Robito,

The simple way it settles for me is to avoid actions that dull your concentration. If we seek refuge from our suffering in intoxicated mind states, it is like mental anesthesia. Good for some, depending on conditions, perhaps, but as we become more mindful, we naturally erode our desire to intoxicate (the pain becomes information, bearable, blossoming in an open field).

Then, of course, there is skillful means. Said differently, are there conditions where it is more skillful to intoxicate than not? Would a Bodhisattva, for instance, choose to dull themselves, in order to increase their social connectivity? Ie, utilizing “social drinking” to bring light where its needed? What about other drugs, prescription or otherwise, used to relieve chronic pains?

Consider that the precepts are more like a beginners guide to tuning your body. We avoid actions that clutter up our space, and intentionally create spaciousness. Much like we learn an instrument, “finger 1, here. finger 2, there.” Then practice and practice. Eventually, we can let go of the finger, trust our finger memory, and just play the song, the dharma, or chi or whatnot. Look around, do what seems right, accept the results and so forth.

One Buddhist teacher said that more important than following any specific instruction or rule is to follow our desires with mindfulness. If you smoke, smoke with mindfulness, really pay attention. Drink, same. Dance, same. What does it do? How does it feel? As we pay attention, the unskillful just falls away because we realize its painful. As we get started though, “don’t kill, don’t rape, don’t drink, don’t steal, dont lie” are like “transgressions are mutually harmful, so try to avoid those”.

Also, consider reading Chogyam Trungpa’s “Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism”, which cuts at the root of why we sometimes learn spiritual philosophy and don’t live by it. Basically, a persom can sometimes un-friend themselves and try to jump into a new, groovy “spiritual dude” or “spiritual chick” personality. Trungpa helps bring awareness back to the purpose of “spirituality”… cleaning the laundry so we can live a life of peace and happiness. Overcome, let go, be free and so forth.

Namaste, may you have an auspicious journey.

With warmth,
Matt