Rev. , fantastic article- this is a precept I am very concerned with : especially since we categorize and segregate the "good addictions" and the "bad addictions". All abusers reside sadly, as Dr. Gabor Mate puts it, in the Realm of the Hungry Ghost. The concept that human suffering serves a purpose is difficult for a mere mortal like me to understand, yet if there is one- perhaps hope.
I, however, would like to refer to Dharmarakshita here, Rev. , and though not canon for Zen, the words resound, perhaps, with the Maha-Yana principles -
*From The Wheel of Sharp Weapons-
"In jungles of poisonous plants strut the peacocks,
Though medicine gardens of beauty lie near,
The masses of peacocks do not find gardens pleasant,
But thrive on the essence of poisonous plants.
In similar fashion, the brave Bodhisattvas
Remain in the jungle of worldly concern.
No matter how joyful this world's pleasure gardens,
These brave ones are never attracted to pleasures,
But thrive in the jungle of suffering and pain [...] "
I personally favor the variant "Do not ~misuse~ intoxicants."
Thanks for this post. I live in Paris, where the daily rituals and libations that come with the French way of life are constant. It's interesting to read about the Buddhist interpretation of intoxication coming from a culture that believes so strongly in intoxication, in some form or another, as integral to life. I believe in the power of psychedelics, for example, and have had some profoundly spiritual and positive experiences from them. How might Buddhism account for the ritualization of intoxication, say in ancient tribal cultures that ingest ayahuasca or peyote, or in more contemporary cultures like France, which believes that far from being anathema to the spirit, an occasional libation is in fact at the root of a life well lived?
Rev. , fantastic article- this is a precept I am very concerned with : especially since we categorize and segregate the "good addictions" and the "bad addictions". All abusers reside sadly, as Dr. Gabor Mate puts it, in the Realm of the Hungry Ghost. The concept that human suffering serves a purpose is difficult for a mere mortal like me to understand, yet if there is one- perhaps hope.
I, however, would like to refer to Dharmarakshita here, Rev. , and though not canon for Zen, the words resound, perhaps, with the Maha-Yana principles -
*From The Wheel of Sharp Weapons-
"In jungles of poisonous plants strut the peacocks,
Though medicine gardens of beauty lie near,
The masses of peacocks do not find gardens pleasant,
But thrive on the essence of poisonous plants.
In similar fashion, the brave Bodhisattvas
Remain in the jungle of worldly concern.
No matter how joyful this world's pleasure gardens,
These brave ones are never attracted to pleasures,
But thrive in the jungle of suffering and pain [...] "
I personally favor the variant "Do not ~misuse~ intoxicants."
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts Rev. !
Love to You and those around You.
Thanks for this post. I live in Paris, where the daily rituals and libations that come with the French way of life are constant. It's interesting to read about the Buddhist interpretation of intoxication coming from a culture that believes so strongly in intoxication, in some form or another, as integral to life. I believe in the power of psychedelics, for example, and have had some profoundly spiritual and positive experiences from them. How might Buddhism account for the ritualization of intoxication, say in ancient tribal cultures that ingest ayahuasca or peyote, or in more contemporary cultures like France, which believes that far from being anathema to the spirit, an occasional libation is in fact at the root of a life well lived?