Yo, what’s up y’all? My name’s Dan and I’m here to chat about Buddhism. Now, I know it ain’t the most popular religion in North America with less than 1 percent of people identifying as Buddhists, but let me tell you, its ideas are everywhere. You got the Beastie Boys singing about it, Star Wars alluding to it, and even some celebrities like Orlando Bloom, Harrison Ford, and Richard Gere are all about it. Steve Jobs was down with Buddhism too. And let’s be real, nothing screams zen and peaceful like smoking some weed, which is probably why Buddha’s name translates to “Awakened One” in Sanskrit.
Buddhism is one of the biggest religions in the world and it started in India 2,500 years ago. Buddhists believe that life is full of suffering and the only way to achieve enlightenment or nirvana is through meditation, spiritual and physical labor, and being a good person.
The Four Noble Truths are the foundation of Buddhism, but honestly they don’t explain everything. They’re all about suffering, the cause of suffering, how to end suffering, and the path to end suffering. Pretty deep stuff if you ask me.
Now here’s something interesting – Buddhism is not about getting lit. In fact, they’re all about discouraging alcohol and other substances that intoxicate you. Even though there are a ton of different Buddhist traditions across various countries, alcohol has been frowned upon since the beginning. Smoking weed might help you chill out and feel like you’re in a zen state of mind, but it doesn’t exactly fit with Buddhism’s beliefs on intoxicants.
The Dalai Lama himself isn’t a fan of recreational marijuana use, but he did say in 2014 that he supports legalizing medical marijuana when it’s been shown to have value. According to Buddhist teachings, you should refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs that lead to heedlessness, which could include cannabis. However, there are some interpretations that specifically refer to alcohol as being against the Fifth Precept.
But here’s where it gets interesting – cannabis and some other psychoactive plants are actually prescribed for medicinal purposes in the Mahākāla Tantra. And let me tell you, medical marijuana has converted people from all walks of life, including Buddhists. They appreciate its healing nature, fewer side effects, and low cost. Science even says that it improves quality of life.
At the end of the day, Buddhism is all about wishing happiness for all beings. So if smoking weed makes you happy, go for it. But remember that it’s not exactly in line with Buddhist teachings. Just be mindful and don’t overdo it.
So there you have it, folks. Buddhism might not be the most popular religion around, but its ideas are everywhere. And while they might not exactly condone getting high, they’re all about spreading happiness and that’s something we can all get down with.
