Marijuana and False Enlightenment
posted by Rick Hurst | April 8, 2011
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IcerocketI smoked pot for many years. I liked pot because it helped me forget what a mess my life was, but I also liked it because of the effect it had on me. Whereas most people would zone out, drift away into la la-land and/or forgetfulness when they smoked pot, people would say things to me like "you are the only person I know who gets sharper when you get high". My mind became acutely aware.
Pot gave me the effect of enlightenment and realization. My thoughts would become crystal clear, extremely vivid and would reveal to me profoundly "spiritual" things. I could see into people with profound clarity and could psycho-analyze them with great precision. People found it mind boggling. A few liked it, but many found it cut to close to reality and stopped being with me when I was high.
The high for me mimicked realization and insight so closely that it had me unable to see the dark spirit behind the high for a very long time.The spirit behind this drug knew that I was born with a proclivity toward truth, had strong perception and it played up on this by revealing to me profound things, showing me true things, keeping me coming back for more. But what it never revealed to me was that all of this "insight" was taking place from within my thought world, from within my ego universe called mind, where I saw myself as enlightened and certain that what I was seeing was true, because, for all intents and purposes it was. It would be, however, many years before I realized that the critical component called love that makes true insight timely and appropriate had been missing.
But can you see how unbelievably subtle this spirit was? How terribly confusing this can be? How can right be wrong? But then again, that is the difference between intellect, where knowledge of good (and bad) is learned and memorized and genuine insight, where truth is realized in the ah-ha moments. Knowledge can be very addictive, even more so when it is highly enhanced by a drug like marijuana that gives exordinary clarity to thought. It is not called a mind expanding drug for naught.
I imagine the spirit behind marijuana is the same spirit that "talked" Eve into eating from the tree of knowledge. "Did God say you would die if you ate of this tree? No, you won't, for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil"...but what the spirit did not say was that "knowing good and evil, a prerogative of a God, will be at the cost of your innocence".
It would be some time before I realized that the "weed" supported and kept me bonded to a false "good" in my mind that wasn't good at all...but was only an illusion, a phantom appearing as good. It took some time and a real blessing for me to finally realize that all real good comes from outside the mind, not from within it. Thank goodness for the pain in other aspects of my life that drove me to meditate, for in meditating I was finally able to see the great lie behind the powerful but false "voice of good" within my mind, and find freedom from this terribly addictive bondage.
Comments
Selves
— Apr 08, 2011
This seems to tie in with the subject of selves we were talking about - or at least I'm reading that into it. Do we shed identities like skins at different times of our lives? And talking of snakes it's certainly interesting what you say about the 'spirits' which approach us through different substances or experiences. So which self or part of the self is the 'core' one? Is it what you called the 'watcher' in your other piece? I'm not sure if all good comes from outside the mind or if the mind is an element of that good and can wake up to it..
About the mind
— Apr 08, 2011
Hi Landar,
Thanks for commenting.
Please check out this page and let me know what you think.
"Pot"? "Weed"?!? Seriously dude?!?!
— Apr 11, 2011
Clearly you lack an understanding of the fundamental truths, benefits and practices related to this sacred herb... But yeah thanks for preaching from your own perspective as if it were the general truth... I'm glad I'm not such a typically hung up victim of modern cultural weakness and protocol... Now back to blazing my Chalice before yoga... Then straight to the recording studio for copious amounts of herbal intake while I help multi-platinum recording artists make music that will inspire and assist generations to come... Sorry... Had to let that all out... Cannabis has been one of the main contributing factors to the success of myself and many of my peers... And certainly not for it's ability to help me "forget what a mess" my life is (ummm I think there may be some other deeper rooted issues at play here buddy)... But yeah dude, thanks for attempting to perpetuate a negative aura around an enlightening and healing sacred herb...
Compassion
— Apr 11, 2011
You're allegiance with sacred Cannabis is clearly a strong one. I can respect such a deep relationship.
I get twisted when others don't respect that not everyone can have such regular intimacy with herb. It's not for everyone. And that doesn't make the herb smokers more enlightened than the meditators, or vice versa.
It's interesting how quickly people jump into the need to be right. My way is THE way.
To each his own.
To me, Cannabis is a powerful, dominating spirit. She loves entering my awareness. She courses through my energy body in a torrent of life force, an orgasmic flow that lights up my chakras from root to crown and fills every cell with light. I merge with her and cease to exist. She grabs me and holds me tight, even when my companions continue to talk or make music - I am disarmed and disabled by her. When she is with me, I can not function on the temporal plane. This is difficult. Others worry and ask if I am okay. I am in a waterfall of bliss.
