"And then we run headlong into the question posed by Edg earler, "isn't everything a drug? (or a meditation?)"."
Yes. Particularly in the sense that particular pharmecutical drugs, and street drugs (marijuana, ectasy, cocaine, meth, LSD), and common use drugs (caffeine, alcohol, nicotine) and meditation, yoga, exerciee, various foods, particularly polyphenyl rich ones -- including chocolate, various herbs, all have some effect, some havin a dramatic effect, either on the the level of neurotransmittors, or mimicing them, and/or influencing the reuptake (essentially the bodily process in disabling the nuerotransmitttors), and/or receptor selectivity. To say meditation, natural herbs, yoga organic food "good", and all drugs "bad" is silly when they can have similar, parallel or complimentary neurotransmitor effects. Recognizing some i not all of the above can have ill side effects, particluarly with long term use, including meditation in some circumstances, is a wise approach, IMO. And while Jim's point about integration is quite valid, it may not be an absolute. There is nothing precluding some future time-released drug that balances and optimizes all the various neurotransmittors -- and tunes the system towards being samadhi ready. With little or no side effects. It does not exist now but within 20 years I suggest regular monitoring of nuerotransmittor functioning will be commn place -- as well as modalities, including drugs, pushing the frontiers towards the above integrated optimal, yogic enhancing, samadhi ready states. While optimal functioning of GABA, serotonin, dopamine, transmittors etc, and anandide and endorphins elements with their corresponding receptors may not be a sufficient condition for higher states, but it may well be a necessary one -- or at least near necessary -- or at least a quite benifical factor. No more bi-polar gurus, or manic or depressive/angry, AADD gurus. Whew! What a boon for the world! And instead of unbalance students going on heavy samdhi binges, with disabling and dangerous effects for some, only well balanced ones can / should / will undertake long, sustained samadhi an yogic type practices. And nuerotransmittor pharmacuticals might be tailored for yogic pursuits. GABA is what calms the mind. I had a GABA enhancer prescribed for a week or so for something. Remarkable stuff. The choppy wavy ocean of thoughts just settles down. Not in a drugged out way. In a sweet, clear way. Like what some long meditation might do. I sat and closed the yes and sank almost immediately into a deep clear state. Seretonin levels are a core part of compassion. Designer yogic pharms might up seretonin levels for a period to culture that state. Dopamine is a core part of inner happiness and even bliss, IMO. Same idea for yogic designer parms to enance dpamine for a period. The pharma/yogic path might be to induce via pharms various positive yogic traits, and then via supplemental practices, culture the nervous system to sustain that NT level on its own. Its much easier to culture compassion when living that state deeply, instead of just chatting about it hoping it comes someday. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "jim_flanegin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, new.morning <no_reply@> > wrote: > > > > Re: Whole Brain Functioning - flaws of Unity > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "jim_flanegin" <jflanegi@> > wrote: > > > > > > > > > New morning was talking about drugs earlier as a way to > temporarily > > > alleviate suffering, with the caveat that if we were to use them > as > > > a constant solution, we'd end up like Elvis or Rush Limbaugh (I'm > > > paraphrasing here...). So learning to not suffer is just that, a > > > learning process. Not a solution in a bottle, or a mantra by > itself, > > > or just thinking different thoughts, but an entirely new, > integrated > > > approach, where we transform ourselves in order to in effect > live in > > > a different world. One just as challenging and comprehensive as > that > > > in which we would suffer, but through our hard won skill, > > > perspective and capacity, the suffering is no longer present. > > > > Explaining my thought a bit better, and it is not inconsistent with > > what you write here, what I was suggesting is that better > > neurotransmitter (NT) / receptor (R), and uptake mechanisms, > > particulalrly for dopamine, seratonin, GABA, noraepi, and the > > endorphin receptor complex ARE a large part, if not the whole part > > of happiness. At least relative happiness all the way through the > > ananda kosha. (how such neurotransmittors relate to polishing the > > reflector of Pure Consciousness is a broader and perhaps more > > interesting issue). > > > > I suggested drugs as an example of temporary means of achieving > > "better", aka happier, such neurotransmittor/receptor states. The > > larger question is how to culture and create such NT/R states > without > > drugs. Or via via better supplements than are now available -- > perhaps > > hidden AV rayasanas, soma, etc. > > > > Even Patanjali said siddhis could be achieved via drugs. (And if a > > reflection of Pure Consciousness is necessary for siddhis, then by > > implication drugs could be related to polishing the reflector of > pure > > consciousness.) And Maharishi said enlightnement could be achieved > > through drugs -- either at Humboldt 70 or Squaw Valley 68. The > caveat > > is that they are not referring to current drugs. Still bliss in a > pill > > -- time-released I hope, or permanent IV, > > is possible. > > > > Or perhaps full hatha yoga, pranayams etc are such a way to culture > > such. Or Tai Chi. Or perhaps they culture something else which also > > brings on the bliss. > > > So there seems to be two possible outcomes we're talking about here, > one to alleviate temporary suffering, and one to permanently change > our state of consciousness, or more precisely in the second case, > one to allow us to have full access to all states of consciousness > at any time. > > In the first, we are escaping temporary pain, from a broken leg, or > a funeral for a friend. And for that, drugs can be a blessed though > transient solution. In the second case, though there are many > accounts of people awakening to different points of view through use > of drugs, there doesn't seem to be a way to stay on that plateau > without doing some serious self examination and subsequent learning > through experience. In other words, some integration. > > And with TM, or any other meditation, it is the same. Which I think > causes a lot of confusion with seekers initially, because on the one > hand, it is appropriate to state for example that TM is "IT", in > other words with regular use, AND the attendant reflection, > integration, and eventual wisdom, its use results in freedom from > suffering, but all the seeker focuses on is the tangible element of > the meditation itself, not recognizing the equally critical activity > of taking what is gained from the meditation and integrating it into > one's self. BIIIIG disconnect when that doesn't happen, with weird > results aplenty. Because that integration may as you said so > beautifully earlier mean that we "follow our Shit" hoping that bliss > hitches a ride. However from the teachers of the practice, we hear > more about the benefits. > > Same if we want to do some drugs. The downside is always hidden from > view, or exaggerated to fit someone's agenda. Nonetheless, in both > cases, and including the hatha yoga you mentioned, integration is > the key. And then we run headlong into the question posed by Edg > earler, "isn't everything a drug? (or a meditation?)". >
