<p>This is any substance which lead to carelessness:</p>

<ul>
<li>Loss of Sila - taking something like alcohol or drugs with similar effect taken for recreational value. Being drunk reduces ones resolve to adhere to the precepts.</li>
<li>Loss of Samadhi - again taking alcohol or even pain killers or sleeping pills other spescription medications taken recreational value. Alcohol, sleeping pills, certcertain medications make you less concentrated, especially those labeled not to operate machines or drive.</li>
<li>Loss of Satti - taking hallucinogens or other drugs which alter perception of reality or decreases perception of reality if taken for recreational value</li>
</ul>

<p>Loss of Samadhi and Satti contributes to loss of Sila and morality one is more deligent with them and more careless when they reduce.</p>

<p>Also see:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/5645/295">Do all Buddhists abstain from alcohol?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/3587/295">Is it useful to practice intoxicated?</a></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-30T12:20:50.970Z
2019-06-30T13:06:25.943Z
2019-06-30T13:06:25.943Z
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
<p>Let me first explain the original Pāli version of the fifth precept, according to what I learnt from prof. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Gombrich">Richard Gombrich</a>, who knows Pāli well and is a Theravāda scholar, but is not a Buddhist.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The last three words are the same for all precepts and mean "I undertake the rule of abstaining from". The key word here is <em>surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā</em>. It is a compound that can be split as follows: <em>surā-meraya-majja-pamāda-ṭṭhānā</em>. The literal translation is surā-meraya-majja-carelessness-occasion. <em>Surā</em>, <em>meraya</em> and <em>majja</em> are names of three intoxicating drinks, but we cannot be sure what they exactly were. So if we look at it literally, the rule deals with three specific drinks, and whether and how it shoud be extended to other intoxicants is a matter of interpretation.</p>

<p>The use of <em>pamāda</em> (carelessness) is even more interesting. Since it is a part of a compound, the grammar rules of Pāli tell us very little about how it should be interpreted. So the literal reading of the fifth precept could be either</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I undertake the rule of abstaining from surā, meraya and majja, <strong>because</strong> they cause occasions for carelessness.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>or</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I undertake the rule of abstaining from surā, meraya and majja, <strong>in so far</strong> as they cause occasions for carelessness.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Coming back to your question, there is no agreement among Theravāda Buddhists on which of the two readings should be used. There are quite a few who interpret it according to the latter reading and don't think that consumption of small amounts of alcohol is against the precept. But in any case, there is an agreement that <em>surāmerayamajja</em> should interpreted as alcoholic beverages in general. There is, however, a controversy on whether the precept is applicable to smoking.</p>

<p>To sum up, various Buddhist traditions have surely different views on that matter, but in any case, the word <em><a href="https://palidictionary.appspot.com/browse/p/pam%C4%81da">pamāda</a></em> seems to be the key. It is what defines intoxicants, and - for traditions that allow some use of intoxicans - defines the limits of their use.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-12T11:46:02.837Z
2015-12-12T12:11:52.877Z
2015-12-12T12:11:52.877Z
kami
<p>Since the mapping of <a href="http://www.release.org.uk/legal-highs-novel-psychoactive-substances-research-chemicals" rel="nofollow">Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS)</a> began about ten years ago, around 500 new subsatances  has been discovered. This is a somewhat different situation than what was the case 2500 years ago. </p>

<p>Some NPS are not illegal, and even it they are defined as pshychoactive they're not intoxicating but more like caffein ("upper") or melatonin (for sleep) or valerian (calming). </p>

<p>What defines - in the different traditions - whether taking an NPS is against the five precepts or not? Is it the intention with which you take the substance? Is it the effect? Neurobiological damage? Physical damage? Frequency? Does legal status come in to the picture? </p>

<p>Is this something one should take directly with the teacher? Or something you can define according to your own conscience? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-12T16:57:48.633Z
Also see [Is drinking coffee or tea against the fifth precept](http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/1303/is-drinking-coffee-or-tea-against-the-fifth-precept) and [If a substance enhanced the ability to stay mindful, and didnt cause intoxication or carelessness, would it still violate the fifth precept](http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/2837/if-a-substance-enhanced-the-ability-to-stay-mindful-and-didnt-cause-intoxicatio)
Andriy Volkov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-12T17:01:47.263Z
Also, [Are there any specific stories or talks where Buddha discussed using mind altering substances other than alcohol](http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/2806/are-there-any-specific-stories-or-talks-where-buddha-discussed-using-mind-alteri)
Andriy Volkov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-12T17:02:06.970Z
[Do all Buddhists abstain from alcohol](http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/1344/do-all-buddhists-abstain-from-alcohol)
Andriy Volkov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-12T17:02:51.203Z
[Is it useful to practice intoxicated?](http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/3573/is-it-useful-to-practice-intoxicated)
Andriy Volkov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-12T17:03:53.107Z
[Is moderate drinking acceptable in Buddhism?](http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/2512/is-moderate-drinking-acceptable-in-buddhism)
Andriy Volkov
<five-precepts><traditions><intoxicants>
How do different traditions define "intoxicant"?
# How do different traditions define "intoxicant"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-12-12)

Since the mapping of [Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS)](http://www.release.org.uk/legal-highs-novel-psychoactive-substances-research-chemicals) began about ten years ago, around 500 new subsatances has been discovered. This is a somewhat different situation than what was the case 2500 years ago.

