by cyberborgz

Created on: May 02, 2009

Buddhism view about drinking and smoking are the two sinful habits in the life on any individual. Smoking is seen to be not only affecting the person itself but even the life surrounding him. Perhaps it is classified to be the worst stuff someone should not even touch if he/she is a follower of Buddhism. If a person who smokes goes beside someone who follows Buddhism strictly, the very instant of seeing you with a cigarette would result in a questioning look. Why are you smoking tobacco?

It is believed in Buddhism that the origin of tobacco had its own reason.

Long time back, a man, woman and a donkey were working in constructing a monastery which was very hard. The donkey was used for carrying stones and materials for the construction and did the heaviest job. However after much of toiling the monastery stood very huge and enchanting. On completion of the monastery the man and woman prayed for themselves for their after life but as for the donkey, nobody gave him the importance. Therefore it was believed that the donkey prayed for himself stating that in his new life he would like to be born as a substance that would not only effect the mankind but every living organism. The prayer of the donkey was answered and he was reborn as Tobacco.

Now with that story as a linking for its existence, tobacco is seen by Buddhist as a substance harmful for not only mortals but even the gods and demigods. First of all, the person who smoke is affected the most, thereafter every one surrounding him. The smoke which is exhaled goes to heaven and the spit thrown after smoking is believed to go to hell thereby affecting both heaven and hell. The smoke in the world is seen to affect plants and animals in the vicinity. Therefore there is nothing spared and hurt just because of a person smoking.

Buddhism really does not have a concrete way of defining its theories; therefore it is science which would be able to scientifically prove this theory. In a way it can be said that religion opens a story and science proves it, or may be it would be better to define that science without religion is deaf and religion without science is blind. However there are numerous scientific theories proving the bad side of smoking.People who smoke is definitely prone to diseases but even the passive smoker are held risky from the smoke exhaled by the smokers. Even the products of smoking which are mainly some chemicals are held responsible for affecting plant in a way or the other. Therefore spiritually, smoking is seen to be a harmful habit similar to what science.

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