Can you be Buddhist and drink alcohol?
The Buddha, therefore, included the downside of intoxication in a duelwa sutra: “One is to refrain from drinking even a drop of alcohol and taking intoxicants because they are the cause of heedlessness. If any Buddhists succumb to the lure of intoxicating drinks, they shall not consider me as a teacher.”
Originally Answered: Does Buddhist drink alcohol? Buddhists may drink alcohol but many don't. In the Five Precepts which are adopted by many Buddhists, particularly in places such as Thailand and Sri Lanka, there is a commitment to abstain from intoxication by alcohol.
The Fifth Precept in Theravada Buddhism
Taking medication containing alcohol, opiates or other intoxicants for genuine medical reasons does not count, nor does eating food flavored with a small amount of liquor. Otherwise, Theravada Buddhism considers the Fifth Precept to be a clear prohibition of drinking.
Buddhism and Islam condemn alcohol because it induces a loss of self-control. In the Sunni tradition, “alcohol is the mother of all vices and it is the most shameful vice” (Sounan Ibn-Majah, Hadith 3371). However, wine remains the promised drink in heaven.
You probably know the basics—Islam forbids alcohol consumption, which is permissible in both Judaism and Christianity. How did each community develop its practices? The word “yayin,” meaning wine, appears over 130 times in the Old Testament. Its very first mention is in the Book of Genesis.
The large majority of monks feel that smoking is not an appropriate practice and that there should be a Buddhist law that recommends they do not smoke. Most monks, however, have little understanding of the specific detrimental effects smoking has on them, as well as the effects of second hand smoke.
The Buddha Dharma Education Association also expressly states "The idea of sin or original sin has no place in Buddhism." Zen student and author Barbara O'Brien has said that "Buddhism has no concept of sin." Walpola Rahula also disagreed with the notion of sin, saying "In fact there is no 'sin' in Buddhism, as sin is ...
Many Buddhists interpret this to mean that you should not consume animals, as doing so would require killing. Buddhists with this interpretation usually follow a lacto-vegetarian diet. This means they consume dairy products but exclude eggs, poultry, fish, and meat from their diet.
While the jury is still out on coffee consumption, most Buddhists believe coffee in moderation is perfectly fine, as long as it does not interfere with the fifth precept, a guideline of morals for practicing Buddhists.
Buddhism much like Hinduism is not particularly restrictive when it comes to tattoos. Buddhists believe that the body is impermanent and so are tattoos. Because they are viewed as temporary, getting tattoos doesn't violate any Buddhist doctrines or beliefs.
What drinks do Buddhist drink?
When tea started to become a popular drink, Chinese Buddhist monks discovered that drinking tea helped with their daily meditation. Meditation, they believed, was the source of all enlightenment.
While some strictly forbid the consumption of alcohol (most notably Islam and Mormonism), many other religions place it at the center of important rituals. Here, how alcohol is used by 11 major religions throughout the world, giving a whole new meaning to spirituality.

The majority of liturgical churches, such as the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church, require that sacramental wine should be pure grape wine. Other Christian churches, such as the Methodist Churches, disapprove of the consumption of alcohol, and substitute grape juice for wine (see Christian views on alcohol).
All the countries with complete bans on alcohol (Libya, Kuwait, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen) are majority Muslim. Because it is banned in the Quran, many Muslim countries tend to take a dim view of drinking even if they don't ban it outright for everyone.
They held that both the Bible and Christian tradition taught that alcohol is a gift from God that makes life more joyous, but that over-indulgence leading to drunkenness is sinful.
Bottom line: Scripture prohibits drunkenness, not drinking. If a Christian choosees to consume alcohol, they should do so with moderation and self-control. Several passages in God's Word openly condemn drunkenness (see Romans 13:13, Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, and 1 Peter 4:3).
Mormons believe God revealed in 1833 the foods and substances that are good and bad for people to consume. Liquor, tobacco, tea and coffee were prohibited.
The precepts are commitments to abstain from killing living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication. Within the Buddhist doctrine, they are meant to develop mind and character to make progress on the path to enlightenment.
Conscious eating is followed among all Buddhists. Buddha advised monks to avoid eating 10 kinds of meat for self-respect and protection: humans, elephants, horses, dogs, snakes, lions, tigers, boars and hyenas.
Buddhists generally are willing to take any medicine that helps. Some Buddhists will be wary, and will wish to know the effects of any drug that alters their emotional state or clarity of mind, because of the fifth precept.
Can u swear if your Buddhist?
As stated, Buddhists do not swear on the Buddha or on a text. There are no particular cultural practices that court rooms need to be aware of with lay people, however, with monks, particularly Theravadin monks and nuns, there may need to be extreme caution about contact between the monks and nuns and the opposite sex.
Ānantarya Karma (Sanskrit) or Ānantarika Kamma (Pāli: 'a-,'without; 'antara,' interval) are the most serious offences in Buddhism that, at death, through the overwhelming karmic strength of any single one of them, bring immediate disaster. Both Buddhists and non-Buddhists must avoid them at all costs.
The basic causes of suffering are known as the Three Poisons : greed, ignorance and hatred. These are often represented as a rooster (greed), a pig (ignorance) and a snake (hatred).
