God is A Drug Addict! - My encounter with God, Sadhus and LSD
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I first met him during “Kumbhmela” The greatest Pilgrimage on Earth. He was a Aghori. He looked at me and said “God Is a drug addict” . I must have looked into his eyes with disbelief. He said he didn’t finish his sentence, he took a deep breath of Ganja and said
” God is a drug addict and his drug is Love, This whole universe is filled with Drug called Love. If you can be a drug addict with Love then you have arrived my friend” and he walked away. This was almost 15 years Back. After that I had many encounters with Saints,Drugs and God . Here are few notes based on my insight.
LSD and other drugs hold out great possibilities. There are good reasons to hope that these two things can be successfully used to enable the human consciousness to have a glimpse of the new awareness. I do not accept that one can attain the state of samadhi (cosmic consciousness) through them, yet these can certainly give its glimpses. And once one gets a glimpse, the thirst for true ‘SAMADHI’ arises. It is no exaggeration to say that deep beneath the strong attraction in the West today for yoga and meditation lies the under-current of LSD. Hundreds of thousands of people reach the amphitheatre of yoga through the by-lanes of LSD.
When someone takes a tablet of LSD, then for some hours he gets, so to speak, transported into a completely different world. To my mind the ‘SOMA RASA’ or the nectarine drink of the Vedic period must have been something similar to it. Aldous Huxley has written a book in which he has given the psychedelic drug to be developed after 2000 A.D. The name of ‘SOMA,’ on the basis of ‘SOMA RASA.’ and those who have had a trip of LSD or mescaline came to realize for the first time how the Vedic sages could see their gods and goddesses traversing the earth in flesh and blood.
For instance, as we read the poetry of Sufi’s, we begin to feel that he paints his imagery with colours such as are unknown to us. He sees such dimensions in a flower which are not manifest to us. LSD Transports you to the same world. Each and every leaf becomes delightfully green, and each and every flower appears unique. The human eye then seems to possess a depth such as it has never before experienced. An ordinary chair becomes a living entity. The whole world takes on a new look, for that length of time at least, as if lightening has flashed in a dark night. And for a moment the whole scene — the tree, the flower and the winding path may become illumined. The lightening may disappear after a short while and darkness may again envelope everything, yet we cannot be the same men as we were before the lightening flashed.
Doctor Leary is a unique personality in this field who has done tremendous work in the direction of making it possible for man to attain the experience of ’samadhi’ by the use of drugs. And those who have made such experiments become different persons altogether; they were just able to turn over a new leaf in their lives.
Lot of these saints used to live in remote places of Himalayas and Forests. Over a period of time working on their body and mind they found out certain chemical changes transport you to different world. Before coming to real world they wanted to experience the world of Psychedelic drugs. These drugs gave them glimpse of Consciousness where they were in absolute surrender. Suddenly in absolute surrender and undistilled awareness they found the beauty of nature and God. Unfortunately they could not sustain the momentum or the beauty of the vision. As along as the drug effect was there they could feel immense possibilities. the moment drug effect came down then came back to mind world. Sadhus felt seperated at birth and tehy felt seperated from God.
The diffrence was Consciousness. In drugs you they were un-conscious. With consciousness you will see the same experience of world as drugs but then Consciousness is GOD!. Sadhus who started their journey with drugs all took their shelter in consciousness.
Recent researches in this field have revealed startling facts. If a person fasts for a protracted period, the resulting changes in his body will only be chemical. Though at cursory glance it may appear that Sages were against the smoking of ganja; yet if we analyze their insistence on fasting, we may conclude that the changes caused in the body after thirty days fasting are also chemical and quite similar to those caused by smoking ganja. There is no difference at all. The changes resulting from PRANAYAM (the science of breath) are also chemical.
If a person breathes in a certain way, changes in the proportion of oxygen begin to take place. A profuse supply of oxygen causes some elements to burn down and others to be preserved. The changes inside are chemical.
In order to reach cosmic consciousness not thru drugs but thru other means Sages Invented Yogasanas and Fasting. If you look at the history of Indian masters then you will realize both fasting and discipline of yoga is very important in most of their teachings.
Even Now lot of religions across the world use drugs as a source of glimpse to divine. You can get enough records of this usage in Aghori, Essenes, Sufiana, Tibetan traditions. But then this was a mystic science which got lost over a way and Drugs found a way with hippies as substance of abuse. Only in deep Tibet experiments are still carried on in scientific manner.
Drugs are addictive because the experience of the world is unparalleled in its experience. People do not know how to get that experience without drugs. Once you do not know the path to this experience you fall back into drugs experience. It’s unfortunate one of the most mystical part of human history got lost in translation. It’s not accidental while describing enlightened masters in our history records we use often words like “drunk with Divine”.
