There are five Buddhist precepts for Buddhist lay people, and ten commandments for Christians. They are fairly similar. One difference is that while the God of the Old Testament commands, the Buddha suggests. The precepts are there as the guidelines of an enlightened life style, the choices of a Bodhisattva. Don't want to follow them? Don't. Consequences follow, of course: namely that the karma of your actions follows you not only through this life but though all your future lives as well. But it's a choice.
The five precepts are as follows: avoid killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and taking intoxicants (generally defined as alcohol and drugs).
I was thinking, the other day, about the fifth precept, and my relationship with alcohol. I don't drink because...
A) It's a precept. I'm a Buddhist, and I take my Buddhism pretty seriously. I live in a country of heavy drinkers, and a lot of them are Buddhist. However, that's them and their Buddhism, and this is mine.
B) I tried it in university (although not seriously) and I didn't like it: never have. In whatever drink I've ever tried, the background taste of alcohol destroys what good taste the drink might have. Even now, I'll occasionally take a half shot-glass full, just to double check. I still don't like it.
C) It seems to me that alcohol is used as a form of escape. The pressure of life is too much, and ... Kalgon, take me away! The problem with this is alcohol is only a temporary escape: reality is waiting for you on the other side. There are better, more healthy ways to deal with life.
D) Connected with the idea of escape... I believe many people drink because basically, they don't like themselves. When they drink, they take on a different persona that is very different from their normal selves. Me? I like myself, and generally, although not always, my various selves coexist on a fairly peaceful basis. If I need to relax, I meditate. Or go for a walk.
D) I've seen too many lives destroyed or effected badly by alcohol (Jack Kerouac, anyone?). When intoxicated, people often change for the worse: many of them become violent or argumentative. Being Buddhist, those are hellish states of mind, and I generally try to avoid them.
E) My aunt and uncle were killed by a drunk driver. A year younger and it probably wouldn't have a difference. As it so happened, I was just at the age when I understood: I swore at the that time to watch my relationship with alcohol.
F) I like waking up mentally and physically refreshed. My wife had a small party with her family last night, and woke up groaning from a headache. Me, I woke up smiling. :)
The fifth precept is generally defined as alcohol and drugs, but in truth of course, anything can be intoxicating: even meditation.
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