Gary Vee makes me rethink things

On a lark, I watched Wine Library TV at lunch today. I have heard about Gary V on a couple of podcasts, even on NPR, and let me tell you, this man is passionate. While Gary was trying some Australian wines I was really thinking about Buddhism and alcohol. I have stopped drinking alcohol completely outside of two times, my sister and my cousin’s weddings. I am wondering if a little alcohol every now and again, a single glass of wine, is against the rules.

The Buddhist precepts are:

1) To undertake the training to avoid taking the life of beings.
2) To undertake the training to avoid taking things not given.
3) To undertake the training to avoid sensual misconduct.
4) To undertake the training to refrain from false speech.
5) To undertake the training to abstain from substances which cause intoxication and heedlessness.

The Fifth Precept is where the no drinking comes out. I have, through great social pressures, managed to keep my consumption of alcohol to just two events in the past year. My religion has become very important to me and I think that if presented with those two opportunities again, I would choose not to drink.

I twittered:

Having watched @garyvee doing his thing, I now am thinking that not consuming alcohol could be a rule that is bent and occasionally broken.

But now after reflecting on it, I don’t know if I want to throw away a year’s worth of work and social conditioning. I think I twittered in haste. I think for now, I will not be imbibing.