thepea wrote: ↑Tue Nov 02, 2021 3:17 pm
seeker242 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 02, 2021 12:23 pm
It's not a breach of the precepts because it doesn't cause heedlessness. If it does not cause or contribute to heedlessness, then it doesn't matter what it is. The 5th precept is only about causing yourself heedlessness. Just because something might be harmful, does not make it against the precept.
Intoxicant includes anything we ingest, inhale or inject into our system that distorts consciousness, disrupts self-awareness, and that are detrimental to health,
This is what I’ve been taught and experienced to be the fifth precept.
Does this resonate with you?
No, because that's not what "intoxicant" means in the suttas. The suttas specifically say intoxicants
that cause heedlessness, not just any intoxicant.
the question to ask is whether the substance will lead to loss of appamāda, meaning non-negligence, heedfulness, diligence. Appamāda consists in the arising of the mental factors of mindfulness (sati), clear comprehension (sampajañña), and wholesome energy (kusala viriya).
viewtopic.php?p=377#p377
It is limited only to substances that "will lead to loss of appamāda", not just any intoxicant. Intoxicants, like coffee, are not included because they do not "lead to loss of appamāda". If someone is allergic to some substance, that would not change it's status either. Peanuts for example, for some people peanuts are pure poison. They would certainly die if they ate a handful. That does not mean everyone who eat peanuts is breaking the precepts. That does not make peanuts a precepts violation.
And no because then that would include eating McDonald's burgers, french fries and drinking Coca cola. Eating Mdconalds isn't against the 5th precept nor is coca cola. If it included everything that was detrimental to health, the list would be thousands of things long. The list is not that long.
I got 2 shots so far, there was no distortion of consciousness, no disruption of self-awareness, and no detriment to health. A couple beers on the other hand would easily have all of that.