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?
Hi Samuel, thank you for this post. Please forgive my delayed response. Been a wee bit busy over here. Let me first just say that I am not a teatotaler. I drink on occasion with friends and I feel ambivalent about this myself, partly because of the precepts and partly because it feels like an old habit that has yet to shed itself. I do also feel that given how wound up our society can be, I understand why we drink as a way to relax and share a moment with friends. For me, the action is one event, and the intention and motivation behind the action (and words for that matter) are another. Once we can see (I mean this "seeing" in a whole body-mind way) what our habits are, we can become more attuned with what propels us to act or speak in a certain way. When it comes to drinking alcohol, which is a widely accepted cultural habit across the globe, staying attuned to what FEELING or MENTAL STATE we are trying to produce is a helpful lens through which to assess our habit patterns (karmic conditioning). Are we looking to escape from uncomfortable psycho-emotional suffering? Are we looking to just "chill" and be social with some friends? IMHO, investigating the root causes of why we're seeking a certain experience can illuminate our blindspots and help shift our energy and focus to more positive/less harmful habits. I hope that this is a helpful comment and happy to discuss further. Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment. And, it was fun meeting you in Substack Grow. Bows from San Fran!
I love the distinction you make b/t action and intention/motivation. I find especially when it comes to using psychedelics as a form of therapy or self-exploration, this is of essential importance. I appreciate your wisdom and your piece re: intentionality and recognizing blind-spots. Living in Paris lends itself to a constant if not excessive habit of drinking, and increasingly I've found myself being more conscious of why I am ordering the second round versus simply doing it because someone is buying a round. It isn't to say I don't indulge in a 2nd/3rd/4th round, but it is to say that I'm starting to be more aware of * why * I am seeking that inebriated state, sometimes for better, often for less conscious reasons. Thanks for your thoughts, and a *santé * from Paris!
Thanks for this recommendation! Unsolicited advice is usually far better than solicited anyway, keeps us on our toes ... this book sounds right up my alley, thanks for the rec
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?
Hi Samuel, thank you for this post. Please forgive my delayed response. Been a wee bit busy over here. Let me first just say that I am not a teatotaler. I drink on occasion with friends and I feel ambivalent about this myself, partly because of the precepts and partly because it feels like an old habit that has yet to shed itself. I do also feel that given how wound up our society can be, I understand why we drink as a way to relax and share a moment with friends. For me, the action is one event, and the intention and motivation behind the action (and words for that matter) are another. Once we can see (I mean this "seeing" in a whole body-mind way) what our habits are, we can become more attuned with what propels us to act or speak in a certain way. When it comes to drinking alcohol, which is a widely accepted cultural habit across the globe, staying attuned to what FEELING or MENTAL STATE we are trying to produce is a helpful lens through which to assess our habit patterns (karmic conditioning). Are we looking to escape from uncomfortable psycho-emotional suffering? Are we looking to just "chill" and be social with some friends? IMHO, investigating the root causes of why we're seeking a certain experience can illuminate our blindspots and help shift our energy and focus to more positive/less harmful habits. I hope that this is a helpful comment and happy to discuss further. Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment. And, it was fun meeting you in Substack Grow. Bows from San Fran!
I love the distinction you make b/t action and intention/motivation. I find especially when it comes to using psychedelics as a form of therapy or self-exploration, this is of essential importance. I appreciate your wisdom and your piece re: intentionality and recognizing blind-spots. Living in Paris lends itself to a constant if not excessive habit of drinking, and increasingly I've found myself being more conscious of why I am ordering the second round versus simply doing it because someone is buying a round. It isn't to say I don't indulge in a 2nd/3rd/4th round, but it is to say that I'm starting to be more aware of * why * I am seeking that inebriated state, sometimes for better, often for less conscious reasons. Thanks for your thoughts, and a *santé * from Paris!
Thanks for this recommendation! Unsolicited advice is usually far better than solicited anyway, keeps us on our toes ... this book sounds right up my alley, thanks for the rec