MY NOTE: SAY NO TO DRUGS. I AM AGAINST ANY DRUG USAGE AND GO GET HELP IF YOU NEED ONE. SAY NO TO DRUGS! I AM NOT SAYING ANYTHING FOR DRUGS. DRUG IS NO WAY MEANS TO REACH GOD.
For others hope I gave you a glimpse of plight of drug addicts. It is an unbearable experience of separating from divine and helplessness in not finding the same without drugs. Drug addictiveness is beyond words because experience is beyond words. that’s why you can never be communicative with drug addicts. You need as much as compassion to cure them.
Love is GoD and I am a GoD addict!
Suresh
It is very Important post. I thought you are like one of those bloggers who write what readers want to read.
I am stuck by your courage to write on really sensitive topic. I have been to Kumbhmela and seen most of the sadhus with drugs. I never understood the science behind it. But I always hated them for their behaviour.
So many things we judge so quickly in life. thanks for sharing Itneresting perspective. I am glad you did not end up supporting drugs
What a post suresh, sometimes drugs used in Lie detector test I beleive has same efects. Drugs can be useful too.
Check this photos for proof
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/Kumbhmela
Amazing ! I never heard this before!
[...] blogs about his encounter with sadhus psychedelics and philosophises. Even Now lot of religions across the world use drugs as a source of glimpse to [...]
check this photos of aghoris
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/photogallery/taboo/photo8.html
Cathy and Melissa - thanks for Fabulous links. Really helpful to readers.
Interesting post i must say.
People take drugs with different intentions. Drugs or for that matter, any substance in increased usage is bad for the body.
And yes, Love is God.
Could you possibly explain why taking a tablet of LSD is considered bad, in a person’s whole life?
My take on Aldous Huxley: http://philososphyofalex.blogspot.com/2007/02/we-viewer.html
Why is alteration of human consciousness to attain something ‘unknown’ considered bad?
I too do not know the answers. I am searching.
SUresh, can you tell us little more about Aghoris, I believe they are the Flesh eaters of East. I have heard numerous stories about them. May be you can remove common misconception about them. I have seen number of photos of them praying with skulls.
Do they still exist in India? Are they banned?
Alex, Good question; personally I do not think Taking a LSD tablet once in a life time is Bad, I am living example of it.
Thanks for that wonderful link I really appreciate it. I guess it is not a bad idea to alter human consciousness to attain something Unknown. But my own take is that if we can do that without external help there are much bigger possibilities after that.
Susan- I may not be able to share my Aghori photos as they are bound by heart contract of not displaying their photos. However I’ll definitely write a small post on Aghoris in coming days. Probably I’ll send you personal note. YEs there are lot misconceptions about them and They still exist in India and they are very much part of underground Enlightenment movement.
Suresh,
I did assume that.
“But my own take is that if we can do that without external help there are much bigger possibilities after that.”
I agree, but i think it would take immense understanding to get to that ‘plane’ without an aid of some kind. Actually, LOVE, as you say, is the only thing that is necessary. But, seldom do i see that.
Excellent capture. What does it symbolise?? Anger?
“SAY NO TO DRUGS. I AM AGAINST ANY DRUG
USAGE AND GO GET HELP IF YOU NEED ONE.
SAY NO TO DRUGS!
I AM NOT SAYING ANYTHING FOR DRUGS.
DRUG IS NO WAY MEANS TO REACH GOD. ”
wonderful post and optly you have made it very clear inabove words otherwise people may take to drugs ins search of god ultimately land elsewhere. It was delight to read this post and I really started thinking about my father who also believed in god and had everything
left to him and accepted whatever happened as
it came and never cribbed god has not given that and not this. always said what he gives in other world and the amount of peace you enjoy in this world have nothing to match
“Love is GoD and I am a GoD addict! ”
optly ended the writeup by this great sentenance a its worth so much it can not be measured in terms of money
great post by a great human
Suresh, I agree with you that taking to drugs is a kind of a God-seeking and it has been done through centuries together. You are also right that this is not the way to get the cosmic consciousness.
The God is only reachable through the conscious experiences, otherwise we are somewhere else.
In fact, while taking drugs one gets into the sphere of the collective subconscious, where you cam meet all sorts of images and have strong experiences because it works on the left side.
