from Davee Evans
The recent shift in medical marijuana policy reminded me of the infrequent and yet ongoing conversation about Buddhism and drugs. I recently read a paper published at Erowid, titled Psychoactive Plants in Tantric Buddhism, specifically discussing cannabis and datura usage in various Tantric sources. Then there was a Tricycle issue devoted to the topic of psychedelics, followed by Allan Hunt Badiner and Alex Grey's book Zig Zag Zen about Buddhism and psychedelics. I shouldn't be surprised that there's a synergy for people interested in the inner workings of the mind to explore many mind altering mechanisms. But this then highlights again the difference between renunciant-style Buddhism where intoxicants are avoided per the precepts, and later yogic-styles of Buddhism where anything goes. I wonder if the renunciant style is more in accord with Western puritan culture.
In the Erowid paper, the authors find a number of references to cannabis in Buddhist texts, some as medicinal references and some as practice elements. But the research is still slim. They note that yogi's practicing the Tara Tantra were required to mix cannabis and alcohol for effective meditation practice. In the Mahakala Tantra it's included among a long list of medicinal recipes and described as the "perfect medicine" according to W. G. Stablein's doctoral dissertation from Columbia, and then also recommended there as an elixir to transform the body and mind in the service of liberation. And D.B. Gray's translation of the more popular Chakrasamvara Tantra includes the quote that cannabis will help one "become a yogin who does what he pleases and stays anywhere whatsoever."
Renouncing intoxicants makes easy sense. If one is practicing meditation to become more and more clearly aware of the mind stream, then why ingest anything that makes that mind more fuzzy. If I were to guess why intoxicants have such a strong tradition in tantra, and this is just my own hypothesis, it's that the unpracticed mind is inherently fuzzy already so it's useful to practice directly with that quality. This has something to do with creating more contrast. Mindfulness meditation would be just one example of increasing contrast in a gentle way. Interrupting the ordinary flow of thoughts makes the mind stream more clearly visible. But then anything might cause one to sharpen the contrast and see what's going on more clearly, if it were used with that intention. That could include visualizing the world in a different way, or just approaching things in a new way intentionally. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche recommended off-hand once that one could wear work clothes to bed and pajamas to work. I consider that suggestion in the same vein. It's not that being an odd person is helpful, but doing things to bring up emotions like embarrassment could be a way to have more contrast in one's day.
But then I can see why practices like that are just not recommended widely. For me personally, there's enough coming up in a day already to have contrast around. If I were better practiced perhaps, and to the point where interpersonal relationships weren't already providing enough to consider, then sure I could do things to amp up my practice. But there's no need. I have plenty to work. I suspect if I tried inviting more chaos through intoxicants or other means now then it would just create more chaos in my day and I wouldn't gain from it. Worse, I'd be fooling myself and just thinking that I'm doing something spiritual. But I'm not sure I can criticize anyone for that approach, since it's up to each person to know where they're at.
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its a very thin line that one has been treading on , but how to monitor and maintain it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack! however the bill has its pros and cons, on a personal note, coming here from buddhist reading it is radical reading ! one must say!
regards
Someday I imagine we will all live in a land were men and women alike are free to do what they choose to do with their own bodies. A world were one really does have right to pursue happiness as they see fit. Even if it is sitting at home smoking from a glass pipe.
Sunflowerpipes.com
I have been using medical marijuana occasionally for about a month to help deal with some arthritis pain. Now I have never really used it much as a kid or anything, maybe three times total, so I didn't really know what to expect. I was hoping for something better than vicodin, maybe like the experience i had trying oxycontin a couple times.
cartucho r4i
The dosage, setting, accompaniments, music and support that goes with hemp use of tantric intent are all very different from the Western world's use of it as a party drug.
Dosages are far higher, as a rule, and it is not a thing that one needs to experience more than a few times … just until certain aspects of ego let go and the territory around death has been experienced.
In this context, it is an extreme practice. It is as scary as can be, which is partly the point. It is definitely not a "for everyone" kind of thing. It is not even nearly a "for every tantrika" kind of thing.
Basically, the drug convinces the body that it is dying, and the natural processes of death are experienced. No actual deaths have ever been recorded in centuries of even Western medical use.
One can appear dead though. Breath very slow indeed, and heartbeat too soft and slow to be felt as a pulse. The Romeo and Juliet drug. Two hours to two days, depending on body weight, dose and quality.
At minimum, a Granny Weatherwax sign "I ain't Dead" is necessary. It could be very dangerous indeed to be "treated" with adrenaline injections, or defibrillation.
In the relatively tiny dosages taken by social drug users, it's effects are far milder, and very different. Basically, it enhances the most central urges and feelings. That which is most true.
This is why someone drunk enough to be brave enough to smoke some is in for a rough time. The central experience of drunkness is enhanced. The poor/lucky fellow is then in the state he would have been in if he had drank twice as much.
This is why some people have a paranoid or fearful reaction to it. Their true, scared, nervous state is enhanced, making it impossible to suppress. If their habit is to suppress their true state, this is very uncomfortable indeed.
Even though it is far safer, individually and socialy, than alcohol and is increasingly being legalised, it is unlikely to ever replace alcohol significantly as a social drug. There are just not that many people who can enjoy enhancement of their central true condition. Most of the poor beloveds live out their lives in varying degrees of fear and adrenaline elation. Most of them require the consciousness-reducing effect of alcohol to get a break from their lives.
Musicians, dancers, surfers and others use it because of this enhancement. The same goes for people who are genuinely enjoying themselves.
As legalisation and acceptance of it's use progress, it may find use with psychotherapists of a Jungian persuasion, in preference to LSD.
The most recent studies I have read indicate it temporarily messes with short term memory, but improves long term memory.
But, as mentioned, now belaboured: The use of this in Tantra is traditionally a secret, used with great care as to appropriateness and safety. Also, not often enough for anyone to be worried about it.
A good awareness of death, and the acceptance of the fact of one's own physical death is of course essential to a seeker. Meditating on the recent death of a family member, friend, child or even a pet is good. So is hanging out in a hospital emergency room, or seeing death up close, as in war or civil righteousness.
An old traditional recommendation was to spend 3 months at a burning ghat (charnel ground) witnessing the disposal of the dead. In India you can still do this.
The dosage, setting, accompaniments, music and support that goes with hemp use of tantric intent are all very different from the Western world's use of it as a party drug.
Dosages are far higher, as a rule, and it is not a thing that one needs to experience more than a few times … just until certain aspects of ego let go and the territory around death has been experienced.
In this context, it is an extreme practice. It is as scary as can be, which is partly the point. It is definitely not a "for everyone" kind of thing. It is not even nearly a "for every tantrika" kind of thing.
Basically, the drug convinces the body that it is dying, and the natural processes of death are experienced. No actual deaths have ever been recorded in centuries of even Western medical use.
One can appear dead though. Breath very slow indeed, and heartbeat too soft and slow to be felt as a pulse. The Romeo and Juliet drug. Two hours to two days, depending on body weight, dose and quality.
At minimum, a Granny Weatherwax sign "I ain't Dead" is necessary. It could be very dangerous indeed to be "treated" with adrenaline injections, or defibrillation.
In the relatively tiny dosages taken by social drug users, it's effects are far milder, and very different. Basically, it enhances the most central urges and feelings. That which is most true.
This is why someone drunk enough to be brave enough to smoke some is in for a rough time. The central experience of drunkness is enhanced. The poor/lucky fellow is then in the state he would have been in if he had drank twice as much.
This is why some people have a paranoid or fearful reaction to it. Their true, scared, nervous state is enhanced, making it impossible to suppress. If their habit is to suppress their true state, this is very uncomfortable indeed.
Even though it is far safer, individually and socialy, than alcohol and is increasingly being legalised, it is unlikely to ever replace alcohol significantly as a social drug. There are just not that many people who can enjoy enhancement of their central true condition. Most of the poor beloveds live out their lives in varying degrees of fear and adrenaline elation. Most of them require the consciousness-reducing effect of alcohol to get a break from their lives.
Musicians, dancers, surfers and others use it because of this enhancement. The same goes for people who are genuinely enjoying themselves.
As legalisation and acceptance of it's use progress, it may find use with psychotherapists of a Jungian persuasion, in preference to LSD.
The most recent studies I have read indicate it temporarily messes with short term memory, but improves long term memory.
The enhancement of "true state" is the obvious explanation why those who need repressive political and religious orgs will are firmly against it, and those who willingly face their true feelings are sometimes be in favour of it.
But, as mentioned, now belaboured: The use of this in Tantra is traditionally a secret practice, used with great care as regards appropriateness, usefulness and safety. Also, not often enough for anyone to be worried about it.
A good awareness of death, and the acceptance of the fact of one's own physical death is of course essential to a seeker. Meditating into the depths of feelings around the recent death of a family member, friend, child or even a pet is good. So is hanging out in a hospital emergency room, or seeing death up close, as in war or civil righteousness.
An old traditional recommendation was to spend 3 months at a burning ghat (charnel ground) witnessing the disposal of the dead. In India you can still do this. The lessons available around actual death are at least as useful.
Anyway, although you know it is large, you are unlikely to find someone who can advise reliably on right dosage … so just forget it!
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