Ajay0

Whether you are being drunk with alcohol or stoned with drugs , you are just experiencing euphoria for a temporary period of time followed by miserable hangovers. Also the strong desire or craving one develops for such external intoxicants creates addictions and effectively prevent one from moving to higher states of consciousness and enlightenment. Drugs and alcohol actually have the effect of making a person more unconscious rather than mindful or aware. Statistics shows that the majority of manslaughters, murders and stabbings and domestic assaults, traffic violations and accidents are committed under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Dependent users of drugs also commit crimes such as theft, fraud and shoplifting to buy drugs if they lack the financial resources to buy the same.Drug users in the general population are more likely than nonusers to commit crimes. https://www.drugwise.org.uk/how-much-crime-is-drug-related/ https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/DRRC.PDF https://recovered.org/addiction/alcohol-drugs-and-crime Meditation is cheap to study and learn, but it is not so with drugs/alcohol and I know of many people who have badly damaged their finances as well as professional and personal lives due to indulgence in it. It is quite clear from this that meditation makes one more aware or mindful while drugs and alcohol makes one more unconscious. Also health benefits from practice of meditation are well researched and documented... https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-benefits-of-meditation https://positivepsychology.com/benefits-of-meditation/ Alcohol and drug consumption, on the other hand, are associated with poor health... https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/13/well/mind/alcohol-health-effects.html https://www.who.int/health-topics/alcohol#tab=tab_1 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/symptoms-causes/syc-20365112 https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/substance-use/index.htm I regularly read or hear of people dying of drug overdoses but never a single case of one dying out of meditation. So one can see that meditation can produce high bliss levels without any of the heavy social, financial and health issues associated with drug and alcohol consumption.

These points have been covered in this thread of mine...

Yes, this is true, the bliss of higher states of consciousness and especially enlightenment is superior to all known pleasures. This is stated in the ancient texts and enlightened masters have also stated the same to me. In fact one of them humorously and gently reprimanded me when I asked him politely on his well-being during a visit, saying that he was blissful always effortlessly, and there is no need for me to ask the same. Even being in the presence of an enlightened being also raises one's own prana/chi levels, and I had felt deep peace and joy within as well as blocks dissolving in the inner body. Meditation was effortless and easy in the presence of enlightened masters. Whether you are being drunk with alcohol or stoned with drugs , you are just experiencing euphoria for a temporary period of time followed by miserable hangovers. Also the strong desire or craving one develops for such external intoxicants creates addictions and prevent one from moving to higher states of consciousness and enlightenment. Thus it would be equivalent to a thirsty person finding and being content with sewer water when a freshwater lake is available nearby.

The full moon for this month is today on July 3. It is called as a Buck moon because the antlers of male deer (bucks) are in full-growth mode at this time. Ryaku Fusatsu is a monthly Buddhist ceremony that takes place on the evening of the full moon that involves a repentance ritual and renewal of vows. https://seattlesotozen.org/events/ryaku-fusatsu-full-moon-ceremony-885-137/

The term 'Stoned' is American slang which means being drunk or under influence of drugs, for pleasure ( of a temporary nature.) Sadhguru is implying that one can be 'stoned' or intoxicated without external intoxicants as well, while being alert and productive at the same time. Sadhguru's mother tongue is Telugu and speaks Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and other Indian languages. He is proficient in english language as well. Ananda means bliss in sanskrit while kosha means sheath, and Anandamaya kosha is the sheath of bliss. It is said to be the most subtle of the five layers of the body as it is the innermost layer, as per Vedantic philosophy. https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5886/anandamaya-kosha Here Sadhguru is stating that accessing the Anandamaya Kosha will enable natural bliss without dependencies on external intoxicants. All dependencies suggest weakness and consequent attachment or addiction. Since attachment or addiction imply strong desire or craving within, it would go alongside with psychological suffering (tanha) as well .

A similar article and teaching by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar... https://wisdom.srisriravishankar.org/the-importance-of-awareness/

The full moon for this month is today on June 3. The days of the new moon and full moon are also considered to be important in Wicca. I found these Wiccan articles informative and useful. https://pluralism.org/new-and-full-moons https://wemoon.ws/blogs/magical-arts/full-and-new-moon-rituals New moon rituals seems to be focused on setting intentions one wishes to manifest, while full moon rituals are focused on appreciation for personal accomplishments as well as gratitude to the Divine or nature for blessings and providence since the last full moon.

