Ajay0

ABC News anchor Dan Harris credits meditation and mindfulness with recovery from drug addiction and drug-induced panic attacks... https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/conversation-how-meditation-helped-this-news-anchor-recover-from-addiction/17678/

A discussion between the enlightened sage Baba Lokenath and a disciple, on the theme of leading a peaceful and happy life through awareness... https://babalokenath.org/pages/teachings

A thread of mind which expands on the same theme...

I have come across people in cold climatic conditions in India, who were smoking to keep themselves warm. I was mostly into hot soups for the same. I would ask the same of you.

I stated that drugs and alcohol are not a problem for enlightened masters or accomplished yogis. There were some who took it in exceptional circumstances , just like Neem Karoli Baba took a heavy dosage of drugs to convince Ram Dass of its superficiality. It is an obvious problem for untrained minds though as I have shown in my threads on the subject.

Shirdi Sai Baba and Bharat Thakur used hookah and cigars to relax or probably to keep themselves warm. Both had lived in cold climates and hard conditions in India, ( Thakur grew up in the Himalayas in sub-zero temperatures )and probably smoked to keep themselves warm or to relax. These are exceptions I know. It was not inner agitation, but probably need for physical relaxation or warmth that resulted in the same. They have not encouraged their students to do the same.

There are hardened criminal mindsets, who may not feel remorse or repentance like the average offender and may perform pre-meditated criminal actions of a particularly diabolical nature. This can be due to the influence of false philosophies and ideologies that create false views and resultant erroneous convictions. The Buddhist term 'right view' is used in this regard in contrast to false views. Viktor Frankl, the holocaust survivor had stated that scientific materialism and nihilism were the philosophical factors that brought about the brutality of the Nazi regime. Richard Ramirez, the serial killer was influenced by violent cult ideologies in his youth, as well as by his cousin who had committed war crimes as a soldier and had boasted about the same. Ian Brady was influenced by Nazi atrocities and the works of Sade. There are similar hardened serial killers with such entrenched viewpoints of a delusional nature. This can also be due to very strong vasanas or psychological impressions stemming from past lives. But since the Self or Buddha nature is within all human beings, philosophically speaking they are capable of redemption and enlightenment. Angulimala was a serial killer who was reformed by the Buddha. It is similar to dirty lanterns with varying degrees of dirt, soot and dust on them, obscuring the light within. Some can be cleaned easily, but some needs effort for the cleansing . Yes, generally, 'consciousness' or 'pure consciousness' is equated with 'natural goodness', especially in advaita and nondual philosophies. Prajñanam brahma - Brahman is pure consciousness (Aitareya Upanishad 3.3 of the Rig Veda) Pure consciousness is also considered synonymous with love in eastern philosophy. "Pure consciousness is pure love, and love is the highest healer on the planet - you can say, it is your natural Self." - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Cannabis is the only drug sanctioned in certain sects of Hinduism connected with Shaivism. It is also associated with lower addiction levels compared to alcohol and nicotine. It can help as an aid to meditation in certain settings, and provided it is supplemented by meditation and hard austerities. This is the doctrine followed by Naga Sadhus, but what do westerners have for the same ! They do not have any holistic theological doctrine for which the drug becomes a stepping stone rather than an obstacle. Even snake venom has therapeutic properties when it is properly used , and it is in this manner that the Naga sadhus use cannabis. Well, they have my sympathies. But it is hard to meditate and be aware or mindful, when your mind is filled with cravings for drugs, and without the necessary yama niyamas ( rules and regulations attending meditation practice). Lol. Advaitan and vedic philosophies are time-tested philosophies milleniums old. Many ancient, medieval and modern enlightened masters around the world have testified to the validity of these philosophies from the vantage point of enlightenment. The state of enlightenment is beyond all psychological states. That is why western psychology still does not have a clue on how to treat depression effectively because they are stuck in the mind and psychology. It is like a gardener tending to the branches and leaves instead of the roots. Tao Te Ching, Dhammapada , Upanishads were created by enlightened masters who were able to perceive existence from the vantage point of enlightenment. Anandamayi Ma and Shivayogini Matha did not receive much education beyond the third or fourth grade in those times. But after enlightenment, they attained wisdom and knowledge through experiential understanding and communicated the same. They did not spend any effort in attaining intellectual understanding, but they were more wiser and knowledgeable than the scholars and pundits around who used to come in large numbers to learn from them and clarify their own doubts. An analogy is that of successfully climbing to the summit of the mountain. You can then see the view clearly instead of relying on written accounts of the same. This is why the sayings of these enlightened sages are quite similar even though they may be placed in different points in space and time.

