Ajay0

Happiness has an opposite in unhappiness, but bliss has no opposite. It is beyond the pair of opposites. I think you have confused inner bliss and joy with happiness derived from external sources. For happiness or pleasure, one has to depend on pleasant sensory experiences . But this has to be necessarily followed by unhappiness due to the duality that governs all material existence or conditioned phenomena. All objective pleasures will result in pain and misery in the long run due to the factors of saturation or impermanence. So obviously depending on such fickle and superficial sources of happiness would not be a worthwhile investment of our time, energy and resources. The bliss within ourselves arising from the Self or Buddha nature is considered superior and everlasting , and is independent of external situations and circumstances unlike sensory experiences . The one who is anchored in the bliss and peace of the Self or Buddha nature within will also be in a position to enjoy worldly pleasures without being inordinately attached to them, and will not suffer psychologically upon their inevitable loss in time.

Remember, and analyze your own life. Have you ever taken account of happy moments, of contents, of satisfactions, or blissful glimpses ? You have not taken any account, but you have taken every account of your pain, suffering, misery, and you go on accumulating. You are an accumulated hell, and this is your own choice. No one else is forcing you into this hell; this is your own choice. The mind takes the negative, accumulates it and becomes negative itself. And this is a self-perpetuating misery. The more negatives you have within the mind, the more negative you become, the more negatives are accumulated. The similar attracts the similar, and this has been for lives and lives. You miss everything because of your negative approach. ~ Osho You have never felt the positive ; you have always felt the negative. Life is not such a misery as we have made it; misery is just our interpretation. Life is neither misery, nor is life bliss. Bliss and misery are our interpretations, our attitudes, our approaches, how we look at it. It is your mind - how it takes it. ~ Osho Everything is just a window. If you become identified with a pain, you are looking from a window, and the window of pain, of suffering, opens only towards hell. If you are one with a satisfactory moment, a blissful moment, an ecstatic moment, you are opening another window. The existence is the same, but your windows are different. ~ Osho We make very little progress when we strive to conquer baser instincts in a good mood. However, vast strides are possible when we are miserable and work with ourselves to replace our misery with joy and understanding. ~ Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

Jiddu Krishnamurti has also spoken on the futility of drugs with respect to attaining mental clarity and authentic meditation, as well as its adverse effects on the mind's vitality .. https://www.jkrishnamurti.org/content/5th-public-talk-29th-november-1970 https://www.jkrishnamurti.org/content/2nd-public-talk-11th-july-1967

An article by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev on being stoned and alert at the same time, without using any chemicals or drugs or other intoxicants. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-edit-page/you-can-be-stoned-and-alert-at-the-same-time/

In general, all sensory cravings related to pleasures I had enjoyed in the past. The intensity of the craving is proportional to the pleasure I enjoyed back then. Specifically speaking, I would say I did not have cravings related to drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. This is because I had never taken drugs and had largely abstained from alcohol and cigarettes. I had taken the latter on some occasions in youth due to peer pressure or creative investigation, but abstained from them largely due to their addictive potential as well as potential health issues. So I did not have substantial psychological memories related to them and consequent cravings. At times, seeing cigarettes or alcohol for sale in bars, weak desires have erupted in me, but the character or habit forged due to years of self-denial enables me to overlook them.

It is interesting. I found some old cravings for sensory pleasures arising in me yesterday night and today morning. Images of pleasure streamed through the mind and with resultant cravings. I was absent-mindedly wondering why I was having them after such a long time and even prepared to indulge a bit, when the thought of the full moon came to my mind. This helped me to apply brakes, discipline my mind, and focus it back on my routine tasks.

There will be two full moons in August 2023. The first is on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, and the second full moon will be on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. The most common name for the August Full Moon is the Sturgeon Moon. As with other full moon names, it’s inspired by nature and refers to the high numbers of sturgeon caught in high numbers in North America’s Great Lakes. The Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan, celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters are celebrated during this time period of the full moon, and is on August 30, the occasion of the second full moon.

Views and perspectives in life also seems to be correlated with corresponding belief structures... https://trustinginbuddha.co.uk/buddha-quotes-in-context-dhammapada-1-19-20/

Buddha seems to prioritize right view in the Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta... https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sacca/sacca4/samma-ditthi/index.html#:~:text="One tries to abandon wrong,%26 circle around right view." He also elaborates on the consequences of wrong view...

You might find this discourse by Vipassana teacher S.N.Goenka ( to jail inmates during a meditation study session ) useful. Goenka mentions notorious serial killers in Burma and India who had reformed with study and practice in a conducive environment. https://www.vridhamma.org/discourses/Discourse-to-Prisoners-in-Nasik-Jail-India

Yes, she seems to have forgotten the fact that only military-industrial complex plutocrats, corporates, liquor barons and good-looking young celebrities have the right to make loads of money and get rich without being criticized for it. Peasants and common people like her should obviously be content with their lot and station in life and should not raise their heads too high, lest they be considered as impudent and insolent in respectable society.

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.