Dharmic standpoint on consumption of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs

We need to be constantly reminded by the doctors and health workers not to consume alcohol, drugs, tobacco and other harmful substances due to their damaging nature, but also from a religious point of view, consumption of such product is strictly not encouraged since it is chiefly considered as a dharma destroyer. 

In relation to this, I make a small effort to just share and remind all the fellow beings and those who indulges in such activities in particular with an intention to make them aware of the substances that they consume from dharmic standpoint through the following thought-provoking story from Guru Rinpoche’s biography as told during one of Garab Rinpoche’s teachings in the east.

During the time when Buddha after his total enlightenment began expounding his truthful teachings, there happened to be good number of egoistic demons. However powerful the demonic forces were, every plan they had and every conspiracy they hatched, they weren’t actually successful to kill and even to cause a slightest harm to Buddha.

And it so happened, the demons after reaching to a common consensus if unable to kill and destroy the Buddha himself, planned to cause harm to his teachings- the Buddha dharma. Therefore, every demon through their burning mouth released the wicked insect-like creature into the ground and prayed that one day to spring up and cause harm to the Buddha dharma. Consequently, through that sprout, whatever people consume through the sprout of the evil seed in the form of liquid, it is said that it turned into alcohol, in the form of flour, turned into tobacco and in the form of smoke, it turned into what we call, cigarette.

It is irrevocably believed that the seed of these harmful substances were sown by the demons to impede the growth to today’s flourishing Buddha dharma. Hence, the consumption of these substances especially in Buddhist kingdom like ours by the so called Buddhist people is in any way unjustifiable and against the fundamental precepts of the Buddha dharma. 

Therefore, consumption of substances in any form-alcohol, tobacco and drugs will not only cause health complications and jeopardize our precious human life but most importantly they are main activities that potentially bring tremendous disgrace and undermines to the spread of Buddha dharma. So if you are truly the follower of Buddha, let us 'SAY NO' and remain free from these substances.