tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post8726659868637828463..comments2023-09-21T09:49:28.326-07:00Comments on Fierce Dandelions: Comments on the Fifth PreceptNathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13920234350446745482noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post-53285629324104472782009-09-08T11:25:54.016-07:002009-09-08T11:25:54.016-07:00Strangely, it's not as much of an "edge&q...Strangely, it's not as much of an "edge" as you might think. Once you decide to let alcohol go, it's a pretty easy decision to stick to.<br /><br />The ultimate reason I gave up drinking had little to do with the precept (though it was a convenient explanation). Incidentally, imagine the funny looks you can get telling people in the Canadian prairies (a predominantly wu_weihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03689653375272963504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post-7427288558112371412009-09-08T06:51:09.429-07:002009-09-08T06:51:09.429-07:00Ironic, yes. Surprising - well, the longer I pract...Ironic, yes. Surprising - well, the longer I practice, the more I see how attachment creeps in so easily for all of us. <br /><br />Given the pressures to drink where you live, I can imagine your decision not to drink has been a great point of practice for you. My old teacher would ask us "what's your edge?" and I can definitely see that decision being a great practice edge to work Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920234350446745482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post-18793925479823392802009-09-08T06:43:14.903-07:002009-09-08T06:43:14.903-07:00That's exactly it, Nathan. Westerners are so a...That's exactly it, Nathan. Westerners are so attached to alcohol (or, to the right to drink it) that the someone deliberately <i>not</i> drinking sounds like someone deciding to stop breathing.<br /><br />It is kind of ironic to hear Buddhists defend this kind of attachment, don'tcha think?wu_weihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03689653375272963504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post-80672589599869280682009-09-08T06:39:44.591-07:002009-09-08T06:39:44.591-07:00Wu Wei,
So very true. Part of why I feel it's...Wu Wei,<br /><br />So very true. Part of why I feel it's so important to examine all this at the broader level of intoxication is because so often, people end of being intoxicated by what they see as "right view." <br /><br />It's interesting that you experienced such a litany after quitting drinking. I had a few comments like that as well when I quit the second time for severalNathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920234350446745482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post-34789014996232792322009-09-07T18:07:01.413-07:002009-09-07T18:07:01.413-07:00I find this whole discussion very interesting.
I ...I find this whole discussion very interesting.<br /><br />I am a "Western Buddhist", and live in the Canadian prairies (where alcohol consumption approaches a religion in its own right). I have made the somewhat drastic vow to not (knowingly) consume alcohol.<br /><br />My wife (who is not specifically Buddhist) and I have had numerous, erm, discussions about this topic. She, for the wu_weihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03689653375272963504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post-16925028215573323852009-09-07T14:37:13.862-07:002009-09-07T14:37:13.862-07:00Isn't the lesser of two evils, still evil? Obv...Isn't the lesser of two evils, still evil? Obviously green tea is better for you than vodka. No one is saying otherwise.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09688546442746669587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post-25649213149849354552009-09-06T05:00:20.401-07:002009-09-06T05:00:20.401-07:00Hi,
Yes, there are many things we can be addicted...Hi,<br /><br />Yes, there are many things we can be addicted to. But that doesn't mean they are all the same. <br /><br />I must admit to having something of an addictive personality. Which is it better for me to be addicted to - booze or green tea? Vodka or chanting the Heart Sutra?<br /><br />I agree entirely with Barry, the Buddha was clear. Even if drinking alcohol does not damage Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post-72541505003578413762009-09-04T22:26:52.855-07:002009-09-04T22:26:52.855-07:00In our school, we render it as, "I vow to abs...In our school, we render it as, "I vow to abstain from intoxicants taken to enduce heedlessness." I like the use of that word, heedlessness. It suggests an important point you raise in this post: that there are many things, chemical and non-, that may cause us to become heedless, to lose our direction in life or our vow. Intoxication implies surrendering our own power of decision --Algernonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01698040927871199780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post-60929997507982675232009-09-04T15:08:33.498-07:002009-09-04T15:08:33.498-07:00As you have noted, teachers have parsed the Fifth ...As you have noted, teachers have parsed the Fifth Precept ever since Buddha handed it down.<br /><br />It's worth looking at the Buddha's exact teaching words on this matter because his words capture his intent quite clearly. (And I think/hope we would all agree that his realization was unfathomably profound, and thus worth honoring.)<br /><br />The Buddha said:<br /><br />"A noble Barryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09412033978642026623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post-82463352314921612652009-09-04T11:47:36.098-07:002009-09-04T11:47:36.098-07:00I like your part about addiction. You left out one...I like your part about addiction. You left out one important thing though. Many people use religion to cure themselves of an addiction, but in the process just simply replace their drinking or drugs with religion. I've known a few people personally that have done this (they became born-again christians) and while they destructive addiction of alcohol was no longer a part of their lives, they Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09688546442746669587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post-52895928670697490732009-09-04T11:01:55.636-07:002009-09-04T11:01:55.636-07:00This makes a lot of sense, thanks.This makes a lot of sense, thanks.Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03908227916944431265noreply@blogger.com