ABSTAIN FROM SMOKING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE VOWED TO BECOME A VEGETARIAN
Caller: Master, there are people who still smoke despite having made the vow to become a full vegetarian. Is smoking not allowed in our practice of vegetarianism? Kindly advise us, Master.
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s for sure. It’s better not to smoke if you have vowed to be a full vegetarian, although it is not explicitly stipulated as a precept in Buddhism. The reason being, smoking was non-existent during the Buddha’s time.
Caller: Yes, that’s right.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Otherwise, the Buddha would have laid down the ‘Six Precepts’, which would have included abstaining from smoking, right?
Caller: Yes.
Master Jun Hong Lu: There was also no such thing as abstinence from drugs during that period of time, unlike today when people take drugs. Do you think the Buddha would have allowed you to take drugs if He were still alive today?
Caller: No.
Master Jun Hong Lu: So that’s what it means by positive energy. Don’t you agree that smokers have bad breath? There are even some who smoke despite being a vegetarian and practising Buddhism. Don’t you know that it really stinks?
Caller: I understand now.
Source: Wenda20180720 25:34, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
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