The Five Precepts of Liquor (Suràmeraya) and its Interpretation for Contemporary Thai Society

Abstract

This article aimed to critique issues related to: 1) the scope and meaning; 2) the prohibited substances and the extension of their scope; and 3) the elements of committing an offense, according to the five precepts regarding intoxicants (Surãmeraya) in contemporary Thai society. The study was conducted through a documentary approach, utilizing content analysis from the Tripitaka, commentaries, books, and other relevant sources.

It was found that, for the first issue, the scope and meaning, there were two interpretations: a limited interpretation, which involved abstaining from drinking intoxicating beverages (Surāmeraya), and a broad interpretation, which involved abstaining from consuming intoxicating beverages and all kinds of intoxicants. For the second issue, the prohibited substances, there were two interpretations: 1) Surā and Meraya, where the Principal References (Mahāpadesa) are utilized to expand the scope of meaning in two ways: the limited interpretation, specifically referring to intoxicating beverages, as stated in Surāmeraya, and the broad interpretation, encompassing all intoxicating beverages and drugs; and 2) Surāmeraya and intoxicants, where the interpretation of intoxicants does not rely on Principal References for both the limited and broad interpretations, as observed in the first issue. The final issue, the elements of committing an offense, had two interpretative approaches: 1) the traditional approach, which included four elements of committing an offense according to the Commentaries (Atthakathā): the presence of intoxicants, the intention to drink intoxicants, the effort to drink, and swallowing the substance through the neck; and 2) the new approach, which modified the second element to 'the intention to consume intoxicants' and the fourth element to 'the intoxicant entering the body,' in order to cover all kinds of drugs in today's society. The other elements remain unchanged.