user12857: I'm really interested in Buddhism, but I have a hard time motivating myself to follow the five precepts. I don't particularly want to stop eating meat, let alone stop drinking and/or smoking.
Can I still move along the Buddhist path? In the path to the disappearance of suffering?
Thanks!

user10802: You don't need to stop eating meat.  
Drinking and smoking are not compatible with the path of the Buddha.
The more you follow the path of the Buddha, the less you will do these things. So you can step on the path if you smoke and drink - everyone has to start somewhere -  but you are not a follower of the path if you do those things.
Notice how these things are not satisfying you because you are looking for something else (Buddhism currently). Buddhism will help you understand your craving for these things (and anything) and its role in your suffering.
Good luck.

user471: The five precepts are training rules, not strong prohibitions.
When you undertake them, you can increase your compliance over time.
For e.g. from drinking alcohol habitually, you can reduce it to the occasional social drink, and then reduce further.
But before undertaking the five precepts, you may want to learn the basics of Buddhist teachings first - the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. Gaining Right View is the first step on the path.

user254: I don't particularly want to stop eating meat, let alone stop drinking and/or smoking.
A reason (perhaps a good reason) to stop doing these things is that (or is if) they're a cause of suffering.
If you ever decide that

They cause suffering
You are able to stop, and happier without
You want to avoid causes of suffering

... then you may decide to stop.
Until then (or before then, i.e. now) I'd guess that your interest in (studying, practising, meeting with) Buddhism might help with any or all of the above 3, and help with other things besides.
I read someone say that if you can't keep 5 precepts, it's better to keep 4 (or 3) than none.
Something like the "Kalama sutta" suggests you aren't expected to practice what you haven't understood or realised for yourself (though it also recommends behaviour that's "praised by the wise" ... which can help you learn from or avoid other people's mistakes too).
I think someone wrote that alcohol is associated with suffering; even just a little alcohol is associated with at least a little suffering; but I think that's something you have to decide (for yourself and for the people around you) -- people telling you things may not suffice.
What you wrote might be a false dichotomy:

Either drink and smoke and eat meat and enjoy life
Or move along the Buddhist path and stop enjoying life

I find I enjoy life more with less (or no) alcohol, smoke, or meat -- I might still "enjoy life" (e.g. meet people socially) but choose to avoid alcohol (and smoke and meat) because having observed them for a while I decided that these interfere with (are not associated with) happiness.
See also Is moderate drinking acceptable in Buddhism? for a variety of opinions on the subject.

user111: You don't have to be a vegetarian if you follow Theravada Buddhism. The Buddha himself left it up to the individual preference. Only certain later Buddhist schools started demanding the followers to become vegetarian. 
But you have to stop drinking as it leads to heedlessness and breaking of the other 4 precepts. Smoking does not break the precepts, but it's an addiction and very bad for your health. 
Being a Buddhist only requires you to take the refuge in the Triple-gem, but you will not get far in Buddhism without keeping to the five precepts.

12857: <p>I'm really interested in Buddhism, but I have a hard time motivating myself to follow the five precepts. I don't particularly want to stop eating meat, let alone stop drinking and/or smoking.</p>

<p>Can I still move along the Buddhist path? In the path to the disappearance of suffering?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>
 10802: <p>You don't need to stop eating meat.  </p>

<p>Drinking and smoking are not compatible with the path of the Buddha.
The more you follow the path of the Buddha, the less you will do these things. So you can step on the path if you smoke and drink - everyone has to start somewhere -  but you are not a follower of the path if you do those things.</p>

<p>Notice how these things are not satisfying you because you are looking for something else (Buddhism currently). Buddhism will help you understand your craving for these things (and anything) and its role in your suffering.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>
 471: <p>The five precepts are training rules, not strong prohibitions.</p>

<p>When you undertake them, you can increase your compliance over time.</p>

<p>For e.g. from drinking alcohol habitually, you can reduce it to the occasional social drink, and then reduce further.</p>

<p>But before undertaking the five precepts, you may want to learn the basics of Buddhist teachings first - the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. Gaining Right View is the first step on the path.</p>
 254: <p><strong>I don't particularly want to stop eating meat, let alone stop drinking and/or smoking.</strong></p>

<p>A reason (perhaps a good reason) to stop doing these things is that (or is if) they're a cause of suffering.</p>

<p>If you ever decide that</p>

<ol>
<li>They cause suffering</li>
<li>You are able to stop, and happier without</li>
<li>You want to avoid causes of suffering</li>
</ol>

<p>... then you may decide to stop.</p>

<p>Until then (or before then, i.e. now) I'd guess that your interest in (studying, practising, meeting with) Buddhism might help with any or all of the above 3, and help with other things besides.</p>

<p>I read someone say that if you can't keep 5 precepts, it's better to keep 4 (or 3) than none.</p>

<p>Something like the "Kalama sutta" suggests you aren't expected to practice what you haven't understood or realised for yourself (though it also recommends behaviour that's "praised by the wise" ... which can help you learn from or avoid other people's mistakes too).</p>

<p>I think someone wrote that alcohol is associated with suffering; even just a little alcohol is associated with at least a little suffering; but I think that's something <em>you</em> have to decide (for yourself and for the people around you) -- people <em>telling</em> you things may not suffice.</p>

<p>What you wrote might be a false dichotomy:</p>

<ul>
<li>Either drink and smoke and eat meat and enjoy life</li>
<li>Or move along the Buddhist path and stop enjoying life</li>
</ul>

<p>I find I enjoy life more with less (or no) alcohol, smoke, or meat -- I might still "enjoy life" (e.g. meet people socially) but choose to avoid alcohol (and smoke and meat) because having observed them for a while I decided that these interfere with (are not associated with) happiness.</p>

<p>See also <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/2512/254">Is moderate drinking acceptable in Buddhism?</a> for a variety of opinions on the subject.</p>
 111: <p>You don't have to be a vegetarian if you follow Theravada Buddhism. The Buddha himself left it up to the individual preference. Only certain later Buddhist schools started demanding the followers to become vegetarian. </p>

<p>But you have to stop drinking as it leads to heedlessness and breaking of the other 4 precepts. Smoking does not break the precepts, but it's an addiction and very bad for your health. </p>

<p>Being a Buddhist only requires you to take the refuge in the Triple-gem, but you will not get far in Buddhism without keeping to the five precepts.</p>
