Yes, psychedelics helped save my life. But habitual intoxicants only held me back, they conditioned my brain to rely on sedation to self-soothe, clouded my judgment, and narrowed my tolerance of negative emotions.
Iβm seeing a lot of posts praising intoxicants as making life tolerable.
I donβt think this is wisdom. I smoke and drank for many, many years.
After getting sober from alcohol; I wish I had never started.
How can one expect to truly know themselves when they dilute themselves with intoxicants and delude themselves about how it helps.
Caffeine use results in:
- Restlessness, excitability and dizziness.
- Anxiety and irritability.
Caffeine withdrawal causes the following symptoms:
- Headaches.
- Tiredness.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Nausea.
- Muscle pain.
- Irritability.
- Drug-seeking behavior to end withdrawal
Tobacco has a similar and more intense use and withdrawal profile.
None of the above are conducive to skillfulness nor dispassion. Those that say that caffeine or nicotine aren't prohibited by the fifth precept because they aren't explicitly mentioned or that the intoxicants don't, upon direct ingestion, cause "heedlessness" are acting as the monkey-business monk:
>βNow at that time, a certain bhikkhu living in the Great Wood at VesΔlΔ«, having befriended a monkey with food (Β§), engaged in sexual intercourse with it. Then, dressing (Β§) early in the morning and carrying his bowl and outer robe, the bhikkhu went into VesΔlΔ« for alms. A number of bhikkhus wandering on a tour of the lodgings went to the bhikkhuβs dwelling. The monkey saw them coming from afar and, on seeing them, went up to them and wiggled its rear and wiggled its tail and offered its rear and made a sign (Β§). The thought occurred to the bhikkhus, βUndoubtedly this bhikkhu is engaging in sexual intercourse with this monkey.β So they hid off to one side.
>βThen the bhikkhu, having gone for alms in VesΔlΔ«, returned bringing almsfood. The monkey went up to him. The bhikkhu, having eaten a portion of the almsfood, gave a portion to the monkey. The monkey, having eaten the almsfood, offered its rear to the bhikkhu, and the bhikkhu engaged in sexual intercourse with it (Β§).
>βThen the bhikkhus said to the bhikkhu, βHasnβt a training rule been formulated by the Blessed One? How can you engage in sexual intercourse with this monkey?β
>ββItβs true, friends, that a training rule has been formulated by the Blessed One, but thatβs with regard to a human female, not to a female animal.ββ
How is it like the monkey-business monk? Because the error is not located in what is being used, but why it is being used and the results that come of such use.
Withdrawal causes heedlessness through drug-seeking. Withdrawal causes heedlessness through foggy-mindedness. Withdrawal causes heedlessness through anxiety. Withdrawal causes heedlessness through lethargy. Withdrawal causes heedlessness through irritability.
Withdrawal is conditioned by addiction. Addiction is conditioned by dependence. D
... keep reading on reddit β‘Hey guys, while I totally understand why alcohol is forbidden and that it is clearly stated, I cannot fully understand why other drugs also are. I understand from a health perspective they may be advised against or haram since they can be harmful, however looking at them from a perspective of what is said in regards to substances I donβt get why things like cannabis and psychedelics are haram. When I was a kid I was taught that the Quran says no to alcohol however as I grew older and did more research many interpret these parts as referring to all intoxicants. I know many Muslims who use other drugs because they do not seem to know of this interpretation and think only alcohol is not allowed. My issue with this is that it seems to dismiss the benefits of drugs. People use caffeine, sugar (soda), and nicotine regularly in the Muslim world even some what excessively, however if we were to go by the hadiths and other religious texts it is said that whatever intoxicated in large amounts is not permissible in small amounts. So how is nicotine and caffeine allowed beyond the issue of the potential harms. Additionally that would mean many things we use could be considered haram. Many say that these things are allowed as medicine only if necessary, however we use things like Advil when they are not super necessary which could be considered intoxicants by the definition many use. Additionally I find the definition of medicine and the standard at which they are prescribed very confusing. Having a good standard of living is inherently a preventative medicine. Things like psychedelics have shown to improve the quality of mental health and while they may not be necessary for people a medicinal benefit can be derived from using them (same can be said for cannabis). As for the standard of prescription I do not understand how we can say if it is prescribed by a doctor it is then permissible, as there is no Islamic standard for doctors. Of course if it is a life or death situation or a severe case where these things are needed then I understand how a doctors prescription is valid, however as I said earlier the definition of what is inherently medicinal could be many things and does not necessarily need to be life or death in order for it to benefit our lives in some way. Same with things like mouth wash which often include alcohol, these things are considered permissible since they have very low amounts, however this contradicts the notion of if it intoxicates in large amo
... keep reading on reddit β‘
I had 3 great clean days, without serious cravings. But had a minor trigger at work this morning, and couldn't un-trigger it. Bought some weed and took about 6 hits. Just didn't like the dizzy, fuzzy, "drunk" feelings. Definitely would not want to feel that way full-time (and its astonishing that I did feel that way full-time for years and years). It really is an intoxicant, it's toxic to me. I flushed the rest.
