Buddhism and alcohol recovery – what the Buddha taught his disciples about alcohol

Alcoholism, or alcohol dependence, is one of the worst human behavior that causes serious trouble for those who drink too much and also to the whole human societies.

For most adults, moderate alcohol use is probably not harmful. However, about 18 million adult Americans have an alcohol use disorder. This means that their drinking causes distress and harm. It includes alcoholism and alcohol abuse.

The most common problem that people who drink much alcohol always meet is:

Craving - a strong need to drink

Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've started

Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms

Tolerance - the need to drink more alcohol to feel the same effect

With alcohol abuse, you are not physically dependent, but you still have a serious problem. The drinking may cause problems at home, work, or school. It may cause you to put yourself in dangerous situations, or lead to legal or social problems.

Another common problem is binge drinking. It is drinking about five or more drinks in two hours for men. For women, it is about four or more drinks in two hours.

Too much alcohol is dangerous. Heavy drinking can increase the risk of certain cancers. It can cause damage to the liver, brain, and other organs. Drinking during pregnancy can harm your baby. Alcohol also increases the risk of death from car crashes, injuries, homicide, and suicide.

If you want to stop drinking, there is help. Start by talking to your health care provider. Treatment may include medicines, counseling, and support groups.

For Buddhists, fundamental spiritual practice and addiction recovery both begin with meditation. Refuge Recovery is a practice, a process, a set of tools, a treatment, and a path to healing addiction and the suffering caused by addiction.

Toward alcohol the Buddha had set forth the rule of training to his disciples thus; in drinking fermented liquor and spirits there is an offence of expiation.  Buddhist monks are not allowed to drink any kind of alcohol which causes to drunk. Even lay Buddhist disciples also observe the fifth precept to avoid from drinking alcohol or more widely everything intoxicant.

Drinking alcohol or any intoxicating drinks is actually the opposite of Buddhist practice. Buddhist insight meditation developed mindfulness to experienced calm insight with seeing the reality of every creating thing that are arise and disappeared. The state of mind of those Buddhists who practice insight meditation is being mindful, calm and more aware of everything around them while people who drunk lose their control or mindfulness.

Before setting the rule of training related to avoid drinking alcohol, the Buddha asked his disciples to consider the danger of being drunk by taking example of venerable Sagata, one of his famous disciples who were able to come into conflict with the serpent of Ambatittha before he drunk.

The Buddha asked his disciples, monks, before drinking alcohol, is Sagata able to come into conflict with the serpent of Ambatittha ? Yes, lord. Monks replied. But, Monks, after drinking alcohol, is Sagata able to come into conflict with the serpent of Ambatittha, now? No, lord. Monks replied. Then, the Buddha asked, monks, the water that causes monks to become unconscious, should monks drink that water? No, lord. Monks replied. So the Buddha set forth the rule of training for his disciples not to drink alcohol or any kind of intoxicant.

Drinking alcohol or intoxicant causes people to lose their control or mindfulness. If they drink continuously their mindfulness will be very weak. But, in the opposite, practicing Buddhist meditation developed their mindfulness and strengthens their state of mind. People who practice meditation continuously their mindfulness and state of mind will become more and stronger and healthy. It is clearly to prove that practicing Buddhist meditation is really a great method to recover people from alcoholism or any other kind of addiction.

But, somehow, people who can gained a great benefits from practicing Buddhist meditation must have a good knowledge of Buddhist teaching or at least got a good advice from a good meditation master and also they practice continuously for some period of time. So, they can see the real benefits of this practice.