Some NPS are not illegal, and even it they are defined as pshychoactive they're not intoxicating but more like caffein ("upper") or melatonin (for sleep) or valerian (calming).

What defines - in the different traditions - whether taking an NPS is against the five precepts or not? Is it the intention with which you take the substance? Is it the effect? Neurobiological damage? Physical damage? Frequency? Does legal status come in to the picture?

Is this something one should take directly with the teacher? Or something you can define according to your own conscience?

**Tags:** five-precepts, traditions, intoxicants

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Also see [Is drinking coffee or tea against the fifth precept](http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/1303/is-drinking-coffee-or-tea-against-the-fifth-precept) and [If a substance enhanced the ability to stay mindful, and didnt cause intoxication or carelessness, would it still violate the fifth precept](http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/2837/if-a-substance-enhanced-the-ability-to-stay-mindful-and-didnt-cause-intoxicatio)  
> **username_1**: Also, [Are there any specific stories or talks where Buddha discussed using mind altering substances other than alcohol](http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/2806/are-there-any-specific-stories-or-talks-where-buddha-discussed-using-mind-alteri)  
> **username_1**: [Do all Buddhists abstain from alcohol](http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/1344/do-all-buddhists-abstain-from-alcohol)  
> **username_1**: [Is it useful to practice intoxicated?](http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/3573/is-it-useful-to-practice-intoxicated)  
> **username_1**: [Is moderate drinking acceptable in Buddhism?](http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/2512/is-moderate-drinking-acceptable-in-buddhism)  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-12-12. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

Let me first explain the original Pāli version of the fifth precept, according to what I learnt from prof. [Richard Gombrich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Gombrich), who knows Pāli well and is a Theravāda scholar, but is not a Buddhist.

> Surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.

The last three words are the same for all precepts and mean "I undertake the rule of abstaining from". The key word here is *surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā*. It is a compound that can be split as follows: *surā-meraya-majja-pamāda-ṭṭhānā*. The literal translation is surā-meraya-majja-carelessness-occasion. *Surā*, *meraya* and *majja* are names of three intoxicating drinks, but we cannot be sure what they exactly were. So if we look at it literally, the rule deals with three specific drinks, and whether and how it shoud be extended to other intoxicants is a matter of interpretation.

The use of *pamāda* (carelessness) is even more interesting. Since it is a part of a compound, the grammar rules of Pāli tell us very little about how it should be interpreted. So the literal reading of the fifth precept could be either

> I undertake the rule of abstaining from surā, meraya and majja, **because** they cause occasions for carelessness.

or

> I undertake the rule of abstaining from surā, meraya and majja, **in so far** as they cause occasions for carelessness.

Coming back to your question, there is no agreement among Theravāda Buddhists on which of the two readings should be used. There are quite a few who interpret it according to the latter reading and don't think that consumption of small amounts of alcohol is against the precept. But in any case, there is an agreement that *surāmerayamajja* should interpreted as alcoholic beverages in general. There is, however, a controversy on whether the precept is applicable to smoking.

To sum up, various Buddhist traditions have surely different views on that matter, but in any case, the word *[pamāda](https://palidictionary.appspot.com/browse/p/pam%C4%81da)* seems to be the key. It is what defines intoxicants, and - for traditions that allow some use of intoxicans - defines the limits of their use.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-06-30. Score: 1

This is any substance which lead to carelessness:

* Loss of Sila - taking something like alcohol or drugs with similar effect taken for recreational value. Being drunk reduces ones resolve to adhere to the precepts.
* Loss of Samadhi - again taking alcohol or even pain killers or sleeping pills other spescription medications taken recreational value. Alcohol, sleeping pills, certcertain medications make you less concentrated, especially those labeled not to operate machines or drive.
* Loss of Satti - taking hallucinogens or other drugs which alter perception of reality or decreases perception of reality if taken for recreational value

Loss of Samadhi and Satti contributes to loss of Sila and morality one is more deligent with them and more careless when they reduce.

Also see:

* [Do all Buddhists abstain from alcohol?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/5645/295)
* [Is it useful to practice intoxicated?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/3587/295)


---