Do you know the ego feels its existence in negativity and in positivity the ego doesn't feel so strongly? The ego pulls the mind back to negativity to feel its existence. Go back to your past: how many bad events of life do you remember and how many good events? You will find 90% are bad and more clear. 10% are good but like in a fog. This is the great power of our ego. ~ Baba Hari Dass In good things, the ego doesn't feel its strength of individuality as strongly as in doing bad things. If you do bad things, the ego is right there in the present. Then its memory which repeats in the past. Then its imagination of doing bad things in the future appears. If we look back in our own life, what do we remember the most? All bad things we did or people did to us. Memories of good things appear as if veiled by fog. ~ Baba Hari Dass The tendency of the mind is to hold on to something negative. If ten compliments and one insult are given, the mind holds on to the negative - that one insult. So when we know this, we are already one step out of it. Time and again, we must realize: 'I am going on a negative trip' and immediately come back to the here and now. ~ Sri Sri Ravi ShankarIf we reflect on your past, you will notice that all bad things that happened to you appear as if they happened yesterday and the memory of good things appear as if in a fog. Our ego feels its presence more deeply in pain or in pain causing events, thoughts, emotions. So we always think about such things which bring unhappiness. In that unhappiness, we feel 'its happening to me' even though it happened 10-20 years ago. So pain and suffering are the expressions of the ego caused by desires and attachments. ~ Baba Hari DassDesire to be happy is a natural thing in all human beings. But the mind likes to be in pain by bringing the past memories and not seeing any progress in the future. If we dwell on the negative side of the mind, then we can't be happy in any situation. ~ Baba Hari Dass Human ego is very attracted to negative qualities, so it needs much austerity to develop positive qualities. ~ Baba Hari Dass

'Effortless effort' is a phrase often used in zen. Both intense effort as well as relaxation are given due importance in zen. https://zenhabits.net/dao/ https://www.thewayofmeditation.com.au/how-to-balance-effort-effortlessness-in-meditation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zazen There is a zen proverb related to Shikantaza that goes thus, 'Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes and the grass grows by itself.' This saying is not exactly an endorsement of workaholism. Slowness and relaxation have its place in reducing the compulsive and habitual mental activity of thinking and emoting incessantly and feverishly. This enables increased awareness or mindfulness in the process.

These are actually nutritional needs and surge in pregnancy hormones that corresponds to the pregnancy phase. https://www.pampers.com/en-us/pregnancy/prenatal-health-and-wellness/article/pregnancy-cravings These are also needs that correspond to infanthood, both animal and human. If preoccupied adults forget to give food and attention, tantrums help to serve as a reminder.

Food, clothing, shelter are necessities of life, and not part of greed or cravings. Needs and cravings should be distinguished. Needs are finite but desires or cravings are of an infinite nature. Needs can be taken care of, but no amount of augmented human productivity can fulfill desires or cravings due to its inexhaustible nature. Most of our likes and dislikes, cravings and aversions are instilled by conditioning. Craving for a new cellphone or car with the latest features and looks, after seeing it in an impressive advertisement, even if you have an efficient cellphone or car at present that takes of your needs, is an example of craving in action. Such cravings can even lead to criminal activity. There was a real life criminal incident of a young teenager, besotted by the latest iphone and its features, kidnapped his neighbors son for ransom money to buy the phone. This inspite of the fact that he had an old mobile that took care of his needs. Cravings can also lead to addiction problems as well. I had created a thread in this regard...

