Do Drugs Bring you Closer to God?

[blackout]

Some drugs highly intensify One's OWN perception/s (of Self, Life, 'God', whatever).

So you can either use the experience
to examine and expand your own perceptions,
or you can use it to say,
See?! This proves my grand ideas
are REALLY the Grand Ways of "God/UniVerse/Life...."

Hallucinogens like LSD or Shro0ms,
1.Can take you deeper into your paradigm of Self and Reality,
(ie... intro'spection)
2.Solidify and confirm (to you) (and maybe expand)
your Own paradigm/experience/understanding of Self and Reality,
3.or Push you out into a whole New Paradigm completely.
(which many people cannot handle- and thus fight.)

It depends on where/how you are coming into the whole thing on a personal level.


EDIT: 4. Confuse and/or scare the (heaven and) hell out of you.

 

[Midnight Pete]

Wine does and Jesus promoted the consumption of it.

I don't think Jesus would endorse drunkenness or any kind of overindulgence.

 

[Nothing]

chemical substances that elicit different modes of thought and perception within us are tools placed here by god to use as we wish. i believe the purpose of these tools is to render themselves obsolete by teaching us that the perceptions they generate come from within and are therefor accessible at all times.

Thank you verklingen, I could not have put it better myself.
There was an acid guru in the 60's who strongly believed that his chosen halucinogen helped him on his path to greater spiritual awareness. At the same time, he followed the teachings of a guru in India. While meditating, the acid guru of course used acid. His mentor, the Indian guru did not.
One day the Jndian guru took some acid. In fact he reportedly took a years supply in one shot. The acid guru panicked thinking his mentor would die from consuming so much. But a few hours later the Indian guru said "I don't think this is doing anything for me, got any more?"
We may BELIEVE we need something outside ourselves to attain a higher level of consciousness and so therefore it may seem true to us.But in reality, higher consciousness has always been within us waiting to be discovered.Whatever means we use to extract this higher consciousness will work if our belief is strong enough.

 

[BruceDLimber]

Marijuana use in some states (including mine of California) is legal....

The last I heard, federal law still takes precedence over state law.

[W]hich of those [statements] pertains [sic] to drug use? Have any quotes?

E. Alcohol, Drugs And Tobacco

1. Alcohol

1171. Both Light and Strong Drinks Prohibited Unless Prescribed by a Doctor

"Regarding the use of liquor: According to the text of the Book of Aqdas, both light
and strong drinks are prohibited. The reason for this prohibition is that alcohol
leadeth the mind astray and causeth the weakening of the body. If alcohol were
beneficial, it would have been brought into the world by the divine creation and not
by the effort of man. Whatever is beneficial for man existeth in creation. Now it
hath been proved and is established medically and scientifically that liquor is
harmful.

"As to the meaning of that which is written in the Tablets: 'I have chosen for thee
whatsoever is in the heaven and the earth', this signifieth those things which are in
accordance with the divine purpose and not the things which are harmful. For
instance, one of the existing things is poison. Can we say that poison must be used
as it hath been created by God? Nevertheless, intoxicating liquor, if prescribed by
a physician for the patient and if its use is absolutely necessary, then it is permissible.

"In brief, I hope that thou mayest become inebriated with the wine of the love
of God, find eternal bliss and receive inexhaustible joy and happiness. All wine hath
depression as an after effect, except the wine of the Love of God."
(From a Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Bahá to an individual believer, translated from the Persian:
Prohibition of Intoxicating Drinks, A Compilation, April 1979)

1172. In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas it is Forbidden to Take Anything that Deranges the
Mind

"With regard to your first question on alcohol and drinking, Bahá'u'lláh, fully
aware of the great misery that it brings about, prohibits it as He expressly states that
everything that takes away the mind, or in other words makes one drunk, is
forbidden."
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, February 15, 1926:
Ibid.)
[continues]

 

[BruceDLimber]

[continued]
2. Drugs

1183. Hallucinogens, a Form of Intoxication

"Concerning the so-called 'spiritual' virtues of the hallucinogens... spiritual stimulation
should come from turning one's heart to Bahá'u'lláh, and not through physical means
such as drugs and agents.

"From the description given in your letter it appears that hallucinogenic agents
are a form of intoxicant. As the friends, including the youth, are required strictly
to abstain from all forms of intoxicants, and are further expected conscientiously
to obey the civil law of their country, it is obvious that they should refrain from using
these drugs.

"A very great responsibility for the future peace and well-being of the world is
borne by the youth of today. Let the Bahá'í youth by the power of the Cause they
espouse be the shining example for their companions."
(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United
States, April 15, 1965: National Bahá'í Review, No. 3, March 1968)

1184. The Use of Marijuana, LSD and Other Psychedelic Products

"In reply to your request of October 24, 1967 that we issue a statement concerning
'the use of marijuana, LSD and other psychedelic products', we have already informed
the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States that Bahá'ís should not use
hallucinogenic agents, including LSD, peyote and similar substances, except when
prescribed for medical treatment. Neither should they become involved in experiments
with such substances.

