I think it is unfair to place Shamanic practices or Left Hand Tantric marg into the same category as recreational hard core drug use. They are totally separate and unrelated. For one thing there is ritual behind it, and worship. Certain sadhus, Aghouris and tribal shaman have used plants for thousands and thousands of years. I don't think we can demonize their practices in the absence of understanding.
I don't believe there is any Sruti which sanctions drug use, and it is scholarly dispute as to the exact nature of Soma. Personally, I have no opinion as it could be some ancient plant with capacity to alter limitation consciousness, or it could refer to yogic amrit from the prana in spinal fluid. Perhaps it is something completely non-material. Regardless, because so many foolish young people think they can try these dangerous drugs while seeking for temporary and delusional pleasures and only go on to develop brain disorders and mental illness is cause enough for alarm. But that is still not fair to shamanic and tantric marg who do utilize a form of plants and drugs in ancient medicinal as well as spiritual practices.
One example I will make is outside of Hinduism, but seems somewhat related and that is the Amazonian plant Ayahuasca. It is one of those consciousness altering plants which the indigenous tribal shaman people worship. I have heard anecdotally that people have been cured of cancer when the wisdom in the plant Deva coursed through their body. So I will not condemn with ignorance or pretended disgust those things which I know little about. I respect proper and right practitioners of their particular paths. Within Sikhism, the Akali Nihang Jatha continues to ingest Sukhnidan bhang tea as coming from a recipe given by tenth Master Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Bhang use along with Jhatka of goats and placing blood tilak on sarbloh shastars is a Shakta carry-over from ancient past. Again, while controversial, certainly disrespected, it has a legitimate purpose it times of war and this was a Kshattriya tradition.
I don't see why we can't have balance in our views. Unless someone has a tantric or shamanic Guru who gives direct instructions, or is amritdhari with Nihang Jatha and conforming to their sadhana and Maryada, use of "drugs" with delusion of obtaining spiritual progress is dangerous.
There are Kaula tantric scriptures which go into some very strange things including alcohol, I don't know if it's written about particular drugs. I do know some Jado tuna people have recipes and prescriptions which use them. But again, this is far from the mainstream and far from Sruti. But I refuse to condemn it either. Left hand path is still a part of the One God. But I believe spiritual casualties are greater the farther from Bhakti and Naam Jap. Even Arjuna rejected the yoga given by Sri Bhagavan Krishna saying it was too hard. In Kali Yuga the simplest and surest path is bhakti and Nama Japa...with a GURU! I don't believe any scripture says you can progress spiritually without a Guru. Those sages and saints who did not have physical Guru still had spiritual Guru or were avatars.
No one will get anywhere with a do-it-yourself project except serious problems and possibly even destruction of their faith, their trust, their spirituality. The dangers of self-deception are too great. Delusion is intoxicating, alluring, and pleasant. Sadhana and spiritual discipline is a lot of work and breaks the ego instead of lifting it.ਕਨਿਕ ਕਾਮਿਨੀ ਸੇਜ ਸੋਹਨੀ ਛੋਡਿ ਖਿਨੈ ਮਹਿ ਜਾਵਤ ਹੇ ॥
kanik kaaminee saej sohanee shhodd khinai mehi jaavath hae ||
You shall have to leave behind your gold, your woman and your beautiful bed; you shall have to depart in an instant.
ਉਰਝਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਇੰਦ੍ਰੀ ਰਸ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਿਓ ਬਿਖੈ ਠਗਉਰੀ ਖਾਵਤ ਹੇ ॥੧॥
ourajh rehiou eindhree ras praeriou bikhai thagouree khaavath hae ||1||
You are entangled in the lures of sexual pleasures, and you are eating poisonous drugs. ||1||
ਤ੍ਰਿਣ ਕੋ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਸਾਜਿ ਸਵਾਰਿਓ ਪਾਵਕੁ ਤਲੈ ਜਰਾਵਤ ਹੇ ॥
thrin ko mandhar saaj savaariou paavak thalai jaraavath hae ||
You have built and adorned a palace of straw, and under it, you light a fire.
ਐਸੇ ਗੜ ਮਹਿ ਐਠਿ ਹਠੀਲੋ ਫੂਲਿ ਫੂਲਿ ਕਿਆ ਪਾਵਤ ਹੇ ॥੨॥
aisae garr mehi aith hatheelo fool fool kiaa paavath hae ||2||
Sitting all puffed-up in such a castle, you stubborn-minded fool, what do you think you will gain? ||2||
ਪੰਚ ਦੂਤ ਮੂਡ ਪਰਿ ਠਾਢੇ ਕੇਸ ਗਹੇ ਫੇਰਾਵਤ ਹੇ ॥
panch dhooth moodd par thaadtae kaes gehae faeraavath hae
The five thieves stand over your head and seize you. Grabbing you by your hair, they will drive you on.
~SGGS Ji ang 821
Physical deterioration of a crack addict from police photos.
We wouldn't have prostitution, crime, insanely senseless brutal attacks resulting from drug use if it were benign, or if the consciousness were purified by such use. Rather the spectrum of crimes and physical deterioration from misuse of drugs reflects the deepest hellish states of consciousness and criminality lurking in the dark side of our potential. How can darkness like this even pretend to be light?
ਦੁਖੁ ਦਾਰੂ ਸੁਖੁ ਰੋਗੁ ਭਇਆ ਜਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਤਾਮਿ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥
dhukh dhaaroo sukh rog bhaeiaa jaa sukh thaam n hoee ||
Suffering is the medicine, and pleasure the disease, because where there is pleasure, there is no desire for God.
~SGGS Ji ang 469
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Originally Posted by sanjaya
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