On the Prohibition of Alcohol in Buddhism

This post provides the background story for the prohibition of alcohol in Buddhism. It was translated as part of extensive footnotes for the Commentary on the 33rd Barrier, the Barrier of Greeding for Alcohol [tan jiu guan贪酒关] by Xing De, abbot of Five Immortals Temple:

This story of Buddha’s disciple is recounted in the《Mahāsāñghikavinaya》[mo he seng shi lü摩訶僧祇律], scroll twenty:

「佛住拘睒弥国。广说如上。尔时拘睒弥界有恶龙。名庵婆罗。能使亢旱不雨苗稼不收。人民饥馑。如是种种灾患。时尊者善来比丘往降恶龙。如善来比丘经中广说 降伏恶龙已。乃至国土丰乐人民感德。知恩报恩。有五百大家为善来故。各立常施幢幡施设床座。请僧供养。别请善来比丘。其所造家。则设种种美食。时有一家施 食之后。因渴施酒色味似水得而饮之。还向精舍。尔时世尊大会说法。酒势发盛。昏闷躃地。当世尊前舒脚而卧。佛知而故言。是何比丘在如来前舒脚而卧。比丘答 言。善来比丘饮酒过多是故醉卧。佛问诸比丘。此善来比丘先曾昼寝不。不也世尊。复问比丘善来。未醉之时颇曾佛前舒脚卧不。不也世尊。复问比丘多饮酒已。欲 使不醉可得尔不。不也世尊。复问诸比丘。设使善来比丘不饮酒时闻说微妙不死之法。当欲失是善利。不听受不。不也世尊。佛语诸比丘。是善来比丘本能降伏恶龙。今者能降虾蟆不。答言。不能。佛言。设使庵婆罗龙闻者生其不乐。从今日后不听饮酒。」

“The Buddha lived in the country of Kosambi [where he was] spreading the words as above. At that time there was an Evil Dragon [naga] in the realm of Kosambi, his name was An Po Luo [Amra]. He was able to cause severe droughts. It did not rain [and] seedlings and crops [yielded] no harvest. The people were starving from the crop failure, thus, there were all kinds of disasters and calamities. When the Venerable Bhiksu [Buddhist Monk] Sagata subdued the Evil Dragon, it was thereafter widely explicated accordingly in the《Sagata Sutra》as Sagata Subduing the Evil Dragon, going so far as the people enriched by joy feeling grateful [for his kindness]. Being aware of [his] favour, they repaid [him] with favours. As a result five hundred great family clans presented themselves for Sagata. Each [of them] frequently set up the bestowment of banners and seats. [They] invited the monks to make offerings [to the deities]. Others invited Sagata and arriving at the appointed place set up all kinds of delicatessen. At that time after one family bestowed food [to him], they bestowed to him alcohol, as he was thirsty which in color and taste resembled water. He obtained it and furthermore drank it. When he returned towards the monastery, the Revered One of the World, the Great Buddha, expounded the Dharma in a general assembly. The influence of the alcohol expressed itself vigorously; Fainting and muffled he dropped limp on the ground, at which time he stretched out his feet and lay down in front of the Revered One of the World.

The Buddha was aware and thus spoke:
“How could this Buddhist monk stretch out his feet and lay down in front of the Tathagata?
The monks replied these words:
“Bhiksu Sagata drank alcohol in excess, that is the reason for him lying down in intoxication.”
The Buddha asked all the monks:
“Has this Bhiksu Sagata ever slept during the daytime or not?”
“He has not, Revered One of the World.”

Once more he asked:“Has Bhiksu Sagata at the time of being tilted by intoxication ever stretched out his feet and lay down in front the Buddha or not?”
“He has not, Revered One of the World.”
Once more he asked the Buddhist monks after Sagata had drunk alcohol in excess:
“If he wished to make himself un-intoxicated, could he reach that [objective] or not?”
“No, Revered One of the World.”
He once more asked all the monks:
“Given at the time of making Bhiksu Sagata un-intoxicated and [making him] listen to the explication on the subtle and immortal Dharma, would he desire to miss it, [though it] being of meritorious benefit and not listening would he receive it or not?”
“He would not, Revered One of the World.”
The Buddha spoke to all the Buddhist monks:
“It was Bhiksu Sagata’s innate and instinctive ability which subdued the Evil Dragon. Today, could he subdue a toad or not?
[They] replied with the words:
“He could not.”
The Buddha spoke:
“Given the Dragon An Po Luo heard this, it would create such unhappiness. From today onward it is not allowed to drink alcohol.”