"Although we have found no direct reference to marijuana in the Bahá'í writings,
since this substance is derived from what is considered to be a milder form of cannabis,
the species used to produce hashísh, we can share with you a translation from the
Persian of a Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Bahá on hashísh:


'Regarding hashísh, you had pointed out that some Persians have become
habituated to its use. Gracious God! This is the worst of all intoxicants, and
its prohibition is explicitly revealed. Its use causeth the disintegration of thought
and the complete torpor of the soul. How could anyone seek this fruit of the
infernal tree, and by partaking of it, be led to exemplify the qualities of a
monster? How could one use this forbidden drug, and thus deprive himself
of the blessings of the All-Merciful?...

'Alcohol consumeth the mind and causeth man to commit acts of absurdity,
but ... this wicked hashísh extinguisheth the mind, freezeth the spirit, petrifieth
the soul, wasteth the body and leaveth man frustrated and lost.'"


(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Hawaiian Islands,
November 11, 1967)

1185. Peyote

"Anyone involved in the use of peyote should be told that in the Bahá'í Faith spiritual
stimulation comes from turning one's heart to Bahá'u'lláh and not through any
physical means. They should therefore be encouraged to give up the use of peyote."
(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United
States, November 9, 1963: Alaska Bahá'í News, May 1972, p. 4)

1186. Opium Destroys the Conscience, the Mind and the Perceptions

"As to opium, it is foul and accursed. God protect us from the punishment He
inflicteth on the user. According to the explicit Text of the Most Holy Book, it is
forbidden, and its use is utterly condemned. Reason showeth that smoking opium
is a kind of insanity, and experience attesteth that the user is completely cut off from
the human kingdom. May God protect all against the perpetration of an act so hideous
as this, an act which layeth in ruins the very foundation of what it is to be human,
and which causeth the user to be dispossessed for ever and ever. For opium fasteneth
on the soul, so that the user's conscience dieth, his mind is blotted away, his perceptions
are eroded. It turneth the living into the dead. It quencheth the natural heat. No greater
harm can be conceived than that which opium inflicteth. Fortunate are they who never
even speak the name of it; then think how wretched is the user."
('Abdu'l-Bahá: Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Wilmette, 1982, pp. 148-149)
[continues]

 

[BruceDLimber]

[continued]
1187. Dealing in Heroin and Other Narcotics Forbidden

"Dealing in heroin or other similar drugs which are forbidden in the Faith should
certainly not be undertaken by Bahá'ís except in the context of the legitimate handling
of such drugs that doctors and similar professionals may be called upon to undertake
in the course of their duties. Furthermore, dealing in narcotics is in many countries
a crime and on this basis also would be forbidden to Bahá'ís."
(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice cited in a compilation on alcohol and drugs
sent to an individual believer by the International Teaching Centre, October 17, 1978)

1188. The Renouncing of Tobacco, Alcohol and Opium--Purity and Sanctity Should
Distinguish the People of Bahá

"O ye, God's loved ones! Experience hath shown how greatly the renouncing of
smoking, of intoxicating drink, and of opium, conduceth to health and vigour, to
the expansion and keenness of the mind and to bodily strength. There is today a
people[1] who strictly avoid tobacco, intoxicating liquor and opium. This people is
far and away superior to the others, for strength and physical courage, for health,
beauty and comeliness. A single one of their men can stand up to ten men of another
tribe. This hath proved true of the entire people: that is, member for member, each
individual of this community is in every respect superior to the individuals of other
communities.
[1. (Possibly 'Abdu'l-Bahá was referring to the Sikhs]

"Make ye then a mighty effort, that the purity and sanctity which, above all else,
are cherished by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, shall distinguish the people of Bahá; that in every
kind of excellence the people of God shall surpass all other human beings; that both
outwardly and inwardly they shall prove superior to the rest; that for purity,
immaculacy, refinement, and the preservation of health, they shall be leaders in the
vanguard of those who know. And that by their freedom from enslavement, their
knowledge, their self-control, they shall be first among the pure, the free and the wise."
('Abdu'l-Bahá: Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 150)
[end quote]
­­Lights of Guidance, pp. 350-355 passim.

Peace,

Bruce

 

[blackout]

Thank you verklingen, I could not have put it better myself.
There was an acid guru in the 60's who strongly believed that his chosen halucinogen helped him on his path to greater spiritual awareness. At the same time, he followed the teachings of a guru in India. While meditating, the acid guru of course used acid. His mentor, the Indian guru did not.
One day the Jndian guru took some acid. In fact he reportedly took a years supply in one shot. The acid guru panicked thinking his mentor would die from consuming so much. But a few hours later the Indian guru said "I don't think this is doing anything for me, got any more?"
We may BELIEVE we need something outside ourselves to attain a higher level of consciousness and so therefore it may seem true to us.But in reality, higher consciousness has always been within us waiting to be discovered.Whatever means we use to extract this higher consciousness will work if our belief is strong enough.

