodom »

PeterB wrote:( off topic )

Is it just our pc or are other people finding that some posters avatars are obscuring part of their post ?
Hi Peter

I don't notice anything on my end of the pc world.

:anjali:
Liberation is the inevitable fruit of the path and is bound to blossom forth when there is steady and persistent practice. The only requirements for reaching the final goal are two: to start and to continue. If these requirements are met there is no doubt the goal will be attained. This is the Dhamma, the undeviating law.

- BB
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Bodhisurfer
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Re: How Insistent Are You in Observing Your Fifth Precept?

Post by Bodhisurfer »

Dhammanucara wrote: Maybe it would perhaps be better if you could also tell (if it's convenient for you) why you choose a certain option (e.g. A or F), any problem that you face with your choice of option and how you respond (if you did) to that problem...
sorry missed that bit out..

I find people are initially suprised when I say that I dont drink at all and ask if I really mean 'never' or if I just have the odd drink every now and again. When I say that I havnt had a drink since 1995 most people seem to assume that I am a recovering alcoholic -which is not exactly true but near enough. People are very supportive and I get lots of 'I wish I could do that' type remarks. Very few of my friends drink, none of them smoke and, thinking about it, most of us are quite a 'clean living' bunch these days- and I would say considerably better for it too :smile:
Sabbe dhamma nalam abhinivesaya
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ground
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Re: How Insistent Are You in Observing Your Fifth Precept?

Post by ground »

TMingyur wrote:I accept alcohol as an ingredient/excipient in medicines (plant extracts and similar).

B. Not even a sip of alcohol (with the exception s. above) AND not used in cooking as well

Social gatherings I find are actually one main reason to refrain from alcohol and to apply alcohol in cookings is an instance of sensual attachment ("refining" the taste of food). If one wants to make food more "palatable" one may use herbs but not alcohol.

Kind regards
Hmh ... I forgot ... it may happen occasionally that "a drop of alcohol" (small sip) may be part of a "ritual" which then is accepted from my side too. (This has nothing to do with Theravadin practice at all. It came into my mind and I do not want to deliberately omit that since I feel that would be lying.)

Kind regards
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Modus.Ponens
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Re: How Insistent Are You in Observing Your Fifth Precept?

Post by Modus.Ponens »

A, as long as the alcohol is evaporated. I also allow medication which may alter the mind, for diseases. But, there are medications, for example, to not get nauseated in boats, that alters the mind; that type of medication I don't allow.
'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.' - Jhana Sutta
PaulD
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Re: How Insistent Are You in Observing Your Fifth Precept?

Post by PaulD »

E.

All my friends and family are drinkers.
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Lazy_eye
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Re: How Insistent Are You in Observing Your Fifth Precept?

Post by Lazy_eye »

E. as well. Generally I avoid alcohol but will sometimes have a glass of wine at family gatherings or drink beer at business/social functions. Although I use the precept as a guideline, I don't claim to be "observing" it at this point.

Was at a family gathering today where wine and beer were served, along with Stewart's Root Beer! I chose the root beer. :)
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mikenz66
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Re: How Insistent Are You in Observing Your Fifth Precept?

Post by mikenz66 »

After my first retreat I had no desire to do anything to mess up the clarity of my mind (not that it's super-clear, mind you! :)). So I don't drink at all, but I wouldn't get upset by food cooked with alcohol - it mostly evaporates anyway.

:anjali:
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Re: How Insistent Are You in Observing Your Fifth Precept?

Post by Jhana4 »

mikenz66 wrote:After my first retreat I had no desire to do anything to mess up the clarity of my mind (not that it's super-clear, mind you! :)). So I don't drink at all, but I wouldn't get upset by food cooked with alcohol - it mostly evaporates anyway.

:anjali:
Mike
The demographic is heavily single men of college age in another web board I read. A number of them have posted about the use of intoxicants ( mostly pot ) as it relates to meditation. I know new meditators don't have the same experiences as people who have been doing it for a while, but when I think about those posts and the wonderful feelings I get from meditation I can't see even wanting an intoxicant.
In reading the scriptures, there are two kinds of mistakes:
One mistake is to cling to the literal text and miss the inner principles.
The second mistake is to recognize the principles but not apply them to your own mind, so that you waste time and just make them into causes of entanglement.
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SeekingDharma
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Re: How Insistent Are You in Observing Your Fifth Precept?

Post by SeekingDharma »

It's quite fitting that this is labeled "F" :lol:

F. Do entertain drinks in social gathering, and occasionally drink at home too

Unfortunately, I still have a lot of work to do with this one. I don't have any overuse concerns as it relates to my cultural background, but it's something that is on my radar as needing change. I think one of my biggest struggles is making the jump to avoiding alcohol. I need to begin limitting it, but it will/would be an odd transition for most friends and family members if I were to fully abandon the use of alcohol. I know they would be supportive, though. :)
PeterB
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Re: How Insistent Are You in Observing Your Fifth Precept?

Post by PeterB »

:toast:
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effort
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Re: How Insistent Are You in Observing Your Fifth Precept?

Post by effort »

not at all, because if i start even with little, stopping would be hard, so for years nothing ... even in gatherings.
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Wizard in the Forest
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Re: How Insistent Are You in Observing Your Fifth Precept?

Post by Wizard in the Forest »

For me, it is an A. I do not cook, so if there is alcohol cooked in my food, I will not refuse it.
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manas
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Re: How Insistent Are You in Observing Your Fifth Precept?

Post by manas »

I recently had to join in on a toast to a departed relative. I asked for a 'splash' of the wine in a tiny glass. I raised that glass and sipped about quarter of a standard teaspoon in. Apart from when in medicines, that's the most alcohol I would ever knowingly consume in a year.

As for other mind-clouding drugs, also wouldn't go there. Weed really undermines samma-sati, as I recall. Once, I used to think it enhanced meditation. Now, I know that it only appeared to; to the deluded mind at that time, it appeared to deepen meditation, but actually, it hindered it.

I adore coffee though...luckily caffeine is the one 'drug' we Buddhists are allowed to consume - and I enjoy the best. :jumping:
To the Buddha-refuge i go; to the Dhamma-refuge i go; to the Sangha-refuge i go.
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Re: How Insistent Are You in Observing Your Fifth Precept?

Post by Sanghamitta »

At lunch time on a hot afternoon I just drank a pint of delicious cool beer brewed in a small village near to where we live.
It was refreshing and tasty and did not cloud my consciousness AT ALL . Yum. A second pint, or even half pint might have...so I didnt drink one.
The going for refuge is the door of entrance to the teachings of the Buddha.

Bhikku Bodhi.
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bodom
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Re: How Insistent Are You in Observing Your Fifth Precept?

Post by bodom »

:stirthepot:

:anjali:
Liberation is the inevitable fruit of the path and is bound to blossom forth when there is steady and persistent practice. The only requirements for reaching the final goal are two: to start and to continue. If these requirements are met there is no doubt the goal will be attained. This is the Dhamma, the undeviating law.

- BB
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