You may have heard the famous Buddhist tale of the monk who had to make a choice. The versions differ but, basically, the monk comes upon a house and is forced to choose among having sex with a woman, killing a goat for food, or drinking a jug of wine. The monk has taken a vow of celibacy, has promised not to kill any living creature, and has sworn off intoxicants.

The monk decides, "Drinking the wine would cause the least harm because it would spare the goat's life and would not involve the woman in a sin. It will only hurt me." So, the monk drinks the wine. In the morning, he wakes up. He's lying naked next to the woman, having slept with her, and the remains of a large feast of goat meat are on the table!

Everyone here can likely relate to the story. Alcohol addiction rarely takes place in a vacuum but involves us in all sorts of activities that we likely would not have done had we not been drinking. Some of the more sensational ones include strippers, prostitutes, fights, dangerous behavior, inappropriate or embarassing actions, drugs, crimes, and poor decisions. However, the more "mundane" actions that we likely have done include ignoring our children, tuning out our spouses or lovers, avoiding responsibility, saying hurtful things to people we wouldn't normally have said, and generally wasting the short life we've been given.

Ending our slavery to alcohol not only gives us more energy and time, but helps us avoid the many actions that go against our principles and values.

Barry,

Unfortunately, I can relate to most of the sensational and "mundane". God that sucks.

Thanks again.