The correct or natural state of the mind is present moment awareness or mindfulness. When contrary to this state, one unconsciously dwells on past memories of pleasure and creates similar images of pleasure through imagination ( based on memories), cravings for the same are created. Thus the culprit is actually chewing of past pleasures by thinking about them incessantly. Unconscious thought is the corruptor and creator of cravings. Jiddu Krishnamurti had elaborated on this theme in his book , 'Freedom from the known'... https://jiddu-krishnamurti.net/en/freedom-from-the-known/1968-00-00-jiddu-krishnamurti-freedom-from-the-known-chapter-4

Insightful article by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on how everything manifests when one meditates.... https://wisdom.srisriravishankar.org/everything-manifests-meditate/

Do virtuous deeds, as this will make your intellect pure, and the supremely blissful Satchidananda (Self) will be reflected in this refined intellect. You will overflow with such joyous contentment that you will spontaneously share it with one and all.~ Anandmurti Gurumaa Unless you have a morality, ethical principles that you are following with your bodily action, vocal action, mental action or in a certain non-violent, disciplined way, you are not able to meditate. If you do not meditate you cannot train the mind to concentrate. And without training the mind, you cannot awake the wisdom. ~ Samdong Rinpoche

All objective pleasures results in pain and misery in the long run, due to the factors of saturation or impermanence. The wise man thus would be anchored in the Buddha nature/ pure mind which would be a source of constant peace and happiness for him or her. He will enjoy the pleasures of the world and at the same time would be detached from them, not slavishly attached. It is in slavish attachment that sensory pleasures start to become a source of suffering. The focus is on seeing the transient nature of all sensory objects and pleasures, and using this philosophical understanding to detach from them rather than being inordinately attached to them. One enjoys such pleasures for entertainment, and at the same time can detach from them at will. Those who cannot do so, end up as obsessed, imbalanced people like sex addicts, alcoholics, gambling addicts, gluttons, shopaholics and so on, and who then seek treatment for the same. This obsession with external pleasures and objects would be a sort of compensation for the perceived lack of peace and joy within oneself, but which ironically is a characteristic of the natural state or pure mind, freely available to every human being. It is similar to the analogy of a beggar seeking alms from passerbys, while ignorantly sitting on a box containing large diamonds.

Buddhism emphasizes maintaining good health as a duty, considering its impact on ensuring a strong and clear mind. Vegetarianism has been validated by scientific research to be associated with lower rates of cancer and cardio-vascular diseases, the two biggest killers in the planet today. https://www.heart.org/en/news/2021/08/04/eating-a-plant-based-diet-at-any-age-may-lower-cardiovascular-risk https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2013-01-30-vegetarianism-can-reduce-risk-heart-disease-third https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/vegetarian-diet-and-cancer-risk.h31Z1591413.html https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-25/vegetarians-have-a-lower-risk-of-cancer-than-meat-eaters-study-suggests This is important as Cancer has become the second leading cause of death, second only to cardiovascular diseases in the western world and globally. Vegetarianism has also been linked with lower rates of diabetes, dementia and decreased symptoms of asthma.. https://www.pcrm.org/news/health-nutrition/vegetarians-have-lower-dementia-risk https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6153574/ Vegetarian diet is also known to prevent osteoporosis associated with poor bone health, enables better mental health and reduced depression and anxiety levels... https://www.healthline.com/health/becoming-vegetarian#risks On the basis of health reasons alone , I would say vegetarianism is a better bet to ensure longevity and good health necessary for a clear and strong mind. Plus they are safer on the wallet considering the increasing costs associated with healthcare world-wide. I would say it makes no sense to work your entire life till retirement, and then get your savings wiped out for expensive health care afterwards.

The feverishness for perfection often makes you miserable. If you are vigilantly pursuing the perfection of things and situations, then you are bound to be anxious and angry. It’s not possible for all things to be perfect all the time. Even the best, the greatest of actions performed with the noblest of intentions can have imperfections. The tendency of the mind to hold on to the imperfection makes our feelings and minds imperfect and negative. Wisdom lies in getting out of these cycles and staying untouched and strong from within. ~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Contentment, perfection and siddhī dawns in that person who is happy and contented with whatever has come; who does not hanker for something more. It is so strange, and yet very true! Be contented with what you have and you will see perfection or siddhī dawning in you. ~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

A knowledge of virtue is to precede its practice. A rational understanding of the nature and meaning of goodness, self-control, truth, wisdom and justice is the pre-condition of their being practised in life. ~ Swami Krishnananda “If a behaviour has resulted from absence of the three poisons (attachment, hatred and ignorance), as the causal motive, it can be understood as a clean behaviour and a right behaviour; if a behaviour has resulted from, or is tainted with, any of the three poisons, it can be understood as an unclean behaviour and a bad behaviour.” ~ Samdhong Rinpoche Karma moves in two directions. If we act virtuously, the seed we plant will result in happiness. If we act non-virtuously, suffering results. ~ Sakyong Mipham This stability of the mind (samadhi) can be brought about through sustained practice of meditation on one subject. At the same time, an orderly mind is necessary for the effective practice of meditation. However, to achieve a qualified samadhi, we must also have acquired, before and during our meditation practice, good conduct and high moral standards. ~ Samdhong Rinpoche

