DMB and mds
My inclination is to say that a clear drug-free mind is the must suitable
for Zen. However I don't know much about the subject and would not like to
dismiss the use of drugs until I have enough information to make an
informed decision. I'm interested in any ideas, experiences or references
you have on the subject.
I didn't take the bus to school but did get stoned in the basement and in
the park behind the school. It was pretty good fun. My friends who did the
same are now successful and productive adults. I've used marijuana
occasionally ever since then. But I had one experience that kind of made me
lose my interest in it in my final year at college. As would often happen I
had a fit of giggles. A friend was making it worse by deliberately saying
bizarre things to make me laugh even more. All good fun outwardly but at
one point I realized I wasn't really happy. Sure, I was laughing but it
wasn't real somehow. It wasn't the same true happiness that you feel when
sharing a real joke with a good friend. I felt I was cheating myself -
cheap happiness, to use John's expression.
But obviously the above is recreational drug use and I'm talking about
marijuana, not peyote. I think the context and details of the drug use are
important in determining the quality of experience that results. When
Pirsig took peyote it was during an Indian ceremony with people who were
experienced and knowledgeable about it. From my own experience I've found
that the most pleasing experiences have been when I've taken only a small
amount in circumstances in which I already felt safe and relaxed. So it
occurs to me that the drugs have to be taken in the correct way and with
the correct attitude if the experience is to be something more than just a
kick.
There are lots of paths to Zen. Pirsig suggests that drugs are a
de-hallucinogen in chap 3, not a hallucinogen. I don't know if he's right
or not, but if anyone has anything constructive to share on the subject
then I'm certainly interested.
Diana
MOQ Online Homepage - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archive - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
Unsubscribe - http://www.moq.org/md/index.html
MD Queries - horse@wasted.demon.nl
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Sat Aug 17 2002 - 16:03:13 BST