Monks Smoking
I went to Boun Ok Phansa at Watlao Siribudhhavas (Royse City , TX) 3 weekends ago. What I remember the most from that was not the festival but the young novice monk I saw there. As I was walking toward the Sala, I came across the novice monk smoking. He was just puffing away. My son noticed as well and asked me later after we were far away why the monk was smoking. I didn’t know how to answer him.
Last weekend was Boun Khatin at Watlao Siribudhhava. I notice 2 more monks were smoking. This really bother me so I began to look into the precepts.
We lay Buddhists observed the 5 precepts call pañca-sila. During the Luna-Obervance days, which occurs every month, we observe the 8 precepts call the attha-sila. The novice monks and nuns follow the 10 precepts call the dasa-sila. Notice rule #5 below of the three precepts I have listed.
- Suramerayamajja pamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
- I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.
One can interpret what it meant by “drugs which lead to carelessness”. To me smoking can be addictive and alter the mind that lead to carelessness.
A fully ordained monks is known as Bhikku. They follow the 227 rules in the Pāṭimokkha. I have yet to encounter any reference to ”drugs which lead to carelessness”. Maybe this is the reason why so many Bhikku smoke. I read even the very popular Ajahn Chah smoke. I am not sure what to make of these precepts. Why a novice monk can’t smoke but a Bhikku can. Maybe a little barp is acceptable because Buddhist monk have confession. Yes, Buddhist monk confess to their barp. I didn’t know that.
I’ve also seen this in Wat Lao of TN. It doesn’t bother me as much because I don’t classify cigarette as "drugs which lead to carelessness”. I don’t smoke but I would imagine that it’d be difficult to quit if you don’t have strong will enough, so when I see something like this I’m very forgiving, monks are only human.
I guess the question is, who is supplying these novice monks the cigarettes because they can’t purchase these themselves as for most states have age limit of 16 or 18 years of age to be able to purchase. (I know about fake ID btw)
Smoking may be addictive but it doesn’t always lead to carelessness. I’ve live with a smoker all my life. There has never been a danger of second hand smoke, because the smoker is fully aware and in control.Indoor smokers aren’t being respectful, although. These people are consciously aware of their disrespect but are doing it anyway.
Novice monks need parental guidance as well as guidance from the abbot or headmaster when placed in the yellow robes. They should realize what they are getting into. Being seen pupping away like that, especially when children are around, is not a good thing, sinful. As you may heard this saying before, "Barb mun kee xang soop yah ma bor?" It does barb is real. Lao Buddhist community needs to tighten up or ships out.
[...] amphone: Novice monks need parental guidance as well as guidance from the abbot or headmaster when placed in the… [...]
Dallas, I came upon a question from my reading, ‘Good Question Good Answer’ by Ven.S.Dhammika, about smoking, whether it would be against the Fifth Percept, and the answer is that smoking certainly has a negative effect on the body but its effect on the mind is very minor. One is able to smoke and still be alert, mindful, and self-possessed. So while smoking might not be advisable it would not be against the Percepts.
I came across this page, searching for dimensions related to monastic smoking. I have a friend who is a bhikku (American), who at one time seemed intent on quitting, but now is back to unrepentant chain-smoking. Just because 2500 years ago, a drug was not in use is not relevant. First, I think smoking causes far more mental changes than people state here: there is the constant craving, irritibility, memory changes (the only benefit)… how can these things not be an impediment toward cultivation??? What’s more, this roguish habit surely must be a detriment to the well-being of the sangha. If the addiction doesn’t bother you (it *is* a craving addiction as much as any drug), and the grotesque harm to the monk’s well-being doesn’t bother you, then at least have some concern for public morals. Winging excuses as not being against precepts should be below the monk. We ought expect better.
Hi Shufei, thanks for the feedback, since I’m not a smoker, I didn’t realize that it’s that bad. You’re right, smoking is not good for the well-being of the sangha, and it does give off bad image when monks smoke because one should have given up all temptation when entering monkshood, and that should include smoking.