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celebrations, and marriages where alcoholic drinks are freely served. Let us review the main qualities of a virtuous householder (known as the initial vratas). Acharya Samantbhadra, in Ratnakaran shravkachar (verse 66), describes following eight qualities of a householder (nonmonk or nun): 1. Following the limited (anuvarat) vow of Non-violence. 2. Following the limited (anuvarat) vow of Truth fullness. 3. Following the limited (anuvarat) vow of Non-stealing. 4. Following the limited (anuvarat) vow of Limited celibacy. 5. Following the limited (anuvarat) vow of Limiting
possessions/attachments. 6. Not to consume any meat. 7. Not to consume any alcohol. 8. Not to consume any honey. We will discuss item seven here, "Not to consume alcohol for any mind altering substances like marijuana, cocaine, heroin or others]." It is well known that alcohol and other mind-altering substances are bad for us we will consider their ill effects in three categories: a. Jain ethics. b. Medical issues C. Social issues.
Jain ethics: Alcohol is a mind-altering drug; it is a depressant that alters mental faculties leading to decreased judgment power and memory. Jain Acharya in a book "pursharth-shiddhi-upaya” (verses 61 and 71) says that with altered mental faculty, one not only indulges in violence but will not be able to follow
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An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide
