[Buddha-l] Buddhism and psychoactive substances

[curt]

The use of psychedelics as a religious "sacrament" varies a great deal, 
apparently, from culture to culture. One thing for sure is that the 
indigenous cultures of the western hemisphere used mind-altering 
substances quite widely in their religious traditions. The book "Plants 
of the Gods" by Richard Evans Schultes (who was a straight-laced 
conservative Republican - by the way) and Albert Hoffman deals with the 
religious use of "sacred substances" all over the world - but a great 
deal of it focuses on the Americas - especially South America.

The basic lesson is that those substances "work" as spiritual tools. But 
they are literally "power tools" - and if you leave some stupid 
teenagers in a room alone with them the kids will probably kill 
themselves - or at least get seriously hurt. Like any tools they require 
some tutelage to use properly - and like any power tool they must always 
be used with care, especially if you think you know what you're doing. 
But also like power tools they can make the work go faster - if you are 
in a hurry. Or they can allow you to make some things that you might not 
be able to build at all with just a hammer and a saw. Or so I've heard.

If you really want to read a mind blowing book about the spiritual uses 
of these things - check out Wade Davis' "One River". It is a beautiful 
travelogue/adventure story and also a heartfelt homage to Davis' mentor, 
Richard Evans Schultes. And it's a mind blowing book about cool drugs, too!

Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

- Curt

Michael J. Wilson wrote:
>
>
> Speculating now on why or if buddhist lineages would use these 
> substances, I would say there would be no use for them.  Ngakpas were 
> not based in monastic orders as much as other Tibetan lineages and may 
> be known more for using experiences in the world for their spiritual 
> development. Recent scientific examination on human participants of 
> psychedelic mushrooms in clinical studies have shown a remarkable 
> ability to lift people out of despression.  I wonder why it has taken 
> so long for science to establish this kind of evidence.  At the same 
> time, neuroscientists are suggesting that buddhist meditators are 
> "happier" than people who do not meditate. How is the brain structured 
> that way?  I recall the story told by Ram Das (the Harvard prof who 
> took a lot of LSD) who went to Indian and gave his guru many many hits 
> of LSD and observed that it had no effect on him.  He was already in 
> that state!
>
> I was able to do a liquid only diet-fast (the Master Cleanser so 
> called) for 10 days.  After 6 days my dreams at night were almost on 
> the order of being psychadelic.  Hunger can do that.  Or, call it 
> purifying the channels. Meditation retreats can do that to.  The 
> Tibetan practice of living on the essence of flower pills would really 
> do that.  Though living for a year or more on pills containing the 
> essence of flowers, some of these Tibetan yogis are actually quite plump.
>
> My final personal anecdote is hearing a story by a well known 
> non-Tibetan Tibetan translator who was once stoned out of his tree on 
> LSD while looking at at Tibetan tanka.  This was way before he even 
> knew anything about Tibet or buddhism.  The experience of looking at 
> the tanka under the influence of a psyschadelic substance had a 
> profound effect on him.  Shortly after, he bought a ticket and went to 
> India and Nepal looking for Tibetan lamas to study with.
>
> Of couse in Nepal, and other Himalayan states there are many wandering 
> Sadhus who are constanlty filling their pipes with bhang. To be fair 
> there are also many wandering Sadhus who do not.  But no doubt some 
> Tibetans or other buddhists are indulging in that from time to time.  
> Personally, I have never heard of it being made into a sacrement, a 
> ritual, or a practice, unlike say, the use of peyote in the Native 
> American church.
>
> peace
>
> mike
>
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