I have my explanation for the term “drunk with Divine” - because I experience it every day, but without any drugs
In my meditation, when my Sahasrara opens and the cooling, incredibly pleasant and enjoyable BLISS comes down my head and then my body, It feels like being drenched in the Divine Love (the experience well know and has been described in all religions and spiritual scholars)…But I am very conscious of what is happening, though it is always such a pity to get town to earthly things
Two more interesting things: when I happen to miss it, it feels like I am thirsty (but not physically), and after such an experience my skin feel incredibly soft, like an angel and - my eyes sparkle!
Suresh - Are Naga sadhus and Agoris the same? The life of agoris has intrigued me. Why do they hang out at cremation grounds? Women join as sadvis in the Naga Akharas, but I am wondering whether women are allowed into the agori sects.
A couple of years back I read a book written by an American Naga Sadhu who later headed one of the Akharas. He wrote about the chillums that the sadhus smoke with. I think trying to experience consciousness through LSD’s is like an illusion or Maya, because it lasts just as long as the drugs effect exists.
I am also reminded of the Turkish Dervishes who are followers of the Sufi order and who dance whirling around till they reach a trance. This is their way of experiencing divinity.
As always your post is very interesting.
Priya, very good observation and you raised some important questions?
Naga Sadhus are different from Aghoris. Naga sadhus take Extreme Discipline route where as Aghoris predominantly use Death science as route to Divine.
The sadhus you find mostly standing on one leg, standing on Head and Little aggressive ones are NAga Sadhus. They are physically extremely fit and powerful. they use body as much as possible.
Where as Aghoris home ground is Cremation ground. Their aim to erase mind out of all fixed impressions. they want to move beyond the world of right and wrong. They do everything to shock your mind and kill mind thru shock value. Also they work so much on Energies around bodies, It becomes easy to experiment with fresh dead bodies rather than Alive ones for obvious reasons. In UP state India. Lot of the Villagers believe they help the cause of Aghoris by donating dead bodies for Experiments. Both Naga Sadhus and Aghoris stay out of socializing as much as possible.
Yes there are Female Naga Sadhvi’s and Aghori Sadhvi’s. I happen to know Couple of them very closely who have done Some outstanding work on Tantra. Infact Young aghoris and Naga sadhus Spend quite a time with Older Sadhvi’s to understand School of Tantra & Love.
I used to practice Turkish Dervishes at the Tomb of Rumi. Now turkish dervish dance is subtle art of Surrender. If you can rotate for at least thirty minutes with right posture then the energy gathered in Rotation can take you for hours. I went thru vigorous 21 days session on whirling. some days I used to whirl from morning to evening. To move into cosmic consciousness this is one of the most effective sufi methods. Please note that everything we live in is also continuously rotating - earth , Planets, etc… and the trick of rotating is When you are at the deepest surrender of rotating Your mind stops. it is like watching earth rotating at a distance.
Your one comment fluttered memories of me with these sects. Each of them have unique perspective and all of them lead to awareness. I enjoyed and learned from each one of these sects as much as possible.
Lots of love and thanks for your comments,
The Beatles also were into drugs at some point of time. I read somewhere that Maharishi Mahesh Yogi had told them that they could have the same experience and much more through transcedental meditation.
Suresh - Thank you so much for clearing my questions. Your experience is enriching us, the readers.
As UG said God is the demand for permanent pleasure.
Since nothing is permanent in nature, God is out in the scheme of nature.
So God is unnatural and artificial projection of thought.
The demand for realizing the God is the demand for permanent orgasm.
What JK has to say about it…
Self-knowledge through drug-use???
Jiddu Krishnamurti
Q: I think it is possible under certain drugs to know myself with analysis - there is no conflict.
K: If one takes LSD or various forms of drugs that helps a great deal, because in that there is not conflict at all. So you please take drugs. Does it really, does any drug, LSD, marijuana, any of them - does it really expose the totality of the content of consciousness, or does it bring about chemically a certain state of mind which is totally different from the understanding of oneself? These drugs - I have never taken them - they have taken them in India a great deal - I watched many people there. I have also watched students in universities in America, and many, many other people who have been taking various forms of drugs, LSD, marijuana, you know I don’t know what all the other names are - psychedelic drugs. If you have observed, these drugs do affect the mind, the brain cells themselves. They destroy the brain. If you have talked to one or many of those who have taken drugs, they can’t reason, they can’t pursue a logical sequence of thought - and the doctors and the scientists are beginning to say it does destroy the very structure of the brain cells. Not only LSD but marijuana, which is much more dangerous than LSD because that leaves a toxic condition in the brain cells and is more difficult to get rid of. In India they have taken drugs for millions, for thousands of years and they are the most ignorant people who have taken drugs. And all the so-called intellectuals in India have denied it, said don’t do it, touch it. I am not asking you not to take it, it’s up to you, but when you see the effect of it, on people - they have no sense of responsibility, they think they can do anything they like, many, many hospitals are full of these people who mentally are unbalanced through drugs.
