Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Pc 63Drinking Alcohol

Surāpāna Sutra (Drinking Alcohol)

Background

The Surāpāna rule is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pācittiya section, the class of offenses requiring confession. It is one of the prohibitions of the early Buddhist Sangha, established by the Buddha to protect the minds and conduct of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs, and also to protect the reputation of the Sangha in society.

The history of this prohibition arose from incidents in the monastic community. When members of the Sangha fell into drinking wine, this led to careless actions, rash speech, and conduct contrary to the Buddha-Dharma. Seeing these consequences, the Buddha issued the regulation prohibiting all substances capable of causing intoxication and the loss of mindfulness.

Main Content

The prohibition on drinking alcohol (surāpāna) in the Pācittiya rules does not simply forbid grape wine, but includes all intoxicating substances such as beer, strong liquor, and similar substances. Any bhikkhu or bhikkhunī who knowingly drinks such substances, even a single drop, violates Pācittiya, an offense requiring confession before the Sangha.

This is recognized as Pācittiya (Pāli: pācittiya), meaning “an offense requiring confession.” Unlike more serious offenses such as Pārājika, offenses of expulsion, or Saṅghādisesa, offenses requiring formal communal reconciliation, Pācittiya is a middle-level offense. The offender must perform the act of confession (paṭidesanā) before another bhikkhu or before the Sangha.

The Buddha explained the reason for forbidding intoxicants: they are a direct cause of loss of mindfulness, loss of concentration, and weakening of the energy of diligent practice. When the mind is clouded, a practitioner cannot maintain vigilance or observe the training rules. Furthermore, the image of intoxicated bhikkhus diminishes the faith and respect of the people, thereby affecting the spread of the Buddha-Dharma.