Do drugs raise consciousness or make you go unconscious

[Erock]

Hey everybody, I am curious as to what effect drugs have on one's consciousness. I have never used drugs, and have never even drank alcohol, but I am curious as to what effect they have on one's consciousness. I have read differen't things, both of which make sense.

I have read that they artifically raise your consciousness, maybe a 100 or even 200 points on the Hawkins scale. This argument makes sense, as people often describe it as getting 'high.'

I have also read that they make you go unconscious, or they shut off the conscious mind partially or completely (depending on how much you use). This also makes sense, as people often don't remember what happened, and tend to act on impulses that they normally might not if they were conscious.

So what's the deal? What do you guys think?

Erock

[ethereal]

Drugs can only "shut off" lower states of consciousness temporarily. The "high" that is experienced is only the natural state that prevails when lower states of consciousness are transcended. Thus, the warnings about how drugs can often set people back spiritually should be well heeded; people can get addicted to the "high" and depressed from the "crash" that is experienced when the state inevitably ends.

However, certain drugs that were taken with spiritual intention, i.e. treated as a sacred ritual and for the intention of experiencing higher spiritual states in order to advance spiritually, may help people along their spiritual journey. You "see" what's coming up ahead, and the experience drives you to "return home" so to speak. However, it's just a tool to normal spiritual development, just gives people direct experience of what they previously held to be true on faith at best, and may distract or hinder you from your path at worst.

[Sacred-Dances]

I would say that sometimes drugs can relax,or in some way trigger you to see things that you're conciousness would normally block out.Those are things that are already there in your subconcoious waiting to be noticed.You don't need drugs to "see".There are all types of meditation and techniqes to raise conciousness.If that intrest you I would get in touch with some meditation groups and research you're intrest, start there.I would'nt advise anyone to use drugs if they want to raise conciousness,or for any reason.It's dangerous and of course illegal.You're really just going to fry you're mind.Sorry if I sound like I'm preaching.It sounds like you're curious that's not necescarily a bad thing.Do some reseach on healthy ways to raise conciousness,even if you don't pursue anything it would be intresting to research.
But,to answer you're question I think drugs can both open your mind and close it.Depending on the individgual and other circumstances.That may not be much of a help.There are so many factors involved.I don't think there's anyway to say.You're only going to open your subconcious though.It definetely can close your subconcious too,there's no doubt about that.Ultimately I don't think anyone can say,and I don't really know.Just my thoughts on the subject.

[Erock]

Yeah either way I wasn't planning on using them. Actually, I'm curious because my friends talk about them, and I'm trying to relate their experiences to the different levels of consciousness.

[ethereal]

Interesting Yeah, I actually don't know too much about it either but from what it sounds like, people are experiencing the levels of 540-580 (unconditional love, joy, ecstasy, bliss, satori or mini-enlightenment). If their intentions aren't set correctly, they can also plunge into negative or lower states of consciousness as well. It's all in the intention, might want to give your friends a tip

[AndyMartin]

Depends on which ones, depends on the mind in which you use them, depends on your state at the time. There is no blanket "they are good for consciousness" or "they are bad for consciousness," but if there's any question, you can't go wrong by abstaining. You can never go wrong clean, but it's very easy to go wrong using. Even in the best case, no drug will cause growth on it's own; at most they will simply facilitate a temporary state of consciousness. And while that can help you perceive the possibilities of conscious growth, don't confuse a state of consciousness with a stage of conscious development. Growth comes from practice, so you're better off avoiding drugs and seeking growth directly.

[Matthew Shea]

Originally Posted by ethereal

Interesting Yeah, I actually don't know too much about it either but from what it sounds like, people are experiencing the levels of 540-580 (unconditional love, joy, ecstasy, bliss, satori or mini-enlightenment). If their intentions aren't set correctly, they can also plunge into negative or lower states of consciousness as well. It's all in the intention, might want to give your friends a tip

In general, I have to agree with this. There are always exceptions, but, using the example of alcohol, medical science tells us it's a depressant. In reality, alcohol is known to strip away your inhibitions which, under certain circumstances, can result in some keen insights into an imbiber's personality that may have been supressed in his/her unintoxicated state. Having regained sobriety, the imbiber can use those insights to further personal development and work on character flaws that may have been exposed.

Having said all this, I firmly believe that the reality of this world is that drugs (incl. alcohol) are used almost exlusively as an escape and result in the overall lowering of consciousness due to the users' intention to forget about their problems, causing a failure to deal with them and a failure to improve one's self or one's situation.

Edit: I'll add that, in most cases, I'm very suspicious of any claims that drugs increase one's consciousness. Given their mostly illicit nature, there's always a motivation to come up with a justification for using mind-altering substances. Raising consciousness is one of the few excuses that can make a harmful drug sound like a positive experience. Also, based on what I've read, to even consider using drugs is a very selfish, low-consciousness thing to do in the first place. (Can anyone imagine Steve whacked out on drugs? I can't.)

[Erock]

Yeah, actually I was trying to explain to them about the levels of consciousness stuff, as they were interested, and I was trying to relate the higher levels of consciousnses to experiences they understand and was wondering if the effect felt when one is 'high' is an accurate description, or if that is going another direction.

[OldTex]

have experiences with spirits - either earthbound or here for another reason, and they try to drink (beer, wine, vodka) to help them deal with it, but in reality I feel it simply makes matters worse.

I'm not opposed to having a few - I brew my own beer - but I find my abilities are both enhanced by the drink, but my defenses are also affected. I drop my guard and absorb way too much negative energy.

I will say this - some drugs used by Native Americans in rituals, when used in a ritual with protection and used as the drug should be used, it OK. This is what they're here in the planet for... to be used, but not recreationally..

This is for naturally occurring drugs, not synthetic drugs. I feel synthetic drugs might be designed to help suppress abilities - lower our vibrational being, and thus are harmful.

[Sacred-Dances]

I'd agree almost entirely with what's been said.Pondering it all.
It is true the Native Americans and other indeginous people use drugs for rituals and spiritual practices.This is within a spiritualy based society and not a consumer,economic driven society.The potential for abuse is not a factor for them.Their use is strictly for spiritual practices.Our situation is greatly different,potential for misuse and lower conciousness is great,as well as "bad trips" and other negative consequences.
If my stuation was as the indeginous peoples is. I would probably use drugs to expand conciousness with rituals and such.Based within a spiritual society,and spiritual practices,...that is not my situation.I'll have to leave that for the better qualified.I don't think much about.Although I wonder much of my own strange and rather unexplainable expieriences and seek to understand those.I'm also an information junkie,can't help it,lol.I'm completely facinated with the world!!!There is an infinite amount to be learned,about an infinite amount of things.It's amazing!!