Basic HTML Version
Ambouodor Collogo
Pholo
respectable mystique a.round drug usage
is an ancient practice. Mysticism Jends
an aura of pseudo-sacredness to the
chemically induced sensations. It makes
people feel "respectable."
Eastern religions such as Zen Bud–
dhism, Hace Krisbna, Zoroastrianism,
Chinese astrology, and even the worship
of Om, the great god of gods, as he is
called, are popular with Western drug
cultists. There is one interesting fact:
People who search for enlightenment
through the use of drugs usuaHy end
up following the teachings of another
man
and not "drug-revealed" truths.
In fact, many of the latest religious
movements totally reject marijuana ex–
perience. They had discovered the sham
of the religious myth espoused
by
marijuana users.
Thc Jesus People, for example, claim
that by retuming to what they believe
to be a basic, fundamentalistic version
of Christianity they no longer need the
mind-expanding drugs, induding mari–
juana. The ironic thing is that many
of these people are right back where
they started. They rejected their old
religion for the drug rulture - and
now have come right back to the old
religion, this time embellished with
youthful enthusiasm and a touch of
neo-Pentecostalism.
At any rate, marijuana did not en–
lighten them, or anyone clse.
Pot vs. the Martini
You have probably heard the oft–
repeated question, "Jf you smoke and
drínk, why do you hassle us when we
blow grass?"
It
is a philosophícal ques–
tion few adults understand.
It is an old argument, used mainly
by the young to prove that marijuana
is better than a martíni, beer or whiskey.
Alcohol has probably been abused
more tban any other drug in hístory,
but wítb marijuana, one
always
smokes
to get stoned. There is no way or
reason to use pot "moderately." On
the other hand, there
iJ
a balanced use
of alcoholic beverages. Read ít - in
your Bíble: " ... Use a Jittle wine for
thy stomach's sake and thine often
infirmities," the apostlc Paul wrote to
Timothy (I Tim. 5:23).
But askíng "Whích is worse- get–
ting drunk oo bourbon
oc
getting
stoned on pot?" ís irrelevant. Both
actions are equally bad . In both cases
the participant loses control of certaio
mental faculties. This may seem very
pleasant to him, but can be obnoxious
or dangerous to those around hím.
The young person stoned on pot
is doing essentially the same thing as
his father who gets druok on the
weekend. Both are running from life.
Both are hiding from pressures. Botb
are putting momentary pleasurc above
personal responsibility.
Each needs help. And each needs to
be shown a better way of Jife, rather
than a better way of getting stoned.
Drug Use Only a Symptom
Marijuana use will become more
widespread beforc the current trends are
reversed. The reason why is d ear. Drug
use in general is a
symptom
-
not the
real sickness.
Wbat
iJ
the real sickness? To under–
stand the answer, put yourself in the
43
shoes of a modero youtb.
If
you were
twenty years old today, what would be
the exciting goals or values you could
build your life around?
The family? lt's generaHy unhappy
and often falling apart. Religion? It's
lloundering. Defense of national ideals?
They hardly exist.
Cities are growing more polluted,
more distant from Nature. We seem to
place little value on the trees, the
grass, pure water, the suruise and sun–
set. World news is replete with vio–
lencc, opprcssion, aimlessness, death,
and the threat of nuclear warfare.
Meanwhile the affiuent nations have
automobiles, washing machines, wall–
to-wall carpeting, and eight-to-five jobs,
but they lack long-Jasting purpose
needed to really enjoy the best from
life. Therc seems to
be
no particular
purpose, no catalyst to make it aJJ
worthwhile. To say that the future does
not look altogether bright for the
human cace is an understatement.
The real sickness lies in not knowing
wherc the world is heading. The sick–
ness is
1101
having true spiritual knowl–
edge
oc
a purpose for living. The sick–
ness is not the
use
of a drug, but the
fact that people need drugs at all!
Marijuana is, indeed, dangerous, not
just because of what it
can
do, but
because of what it
can't
do.
It
can't
solve the problems that desperately
need solving; it can't give direction to
aimless life; it can't bring happiness
and purpose to an unhappy world.
The way to solve the marijuana
problem is not through legalization or
stricter punishment for use of the drug.
The solution is to create a bctter
altcrnative. And that alternative in–
volves a recognition of the true mean–
ing and purpose of life.
For an in-depth understanding of
the basic laws which guarantee
complete
sr1ccess
in life, please write for our
free booklet,
The Sevm l.Aws of Sllc–
cess.
This booklet graphically explains
these principies - seven of them -
and shows their important interconnec–
tion in
yo11r life.
Write to the address
nearest you for your free copy. O