The cannabis plant serves A Thousand Purposes and is a remarkably renewable resource (it literally grows like a weed). This global shift towards legalization is long overdue, and offers hope that we can yet reverse the absurd suppression and violent defamation this sacred plant has suffered in the last century.
In his book Shiva’s Broken Dream— detailing the world history of cannabis and the powerful movements to vilify it — Mel Thomas relates how,
"The Vedas… describe how cannabis was created when the Gods stirred the heavenly oceans with the peak of Mount Mandara. A drop of amrita (heavenly nectar) fell from the sky and a sacred cannabis plant sprouted on the spot. Lord Siva brought the cannabis plant down from Mount Mandara for the pleasure of Mankind and for this the plant was consecrated to him [Siva]."
Indeed, there are some intriguing theories that the cognitive and spiritual evolution of mankind was due in part to our interaction with sacred plants acting as vehicles for higher consciousness. For example, did you know Mushroom Spores Can Survive The Vacuum Of Outer Space?
The Ayurvedic tradition recognizes marijuana (known as vijaya in Sanskrit) as a Medicinal Herb. However, it is only ever recommended in miniscule doses, and always in combination with other more sattvic herbs to balance the tamasic effects of cannabis.
Alakananda Ma, a highly respected spiritual teacher and doctor of Ayurveda, acknowledges marijuana as "a muscle relaxant, euphoriant and analgesic" in Her Article on the topic. She explains,
"Although long revered in India as a sacred plant of Shiva, ganja has, as we have seen, significant physical, emotional and spiritual impacts. In its ancient cultural setting, it has for centuries been used by world renouncing sadhus in conjunction with fasts and severe austerities.
"In such a context, ganja could potentially be of value on the spiritual path, although this author has rarely met a ganja-smoking sadhu who had attained the ultimate goal. Taken out of its cultural context and introduced into a party lifestyle unheard-of in ancient tradition, ganja has become far more problematic."
This is a crucial point. Neo-hippies and new age spiritualists often invoke the use of ganja as an ancient and therefore legitimate tool on the road to enlightenment. What these invocations generally lack, however, is the proper ceremonial context and attendant sattvic lifestyle habits that accompanied the practice in the past. Ritualistic inhalation of a sacred herb on rare, auspicious occasions is very different than daily spliffs or perfunctory bong rips.
As it is, marijuana is a common form of self-medication. Different people smoke different strains for different reasons. In Ma’s article, she provides a breakdown of these types according to the doshas:
"Vata smokes Marijuana calm down; pitta to "mellow out" and to feel less angry and driven; kapha to suppress deep-seated grief."
Ma goes on to describe the phases that arise subsequent to ganja use, showing how it progresses through the Gunas and acts as a "short-term euphoriant and long-term depressant":
"In the initial euphoria phase, the sattva guna is activated. Later, as giggles and 'munchies' set in, rajas predominates. Finally, the long-term effect is that of tamas, leading to a dull and foggy state of mind. Within this fog, the insights supposedly received under the mildly psychedelic impact of ganja cannot be integrated in any valuable way."
This description is consistent with this author’s experience. It’s A Tricky Business, because when the euphoric effect has worn off and you awaken from your nap, all you remember is the euphoria. The subtle effects are lost in the mix, and it appears to have been a bit of harmless, perhaps even enlightening fun.
Thus, habitual use becomes prajnaparadh, or a "crime against wisdom," wherein we know something is harmful, but we do it anyway. Ayurveda then provides valuable perspective, offering reminders of the negative consequences of marijuana use. As Ma says,
"[Marijuana is] a liver toxin. An important physical impact of Marijuana is sub-clinical hepatitis, a condition in which the liver is chronically congested, resulting in irritability, low-grade depression, slow wound healing, burning sensations, rashes, allergies and yellowish eyes."
