Re: Marijuana's Effects On Consciousness

Some comments regarding the drug experience on consciousness:
No one is addicted to drugs, rather the "high" induced by the drugs. The drug user mistakenly believes that drugs cause the high when in fact the high is the experience of one's own field of consciousness, albeit more purely. The way all drugs work is that they temporarily block lower energy fields in consciousness, such as fear, hatred, pride and allow the higher energy fields, such as courage, enthusiasm, love to be experienced more intensely. When the blocking effect of the drug wears off, one returns to experiencing the lower levels and longing to return to the more pristine state. Addiction to the high often results in the drug user turning again and again to the drug under the mistaken assumption that the drug is causing the high. Ultimately one surrenders all inner power to something in the physical world which is essentially powerless. The individual and society pay the price of addition.

In contrast, those who have undergone transformational experiences through twelve step movements, or other spiritual disciplines realize that no external agent is necessary to experience one's higher Self. Devotion to love, forgiveness, kindness, serving others selflessly unceasingly are all that are required. Such authentic experience does not waver since it requires nothing outside of oneself, instead relying on one's commitment to principles such as loyalty, honesty, and forgiveness. The process is reinforcing and self-correcting; any detour from love results in anguish.

Though a soft drug, unlike cocaine and heroine, marijuana is still a limit. For some time it may serve a purpose, such as giving one glimpses of higher states of awareness and sparking interest in spiritual practices. However, ultimately it too must be surrendered in the pursuit of higher levels of consciousness.

For the spiritually earnest Buddha extolled "Straight and narrow is the path; waste no time." Tweet