An Analysis of the Intoxicant Consumtion in Thai Society Through an Ethical Perspectives

Abstract

          This research article has the objective : 1. to study the context of the intoxicant consumption appearing in the Tripitaka and ethical principles, 2. to study the problem of the intoxicant consumption in Thai society, and 3. to analyze the intoxicant consumption in the Tripitaka through an ethical perspective. It is a documentary research by studying information from the Tripitaka, academic books on Buddhism and related research. There is analyzing data with using reason and giving reason, then presented the research results with a descriptive analysis method.
          The results of the study found that  :
           The word “intoxicants (Sara-meraya)” refers to both liquors and intoxicants. The collective meaning is called Majja (intoxicant), which is proof of the mental stability of monks, nuns, novices, and sikkhamanas (female novices) those who will come to be ordained in Buddhism, it takes up to 2 years to prove it, If you violate it, they will start over. The problem of the intoxicant consumption is caused by the drinkers which have been motivated by advertising media, hearsay, news from other people or other things (Paratoghosa), so there is a feeling of wanting to drink by thinking that if the drinkers drink it, the drinkers will be happy and refreshed, craving and thirst will increase.
            Analyzing according to the ethical viewpoint, it was found that the hedonistic view believes that happiness is the best thing. The desire to drink is a process of Paticcasamupapada (the dependent origination) that appears quickly in an uninterrupted manner. This is because the power of ignorance is the absence of true knowledge and relativism believes that truth or value does not exist by itself. But it depends on the words, invitations and words of others. Therefore, it is followed and imitated until it becomes an undesirable behavior in Thai society.