Well, I know of yogis who have taken drugs and alcohol in large quantities without being the least affected or loss of sobriety. They did not develop cravings for the same, or lose their mental clarity. But this is not the norm for general humanity, for whom the chances for addiction, anti-social behavior, poor physical and mental health and other issues is high. Well, there are yogis like Shirdi Sai Baba and Bharat Thakur who smoked hookah and cigars to relax without any of the negative benefits. They were perfectly okay if they did not have the same.

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Unconsciousness or body-consciousness is the term used generally by Advaitan or nondual masters. I have elaborated on this theme in this thread of mine... Every vice is but a strong desire in the form of craving or aversion, and all vices like lust, greed, hatred and consequent crimes like rape, paedophilia, robbery, murder can be traced back to such strong desires. There have been criminals who have known such activities to be ethically wrong, but have acted upon them insensibly due to the emotional energy of the desires driving them. They were repentant later on and seemed to be manipulated by strong desires they were unable to discipline within themselves, at that point in time. The legal term 'Crimes of passion' is a popular expression or phrase used frequently and widely. The 'passion' implies the strong emotional energy of the desire in the form of cravings or aversions, that may cloud the reasoning and clarity of the intellect. Hence the reason why the term 'unconscious' is used. It can also be used to signify lack of awareness or mindfulness. 'Pure consciousness' is a term regularly used in Advaita and Hinduism to denote consciousness cleansed of all vasanas or psychological impressions that are the seeds of these cravings and aversions. It is associated with the natural state and enlightenment.

Drug addicts, whether Indian or Western , is under the influence of his or her cravings for drugs, and hence is manipulated by unconscious tendencies and is a puppet in their hands. It is a form of slavery and is bound to result in reactivity due to the emotional energy of the desires involved . Those who smoke or take drugs/intoxicants without the least craving for them at any moment, are those who can take away any positive benefits they have to offer. They cannot be called addicts, though.

Smoking dope does not bring enlightenment, and anyone with a proper understanding of Hindu and Buddhist philosophy can figure it out. If there are 'sadhus' that sit around all day smoking dope, they are drug addicts and not ascetics. But judging them by photographs taken by some western tourist is not correct as well, as it does not cover the whole aspect of the austerities they may perform, and the religious rules and regulations they follow supplementing the cannabis they take, which is sanctioned by religion, and is proven to be less addictive than nicotine or alcohol. The naga sadhus, who is the main sect which consume cannabis, lead a spartan life, devoted to lifelong celibacy, high levels of selfcontrol, eat only once a day, sleep on the bare earth , perform ancient physical austerities similar to that of modern commando training, and have a warrior tradition that would make any army on earth proud. They are known to walk stark naked even in cold weather, meditate amongst crocodiles and venomous snakes, and perform other feats impossible for western drug addicts to emulate. This is the part where scientific materialism comes to the picture. As per ancient Hindu philosophy , pure unitary consciousness is the fundamental substratum of existence, and all matter, energy, space, time and causation are its diverse manifestations. The sayings of two female enlightened masters will help to understand this better...

If they are blissed by their own nature, I would consider them more successful than unhappy kings and billionaires who depend on external factors and intoxicants for their highs and pleasure. If they are not joyful by their own nature, it obviously means they are in a deluded state and their spiritual and material aspirations have ended in failure, due to poor knowledge and drive. Meditation induced bliss is different from that of the temporary euphoria involved in facebook and video/computer games, TV, WWF and cinemas. The roman rulers brought about the colosseum games to dumb down the population and citizenry so that they will overlook faulty administration policies and corruption, and be impressed by the state's power to the point of meek submissiveness. Modern governments do similar things as well with similar success rates.

Is the bliss of intrinsic nature or is it that of drugs ? The drug users are not enlightened, and are not exemplars of right action , as you put it. They cannot be considered sadhu (ascetic) or yogi. Because a sadhu is one who is austere and practice austerities. What is the austerity involved in easy and superficial usage of drugs ! A yogi is one who is yoked to the higher Self through the yogic methods. Drug use addiction only means more cravings and unconsciousness, and greater non-alignment with the Self. This is actually an unnatural state.