What on earth is a "year's supply" of Acid?


The notion alone discredits the story.
At least for me.

If there was
D Lysergic acid Diethylamide
on those tabs
it effected him, at least physically.

(speedy, lack of sleep... won't go on.....)

 

[newhope101]

Yep..I definitely reckon drugs enable one to get closer to God. The more you take the quicker you'll die and get to have a chat with whom ever is out there. If you believe in hell and the devil then it may not be God you get closer to.

I think pot should be legalised not as a moral premise but because we spend way too much money on enforcement, where the money would be better spent elsewhere. I think Amsterdam is forward thinking. I think keeping substances illegal is not a good containment method, prohibition keeps the dealers peddling and rich.

 

[Nothing]

What on earth is a "year's supply" of Acid?


The notion alone discredits the story.
At least for me.

If there was
D Lysergic acid Diethylamide
on those tabs
it effected him, at least physically.

(speedy, lack of sleep... won't go on.....)

I do not know exactly what a years supply of acid is.
The acid guru I speak of was Timothy Leary. If you are old enough you probably remember him. I would assume he used acid daily so a years' supply would be 365 hits perhaps?
The story was in a book Timothy Leary wrote, an it was through this experience that he eventually stopped using acid.
Yes it is hard to believe a story that a large amount of acid would have no effect on a person. But Timothy Leary's guru (who's name I don't recall) was a man who devoted his life to meditation and the teaching of it. It is well know that those who meditate a great deal can gain enormous control over bodily functions and reactions. I cannot validate this story of course, but it is believable.

 

[blackout]

I do not know exactly what a years supply of acid is.
The acid guru I speak of was Timothy Leary. If you are old enough you probably remember him. I would assume he used acid daily so a years' supply would be 365 hits perhaps?
The story was in a book Timothy Leary wrote, an it was through this experience that he eventually stopped using acid.
Yes it is hard to believe a story that a large amount of acid would have no effect on a person. But Timothy Leary's guru (who's name I don't recall) was a man who devoted his life to meditation and the teaching of it. It is well know that those who meditate a great deal can gain enormous control over bodily functions and reactions. I cannot validate this story of course, but it is believable.

OK, well for Timothy Leary, a years supply would certainly be a lot.

While I've never heard of an LSD overdose mySelf,
I would call the ingestion of that much LSD all at once crazy.
(and I was once "crowned" with the title "acid queen")
Perhaps it's true that chemically speaking
once you take a certain amount
anything beyond that has no effect.
I wouldn't know, I'm not a chemist.

If I could see the amazing vivid geometric grids on my own,
that I used to see.... not on my own...
I would be quite enthralled.

 

[The Neo Nerd]

Didn't Leary once take a buttload of acid and decide to walk across America.

I don't think it is possible to overdose on acid, but i could be wrong.

 

[Renji]

Perhaps, but it would be an artificial high. It would be false. The feeling of being indwelled by the Holy Spirit is what you would be replicating with drugs and/or alcohol. I would know. I take meds for bipolar disorder and I've long since become familiar with mania (unnatural and inappropriate giddiness) and how it differs from genuinely perceiving the Holy Spirit inside of me.

I personally think that being in the 'State of grace' and 'State of drugs or medication' are two different things.

 

[Renji]

Drugs can induce all kinds of mental and emotional states, including eurphoria and religious epiphany. But are these drug-induced mystical experiences any more or less legitimate than mystical experiences without the use of drugs?

I think, drug induced 'mystical experience' is more on the psychological and emotional faculties of a person, not actually that spiritual. In the case of Christianity, we could say that it is 'less legitimate' because never in the Bible or the teachings of early Christians was it stated that we can be closer to God through a particular method or technique other than prayer and His Word. Never on the history of the Church that a particular person achieved the State of grace through drugs or any other way.

Are drugs the cause of these experiences or the gateway to them?

As I said, it is more on the psychological and emotional aspect of the person.

 

[Midnight Pete]

I personally think that being in the 'State of grace' and 'State of drugs or medication' are two different things.

As do I. :yes:

 

[crimsonlung]

If you think about it, when your on drugs, your not in a different mind, its your same mind, only different chemically. So, its like looking at things from a different perspective, but its still your brain.

 

[idea]

Well, for starters, you couldn't be more wrong about caffeine:

How caffeine affects your body, mind and emotions

we avoid caffeine
thanks for the link!

 

[Sunstone]

Experiences of god created by drugs cannot be sustained.

 

[idea]

Experiences of god created by drugs cannot be sustained.

experiences that are not created by drugs can be...

 

[crimsonlung]

Didn't Leary once take a buttload of acid and decide to walk across America.

I don't think it is possible to overdose on acid, but i could be wrong.

Haven't you seen SLC Punk? He hides a buncha acid in his sock, then runs through wet grass without realizing it and the dude went nuts. It wipes brain cells

 

[Midnight Pete]

Experiences of god created by drugs cannot be sustained.

Experiences of God are fleeting anyway.