- Leafy Greens. They are an important part of any healthy diet and should also be part of your Buddhist diet for weight loss. ...
- Cruciferous Vegetables. ...
- Starchy Vegetables. ...
- Legumes And Lentils. ...
- Whole Grains. ...
- 6. Fruits. ...
- Nuts And Seeds.
In recent years, there are a variety of Danjiki rituals ranging from short-term (2–3 days long) fasting, protocols that are conducted at a hotel with a clinical supervision, to longer-term (a week or longer) fasting and exercise protocols conducted at a Buddhist temple.
The food that a strict Buddhist takes, if not a vegetarian, is also specific. For many Chinese Buddhists, beef and the consumption of large animals and exotic species is avoided. Then there would be the aforementioned "triply clean meat" rule.
Consumption of green tea proves very beneficial for health. Buddhists monks consume a special type of green tea that has hundred times more health benefits than any other Green Tea. Matcha, a special type of green tea, has greater health benefits than other Green Teas.
Not at all. Only Buddhist monks and nuns are supposed to shave their heads. Shaving of heads is required for those who want to renounce worldly comforts and enter the priesthood. Lay-Buddhists do not have such restrictions in their personal lives as long as they conduct themselves in accordance with Buddha's teaching.
For Hindus and Buddhists, long hair can represent beauty and (perhaps dangerous) sexuality — and cutting or shaving it off is surrendering worldly gifts to fully concentrate on the eternal.
Yes they can. There's nothing explicitly forbidding lay Buddhists to get body piercings. A monk wouldn't get them because they'd be considered a form of unnecessary luxury.
Can monks get drunk?
One of the five precepts these monks are supposed to adhere to is to abstain from intoxicants that cloud the mind, meaning that getting drunk is not allowed. While against the vows they took, this isn't the first time Thailand has seen cases of intoxicated monks.
- Refrain from taking life. Not killing any living being. ...
- Refrain from taking what is not given. Not stealing from anyone.
- Refrain from the misuse of the senses. Not having too much sensual pleasure. ...
- Refrain from wrong speech. ...
- Refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind.
What Can a Buddhist Drink? - Buddhism Zone
The case against coffee (important)
Is smoking and drinking a major no go In Buddhism? : r/Buddhism
While the majority of Buddhist traditions, including those belonging to the Mahāyāna, generally advise against consuming intoxicants, alcohol can be an essential component of tantric rituals.
The precepts are commitments to abstain from killing living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication. Within the Buddhist doctrine, they are meant to develop mind and character to make progress on the path to enlightenment.
To refrain from taking intoxicants is one of the primary vows that laypeople may take and that monastics have to uphold. One of the main reasons for not becoming intoxicated is that this can—and often does— lead to breaking other vows or straying from one's integrity.
When tea started to become a popular drink, Chinese Buddhist monks discovered that drinking tea helped with their daily meditation. Meditation, they believed, was the source of all enlightenment.
The large majority of monks feel that smoking is not an appropriate practice and that there should be a Buddhist law that recommends they do not smoke. Most monks, however, have little understanding of the specific detrimental effects smoking has on them, as well as the effects of second hand smoke.
While the jury is still out on coffee consumption, most Buddhists believe coffee in moderation is perfectly fine, as long as it does not interfere with the fifth precept, a guideline of morals for practicing Buddhists.
Any international perception that Buddhists see smoking and tobacco use as a sin is simply wrong. For a start, Buddhists don't even have a concept of sin. And in many Theravada countries with large Buddhist populations who practise the most orthodox school of Buddhism, even monks smoke.
What are the 5 sins in Buddhism?
There are five sins of this kind: killing one's mother, killing one's father, killing an arhat (saint), injuring the body of a buddha, and causing a division in the Buddhist community.
Many Buddhists interpret this to mean that you should not consume animals, as doing so would require killing. Buddhists with this interpretation usually follow a lacto-vegetarian diet. This means they consume dairy products but exclude eggs, poultry, fish, and meat from their diet.
Buddhism much like Hinduism is not particularly restrictive when it comes to tattoos. Buddhists believe that the body is impermanent and so are tattoos. Because they are viewed as temporary, getting tattoos doesn't violate any Buddhist doctrines or beliefs.
The Buddha Dharma Education Association also expressly states "The idea of sin or original sin has no place in Buddhism." Zen student and author Barbara O'Brien has said that "Buddhism has no concept of sin." Walpola Rahula also disagreed with the notion of sin, saying "In fact there is no 'sin' in Buddhism, as sin is ...
One of the five precepts these monks are supposed to adhere to is to abstain from intoxicants that cloud the mind, meaning that getting drunk is not allowed. While against the vows they took, this isn't the first time Thailand has seen cases of intoxicated monks.
- Refrain from taking life. Not killing any living being. ...
- Refrain from taking what is not given. Not stealing from anyone.
- Refrain from the misuse of the senses. Not having too much sensual pleasure. ...
- Refrain from wrong speech. ...
- Refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind.
The food that a strict Buddhist takes, if not a vegetarian, is also specific. For many Chinese Buddhists, beef and the consumption of large animals and exotic species is avoided. Then there would be the aforementioned "triply clean meat" rule.