Getting High: On Drugs, Medication Or Meditation?

We all seek that rush or high, the feel-good factor that turns us on and makes us feel that we can succeed and even conquer the world. Getting high is one of the great pleasures of life and that is why so many people find different ways to do it, whether through alcohol, the use of recreational drugs, such as marijuana, or prescription drugs, such as pain killers, all of which aim at altering our consciousness enough that our present reality becomes workable and even enjoyable.

In 2007 66% of high school seniors regularly drank alcohol, 31% smoked dope, while 10% used other opiates. Among adults, according to data from the 2006 National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) 112 million Americans (45% of the population) reported illicit drug use at least once, 15% reported use of a drug within the past year, and 8% reported use of a drug within the past month. Vicadin is one of the most widely prescribed painkillers and it is used and abused by teenagers and adults alike.

This adds up to a lot of people and, as we all know, reported statistics are often very short of the mark. Most of us have "inhaled" at least once. Although pot is a party drug and in some cases considered sacred weed, there are also many known side effects, such as addiction (Ed remembers his friend Judy saying, "I'm not addicted; I've just been smoking grass for 20 years."), mental disturbance, and erratic behavior. Vicadin is now likely to be banned, along with Percocet, because it is detrimental to the liver, while alcohol is damaging not only to the liver but also to relationships.

In his twenties in NYC, Ed was a part of the generation that took drugs freely and often. It was a time of Be Ins and Love Ins, when Ed hung out with Tim Leary and Ram Dass who promoted LSD, with poet Allen Ginsberg, and the author of One Flew Over The Cookoo's Nest, Ken Kesey. Then he met Swami Satchidananda, who said that if the LSD pill can make you a saint then you should be able to take a pill to be a doctor, a lawyer, or a scientist, because being a saint is much more difficult than those! Satchidananda then introduced Ed to yoga and meditation.

"I was blown away with meditation as it didn't have the side effects of dope -- no laziness, munchies, or coming down. I realized this was a great alternative as I was getting just as high, but without the negatives. My mind was clear, alert and and focused." Ed then went to India to train and his teacher there, Swami Satyananda, said how taking LSD was like shooting a bullet to Nirvana but not knowing how you got there, while meditation was like learning the route in detail.

The word meditation and the word medication have the same prefix derived from the Latin word medicus, meaning to care or to cure, indicating that meditation is the most appropriate medicine or antidote for stress; a quiet calmness is the most efficient remedy for a busy and overworked mind.

Our new book BE THE CHANGE - How Meditation Can Transform You and the World helps us to understand how we can become free without drugs -- a natural high without the hangover!

Five Reasons Why Meditation is the Best Natural High

1. Rather than adding toxins into our system, meditation is a way to clean out.

2. Meditation purifies our nervous system and mind in such a way that we see our present reality with greater clarity. Creativity is enhanced and solutions to difficulties arise so we can be with whatever is happening, rather than trying to hide from it.

3. The madness of the mind is likened to a drunken monkey bitten by a scorpion. With meditation, this begins to calm down and we can make friends and peace with our mind, so we can be free of the craziness.

4. Meditation opens our heart to love, joy and compassion, and there certainly isn't anything as high as the power of love!

5. Meditation gets us high on life. It enables us to enjoy life to it's fullest, to enjoy breathing, walking, a sunset, and the simple beauty of being alive!

What high moments have you experienced? Do let us know, as we would love to hear from you! You can receive notice of our blogs every Thursday by checking Become a Fan at the top.

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Ed and Deb Shapiro's new book, BE THE CHANGE, How Meditation Can Transform You And The World, forewords by the Dalai Lama and Robert Thurman, with contributors such as Marianne Williamson, astronaut Edgar Mitchell, Byron Katie, Michael Beckwith, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Jane Fonda, Jack Kornfield, Ellen Burstyn, Ed Begley, Dean Ornish, Russell Bishop, Gangaji and others, will be published November 3rd 2009 by Sterling Ethos.

