> Just curious how Buddhists who are on the path to Nirvana or whatever
> you might call it, feel about the potential of psychedelics such as
> psilocibin, lsd or ecstasy in helping one along the path.

> I remember back in the early 70's when I first heard about Taoism and
> gurus and such, there was talk about people taking psychedelics like
> lsd and mushrooms and achieving a "high consciousness" from this.
>
> I was just reading in a Buddhism book where the author describes the
> "4 stages on the path to Nirvana".
>
> He describes stage 1 as "Stream-Enterer" and says this about that
> stage: "The 1st direct insight into selflessness is often the most
> powerful because it is unlike anything you've ever experienced before.
> For a timeless moment, no one is there - that is, there's no trace of
> a seperate self anywhere. A feeling of tremendous relief, often
> accompanied by joy and bliss, generally follows the experience.... at
> last you've entered the stream of realization.... When you become a
> stream enterer, you can never again believe that you are really a
> separeate self that lives inside your head and looks through your
> eyes. ... In every day life however, you may still feel like a
> separate somebody and may still get caught up by greed, anger,
> ignorance and various other negative feelings and patterns..." ...

>> Just curious how Buddhists who are on the path to Nirvana or whatever
>> you might call it, feel about the potential of psychedelics such as
>> psilocibin, lsd or ecstasy in helping one along the path.

>
> I've written to my Member of Parliament in support of studying drugs and
> prostitution around the world, with a view to decriminalising and
> regulating
> them. The aim, here, is to create a system with proper health and social
> checks and balances with a view to encouraging progression.
>
> I think, the general approach with self-improvement and societies wellbeing
> can leverage the same tools. Indeed, as the government has already done in
> its approach to gambling, top quality regulation and effort in education
> and
> family policies can work towards a better overall end.
>
> As for the specifics of drugs and Buddhism, I'd say they can but don't
> necessarily go with each other. The dangers of going down a wrong path
> or worsening a mental health condition are issues. Going for a walk or ...

>>

>
>Never willing to give away what is dear to you?
>Even getting really drunk once in a while
>would be better than your smugness.

>
>
>I have never done psychedelics, but from what I have heard and read,
>buddhism allows one to achieve these states without the help of substances.
>If the state is achieved through substances, it is uncontrollable.

>As for the specifics of drugs and Buddhism, I'd say they can but don't
>necessarily go with each other.

> The dangers of going down a wrong path or
>worsening a mental health condition are issues.

>Going for a walk or spending
>time with other people may be more useful.

> On Sat, 18 Nov 2006 09:29:59 -0500, stumper newvessel.com>
> wrote:
>
>

>> Never willing to give away what is dear to you?
>> Even getting really drunk once in a while
>> would be better than your smugness.

> Smug: "conscious of one's virtue and one's importance" (The Merriam
> Webster Dictionary)
>
> It strikes me that no one on this board is more smug than you,
> stumper.
> You answer each query as if you were some enlightned being, with
> advice for everyone, but it comes across very smug, as you try to
> speak in zen-like phrases instead of just participating in the
> conversation, as if you are "beyond" the rest of us. Just my humble
> opinion.

> On Sat, 18 Nov 2006 13:45:42 GMT, "Charles E Hardwidge"
> nojunk.co.uk> wrote:
>
>

>> As for the specifics of drugs and Buddhism, I'd say they can but don't
>> necessarily go with each other.

>
>
> I think I agree with this. They CAN go with each other, but not
> necessarily. In my case I would say this has helped me see "another
> way"; although has not helped me in any way with my progression
> towards being less angry or more loving-kind.
>

>> The dangers of going down a wrong path or
>> worsening a mental health condition are issues.

>
> Agreed. Though less so with psilocibin than lsd. I've heard of no
> cases of anyone having mental problems or making them worse through
> the use of psilocibin. As for ecstasy, I know it has been used - ...

> I remember back in the early 70's when I first heard about Taoism and
> gurus and such, there was talk about people taking psychedelics like
> lsd and mushrooms and achieving a "high consciousness" from this.
>
> I was just reading in a Buddhism book where the author describes the
> "4 stages on the path to Nirvana".
>
> He describes stage 1 as "Stream-Enterer" and says this about that
> stage: "The 1st direct insight into selflessness is often the most
> powerful because it is unlike anything you've ever experienced before.
> For a timeless moment, no one is there - that is, there's no trace of
> a seperate self anywhere. A feeling of tremendous relief, often
> accompanied by joy and bliss, generally follows the experience.... at
> last you've entered the stream of realization.... When you become a
> stream enterer, you can never again believe that you are really a
> separeate self that lives inside your head and looks through your
> eyes. ... In every day life however, you may still feel like a
> separate somebody and may still get caught up by greed, anger,
> ignorance and various other negative feelings and patterns..." ...