So I don't meet Cannabis when I'm with others. I have tried to 'learn' how. I don't get anywhere. I take her in, and she takes me away.
When she leaves, I feel her residue in my body and mind for days. I feel soft, sticky, and slow. My eyes feel swollen and heavy.
Other plant spirits are more gentle with me. We each have our own allies.
To each her own.
Many, many years ago I was good buddies with
— Apr 08, 2011
weed. Like you the world appear better and brighter. I had little trouble with it for years and maybe would smoke today if i could. It seems the spirit of pot at some point decided to throw me out and did. Things changed. All those pleasant experiences were replace by a terrifying sense of impending doom and the fear of dieing. Heart palpitation and panic attacks every time I picked up. A really bad trip, man. That once "loving you feeling" turned to paranoia and dread. It happened and it happens. Now I avoid the stuff like the plague. LOL
It's OK, don't take my word for it have another toke on me dude. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvGJvzwKqg0
Some may show you the light, that's no guarantee you will turn it on.
I don't need an escape these days.
Another one from the good ol'days. LOL
Hmmm, now that I think about it
— Apr 10, 2011
I can't remember the good old days. :)
(edit)
I was on the spiritual path being suggested here on Evolver at the time and was just a kid with just a little money. The cash alone kept me from being a heavy user.
Once the change happens amounts are not applicable. It does not matter how much you use the effect remains the same.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Anxiety/Marijuana-and-anxiety-paranoia/show...
Hey! I'm just the messenger about this.
my two cents
— Apr 21, 2011
I utilize marijuana because it brings about feelings of impending doom, paranoia, anxiety, etc. It seems that those feelings are in my unconscious and if I go into them entirely they will subside and I will reach the ecstasy.
The Change to -
— May 07, 2011
Paranoia may be due to something entirely external.
Have you considered that prior to your association of canabis use with paranoia, the entire planet was not yet swathed in the artificial electromagnetic net known as the Cellular Tower Network ?
Subcarier frequencies have been broadcast to induce numerous deletirous conditions in the subject populations. Including Anxiety, paranoia, shortness of breath, athsma, cancers, personality disorders.
You can intercept the frequency broadcasts with a multiband radio, or crystal tuner. Translation of Freqs at http://www.lunarsight.org/freq.htm
" A rising tide - drowns those without boats " - Cee Are
"The object under your feet is always the dance floor " - Cee Are
.
— May 07, 2011
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/01/chem-lab-the-sc/
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/opinions/5538/
http://www.examiner.com/mental-health-in-san-francisco/how-marijuana-cre...
The effect is well known in the medical community. For some the fear will come, it's a medical fact.
Moderation
— Apr 08, 2011
As with any drug, I feel that moderation is the key to recieve its greatest benefits. If you are compelely relying on marijauna or any psychedelic drug for your soulful insites and enlightenment, then you are following a false profit. But when you add in meditation and the periodic use of these drugs I feel they add to the spiritual element and help to open doors which would be much more difficult to open via meditation alone. Sometimes you just needed to be pointed in the right direction and then the teacher plants are no longer needed for your path.
Love to All,
Brian
Power of Now
— Apr 09, 2011
Rick,
I own and have read both of Echart Tolle's books from which the excerts were taken. He has a very powerful way of writing and conveying the message which provokes insight in the reader. I would reccomend his books to everyone. He provides basic and straight forward of how to meditate and silence the mind to find your inner being. That being said, I don't think his books are a subistute for certain psychedilic drugs when used in the proper manner, marijuana included. I would not be on a spiritual path if I had not experimented with mushrooms. Meditating and culivating love when infulenced by these drugs becomes a far more powerful experience than stand alone meditation. You can use a hammer to build a house or to distroy one. It is your intention for your experience with the drug that matters, not the drug itself. Marijuana as well as other teacher plants must be treated with sacred reverence as they are among native cultures, not as an insturment to get high which will cause paranoia and confusion. I also feel where you get the drug brings with it its own spiritual essence. If you get weed from a Mexican drug cartel, it probably brings some bad mojo anlong with it.
Love to All,
Brian
Hi Brian, Anything at all
— Apr 10, 2011
Hi Brian,
Anything at all can be used or misused, books, drugs, your partner, your dog, name it and it can be used in a proper manner or in an improper manner.
