Guest guest Posted January 4, 2001 Report Share Posted January 4, 2001 Some opinions on the subject:<br><br>Hopefully as we get more into yoga, we are less interested in drugs of all kinds. However, we should be aware that marijuana (and other psychedelics) have long been used to furthur personal development - physically, mentally and spiritually.<br><br>If you are interested in what connections there may be between psychedelics and yoga, I would recommend having a look at Ram Dass's classic book Be Here Now, perhaps the most interesting and magical book on yoga ever published. The first part of the book details the history of Richard Alpert and Timothy Leary in the 60's. In the third part of the book, there is a brief discussion of psychedelics titled "Psychedelics as an Upaya (Method)" in which pros and cons are given. Note that Ram Dass basically chose the path of yoga rather than the path of drugs (which Leary stuck with).<br><br>For a more academic and historical perspective, you may want to have a look at Plants of the Gods, a spectacular book by Richard Evans Shultes and Albert Hoffman. There is a 10-page chapter on cannabis whch details its history around the world. Cannabis has been used in India in religious contexts for thousands of years. Shiva, the god of yoga, is also the god of ganja. <br><br>Another interesting book on psychedelics in general (and with a separate chapter on cannabis) is Food of the Gods by Terence McKenna.<br><br>Charles Tart put out a very interesting scientific survey of pot smokers in the early 70's called On Being Stoned. (out of print and hard to find).<br><br>The reference to Andrew Weil and plow pose was very interesting. (msg 5772) John Lilly has some interesting ideas in Programming and Metaprogramming in the Human Biocomputer (1972). In chapter 15 he explains how psychedelics may temporarily release the switches in the brain that hold chronic tension in place.<br><br>Here is a collection of links to psychedelic info on the web:<br><a href=http://www.ionet.net/~tslade/psydelic.htm target=new>http://www.ionet.net/~tslade/psydelic.htm</a><br><br>As far as I know, they're still trying to find evidence that marijuana has significant harmful health effects. Contrast this with what we know about alchohol, tobacco, coffee and most other drugs, legal or not. Obviously it is bad for the lungs (though it can be ingested other ways besides smoking). I have occasionally heard the story that "pot smoke is like 50 times worse than tobacco smoke" but I have also heard that it has anticongestant properties. I'm sure that it is harmful to lungs and breathing but there is no comparison to cigarette smoking since a regular cigarette smoker will probably ingest 100's of times more smoke than a daily pot smoker. Also, pot and other psychedlic drugs are not physically addicting, in contrast to most other drugs.<br><br>I am quite sure that regular marijuana use depletes a lot of energy. I think a lot of smokers refuse to see this. And I trust that it is not a healthy thing to do in general. <br><br>But I think it is good to keep things in perspective. If you are happy without using drugs, that is good. It is our birthright to be high on life and yoga is a way to get there. But it is also good to understand why others may be interested in drugs. The more understanding and experience you have, the more you may be able to help others move away from drug use.<br><br>Probably the most harmful thing about experimenting with smoking pot is the possiblility that you will like it too much to see the bad side of it and keep it under control. It can be useful even on the path of yoga, but it can also be a dangerous trap that can set you back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2001 Report Share Posted January 4, 2001 Thanks Terry...I'd also like to suggest a book I just finished reading:<br><br>ONE NIGHT'S SHELTER by Yogavacara Rahula (S.J. DuPrez)<br><br>Very readable and forthright bio of a young American who journeyed to Asia, first partaking of the drug scene, and later deeply into yoga and buddhist meditation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2001 Report Share Posted January 4, 2001 Thank you for your observations. "Be Here Now" is so amazing; I'm glad to see somebody refer to it.<br> <br>I read the article on Andrew Weil with great interest. I guess if he could go more than a foot farther, all the way into plough, while he's tripping, then somebody somewhere could "take it up" or do sirsasana while they're stoned (but it's not going to be me). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2001 Report Share Posted January 4, 2001 By the way, is learning plough in the middle of an acid trip part of the approved ashtanga yoga method as taught by Pattabois Jois? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2001 Report Share Posted January 4, 2001 >> somebody somewhere could "take it up" or do sirsasana while they're stoned <br><br>Did sirsasana after three beers at a friend's house a couple of weeks ago - and lowered my feet down, touched my toes to the rug and back up again with perfectly straight legs. Which I can only rarely do when not beer-assisted .... something to be said for being (slightly) artificially mentally relaxed, perhaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2001 Report Share Posted January 4, 2001 Oh, heavens, Alan Little, Mr. Jois would call you a bad man, throwing your feet up into the air any time you felt like it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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