Deb is the author of the award-winning book YOUR BODY SPEAKS YOUR MIND. Ed and Deb are the authors of over 15 books, and lead meditation retreats and workshops. They are corporate consultants, and the creators of Chillout daily inspirational text messages on Sprint cell phones. See: www.EdandDebShapiro.com

Follow Ed and Deb Shapiro on Twitter: www.twitter.com/edanddebshapiro

Comments

[Gregory Ashby]

My dearest Ed and Deb
Where do I start. Meditation has been a part of my live since I was teenager. Like most of us
in my early years life got in the way and meditation was not practiced regularly. But as I have
got older this practice has turned into a way of life. Now I am here with it is part of me and
it not a practice but my life. Recently I discovered a new enhancement tool that has taken
me even deeper. Its called Flow dreaming. Go to flowdreaming.com for more. I am now
blogging about this flow in writings and poems. You can read it @
http://theflowprocess.blogspot.com
>3Greg

[Shaas]

Reading all these nice words and thoughts bout Meditation, we should not forget that meditation has a wide scientific backing.
For example, there are over 600 scientific research works on Transcendental Meditation published alone. Refer to Collected Papers: Scientific Research on Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation, Vol. 1 - 5!

[Marklar]

I would agree that meditation is pretty freakin great.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Marklar

You betcha!

In the groove,

Ed

[Darren Littlejohn]

Thanks for the great article. Without meditation, I would be completely off my rocker.

I quote some similar stats in my book, the 12-Step Buddhist. I've worked hard on coming up with ways that addicts can use meditation practices with the 12 Steps as a way of deepening the spiritual experience.

I don't, however, see meditation as any kind of "high" or escape. It's more about increasing the ability to cope with what's happening in our often chaotic emotional lives.

-d

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Darren Thabks for you comment

I too would be off my rocker without meditation

I heard of your book the 12-Step Buddhist .. great title

language is something we all have to agree on.. as it is the way we do communicate ..we do our best

So for lack of any way to express it in relationship to our blog and as an ex- indulger

meditation is greater than any high I ever experience...

saying that Nirvana...Samadhi is the result of meditation the best darn high I ever entered into

Joyfully,

Ed

[vorpalmusic]

I have tried earnestly various techniques of meditation, and found that for me nothing works nearly as well as certain non-toxic sacred mushrooms that have been used for many millennia for the same purpose. It is not "like shooting a bullet to Nirvana but not knowing how to get back there", you simply eat more of them: that's how you get back there.

It is true that most people cannot navigate this path, especially in the absence of an accepted tradition within our culture. But for others of us, like myself, meditation does very little, evenly earnestly practiced over long periods of time. To continue "banging my head against the wall" when there is such an easier and more potent method available to me would be silly. I have actually increased in health by all available measures since continuing this practice, both physically, mentally, and spiritually, and it has been noted by many people around me (although most people don't know why the changes have come about).

The true challenge is integrating the knowledge of that blissful state into your daily routine and awareness, and it is just as difficult regardless of the means you arrive at that state of universal awareness, even through meditation. The true challenge is learning how to hold on to that awareness when we are not meditating or otherwise "activated".

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

vorpalmusic- Thanks for your informative comment

Great

I have experienced what you are saying about non-toxic sacred mushrooms and it was great and helpful .. each person has to experience what is right for them

Meditation is where my journey has taken me .. I believe under the right circumstances all people can benefit because ultimately meditation is waking up to your Own True Self without any help

Ed

[vorpalmusic]

I am indeed practicing meditation as well. But if I meditated only, I don't think it would be very effective for me at this stage.

[RazeTemple]

I love you guys, you always have the best articles. It always makes me happy to see people promoting alternative forms to the symptom-supressant based drugs that everyone is so quick to hand out nowadays. I myself am an advocate of medicinal marijuana, as I have had friends go through chemo and I thought it was sad and also frustrating that they had to commit an illegal act just so they could eliminate their nausea without the side-effects of prescription pills.

I read somewhere that meditation and positive living is not only good for yourself, but also good for your genes. Like the more stressed out you are the more damage you do to not only your children's genetic makeup but any subsequent children they have, i.e. humanity. It is our responsibility to live happy and clear our minds, body, and souls otherwise we will drag down our race with the malcontent that degrades all that makes us human.

Thank you for the great read!

Regards,
Raze

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hey RazeTemple - Love your comment

so much I want to repeat it

"I read somewhere that meditation and positive living is not only good for yourself, but also good for your genes. Like the more stressed out you are the more damage you do to not only your children's genetic makeup but any subsequent children they have, i.e. humanity. It is our responsibility to live happy and clear our minds, body, and souls otherwise we will drag down our race with the malcontent that degrades all that makes us human."