However many times I need to learn this same lesson, I won't quit quitting.
So this is what happened: I was entering a roundabout with the intention of exiting on the second exit (essentially, going straight through). I was on the inside lane. I wasn't sure what the third party was intending to do, but I believe they were trying to turn right from what is clearly a straight-through only lane.
The officers believed I was inebriated at this point and begin breath testing me (I have an open license and blew under .05). They didn't have a drug test kit on them and arrested me for suspicion of DUI where I was taken back to another station and had blood drawn.
I explained to the nurse that I regularly take Targin (an ER oxycodone) and valium as required for a chronic back injury. The nurse said that there are therapeutic ranges in which these meds need to be under.
My question is, what are these therapeutic ranges? I have a court appearance in two weeks and I am sweating bullets over this. The (less than helpful) woman at the station refused to give me any other information, such as who was deemed at fault in the accident by the attending officers. All I have is the QP number.
The third party's learner driver was driving the vehicle and he became extremely aggressive. I have a lot of anxiety about all this -- I didn't take anymore of the valium or targin as prescribed -- and if the ranges come back higher than the therapeutic threshold I could lose my license for up to 3 months. Not to mention my insurance won't cover the damages to my car or the third-parties.
Any advice would be truly appreciated.
I enjoy making medical sales and helping people alleviate pain, but Iβve noticed a big uptick in customers coming in and wanting to just βget fucked upβ and it makes me feel bad making those sales.
Can I still do my job and be a practicing Buddhist, or should I start looking at other industries?
Thank you
The lecturer looked at his class as they walked in. He seemed to be disappointed in them.
βWhile I am glad to see you have all attempted the task I set you, most of you have underwhelmed me. Either you missed some critical chemicals, ignored things such as preparation methods, or even in one case suggested that it would be more efficient to bring food from ones own homeworld. This is a terrible idea as several federation species consume food that is toxic to humans. Thus would beβ¦.disastrous for a diplomatic meeting.β The lecturer shook his head, causing a light ripple to occur down the membrane that held his form together.
βOn to the current lecture.β The lecturer said as he opened the first slide, the slide contained a collection of images, some of obvious things, bottles of liquid that was likely alcohol, a common human intoxicant. One that Corsk could actually also consume for similar effects, though lessened to some degree. Others were utterly obfuscated such as several separate piles of white powder.
βHumanity are well known for their production of numerous intoxicants and drugs. Some legal in the federation under specific licences. For example.β The lecturer highlighted several in the top corner. The class nodded along, Humanity had introduced the widest range of intoxicants, drugs and other similar chemicals to the galactic community of any species that had entered it.
βThese, are caffeine, alcohol and sugar. These are permitted in the federation under specific licences and on specific planets or stations. For example, as several of you noted in your reports. Ordeen have an reaction to sugar, having evolved on a planet where sucrose density was very low Ordeen describe consuming anything with a high sugar density as an βintense pleasure rushβ though consuming too much can result in vomiting and hyperactivity as well as cardiac damage due to increased blood pressure and heart rate. These are the drugs that can be freely traded, but require licences to sell to the wider public. Generally most federation worlds donβt regulate them very heavily. Humans having carte blanche to purchase them as they see fit. Humans consuming Caffeine almost on a daily basis and sugar being an almost necessity to their survival. While humans consider sugar a necessity due to its effect on Ordeen it has been deemed a βdrug'β' he then moved on to another group
... keep reading on reddit β‘
I have adhd. I am also a committed lay meditator.
I have tried everything to mitigate my ADHD symptoms, exercise nootropics, microdosing, diet, actual sanctioned medication, and many many more.
Having read volumes on the subject of neuro chemistry and tried many, many avenues, I have hit upon a formula, unconventional, granted, but it works.
Strong tea provides enough alkaloid stimulation to keep my dopamine relatively stable as long as i eat two bananas a day for the l tyrosine.
I walk ten ti fifteen miles a day at work.
And i smoke weed, a lot.
If i don't, my life falls apart.
I have a job, I'm a high energy type, I dont play video games, I support my kids and have a successful relationship. I meditate two hours daily. I'm not into the whole stoner deadhead vibe. It contributes to stabilising my adhd, but I smoke a ton.
I see it as medication, having tried all other avenues that are available to me and suffering badly throughout, I've found something that actually works.
Question is, is it an intoxicant?
And thus will it hinder my progress?
(It certainly doesn't seem to, so far)
I'd be interested in opinions.
Metta.
Iβm creating my world for 5 players, most of which get shit faced at every tavern. Sometimes they spend an hour there in some of the last campaigns (ones that I havenβt DMβd). I wanted to add other intoxicants besides alcohol that have some negative/positive affects. Think Fallout and Black Crusade. I want some similar things in my world for them to play around with. Let me know what you think of!