- See more at: http://www.gaia.com/article/ayurvedic-approach-marijuana#sthash.GCiqunSw.dpuf
Also:
The Ayurvedic View of Marijuana
http://www.mapi.com/blog/the-ayurvedic-view-of-marijuana.html
In his book Shiva’s Broken Dream— detailing the world history of cannabis and the powerful movements to vilify it — Mel Thomas relates how,
"The Vedas… describe how cannabis was created when the Gods stirred the heavenly oceans with the peak of Mount Mandara. A drop of amrita (heavenly nectar) fell from the sky and a sacred cannabis plant sprouted on the spot. Lord Siva brought the cannabis plant down from Mount Mandara for the pleasure of Mankind and for this the plant was consecrated to him [Siva]."
Indeed, there are some intriguing theories that the cognitive and spiritual evolution of mankind was due in part to our interaction with sacred plants acting as vehicles for higher consciousness. For example, did you know Mushroom Spores Can Survive The Vacuum Of Outer Space?
The Ayurvedic tradition recognizes marijuana (known as vijaya in Sanskrit) as a Medicinal Herb. However, it is only ever recommended in miniscule doses, and always in combination with other more sattvic herbs to balance the tamasic effects of cannabis.
Alakananda Ma, a highly respected spiritual teacher and doctor of Ayurveda, acknowledges marijuana as "a muscle relaxant, euphoriant and analgesic" in Her Article on the topic. She explains,
"Although long revered in India as a sacred plant of Shiva, ganja has, as we have seen, significant physical, emotional and spiritual impacts. In its ancient cultural setting, it has for centuries been used by world renouncing sadhus in conjunction with fasts and severe austerities.
"In such a context, ganja could potentially be of value on the spiritual path, although this author has rarely met a ganja-smoking sadhu who had attained the ultimate goal. Taken out of its cultural context and introduced into a party lifestyle unheard-of in ancient tradition, ganja has become far more problematic."
This is a crucial point. Neo-hippies and new age spiritualists often invoke the use of ganja as an ancient and therefore legitimate tool on the road to enlightenment. What these invocations generally lack, however, is the proper ceremonial context and attendant sattvic lifestyle habits that accompanied the practice in the past. Ritualistic inhalation of a sacred herb on rare, auspicious occasions is very different than daily spliffs or perfunctory bong rips.
As it is, marijuana is a common form of self-medication. Different people smoke different strains for different reasons. In Ma’s article, she provides a breakdown of these types according to the doshas:
"Vata smokes Marijuana calm down; pitta to "mellow out" and to feel less angry and driven; kapha to suppress deep-seated grief."
Ma goes on to describe the phases that arise subsequent to ganja use, showing how it progresses through the Gunas and acts as a "short-term euphoriant and long-term depressant":
"In the initial euphoria phase, the sattva guna is activated. Later, as giggles and 'munchies' set in, rajas predominates. Finally, the long-term effect is that of tamas, leading to a dull and foggy state of mind. Within this fog, the insights supposedly received under the mildly psychedelic impact of ganja cannot be integrated in any valuable way."
This description is consistent with this author’s experience. It’s A Tricky Business, because when the euphoric effect has worn off and you awaken from your nap, all you remember is the euphoria. The subtle effects are lost in the mix, and it appears to have been a bit of harmless, perhaps even enlightening fun.
Thus, habitual use becomes prajnaparadh, or a "crime against wisdom," wherein we know something is harmful, but we do it anyway. Ayurveda then provides valuable perspective, offering reminders of the negative consequences of marijuana use. As Ma says,
"[Marijuana is] a liver toxin. An important physical impact of Marijuana is sub-clinical hepatitis, a condition in which the liver is chronically congested, resulting in irritability, low-grade depression, slow wound healing, burning sensations, rashes, allergies and yellowish eyes."
- See more at: http://www.gaia.com/article/ayurvedic-approach-marijuana#sthash.GCiqunSw.dpuf
Also:
The Ayurvedic View of Marijuana
http://www.mapi.com/blog/the-ayurvedic-view-of-marijuana.html