What it all comes down to is this, for me at least, the question of who am I? Am I that which thinks or am I that which observers the thinking. And once I determine that, then I can see if what I use helps me to be more of who I am...or less. Does what I use help me to burst through illusion or does it strengthen illusion?
Rick
About this
— Jan 12, 2012
"If you are compelely relying on marijauna or any psychedelic drug for your soulful insites and enlightenment, then you are following a false profit." (I think that should be prophet or maybe it is profit. :) )
I'm way past the drug stage. :)
http://emergingvisions.blogsp
— Apr 09, 2011
I have done extensive spiritual investigation
— Apr 09, 2011
Into the powerful catalyst known as cannabis. The spirit of Cannabis is a subtle trickster that literally through aeons of natural selection has evolved into a shape shifter. It manipulates its effects around the mind of the consumer to actualize what the one breathing in wants from the plant. It is a symbiotic relationship with the individual.
This can be very illuminating or further limit the development of a virtuous being. Though to classify it as something that is not benevolent is unfair, for cannabis is neutral in the game of life. Simply precipitating its own survival through our symbiotic relationship with humanity. To believe that cannabis is a liar is IMO very arrogant, and to believe the mind on cannabis is only driven by the ego is also... well ignorant. For the expansion of consciousness through unlimited means one can achieve a state of more divine thought. Cannabis can either help that process if used CORRECTLY which is hard to find nowadays because of the rampant American attitude of excess.
To blame a plant that fulfills the inner workings of a mind is one of the huge problems plaguing our society. To believe no truths come from intrinsic mind is just flat out wrong, Our minds are divine, our brains are the fruit that promulgated the knowledge of Good and Evil. Not cannabis, it has literally all been in our heads this entire time. Use can help loosen the grip of the energy veil(e-vil) that has trapped us all, abuse can further the spiral towards self destruction. It is the will of the user that gives cannabis its power, your take on it gives it way too much power, power that is not only false but bias.
Cannabis gives me similar results to yours. while it has allowed for lies to surface from the inner ego, it was meant to be because where it led me later disproved what I believed from it originally. Using the archetypal trickster to further our insights and raise our vibrations through making the veil more permeable. All entheogens have the ability to lead the user into a complete fabrication, what is learned from that illusion is important, not the fact that it created the illusion for us to play in.
With Love for all living things I say
Namaste
"in order for there to be order... there must first be disorder"
I'm not so sure...
— Apr 09, 2011
I agree with A. D. IV [Jester] that cannabis is a neutral drug. I find that in my own experience is brings out and strengthens whatever is going on inside me. For example if I'm wrapped up and tense about something it's going to make that more present. If I'm really into my thoughts it's going to strengthen that, and on the other side if I feel really in the moment and feel free and creative it's also going to strengthen that. It is by no means a key to enlightenment and isn't the contrary either. It's not something we need to look down upon and for being a false prophet because it's no prophet at all. It's simply something that enhances whatever is going on inside us. Rick I believe that the thoughts you were having the supposed false enlightenment was something that was going inside of your head regardless of smoking weed and that weed simply made that more present. Sometimes I think smoking weed can be a great way to recognize our obstacles (false enlightenment, praising the thinking mind). Perhaps smoking weed brought out a side of you that was getting in the way of your spiritual development, I don't think weed creates any ideas inside us, I think it just makes our ideas come more to surface, and perhaps it was bringing ideas to surface that you needed to release because they were getting in your way.
I don't want this to sound like I'm accusing you and saying that your wrong, I'm simply challenging your ideas and am totally open to you disagreeing with everything I have just said.
My Thoughts
— Apr 09, 2011
"Rick I believe that the thoughts you were having the supposed false enlightenment was something that was going inside of your head regardless of smoking weed and that weed simply made that more present."
Yes and no. Many thoughts were already there as you suggest. In thinking about ideas or talking about ideas to another the ideas would sometimes expand and grow in great clarity. Some thoughts, however, were completely new and original ways of seeing something in a light I had never seen before. Yes, these things happened while straight too. Not so much these days. My mind and thoughts are fairly quiet and still. My insights come not through word-thoughts but through observation and wonder. A totally different experience.
