What Would The Buddha Smoke?

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What Would The Buddha Smoke?

- by C. Thorkildzen

What would The Buddha think about Medical Marijuana use? From what we know about the history of marijuana, with its ritual and geographical elements, it seems almost certain that The Buddha would have had access to marijuana in some form. We know of his love for flowers from the chapter of the Dhammapada (The Buddha's Law) called "Flowers"; he also believed everyone should have a favorite flower. In some parts of the world The Buddha's teachings are thought of as medicine for the good of all beings, and he is stylized in painting and statue as the blue-skinned Medicine Buddha. Practitioners of the "Middle Way," as well as Buddhologists, seem to have all kinds of different views on whether Medical Marijuana use falls on the acceptable or unacceptable side of the all-important 5th lay precept: "To refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness (specifically, drugs and alcohol)." The Buddha himself, although fully entrenched in the quicksand of "religious iconism," should really be remembered/revered as the historical creator of "The Law of Cause and Effect." Most other crap attributed to The Buddha is bullshit developed after his death and based on a lot of assumptions, logical or otherwise.

From the point of view of The Buddha's Law of Cause and Effect, the effect of Medical Marijuana's use will be soothing pain relief and a calming and ending of stress and suffering. It's comforting to know that the "ending of suffering" was the ultimate reason The Buddha walked around the Ganges for 40-plus years, teaching. For practitioners of The Middle Way it should always be about suffering. Not causing it for yourself or anyone or anything else and using "skillful" methods for alleviating suffering and stress in general, i.e., "Live & Let Live" behavior, breath meditation, healthy simple diet, being focused, attentive and in the moment at all times. If the legal, medical use of marijuana is helpful towards these ends, it is skillful and The Buddha would endorse its use. Practitioners of The Middle Way using marijuana should consider themselves "in good stead" within the Family (Sangha), of Buddhist Lay followers. Namaste!

- C. Thorkildzen is a Seattle-based Buddhist

Photo: Buddha at Angkor Wat - a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation - first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. It is the world's largest religious building. - Wikipedia

This story originally published in Mary Jane Magazine #4 , Spring 2011.