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Psychedelic Drugs and Spirituality
The Traditional Perspective
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by Jayaram V
Summary: This essay explores the possible connection between psychedelic
drugs and spiritual or mystic experiences according to the ethical practices of
Hinduism and Buddhism.
Question: Some people claim that they had mystical experiences after taking
drugs and turned to spirituality. Can you please confirm whether the use of
psychedelic drugs or plant and chemical substances to have spiritual
experiences is the right way to practice spirituality?
Let me begin with a confession. I have never taken any recreational
or psychedelic drug in my whole life or used any plant or chemical
substances to stimulate my mind. Not even once. I am often driven
by curiosity to know things, but in this case, I decided to trust my
self-preservation instinct rather than experiment with truth.
Therefore, certainly I am not an authority on this subject. However,
I am conversant with the subject and the issues and problems
associated with it. I will speak from that perspective.
I personally believe that no one should try this method for
heightened spiritual experience, unless one has a qualified guru and
trained well under his or her guidance. Again, this is not a judgment
against the use of such substances for medicinal purposes. The
author is well aware of their importance and their role in alleviating
the pain and suffering which some people undergo due to chronic
and incurable conditions. This is purely an evaluative study on the
efficacy of psychedelic drugs in inducing spiritual and mystical
states in people who use them for experimental reasons or due to
habit.
Use of psychedelic substances in Shamanic
Traditions
The use of mind altering materials and psychedelic drugs in ritual
and spiritual practices is not a recent phenomenon. It has been
practiced in many cultures and in many parts of the world since
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ancient times, especially in the Shamanic traditions of the East and
the West. It has also been practiced in some Tantric traditions of
Hinduism and Buddhism. However, most of these practices
remained confined to esoteric sects and outlier traditions.
Traditionally, plant or chemical substances are used in religious or
spiritual practices for the following purposes.
1. To foresee the future
2. To communicate with gods, ancestors and spirits
3. To heal the mind and body
4. To find solutions to vexing problems
5. To resolve past life issues or hidden problems
6. To overcome mental barriers and inhibitions to experience
higher states of consciousness
Traditional medicine men, oracles and shamans played an
important role in many ancient cultures as healers, spiritual
consultants, godmen and diviners. People consulted them and
followed their advice. They acted as the middlemen between this
world and the spirit world, and between humans and gods. To
establish the communication and read signs from heaven or the
world beyond, they used herbal preparations along with a complex
set of rituals to stimulate their minds and bodies and enter
heightened states of awareness.
Such methods are still popular in some cultures, where outside
influence is minimum, and modern medicine is still not easily
available or affordable. People who rely upon them trust them and
vouch for them because they represent a long-established tradition
and a long lineage of healers and oracles, which in some cases date
back to prehistoric times. These people should not be mistaken for
ordinary drug users. They practice their own kind of spirituality and
are usually initiated and trained by their mentors before they enter
the profession.
Mind altering experiences in Hindu spirituality
In Hinduism, the use of plant and chemical substances in ritual and
spiritual
practices
forms
part
of
the
left-hand
practices
(vamachara). They are viewed rather negatively by common people
and those who follow right-hand practices or conventional methods
(vedachara). The use of plant substances such as Ganja and Bhang
is common in some sects of Shaivism. They are also used on certain
festive occasions by worshippers for exhilaration or enjoyment.
Vedic people believed in the efficacy of both magic and mantras and
followed a tradition of their own. They seemed to have used a plant
substance, the Soma juice to perform Soma rituals. They ritually
extracted it from an unknown plant by the same name and offered it
to gods three times in the day. Probably at the end of the day they
also consumed it as the remains of the sacrifice to experience dream
like states. They also believed in its healing power and its ability to
transport the mind into the higher worlds of gods, celestial beings
and ancestors.
Historians believe that the Soma plant was probably a native species
to the Indian subcontinent, with intoxicating properties. Some
believe that it was more likely a psychedelic mushroom such as the
ones that are used in the Shamanic traditions. However, there is no
proof for either of the assertions. The Vedic hymns point to the act
of pressing the Soma leaves in a wooden press, to extract the juice,
which indicate that it was probably a plant rather than a mushroom.
