[Buddha-l] Buddhism and psychoactive substances

[Barnaby Thieme]

Dear Buddha-L people,

In the 15 years that I've been studying Buddhism and Buddhist cultures, I 
don't recall ever seeing a reference to any Buddhists advocating use of 
psychoactive studies as part of their practice. I could see why this might 
be, given the injunctions against consuming intoxicants. But I still find it 
a bit surprising, given the interest of many Buddhist cultures in lucid 
dreaming, chod, deities, ghosts, prophecies, astrology, et cetera. I'd think 
somebody somewhere would be taking something, in the lines of the use of 
ayahuasca by some South American religious cultures, for example.

Does anyone have any knowledge of a Buddhist lineage that advocates the use 
of psychoactive substances? Or can anyone refer me to a study of this 
question? I wouldn't be too surprised to hear that some Ngakpas somewhere 
had something that they liked to smoke.

If this topic has come up previously, my apologies. Alas, the archives are 
not searchable.

regards,
Barnaby Thieme

_________________________________

It's not getting any smarter out there. You have to come to terms with 
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