# No alcohol from sunrise to sunset — for vassa

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-alcoholic-sunrise-to-sunset-vassa
- Themes: addiction, precepts, compassion, Thailand
- Life situations: addiction recovery, imperfect effort

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Thai alcoholic vows during rains retreat: no drink sunrise to sunset; hangs at the temple all day; tops up before dawn and after sunset — the best he can do, and it is hard.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

alcoholic but he came up to us and he said during the wasser period for three months I'm not going to drink any alcohol from sunrise to sunset and this gentleman that was a very big sacrifice for him you could see it he would come to the temple and try and hang out in the temple all day because he knew there was no alcohol there and to try and make sure he kept his precept and he was waiting and waiting and waiting in the evening for sunset throughout he'd have some alcohol and he had a big top up before the Sun rose because that's the best he could do

## Teaching point

Sometimes the precept that fits is the one you can keep between the suns.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

A Thai man struggling with alcohol vowed not to drink from sunrise to sunset for the three-month rains retreat. He spent all day at the temple to stay safe and drank only at night. For him it was a huge achievement. Ajahn Brahm praises it. Start where you can, and do a bit more next year. If you're struggling with drinking, seek support too.

## Source

- [How To Retire | Ajahn Brahm | 30 June 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc7J9QC2KdI) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 6:31 to 7:19: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc7J9QC2KdI&t=391s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Why Do People Come Here? | Ajahn Brahm | 18 December 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwPyLq9Pxug) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 30:23 to 31:50: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwPyLq9Pxug&t=1823s