Secondly, there is no clear proof that Soma juice was an intoxicant.
It could have been a common beverage with some medicinal
properties, more like coffee or herbal tea. It could have also been a
simple, ritual offering, similar to the ones that are used in present
day puja rituals such as coconut water, sweetened water or a curd
preparation. It could also have been a traditional alcoholic drink.
Current trends and experiments with psychedelic
drugs
We live in an age where our value system seems to be turning
upside down. What seemed to be a taboo a few decades or a century
ago now seems to be the norm. When the world has largely come to
accept that tobacco smoking is injurious to health, there is a covert
attempt to legalize the use of certain drugs both for recreation and
medicinal use. Some vested groups who may benefit from drug
trade seem to be funding the research to influence public opinion
and create the general impression that their use is beneficial rather
than harmful.
We are also witnessing a radical change in people’s perception about
psychedelic drugs and their medicinal properties. In recent times,
an idea is gaining acceptance that certain psychedelic drugs such as
LSD,
mescaline,
marijuana,
magic
mushrooms
(psilocybin),
ayahuasca, peyote, etc., induce spiritual and mystic states and
profoundly change human perception about self and the world. The
information is also used to organize and promote recreational
tourism to certain parts of the world.
We also hear about people traveling to remote places in India,
Nepal, the Amazon, Andes, etc., to experience altered states of
consciousness with the help of local Shamans, spiritual healers and
medicine men. It is especially true in case of the elite sections of
society who aspire to indulge in experimental mysticism without
having to invest time and energy in the traditional methods of selftransformation. Some also do it to rationalize or legitimize the use
of drugs, which are banned in many countries, or to popularize
certain beliefs about their spiritual or psychological value.
An analysis of drug induced mystic states
A few studies in this regard do suggest that in experimental
conditions psychedelic drugs may induce mystical states in people
and make them feel deeply spiritual. People may experience
expansive state of awareness or oneness with their surroundings,
accompanied by positive feelings of unbound love, peace and joy.
They may also experience a great rush of energy or overwhelming
emotions. Depending upon their mental state, they may experience
positive or negative emotions.
Some may experience a great sense of freedom and sensitivity and a
flood of memories from their subconscious. Others may experience
overwhelming depression and negativity, with intense feelings of
sorrow, fear or anger as painful memories and experiences of the
past begin to swell in their minds. This is especially true if there are
hidden mental issues or health problems which may come to surface
when the executive functions of the mind are temporarily shut down
by the presence of drugs in the body.
The whole experience may last for a few minutes, hours or days, but
in most cases, it leaves the person completely exhausted or
consumed by its intensity. To some, this is a kind of self-cleansing
or catharsis in itself. People may also experience expansive
awareness or out of body states or oneness with their surroundings,
as their minds become free from the usual conditioning and as the
boundaries, inhibitions and limitations which restrain them in
normal circumstances become weak or disappear.
Such experiences happen because the psychedelic drugs directly
influence the normal functioning of the mind. Under their
influence, the wakeful mind or the rational mind loses its control,
while the primitive brain, which is the seat of raw emotions becomes
active. It is the source of our instinctive emotions such as fear,
anger, etc., which play an important role in our survival. Hence, in
drug induced conscious states, with the rational mind sleeping or
out of control, people feel unrestrained and extremely emotional.
Secondly, in drug induced states the left brain which controls the
rational and logical functions of the mind become less active, while
the right brain which controls the emotions and feelings become
more active. Right brain is also responsible for feelings of love,
empathy,
unity,
spirituality,
heightened
sensitivity,
artistic
appreciation, etc. Further while the left brain reinforces the
separation of the Self or individuality from the external world, the
right brain rather erases it. Hence, people under the influence of
psychedelic drugs may temporarily experience spirituality, unified
expansiveness, or dream like imagery as their minds transition from
wakeful state into dream like states.