My understanding is that all human beings have an intuitive feeling that bliss and joy is their birthright, due to the innate potential of enlightenment or Buddhahood within them. Not getting it, they are obviously bound to look into external intoxicants to give themselves a high, even if it is temporary and followed by misery(hangover/comedown). Pleasure seeking through drugs, alcohol, sex, food, all becomes refuges and forms of escapism then. Western philosophy and psychology has not yet understood the phenomenon of enlightenment due to a short civilizational timeline, so it becomes a bigger problem over there. Philosophies like nihilism, hedonism and scientific materialism gives the thumbs up to get into perverse pleasure seeking modes as well, even if it crosses the boundaries of immorality and vice. As Sadhguru himself says, "When there is no joy in you, you become a pleasure seeker. " So, all this interest and dependencies on external intoxicants and pleasures means that one has not yet accessed the natural bliss within oneself, free, everlasting, inexpensive, healthy and superior to all known external pleasures. All these dependencies thus become medals of weakness, shallowness and ignorance the dependent reveals to those around him. And the delusional even exhibit them with pride.

In this article, Ram Dass ( Richard Alpert) described an experience he had when the enlightened Neem Karoli swallowed all his drugs in one go ... https://www.ramdass.org/ram-dass-gives-maharaji-the-yogi-medicine/

I think this issue is addressed in my thread on Sadhguru's talk on drugs... Unfortunately, instead of Sadhgurus content, people were more interested in his wealth and fame, and hence the thread got derailed with posts not connected with the theme. This happened with other threads on the subject, and so the reason I came up with new threads to make a fresh start. Hopefully, posters will talk on the content, and not derail them with unconnected topics. They can create separate threads on the unconnected topics which they wish to highlight.

I am sorry if these threads cause mental agitation in you due to aversion to anti-drug themes. Both cravings and aversions, as strong desires, cause mental agitation. By cultivating awareness and mental equanimity, one can transcend such desires and be immune to their influence. Also drug addiction, trafficking and consequent heavy violence is a complex problem the world is facing at the moment, so it is important to pay enough attention to the issue that is due to it, so as to effect a solution to the matter. Trivialising it would be synonymous with fuelling the issue, imho. As Winston Churchill stated, “Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.”

By 'fresh water' I meant meditation and enlightenment induced bliss. If you are enlightened, why do you have to join a cult or teacher ! The bliss of enlightenment is also much superior to temporary euphorias, folowed by misery (hangovers/comedowns), of drugs and alcohol. If you are not enlightened, you can join a Guru or spiritual practice exercising one's judgement after due diligence. This can sort out issues related to fake gurus or groomers/recruiters. Even Buddha himself was condemned as a fake Guru during his life-time, so it is important to do one's due diligence in this regard, and not go by opinions. The purpose of the external Guru is to tune one to the internal Guru within, after getting rid of much of the unconscious layers and vasanas or psychological impressions which blur the Self. Once the internal Guru is tuned to and intuition takes over, the external Guru's role is over. Yes, attachment to the Guru can become a problem. If the Guru is honest and have developed the disciple adequately, he or she will know when to let go so that the disciple advances to enlightenment.

Alcohol and drug abuse can result in brain damage, as per scientific research. https://mpowerwellness.com/brain-damage-from-drugs/ Similar articles can be found here... https://drugabuse.com/addiction/health-issues/neurological-risks/ https://www.thefreedomcenter.com/can-drugs-cause-permanent-brain-damage/

The enlightened sage Meher Baba has also emphasized the futility of using drugs to perceive the truth or attain the naturally blissful state of enlightenment... https://avatarmeherbabatrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/God-in-a-Pill.pdf Some of his sayings on this subject...

It is good to be reminded of the basics so that people will exercise due caution . People associate drugs with spirituality, which is an incorrect perception, considering its correlation with higher crime rates, rampant violence due to drug trafficking, regression in professional and personal lives, lower physical and mental health, as well as greater cravings and addictive behavior which makes one more unconscious and away from enlightenment and the much superior bliss of the natural state. As I stated earlier, it is like a thirsty person being content with sewer water when there is a fresh water lake nearby. But his tunnel vision prevents him from considering the lake nearby and even grates on those who point out the lake. My threads are there to provide perspective , that's all.

I live in India.

But he took the heavy dosage of drugs after understanding Ram Dass's interest in drugs, and to show him that it would not affect NKB in the least, as he was blissful by his own intrinsic enlightened state. It was a teaching, and not an acid trip.