The full moon for this month May is on fifth, today. The lunar calendar is used in Islam, and importance is attached to the new moon as well as the full moon. https://islamonline.net/en/the-blessings-of-the-lunar-calendar/

Around 68 % of the world buddhist population adhere to Mahayana Buddhism as opposed to 32 % of Therevada , and most of the famous world figures of Buddhism, such as Bodhidharma, Dalai Lama, Padmasambhava, Thich Nhat Hanh, Dogen, Hsuan Hua, Shunryu Suzuki, Nichiren Daishonin, Daisaku Ikeda, Pema Chodron, Matthieu Ricard are similarly from Mahayana Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism, due to zen and non-effortless paths to enlightenment, is quite similar to Daoism as opposed to the austere, monistic path of Therevada which emphasizes effort. Zen, a Mahayana tradition, is also considered a mixture of Mahayana Buddhism and Daoism. Here are some sayings of recognized Mahayana Buddhist masters on the 'buddha nature'...

Samsara is considered to be dukkha, suffering, and in general unsatisfactory and painful, perpetuated by desire (craving/aversion) and avidya (ignorance), and the resulting karma. You state here that the pure mind is samsara or suffering, while the Buddha states that the pure mind brings happiness in its wake (Dhammapada 2). Who is speaking the truth then !

It is mainly the Mahayana, Zen and Vajrayana traditions that use the term Buddha nature in their teachings. It is also an important element of Nichiren Buddhism. If you are uncomfortable with the term 'Buddha nature' on account of the Buddha not ever using the term , you are free to use the terms 'pure mind' or 'luminous mind' that he had used instead, and substitute them with 'buddha nature' in my posts. The Buddha-nature is traced to the 'luminous mind' which is mentioned in the Anguttara Nikaya, and is part of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism as well. Leading Theravada figures like Ajahn Mun have also elaborated on this teaching in his commentaries.

The origin of the Buddha Nature doctrine can be traced to a teaching of the historical Buddha , as recorded in the Pali Tipitika (Pabhassara Sutta,Anguttara Nikaya 1.49-52): Buddha nature as a term is mainly used in Mahayana and Zen traditions,.

The Buddha-nature is the pure mind, also known as the Buddha-mind, luminous mind and true mind. It is the first point emphasized by Buddha in the Dhammapada. https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.01.budd.html An impure mind (tainted by the poisons of greed, hatred, and delusion) leads to suffering. A pure mind (untainted by the poisons of greed, hatred, and delusion) leads to happiness. The three poisons that defile the originally pure mind are greed, hatred and delusion. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_poisons Here greed is but an intense uncontrolled desire or craving for more pleasant sensations and experiences, while hatred is but an intense uncontrolled desire or aversion for unpleasant sensations and experiences, leading to destructive thoughts, speech and acts. The mind filled with strong desires in the form of cravings or aversions due to conditioning is considered impure and deluded, due to its inability for proper perception and interpretation of events or facts, and consequent incapability for proper judgement, correct and ethical action. A judge being partial towards his own criminal son due to desire for his well-being inspite of evidence to the contrary, a religious fanatic arguing for the destruction of other religions, well as a jingoist nursing irrational hatred for other nations are some commonplace examples of a deluded mind caught in its own conditioning and resulting cravings/aversions and being swayed by them mechanically like a puppet. The unconditioned mind is the pure mind which can properly perceive and act correctly, as opposed to the impure mind with the filters of conditioning that may generate likes and dislikes, cravings and aversions that would lead to incorrect perception, poor judgement and wrong actions.

An insightful article by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar highlighting Mahavira's teaching of Ahimsa or nonviolence. Mahavira is the founder of the Jain religion and is a contemporary of the Buddha. https://www.freepressjournal.in/spirituality/guiding-light-by-sri-sri-ravi-shankar-breathing-ahimsa