Xct Mu Bu Pm Pc 79Drinking Alcohol

Surāpāna Sutta (Drinking Alcohol)

Background

The Surāpāna Sutta is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically in the Pātimokkha, the ethical code for bhikkhus. This is one of the most basic disciplinary regulations the Buddha established for the Sangha community. The historical background shows that in the Buddha’s time, doubts and violations in the Sangha sometimes arose from ignorance or temptation. This rule was issued to protect the mental and physical purity of those gone forth, while maintaining the reputation and purpose of the teaching.

Surāpāna, drinking intoxicating substances such as liquor, beer, or any alcoholic drink, is considered a violation of the Pātimokkha, belonging to the Pācittiya class, offenses requiring confession and self-discipline.

Main Content

The rule on drinking alcohol is found in the Pātimokkha and is common in the Jātakas as well as in stories about the formation of the discipline. The Buddha did not absolutely forbid bhikkhus from using intoxicating substances for medical purposes, but he completely forbade anyone from drinking them in search of pleasure or in order to intoxicate the mind.

The basic reason is this: alcoholic drinks loosen the mind, obstruct mindfulness (sati), and hinder the ideal of practicing concentration (samādhi). A renunciant whose mind is loosened cannot practice the true Dharma, cannot preserve the other rules of discipline, and easily falls into other unwholesome behaviors. Moreover, drinking alcohol harms the reputation of the Sangha before lay followers and other beings, giving rise to distrust toward the teaching.

According to the Pātimokkha, anyone in the Sangha, whether bhikkhu or bhikkhunī, who drinks intoxicating substances commits a Pācittiya offense and must confess before a witness. This is a fault to be corrected through self-examination and renewed commitment to the discipline.