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King Of All Cosmos · 11-15-2006, 04:00 AM

Is there really anything greater than ganja?

Let me try to address a few varying viewpoints of this topic.

There are those who have no real experience with drugs, maybe becuase they're too young or maybe becuase they're afraid. Neutral for the most part, but probably influenced by the media and those around them.

There are those who have dabbled in drug related things and might've tried it themselves. Against it or not, they aren't into it and don't strongly pick a side. Thus, they're probably open to either culture and are generally neutral.

There are some who are very morally against drug use, maybe because of religion or bad personal experiences. Their beliefs are strong and they may then feel uncomfortable with those who disagree. They will advocate against drug use anytime and are unlikely to be persuaded otherwise.

Oppositely, there are some who are self-proclaimed druggies who regularly use them. They probably are open about it, to a general social extent. To defend their own own way of life, they'll advocate drug use. They might think less of a person in the above category but, like them, are too stubborn to change their own beliefs about the subject.

(Generalizations, of course, are meant to be broken) People in the above categories are probably comfortable with their beliefs; it's what they think is right. So, what is really right? No one and everyone is right: it's purely subjective. Instead of trying to be right, why not try to pursue what's best? This is a personal development forum, after all.

[Slight topic change]

For this threads sake, let's all agree that marijuana is not dangerous for your body and does indeed provide a wonderful feeling of calm bliss/high. So marijuana can alter your brain and put you in a higher consciousness for a time being. As I ask with everything, "what's the best someone can make of this"? The answer isn't to be high every waking moment of your life and I don't think I really have to argue that point much. The truth is, that feeling doesn't last. Intellectually, people may discover things while high (some of these discoveries might also seem significant when high, then turn out to be meaningless and pointless afterwards) but these insights aren't internalized and become fleeting memories of feelings. I don't think this is at good as it gets.

I believe that a state better than the state of 'high' is naturally achieveable, which I believe to be an empowering belief. The oppositely limiting belief is that the wonderful feeling that being 'high' brings you is only achieveable through drugs, limiting effort otherwise. I think that drugs do force you into a higher consciousness but you don't go through the effective steps to get there. Consequently, you will feel different when you 'come down'. Also, being forced into a different consciousness, you will not have complete control over your thoughts or actions (I don't think truly high-conscious people always act high). Losing control over yourself in any way is an undesireable side effect, good or bad. Some might like to 'lose control' but I'd argue that real self mastery in all things means you can feel how you want, when you want. This would include the feeling of 'losing control' but intentially so, with the ability to snap out of it at will. I'm just saying that something greater can be achieved: a permanent state of consciousness with all the insight, happiness and calmness marijuana can naturally bring. This controlled and conscious state of being is a greater goal than what temporary boosts in consciousness can bring.

You could think of the drug marijuana as being to consciousness, what prozac is to general happiness. Meds like prozac can help people find hope and know that they can be happier in life. People who've been on prozac or the like will probably look back on it and say that it felt good, but not normal. Prozac is a crutch if anything becuase you can't just keep taking it forever, else you will never learn to be happy on your own. Happiness takes the development of internal skills that let you feel happy (to put it unconventionally). Prozac is a reward without the deservingness, and thus you don't learn. In the end, you can only help yourself.

Now let's flip it to consciousness and marijuana. Marijuana can make you realize that there is a higher level of consciousness out there but it won't help you learn to get there. You can't literally try to be 'high' all the time; it wouldn't be balanced to do so. Like prozac, you can't take it forever becuase I believe it won't allow you to learn to get that feeling without the drug. Ultimately, I think, a consciousness of complete personal control is a higher goal/consciousness than a consciousness with imcomplete control.

That said, and this being the forum of stevepavlina.com, I think that we should all aim for the highest level of consciousness we can. You may or may not use marijuana in your journey there, but it really should be a crutch to get there, not the preferred end result. With high conscious control, you could gain the universal love, positive calmness and profound insight of marijuana, subtract the lack of complete control and in addition to living this state all day, everyday.

(I'll admit that the flood of chemicals in your brain brought by drugs can't be naturally matched, but the feeling, though unforced, can be naturally imitated) I'd love your opinions on this idea (that means you, reader). Thrash it to bits or add to it, your choice. Maybe there's an even greater ideal?

