Drinking at your neighborhood bar would appear to be inconsistent with a Buddhist's quest for clarity of mind and enlightenment.

Intoxicants, after all, have the effect of clouding the senses, not to mention one's judgment. But for Buddhist monk Yoshinobu Fujioka, who operates a bar in central Tokyo with other clergy of his faith, nirvana — it appears — is just a sip away.

The Vowz Bar, which has found its niche among Japanese professionals, students and foreign tourists, is already in its 17th year of business. Add a rock band to the mix, and this group of Buddhist monks is taking unorthodoxy to new heights.