What is the purpose of the 5th precept?
Upvote:0
Intoxicants usually refers to alcohol and drugs. But it can also refer to the five pungent herbs: onion, garlic, leeks, chives, asofoetida. Supposedly, these act as aphrodisiacs. So, they are banned by one of the minor bodhisattva precepts in the Brahmanet Sutra.
Upvote:1
What about intoxicating love?
it's the cause of all suffering. AFAIK
The 5th precept in my country translation is avoid the food and drink that can cause intoxicate and addiction. Some people believe the smoking is not one of the consideration because it's not a food neither a drink, even though it is caused addiction. And small amount of alcohol would not cause the intoxicate.
It's all can be arguable and I don't think the winner also hold the right answer. So, the best I think we look at the original purpose of following the precepts like you mentioned above "In doing so, he gives freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings." And know what the best for us.
Upvote:2
Its very simple.
If your goal is the spiritual path, you must do well to not harm yourself, or other people mindlessly. Alcohol used for intoxication is not good for this purpose. If you're looking for a good time just generally, socially, it is okay in small amounts. You won't do much wrong because it is moderate. In this regard, I also have something to say about abstaining from alcohol. You can still have a nice time without it and don't need to depend on it unless it is a social stigma. This includes things like excess of love or lustful feelings. If you are mindful of what you want to do, you will understand what to do. :)
With alcohol/drugs, there is a tendency to go mindless and do "weird" things. Without alcohol/drugs, you have your senses firmly with you and you can control your actions well.
Which part of this did you not understand?
Its not a rule. It is a basic understanding or reasoning of what your goal is, and what your action should be.
Thus, it very clearly depends on which path you are taking, either spiritual or material. The path is the goal.
PS: I see NUMEROUS questions about the precepts on this site. Don't get too technical about what is mentioned and what is not mentioned in the texts. That will become endless interpretation. Measure yourself and your goal and you will automatically know the actions you need to take up.
Upvote:3
The 5th precept is not about addictions. It is referring to taking substances that lead to heedlessness, whether you get addicted to it or not.
Love/sexual misbehavior is covered under the 3rd precept. Again, it's not about addiction.
The intoxication discussed under the 5th precept is chemically muddling your senses. Especially the mind. Ignorance plays a role in wanting to do that. Once you are intoxicated, it leads to more ignorant acts.
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