[...]
Q: I find your sequence of thought illogical. And also I cannot see how you can argue against drugs if you have not any experience of taking drugs.
K: Ah wait. How can you argue against drugs if you have not taken drugs yourself? Must you go through various forms of experience, must you get drunk in order to understand sobriety? Must you get angry in order to find out what it is not to be angry? Must you over eat in order - and so on and so on. Can’t one observe without going through all the human mischief?
4th Public Talk, Brockwood Park, 1971
Book: Awakening of Intelligence, Part IX. CD-rom code: br71t4
From: Jiddu Krishnamurti: Quotes, personal remembrances and historical documents
There is a living God whom I have encountered-he died on the Cross of Calvery, took away my sins, and has given me eternal life. His name is Jesus.
He is full of mercy, compassion, truthfulness, and righteousness. He is not a drug addict- infact He is against things like drugs that can only destroy a person.
He give me hope in the midst of hopeless situations, takes my problems as His own, and gives me a solution to my problems. He has given me a beautiful life and a reason to live. So I tell others about Him b’coz he died for them too!
Om Namo Narayana - i am a Guru and even though my initiation is within
the Naga type lineage - i do Not take chillum nor any drug Nor will i work
with any that do. The journey is through consciousness and to break through
the conditioned mind to Stillness and Pure Awareness. Drug usage may many
times cause a disconnect that is not the letting go and dissolving into
Source.
Have met to many ungrounded and disconnected seekers who thought drugs
were the fast way to realization. Just take a pill - sit back - and
immeditate wisdom (?) This is a false assumption and one that brings
many casualities within it’s wake.
Maha Shanti Om
Well my take is that whatever you do, whatever you dont do does not simply matter in life of a human, there are a lot more important issues to be resolved and it all comes down to the basics of human compassion!
Who gives a damn, parents are not parents to their kids, teachers are on a power trip, politicians are ruining the country, but who cares.
It has all come down to survival and difernet people use different ways to survive in this mad world, some take to drugs and some get a kick out of punishing children in school or hitting their own child, firing his subordinate!!
Everybody is a drug user albeit to his own exposure and convenience and in relatio to his inner assholeness!!
God is not a drug addict.
God is Holy. People who try to reach him through all these means will only get frustrated as they will not find peace in their heart. God has became man in Jesus Christ so that we can know what he is like and achieve eternal life and have peace on our lives.
Ask Jesus into your heart today. By his shed blood your sins can be forgiven and you will be made right in the eyes of the Holy God.
Respects to all.
I’ve read the blog entry and the comments, and I’ve found them to be very interesting.
There are definitely good and open minded people here.
However, I must point out one thing. It seems that most people don’t believe that Ganja could be valid in and of itself to be a path to the divine. Still, not that it is right for me or anyone who is writing here, but are we not making some major assumptions by saying that it at best ‘can give a glimpse’ or that at worst ‘not interacting with those who consume’.
Should we not respect the beliefs of those who’s path or realization is blessed by the herb. It’s worth noting that Ganja is a naturally occuring herb that has been used for millenia by peoples around the entire world for both spiritual and medical purposes.
Just as that which is a blessing is often misused and abused, Ganja for the unready mind is regularly abused. Still, that should not discredit those whose spiritual path has been influenced heavily by the gifts of the Divine Mother Earth.
My good friend is Rastafarian, and in he is part of an ascetic lineage that believes the herb to be a blessing from ‘the most high’ and is mankind’s salvation. A world that intolerates the sacred herb, is one that abuses those who embrace the divine.
Let us also not forget that Ganja originates in the Sacred Himalayas and is considered a sacranent to The Lord Shiva.
As many are all biased in some form, or we may have discovered that it is not right for us, we can not making sweeping conclusions.
I am from the West, and interested in altered states of consciousness. Science can now explain to us what shamanic traditions around the World have known for a long time ; fasting, breathing in certain ways, rythms, music, rituals, groups, lack of sleep, sensorial deprivation, meditation etc are all techniques to change our usual state of counsciousness and… get high !
But getting high is not an aim as such, it can become a trap. Altered states of consciousness should be used to heal ourselves and others, improve our knowledge. They should be used to make us find harmony in our everyday life.
I heard one of Dalai Lama’s oracles say that everybody can predict the future once you have cleaned the dirt that clogs your mind.
I actually think that what that guy told you is funny and quite true in a way. Universal love can also be a trap. There is no short cut.
Awesome post..