Studies also indicate that psychedelic drugs not only induce
spiritual
beliefs
among
users
regarding
death,
afterlife,
transcendence, etc., but also reinforce them and make them more
inclined towards spirituality rather than towards materialism. They
also seem to enhance human empathy and sensitivity towards
others and openness to experiment and experience the unknown
and unfamiliar. However, it is important to remember that most of
these studies have not focused upon the long term effects of the use
of such drugs upon the human mind and body, and whether people
will remain healthy and spiritual after a prolonged use, or what
happens to the initiate response as the time goes by.
Evaluation of drug induced mystic experiences
The use of psychedelic drugs or plant substances to stimulate the
mind for spiritual experiences is fraught with many risks and
harmful consequences if those who practice it are not mentally and
physically pure and well prepared. Unless they have trained
themselves in the virtues of equanimity, stability, sameness,
righteous conduct and self-discipline, overuse of the substances may
lead to habit formation and thereby defeat the very purpose.
Their use is encouraged in neither Hinduism nor Buddhism. The
Hindu law books, or its ethical practice do not approve it. Same is
true with the Dhamma Vinaya (code of conduct) of Buddhism. Both
traditions emphasize the importance of physical and mental purity.
They may show some lenience towards traditional healers and
practitioners of Tantra, since there are some checks and balances in
the systems that choose them and since such people are carefully
chosen after due process by their mentors. Further, they are
expected to undergo intense purification before they qualify to begin
their practice.
Mind altering chemicals and plant medicines do seem to induce in
people altered states of consciousness and certain mystical
experiences as described above. However, one should be aware that
they are not transcendental states or states of meditative absorption
which arise when they mind is completely withdrawn and asleep.
They are rather projections of the mind, which arise within its
confines when it is fully active. From the traditional perspective,
spiritual experiences happen when the mind is fully silent or absent,
not when it is in a state of frenzy or going through a mental storm.
In traditional spiritual practices, mystical experiences arise when
the mind is fully stabilized after a prolonged practice of detachment,
renunciation, equanimity, sameness and mindfulness.
One should also be aware of the side effects and unintended
consequences that may arise when people use psychedelic drugs
without necessary spiritual purity, discipline or preparation. For
example, imagine what may happen if a person with sedentary
lifestyle has suddenly been pushed into an arduous exercise
program, without necessary conditioning. Similar problems may
arise when one uses psychedelic drugs to experience forcefully
altered states of consciousness without corresponding mental or
physical purity and stability. It may even make some people sick
and mentally exhausted, apart from exposing them to the risk of
habit formation.
Artificially induced spiritual or mystic experiences are what they
are, artificial. They do not last long and do not work the same way as
traditional
spiritual
experiences
such
as
enlightenment,
discernment, one pointedness, self-absorption or self-realization.
The chemical stimulants do not silence the mind, but rather excite it
and put it into a state of frenzy. They fire up the neurons in the
brain and create more noise, forcing the mind into a hyper state of
intense chaos. Perhaps it is the chaos of the mind and the unsettling
of its normal functioning with a rapid outburst of thoughts and
images, which create the illusion of déjà vu or a deep spiritual or
mystical experience.
It is similar to what happens when you throw a spanner on a group
of high tension, live electric wires, or when you through a big stone
into the placid waters of a lake. For a brief period, there will be utter
chaos. In the first example, sparks will randomly fly in all directions
and set the place on fire, or it will blow up a few fuses. In case of the
lake, large waves will ripple through its surface and touch the shores
of the lake. It will not only make the waters turbid but also disturb
the life that thrives in it. Similar chaotic conditions manifest when
an untrained and impure mind is forced into heightened awareness
through stimulants or psychedelic or psychoactive drugs. The mind
can neither grasp that experience nor adjust to its intensity, which
in some cases can lead to harmful consequences. It is like driving a
car without any prior experience or knowledge of the road. Truly
speaking, in drug induced states, you are not in control, but the
drug is in control.