I will also take this opportunity to say that this article was one mans experience and I am a bit surprised that some behave as if I was trying to take something away from them. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
I fully agree with the false
— Apr 10, 2011
I fully agree with the false enlightenment idea....
as far as smoking cannabis goes.... it gives me mystical visions in high doses.
otherwise, it destroys enough short-term memory to better allow me to live "in the now".
equally giving me paranoid delusions and mystical insight into 12-dimensional and "higher" thought. out-of-body experiences and more.
it all depends on the intent for taking the substance I feel.
all I know is that if it can have these effects on me and 15 states have legalized it for medical purposes.... can't be nearly that bad in my book as far as the collective mind goes!
As a Naugualist I'd say this
— Apr 11, 2011
there are two primary purposes for using Power plants.
One , is to show the individual that alternate realities are possible. The contrast weakens the hold the Tonal has on ones perception of the Nagual.
Two, that Power plants contain a spirit. Mescaline for instance contains the coyote. Jimsonweed weed the Gnat. The mescaline spirit manifests itself as a canine like creature. This creature can be a guide to the attainment of spiritual knowledge. Through these experiences one can gain in understanding. Carlos Castaneda abandoned power plants as guides shortly into his apprenticeship with Don Juan Matus. D.J.M. said they were but aids to knowledge and said that those on the path could develop along spiritual lines without them but the process would be more difficult. I have provided you with an excellent example of how one can be rejected by a plant spirit (above) as was written in the text.
After 37 years on the path I would say avoid them for they may not "let you go".
It is my opinion that the
— Apr 10, 2011
It is my opinion that the spirit of cannabis has its own personality, and its own agenda in your body. I believe also that it is symbiotic, of course it wants to please you so you continue to give it awareness.
Cannabis is hungry, it loves sweets. It's a dreamer, it wants to push the edges of what is possible. Cannabis is not my personality, it is its own, which in my opinion is what makes it potentially dangerous.
Rick I think I'm interpreting you right when I say, "Is this thought mine, or is it Cannabis?" It plants suggestions to make you play out its agenda. I'm not sure what its overall agenda may be, but every compound has one it seeks in exchange for the benefit of consuming it.
Only thing I can be very sure of is that pot is hungry. HUNGRY! It loves food, sex, other drugs, and it loves love.
“An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come.”-Victor Hugo
I just read this and I just
— Apr 10, 2011
I just read this and I just have to say! i understand what you're saying sooooo much!!! i didn't even realize that I a smoker, feel very very very similar with my smoking habits, effects of smoking and my perspective on life and stuff through marijuanas mindset. This gives me alot of insight and actually puts things into perspective that I didn't even realize I felt and are so true so thanks :]
A wise person once said to
— Apr 11, 2011
A wise person once said to me, that marijuana lets a person go past one's traumas/blockades/etc and let the soul into the body and mind. This is quite the contrary of what you are saying here. This person also said, that the reason why one gets such a lust for life, food, sex etc lies more in the structure of how we tend to act in the process of healing ourselves, than in any feature of the plant itself.
With that said, I do very much agree upon that the consumption of any sacred plant can be a very tricky path, since one can get addicted to the experience it helps one to have (and thus to the plant), instead of building upon it and learning from the experience, and other practises, until one realises how to get there without the help of the plant. In the end, I definitely believe that "the goal" is to get there on your own. If one should call the enlightening experiences that people have during the use of sacred plants as "fake" or not - well - I don't know... Still, I found your text very interesting!
I am generally inclined to agree with the widespread idea that sacred plants are just a part of the way, just like any teacher or guide are just a part of the way. And sacred plants are not made for all people! Dancing, meditation, recapitulation, etc works just as well - even better for many. Everyone have their own path.
-----
you are unique - all you do is ground-breaking
I guess I'm not really
— Apr 12, 2011
I guess I'm not really following the logic in this. From my experience... nobody I know has ever thought that marijuana brought them "enlightenment". It gets you high. Allows you to access (most likely by the suppression of certain "negative" inhibiting thinking patterns) to a little more creativity than you would experience sober on the spur-of-the-moment. I have not lived your life, as far as I know, so I don't know that you're "wrong" or whatever, but honestly, your blog post sounds a little bit like a D.A.R.E. PSA or a "guru seeks students" sort of thing. IMO... Marijuana is awesome and worthy of praise. If it's some sort of conniving-to-survive nature entity... well then... how does that make it different from anything else in this world besides maybe rocks? Please enlighten me.
