Tip 269. Don't drink alcohol. It's everywhere in our society, but in my experience I learned it's not a good thing. I see my friends drink and see how it affects them negatively. Our society pressures us to drink, it does, in so many ways; and it makes it seem normal, sociable, acceptable, preferable, but the fact is that alcohol is a hard drug. It's better not to do any hard drugs, including alcohol, in my opinion - however unpopular that opinion may be.
It's better for the body and mind not to drink alcohol. . . I know how enticing it is, and how much pressure there is to drink. It took me many years to get to the point where I understand myself well enough to just never drink. It's more important to me to know myself, to know the world, with a clear mind. . . and to experience life as fully as possible. I see my friends resort to alcohol sometimes to solve their problems, and I see that negative effects occur. I wouldn't have been able to realize this if it hadn't been for spiritual pursuit, for learning of people such as Bassui Tokushō, and so many others.
I know for people who drink, for my friends included, it is nearly impossible to reverse the view on this. I know they are reluctant to change, having accepted a position, a view on it. Once people get set in their ways they are very reluctant to change any of their views.
I personally think it is a terrible shame how the truth of so many things is covered up by our mass common wisdom. For instance, as Alan Watts points out, mescaline and LSD are medicines for the mind; if used in a purposeful way. Native Americans - bless them - knew this and it was an intrinsic part of their culture; using peyote as a way to access the inner workings of the mind, to access the spiritual world and what have you. But our society is so blind, they really have no clue. Instead they push alcohol like it is the world's clue; have fun in drunkness and oblivion. .
I'm not advocating mescaline, and if you tried it; don't use it to seek thrills because that would be abusing something. As Alan Watts said, "If you get the message, hang up the phone."
The thing is, alcohol works the same way as a hard drug, because it is one. It's a destructive chemical. It's ended many millions of lives and destroyed many millions more. I remember meeting someone named, "Whiskey," who lived under a bridge, and hardly ate anything at all, but always had a whiskey bottle with him. The poor man was hardly human and hardly had any speaking or cognitive ability whatsoever. Two of my grandparents died from it. It kills millions every year.
I am not saying it is evil. It's not. And it's not bad, certainly, if you do take it in extreme moderation. But who does? 1 in 100, if that. My point is, why mess around with a hard drug? It's not necessary to live a happy life; as evinced by the millions of Buddhists, Hindus, and others who happen to live without it. Life is what you make it - your happiness is what you make it. Everyone is responsible for their happiness, and as a side point - I see so many people unhappy about stuff that shouldn't bother them at all. Why let anything make you unhappy? Nothing should, if you realize you create your life, your world, you are the maker of it. It's all your doing.
And it's not better or worse than other hard drugs, like cocaine. If you did cocaine once or twice, but never touched it again, it would have no measurable effect on your lifetime happiness, or your ability to feel happiness. But here's the thing, if you did cocaine habitually it would destroy your brain's ability to experience happiness, to get dopamine and serotonin naturally.
I've experimented with cocaine and alcohol, but only because I was aware of its danger, and only to know what it was like. I only did it because I have complete self control in regards to what goes into my body. I have an absolutely unaddictive personality, and I know there is no possible way I could be addicted. I couldn't be addicted to cigarettes or any other substance because I don't want to, and I would never want to. To be addicted, I would have to throw myself into it, to lose myself, and that would not happen because I don't want that, it would be the worst thing in the world. I know who I am and I'll never lose that.
What I believe happens for many people, is for whatever reason; they aren't in this mind state. They don't have the control - they don't realize they have the control. They don't believe, they don't know they do. They don't know the reality of it, that they can control their actions and mind. It's a truth, you always control yourself; you are never under the control of something else. Even if you are physically addicted to cigarettes, because you chose to choke down the harsh, unpleasant buggers enough hundreds of times so your body developed a dependency, your body still reacts to your brain's signals, and your brain follows your mind's wishes.
I've gone off on a tangent - but I believe the basic thing is that people have any doubt at all in themselves. If don't have any doubt in yourself, if you truly know yourself, then nothing can weaken you. If at some point you conquer yourself, then nothing can conquer you, your mind.
If you attain peace - non-duality - then you'll know a state of consciousness that is higher than anything in the realm of duality. It is higher than any drug can take you, than cocaine or alcohol even. Realizing non-duality is like waking up from a dream, it is like turning everything inside out; it is like being released from an immeasurable time of believing you are a limited, individual, cut off and separate from the universe, to knowing that you are an unlimited existence, at one with the entire universe.
This I experienced and yet years went by before I still realized that alcohol is not a good thing, not helpful in anyway way. The universe is complex, and part of who I am is my past experiences; but where I am now, when I taste it, I realize it is poison, and unhealthy for my body. I've grown more sensitive to things like foods and drinks and anything which goes into my body. And when I drink it, my body immediately tells me it's poison, and to stop.
Ultimately - I am not saying don't drink alcohol. I am, and I am not. I know that it is negative, and that it is a poison and a hard drug, but I know that everyone has to learn this for themselves. There is nothing learned but what is self-discovered. Things have to take their natural course. But as for the evils of alcohol, spend some time with alcoholics. I think the more time you spend with alcoholics the less you will drink alcohol. And I mean those who have really suffered because of their alcoholism. Spend time with an outfit like Uplift, that drives a truck around to feed the homeless. Get to know them - most of them are good people, though a maority have different mental illnesses and alcohol and other drug problems.
But honestly - and I mean this - do what you will. As I said, things must take their natural course, for they will anyway. I'm just posting, writing thoughts, just because I feel sort of the impulse to share what I've experienced, and what I know about human happiness and suffering, and the mind and body - not with an expectation that anyone will read all of this, or understand. I know it is doubtful. But still, it is my hope that someone will consider, and benefit from my thoughts. It is my hope that someone will examine the world and themselves more carefully. Will question what is true - what is real. Where did my opinions come from? Etc. As Descartes did. Why is our society so off-rail on some things? Why is it that it's painted as a legal and safe substance, when in scientific terms it is a hard drug? And why is the reaction so strong, is it not overly so?
But in the end, I don't have any attachment to the results of my effort one way or the other. I hope people will think about what they do and why they do it. And why it is so normal to drink, and why it sounds as such a surprise that it is a hard drug, we never hear it, why we never think of it that way.