11-15-2006, 04:00 AM	#35 (permalink)
King Of All Cosmos Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: USA - Mass Posts: 20	Please read this post :) Is there really anything greater than ganja? Let me try to address a few varying viewpoints of this topic. There are those who have no real experience with drugs, maybe becuase they're too young or maybe becuase they're afraid. Neutral for the most part, but probably influenced by the media and those around them. There are those who have dabbled in drug related things and might've tried it themselves. Against it or not, they aren't into it and don't strongly pick a side. Thus, they're probably open to either culture and are generally neutral. There are some who are very morally against drug use, maybe because of religion or bad personal experiences. Their beliefs are strong and they may then feel uncomfortable with those who disagree. They will advocate against drug use anytime and are unlikely to be persuaded otherwise. Oppositely, there are some who are self-proclaimed druggies who regularly use them. They probably are open about it, to a general social extent. To defend their own own way of life, they'll advocate drug use. They might think less of a person in the above category but, like them, are too stubborn to change their own beliefs about the subject. (Generalizations, of course, are meant to be broken) People in the above categories are probably comfortable with their beliefs; it's what they think is right. So, what is really right? No one and everyone is right: it's purely subjective. Instead of trying to be right, why not try to pursue what's best? This is a personal development forum, after all. [Slight topic change] For this threads sake, let's all agree that marijuana is not dangerous for your body and does indeed provide a wonderful feeling of calm bliss/high. So marijuana can alter your brain and put you in a higher consciousness for a time being. As I ask with everything, "what's the best someone can make of this"? The answer isn't to be high every waking moment of your life and I don't think I really have to argue that point much. The truth is, that feeling doesn't last. Intellectually, people may discover things while high (some of these discoveries might also seem significant when high, then turn out to be meaningless and pointless afterwards) but these insights aren't internalized and become fleeting memories of feelings. I don't think this is at good as it gets. I believe that a state better than the state of 'high' is naturally achieveable, which I believe to be an empowering belief. The oppositely limiting belief is that the wonderful feeling that being 'high' brings you is only achieveable through drugs, limiting effort otherwise. I think that drugs do force you into a higher consciousness but you don't go through the effective steps to get there. Consequently, you will feel different when you 'come down'. Also, being forced into a different consciousness, you will not have complete control over your thoughts or actions (I don't think truly high-conscious people always act high). Losing control over yourself in any way is an undesireable side effect, good or bad. Some might like to 'lose control' but I'd argue that real self mastery in all things means you can feel how you want, when you want. This would include the feeling of 'losing control' but intentially so, with the ability to snap out of it at will. I'm just saying that something greater can be achieved: a permanent state of consciousness with all the insight, happiness and calmness marijuana can naturally bring. This controlled and conscious state of being is a greater goal than what temporary boosts in consciousness can bring. You could think of the drug marijuana as being to consciousness, what prozac is to general happiness. Meds like prozac can help people find hope and know that they can be happier in life. People who've been on prozac or the like will probably look back on it and say that it felt good, but not normal. Prozac is a crutch if anything becuase you can't just keep taking it forever, else you will never learn to be happy on your own. Happiness takes the development of internal skills that let you feel happy (to put it unconventionally). Prozac is a reward without the deservingness, and thus you don't learn. In the end, you can only help yourself. Now let's flip it to consciousness and marijuana. Marijuana can make you realize that there is a higher level of consciousness out there but it won't help you learn to get there. You can't literally try to be 'high' all the time; it wouldn't be balanced to do so. Like prozac, you can't take it forever becuase I believe it won't allow you to learn to get that feeling without the drug. Ultimately, I think, a consciousness of complete personal control is a higher goal/consciousness than a consciousness with imcomplete control. That said, and this being the forum of stevepavlina.com, I think that we should all aim for the highest level of consciousness we can. You may or may not use marijuana in your journey there, but it really should be a crutch to get there, not the preferred end result. With high conscious control, you could gain the universal love, positive calmness and profound insight of marijuana, subtract the lack of complete control and in addition to living this state all day, everyday. (I'll admit that the flood of chemicals in your brain brought by drugs can't be naturally matched, but the feeling, though unforced, can be naturally imitated) I'd love your opinions on this idea (that means you, reader). Thrash it to bits or add to it, your choice. Maybe there's an even greater ideal?