30 Sec Answer: Buddhists do not consume alcoholic beverages, however they can and do drink other beverages such as tea, water, and juices.
What Do Buddhists Drink?
Buddhism is a religion that has been around for over 2,500 years. The teachings of the Buddha are still followed by millions of people around the world today. Buddhism encourages followers to live mindful lives with an emphasis on spiritual development, compassion, and moderation. As part of this practice, Buddhists often abstain from consuming certain substances or engaging in certain behaviors. So what exactly do Buddhists drink?
Overview of Buddhist Teachings
Before we answer the question about what Buddhists drink, it’s important to understand some of the basic teachings of Buddhism. Generally speaking, there are five main precepts that all Buddhists should follow:
- Not to harm living creatures
- Not to take anything not given
- To abstain from sexual misconduct
- To refrain from false speech
- To avoid intoxicants that cloud the mind
These five precepts serve as guidelines for how Buddhists should live their lives and make decisions. As you can see from the fifth precept, it states that intoxicants should be avoided – meaning no alcohol or drugs! But what else do Buddhists abstain from drinking? Let’s find out…
Alcohol & Intoxicants
One thing that most people know about Buddhism is that Buddhists generally abstain from consuming alcohol and other intoxicating substances. This means that things like beer, wine, spirits, marijuana, and hallucinogenic drugs are typically off limits for practicing Buddhists. However, there is some debate amongst scholars about whether or not coffee and black tea fall into this category since caffeine can also have an intoxicating effect on the body. Ultimately it’s up to each individual practitioner to decide if they want to include these beverages in their practice or not.
Tea & Coffee
Tea and coffee are two popular drinks amongst many cultures throughout the world – including those who practice Buddhism! Both hot and cold tea are commonly consumed by many practitioners in East Asia while coffee is more widely used in the West (particularly in America). Some types of teas that are popular among Buddhists include green tea, oolong tea, jasmine tea, white tea, black tea, herbal tea blends, and matcha powder. Many practitioners enjoy adding various spices and flavors such as ginger root or honey to enhance the flavor of their cup of tea! In terms of coffee consumption, many practitioners opt for lighter roasts with milder flavor profiles – avoiding espresso-based drinks or overly sugary concoctions that contain added ingredients such as syrups or creamers.
Water & Juices
In addition to drinking tea and coffee, many Buddhists also choose to hydrate themselves with water or fruit/vegetable juices! Plain old H20 is essential for staying healthy – so most practitioners make sure to get plenty of fluids throughout the day by drinking water between meals or during physical activities like yoga or meditation practice. Fruit and vegetable juices provide vitamins and minerals which help support overall health too! Popular options amongst Buddhist practitioners range from apple juice to carrot juice – depending on individual tastes!
Other Beverages
Aside from alcoholic drinks and intoxicants as well as non-alcoholic alternatives such as tea/coffee/juice/water – there are also a variety of other beverages that many Buddhists may choose to drink. These include things like hot cocoa/chocolate drinks (caffeine-free varieties!), sports drinks for electrolyte replenishment during exercise or long hours spent outdoors in nature; milkshakes; smoothies; bubble teas; kombucha; probiotic yogurt drinks; sparkling waters; coconut waters; energy drinks (again – look for caffeine-free versions); protein shakes; herbal tonics; etc. Ultimately there is no one right answer when it comes to what kinds of beverages someone who practices Buddhism should drink – as each individual person will have different needs depending on their lifestyle choices!
Conclusion
At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that moderation is key when it comes to any type of beverage consumption – regardless of whether someone practices Buddhism or not! Everyone should take time to consider their own individual health needs before deciding what kind of beverages would work best for them on a daily basis. For those interested in exploring more traditional beverage options related to Buddhist culture specifically – there are tons of great recipes online featuring unique combinations of herbs/spices along with healing medicinal properties associated with them too!