So the Buddha Said

Uncle: You don't drink "beeah," yeah?

Me: No uncle, I don't.

Uncle: Oh.

J-----: Who doesn't like to drink?

Me: Psshhh.

Uncle: You know - alcohol is good for you; it's not bad. You know, you can drink it, but not all da time. Chinese drink it at dinnah, that's it. Like uhhh, German, they drink one glass of wine at da table. You know? Alcohol can be good. You drink it not all the time, if you do that, once in while, it is like a medicine. But, if you drink all the time, and too much, it is like a poison.

Me: Hmph.

Uncle: I see Canadians; they buy 24 pack of beeah, they go home and drink- sometime someone get payed Thursday, spend all the money on beeah, too sick for work on Friday. Don't let it last.

Me: I know that much.

Uncle: Me, I buy alcohol, I only drink when I have guest ovah. Never when I'm alone. It's good that way.

I felt almost ashamed of my dedication to not drinking, like I should have thrown my pride to the dogs, especially when Uncle offerred me something to drink. The Buddha says that if we're vegetarian and offerred meat, we shouldn't refuse it; though it's good not to eat another living thing, it will have died in vain if we at least don't eat it. The one giving too is also undermined for their otherwise altruistic action, and open heart. How can I deny a person who is otherwise trying to find the right path, have the right thought and create the right action? Maybe next time, if and when I'm offerred anything like beer, I'll try and meet Uncle on the threefold path, and we'll make the trek to Nirvana together.

So the Buddha said.

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