Celebrations and important life events are incomplete without alcohol for some. Despite warnings about its impact on physical and mental health, most find it irresistible.
But, for a monk, who has given up on worldly pleasures, alcohol is of little significance. A Buddhist monk at the Shaolin Temple in China shares his views on the dangerous habit, regardless of how safe the alcohol is, and it’s truly inspiring.
Monk on alcohol and the reason he avoids it
Shaolin monk, Shi Heng Yi, is well aware of the usual drill when you step out in the evenings. Alcohol, to many, is a necessity to socialize and make the most of the moment.
Alcohol is deeply rooted in cultures around the world, so it’s rare to find an occasion or event that’s devoid of the same. But, it’s all about resisting the urge and making a conscious choice, says the monk.
“Of course, we enjoy going out, listening to music, talking to other people, and just socializing,” he says, before adding: “If I get drunk in the evening, I don’t feel well the next day. I don’t feel clear the next day.”
The monk explains that his decision is made consciously and not forced upon him. He chooses not to indulge in alcohol by reminding himself of its consequences on his mind and body.
“My decisions are not the best the next day. I don’t want to make a wrong decision because I’m not clear in the mind,” he says.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), alcohol interferes with the brain’s ability to communicate, thus affecting the way it looks and works. “These disruptions can change mood and behavior, and make it harder to think clearly and move with coordination,” it states.
His advice will inspire you to give up drinking
The monk says he would turn down the offer to drink alcohol any day by simply focusing on his priorities.
“I can go out, but I don’t drink. If I have got something on my mind, which for me is a priority, then all the actions I am doing now, I just compare,” the monk says.
He wouldn’t indulge in the action, which is drinking if it isn’t compatible with his future-focused priorities. It’s achievable for anyone by disciplining yourself, “regardless of how you feel” from within.
Aside from lack of clarity, hangovers are another painful side effect of alcohol. If you often fall victim to it, a human biologist recommends one simple trick to help cure hangovers.
