Lzh Mu Bi Vb Pc 62Drinking Alcohol
Pāli / Sanskrit:Surāpāna
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Exposition of the Surāpāna Rule (Drinking Alcohol)
Background
The Surāpāna rule belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, in the Pācittiya section, offenses requiring repentance. These are educational rules intended to train the mind and protect the purity of the Sangha.
According to the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka was established gradually by the Buddha through specific events. The lessons concerning drinking alcohol reflect the Buddha’s understanding of the causes leading to violations of discipline: lack of heedfulness (appamāda), loss of calmness of mind (akusala-citta), and the weakening of concentration (samādhi). This rule does not merely prohibit a physical act, but also identifies the nature of an immoral action.
Main Content
The rule concerning drinking alcohol (surā-pāna) was established by the Buddha to protect the minds of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. Alcohol, or any fermented liquid (meraya), is regarded as a substance that darkens and disorders the mind (cittam ummādeti). In essence, this is not a prohibition born of fear or punishment, but a wise instruction.
In the Pācittiya rules, drinking alcohol or intoxicating substances is classified as an offense (āpatti) requiring a bhikkhu to confess his fault before the Sangha and repent. The discourse clearly states that this act weakens three core factors: noble faith (saddhā), virtue (sīla), and wisdom (paññā).
The deeper reason is explained by the Buddha through the principle of cause and effect. When a bhikkhu drinks alcohol, the mind becomes clouded, and the capacity to observe the nature of impermanence, suffering, and non-self (anicca, dukkha, anattā) is weakened. Moreover, alcohol creates conditions for unwholesome mental states (akusala-mano), such as greed, hatred, and delusion, to arise and grow.
The discourse also mentions a social aspect: a drunken bhikkhu loses the respect of the community and damages the faith of those who study Buddhism. This violates the principle of virtue (sīla), one of the three trainings: sīla, samādhi, and paññā.
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