The importance of spiritual purity
In this age, where people seek instant gratification, one may be
tempted to follow short cut methods even in spiritual practice. The
question is, should that be even considered? One may always find
new methods and approaches to spiritual practice, but one should
also weigh the consequences and the karma that arises from egoism
and desire-ridden actions. The purpose of spiritual practice
primarily is to undergo spiritual transformation through selfpurification. The path of liberation is made up of purity only.
Without purity, spirituality is just another delusion.
Transformative experiences may happen along the way as a part of
that austere journey, but they should not be forced or artificially
induced. Transcendence should happen by itself as a consequence of
the transformation that happens in the mind and body. All the effort
on the path should be aimed to free the mind from the shackles of
the conditioning to which it is subject, so that one can discern truths
about oneself and the world with greater clarity, without the
intervention of the impurities such as egoism, attachments and
delusion.
The purpose of spiritual practice is to silence the mind, not to excite
it. One may accomplish it by withdrawing the mind and senses and
practising concentration and meditation with detachment and
sameness. Alternatively, one may drive the mind into a state of
frenzy and allow it to exhaust itself so that it will remain subdued
and silent. Both approaches are used in the spiritual traditions of
Hinduism and Buddhism, but they are practiced as part of a holistic
approach in which the emphasis is upon self-purification and
transformation so that one is free from unwholesome thoughts,
tendencies and mental formations.
Both traditions emphasize the importance of ethical practice and
right living to train the mind and body and prepare them for the
higher or altered states of consciousness. Spiritual practice is an allround effort in which both the mind and body are disciplined with
the practice of Yamas and Niyamas (rules and restraints), which
lead to the predominance of Sattva (purity). In Buddhism they form
part of the Vinaya (monastic discipline) or Sila (righteous conduct).
Conclusion
It is true that all paths lead to the same goal of liberation or selfrealization, which is considered the highest and the ultimate goal
(parandhama). However, while the goal is the same, the paths are
not the same. Some are circuitous and extremely perilous. Spiritual
journey in itself is a journey of hardships and multiple sacrifices, in
which you engage in the process unwinding and self-sacrifice. You
sacrifice the unwholesome aspects of yourself to discover the truth
about you or the real person who is hidden deep inside the mind,
beneath layers of formations and accumulations. When you follow
unconventional methods such as the use of mind altering
psychoactive or psychedelic drugs, it becomes even harder. On the
surface, it may seem a better option to circumvent or hasten an
otherwise arduous process, but if you are ill prepared, you may end
up paying a very high price.
Spiritual people may choose any path according to their essential
nature, but they must practice self-purification and right living
before they venture into advanced practices. In the initial stages,
they should focus upon stilling the mind and suppressing the
modifications, rather than exciting them. As the Yogasutras states,
“Yoga means the suppression of the modifications of the mind.”
When the mind is silenced through various practices and
approaches, one experiences meditative absorption (Samadhi), in
which the mind remains completely silent, and one loses all notions
of duality and separation. In Buddhism also, the practice of right
mindfulness and right concentration has to be done in conjunction
with the other aspects of the Eightfold Path such as Right View,
Right Effort, Right Speech, Right Livelihood, etc. Therefore, both
the traditions encourage their followers to follow time tested
traditional methods to practice self-purification and achieve
liberation or Nirvana.
In conclusion, we may say that the common model of spiritual
practice which is practiced in the religious and ascetic traditions
India is based upon certain ethical principles. It points to a holistic
effort, which requires an all-round development of the mind and
body through a comprehensive transformative and purification
process and which cannot be taken lightly. Such an effort may
stretch over several lifetimes. One cannot become a Buddha or seer
with self-induced delusions or by just experimenting with a few
psychedelic drugs, which are known to produce harmful effects on
continuous use. One may experiment with short-cut methods out of
curiosity, but one should be well aware of the inherent risks
associated with their long-term use. Most importantly, spiritual
people cannot ignore the importance of prior preparation, purity
and spiritual guidance in their practice.
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