Refuge vows - drinking

[Devoted_Min]

A few months ago I read His Eminence's book 'Gurus for Hire'. It is a fantastic book but I was a little puzzled. When outlining the precepts and vows that a person should follow once they've taken refuge, there was no mention of refraining from drinking and intoxicants. At least I don't recall reading about this. Please correct me if I'm wrong, I don't have the book on me now to refer to.

But if it wasn't discussed, then why not? When HHDL gave us the refuge vows during a visit in Sydney he specifically listed refraining from drinking as one of the five. I am wondering whether His Eminence prefers not to give  this vow for some reason?

I've heard of some schools where the students drink alcohol even in their own gompa! (And this is not in reference to ritualistic alcohol for certain pujas.) Is this becoming an acceptable thing in this degenerate time??

I look forward to getting some clarification on this. 

[Joey]

Hi there,

part of the refuge vows definitely involve no drinking.

In Kechara House offering of alcohol to the protector was stopped so that people would not use that as an excuse to drink "blessed" alcohol.

[Ayla]

I hope no one gets mad for my posting here, but I also had a question on this precept. If you are to abstain from drugs and intoxicants does that include things like sleep aids, painkillers and say things to help a cold like nasal decongestants??

[Joey]

I hope no one gets mad for my posting here, but I also had a question on this precept. If you are to abstain from drugs and intoxicants does that include things like sleep aids, painkillers and say things to help a cold like nasal decongestants??

the basis of this vow is so that you dont get intoxicated on purpose. For medicine  it is okay unless you do it to numb yourself from the world and not to treat a health aliment.

[Ayla]

Thanks, I was reading way to deeply into this precept (like always), lol

[sharonsaw]

The Refuge Vows do NOT include not drinking, that's why it was not mentioned in Gurus for Hire. The Refuge Vows as given by Tsem Tulku Rinpoche are 3 for Mind, 3 for Body and 4 for Speech:

Body
1. No Killing
2. No Stealing
3. No Sexual Misconduct


Speech
4. No Lying
5. No Idle Chatter
6. No Divisive Speech
7. No Harsh Words


Mind
8. No Hatred
9. No Covetousness
10. No Wrong View

(read more here http://www.kechara.com/kids-corner/submissions//what-taking-refuge-means/)

When you take refuge or anytime you wish, you can take the 8 precepts, which does include the non-drinking vow. However, when and how long you take the precepts for is up to you. If you wish to hold them for life, that would be commendable, and yes that would mean you would have to stop drinking alcohol, not eating more than one meal a day, not eating after 12 noon etc.