Thank you your post it reminded me of something
— Apr 12, 2011
From my experience... nobody I know has ever thought that marijuana brought them "enlightenment". It gets you high
It took me a year to reach a point of "clarity" after I was forced to quite using it. A clarity I did not know I had lost reappeared after a year. It took a year for the haze to lift, for the fog to lift. I would imagine it would be hard to see the "light" under all that haze. I'm not making this up to convince you one way or another. This was my truth concerning it but a truth none-the-less.
D.A.R.E.? You must be very young.
OMG! He did say he was a security guy didn't he. You don't think? Yet, another form of paranoia that comes with smoking. Hmmm I guess that's not paranoia for that fear is real. Do as you wish, do as you wish.
If you want to pimp your
— Apr 13, 2011
If you want to pimp your "clarity" to the observer then please make a point of separating my comments from yours in your replies. It only confuses my marijuana-addled mind. Thank you very much, in advance. And yes, I am young... at age 42. And I'm sorry, but I didn't really understand the whole "He said he was a security guy" thing. Seriously, I really enjoy the RS and Evolver websites, but if it's mostly populated by hippie nazis then I'm not really with that program. I don't think marijuana is any more evil than carrot cake. It's just another way to experience life and learn from it. Now put that in your peace pipe and don't smoke it. You know you want to.
-Internal Management
As I said, your post
— Apr 13, 2011
reminded me of the subject I discussed. No other references were made to your post.
Regarding this statement:
"If you want to pimp your "clarity" to the observer then please make a point of separating my comments from yours in your replies". by SunProfits
As far as pimping clarity I've provided accurate and truthful experiences whether you agree with them or not is strictly up to you. In fact I've intentionally avoided making "opinions" about drugs here on Evolver positive or negative. Any and all of you can do as you wish.
I should also add, after
— Apr 12, 2011
I should also add, after re-reading your post, that, in January, I began a daily meditation practice (TM accompanied by some "mindfulness" meditation... because I'm not really sold on the idea that a mentally-"spoken" mantra is necessary for training your mind to shut the f**k up when you need to). It's been fantastic! One of the best things I've ever done, IMO. But I still smoke pot and there doesn't seem to be any incongruity in doing so. I mostly meditate when I'm not high. Anyway, I really do appreciate your thoughts. Maybe I'll come to some grand realization or something about weed after meditating for 20 years. But as a newbie I can say that meditation is working for me and I still love the ganja. I'm probably just less compulsive about it. Not escaping as much. Just enjoying. Aww crap... I'll probably outgrow it eventually like you did. But for now... LOL!
Sunprofits, Whatever it is
— Apr 12, 2011
Sunprofits,
Whatever it is you choose to do, do it fully and mindfully. Experience everything as deeply as possible but with eyes wide open. Getting lost in the experience is the problem. Being fully awake to the experience cuts to the chase. With full awareness you will have your experiences and you will know what to keep and what to put down.
BTW, you are correct about the mantra. Awareness (being aware of your thoughts as they happen) has all the power necessary to bring your mind under control...in fairly short order. Never underestimate the power of objective observation.
I wish you well.
Rick
Thanks Rick. Your
— Apr 13, 2011
Thanks Rick. Your experience is appreciated. I wish you well, also.
Well said, thank you. I was
— Apr 21, 2011
Well said, thank you.
I was contemplating this about 2 weeks ago when I toked with a friend, which will probably be the last time for a while. :)
question
— Apr 22, 2011
Mr. Rick Hurst, have you ever tried smoking the herb without being concerned with enlightenment or any spiritual growth or thinking how it will benefit you but just for the sake of it to observe how greatly it enhances all experiences and makes you very humble? (just a thought)
Enlightenment
— Apr 22, 2011
I smoked for years and was not concerned about enlightenment.
As I said in the article. I began to meditate for other reasons. In the course of meditation I made personal discoveries including seeing the truth about my relationship with pot. And not just pot, meditation brought insight into every relationship I have/had.
It's A Technology
— Apr 28, 2011
Cannabis, just like so many other psychoactive substances, is just a technology. For example, the Catholic church uses wine, but theoretically disapproves of drunkeness. It causes you to see things differently. Technology is neutral.
I consume hemp food items on a daily basis, seperate from cannabis flower adventures. I recently realized that all forms of the sacred herb invoke compassion in the recipient.
There is nothing in this article that even remotely touches upon the harms that the author is claiming to expose. If anything, it's just been announced that the author used it too much, and took too much stock in his own ego experiences. Well, shit happens, but please don't go bashing the sacred herb without even providing a basis from which you are starting.
