Q&A with Ajahn Martin (26/02/24) 

Thanks for your reply. That makes sense. I myself enjoy cigars sometimes

🙏🙏🙏

My comment above was intended as a reply to your question.

Why were you surprised? Even Maha Boowa ( Ajahn Martin teacher) smoked when he was alive. A monk can smoke because that's their habit. But smoking is not against the rules since it's not intoxicant. Even an Arahant still have habitual behaviour meaning that they can still smoke. Only the Buddha was able to eradicate even his habitual behavior.

How many times someone just wanders to Ajahn Martin's Dhamma talks and the only thing they see is a cigarette, him smoking ...! Ajahn smokes in the afternoon to help him be more alert to serve others well. He is the Abbott and that means he .ust be present 7 DAYS A WEEK for long hours for the monks, nuns, Anagarikas, Novices and laypeople and also his own practice. CIGARETTES are a stimulant, there is no breaking of precepts. The 5th Precept is no intoxicants that would cause one to be heedless thus causing harm to self and others. Now, when has anyone on the planet smoked a cigarette and something horrific has happened because they were not concious? That's right, never. I encourage you to drop the holy attitude and actually listen to what Luang Por is teaching. THAT is what matters.

@@fingerprint5511Fair enough. It’s still odd to me.. Considering how extremely harmful cigarettes are to one’s health. I don’t think the Buddha would approve something so damaging to our health.

I think so as long it doesn't make the user addicted. Then it is fine. I have smoked in my early adult years. And drop it when I started working. I never had any withdrawal phase.