Enjoy the journey,

Ed

[RazeTemple]

Thank you. Now I remember, it was Thích Nhất Hạnh who said that, well not exactly that, as I had paraphrased(and probably slightly butch.ered) it. But he has a short little book you can pick up if you get a chance(and if you don't already have it) and it has all kinds of great viewpoints on life and meditation and all that is Zen. Only like 100 pages or so, so it's the best quick read you will have of your life, because at the same time it gives you the best life you can have from a quick read.

Peace and love.

[RazeTemple]

p.s. the book is called 'Being Peace'

[Malkin71]

Does meditation make pizza and ice cream taste AMAZING or make South Park even that much funnier?

You guys might have a different definition of "high" than some people...

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Malkin71 thanks for your comment ... actually

MEDITATION makes LIFE sweeter, you don't take yourself too seriously so SP and other comedy's could be is funny... it's up to you!

Scientific studies were done on Meditation teacher Mungyur Rinpoche and they conclusioned he was 700 times happier than the average person

keeps you mentally and physically healthier, brings greater awareness to other peoples needs ...people are less self-centered and do more service

and I am very HIGH on life ... what do you call high?

Treasure yourself,

Ed

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

as for pizza & ice cream it depends if it is NY PIZZA or Ben & Jerry's ICE CREAM

I hope my other reply helps

meditation also relaxes you and allows you to see the negative effects of anger, hate and delusion

it awakens the real and exposes the unreal

Enjoy the journey,

Ed

[AirViceMarshalPark]

"If you would like a CD contact us at info@edand­debshapiro­.com."

You are giving these away for free, right?

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

AVMP ... do email us your request .. it would be our joy

info@edand­debshapiro­.com

[George Bradley]

Getting High: On drugs and meditation

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hey George Bradley

I clicked on what you put on the comment and I didn't find the blog... is there a post?

Cheers,

Ed

[tapeatsbill]

What I know for sure is this; meditation saved my ass from a severe depression. I never, ever have learned so much about true self.

Love is the verb that creates peace.

So, as they say in Texas, peace on ya'll .

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi tapeatsbill -- great to hear from you... I am a fan of this user... and marked a s a favorite

you is a cool dude

I not only agree with you I also would have fallen into the bottom of a dark hole without meditation.. as it gave me the ability to see my own madness ...

as the yogis say the difference between a madman and a yogi is the yogi know he is mad

so as they say in the Bronx .. I made it through the skin of my arse ... i mean ass...

peace on ya'll .

Ed

[CaveatMagnusFrater]

Hi Tapeatsbill,

I too recognize that love is a verb. I heard that once sometime in the 90s and it stuck. If it's just a feeling, it's like a seed. It needs to gorw and active giving is the water, soil and sunlight love utilizes for growth. I seem to like what you have to say on here because I recognize your log-on moniker as someone who I've paid attention to before

Peace Bro,
BewareBigBrother (latin translation)

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

May all people be Happy

Life is a mystery that is constantly unfolding

enjoy the journey!

[Britton24]

Hi Ed,

It was good to meet you, though briefly, this morning. Like we touched on a bit - it's the old Wilber "states" vs "stages" of consciousness. The discussion for me always finds it's way back to the question of skillful means. Drugs can be a gate by which we enter the path. As can the birth of your child, the death of your beloved mentor and friend, an Alaskan peak summit, or.... the first noble truth. Gates and doors and sentient beings are endless.

My job is to work with young adults often exiting hospitalization, drug treatment, residential or wilderness therapy programs and help them look at the question of "What now?" What do we do on this side of drug use/experi­ence/addic­tion? (http://www.livingwelltransitions.com)

And, like VCTR reminds us, love the questions. For me, on this side, the Ground is maitri, the Path is curiousity, and the Fruition is playfulness in space. Thanks for the post. Keep asking these questions, for our benefit.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Brittin - i am so happy our paths hav crossed ... and in the 24 Hour gym at that.

You are a wonder and your comment is superb bless you! It is worth repeating

"The discussion for me always finds it's way back to the question of skillful means. Drugs can be a gate by which we enter the path. As can the birth of your child, the death of your beloved mentor and friend, an Alaskan peak summit, or.... the first noble truth. Gates and doors and sentient beings are endless.

My job is to work with young adults often exiting hospitalization, drug treatment, residential or wilderness therapy programs and help them look at the question of "What now?" What do we do on this side of drug use/experi­ence/addic­tion? (http://www.livingwelltransitions.com)

And, like VCTR reminds us, love the questions. For me, on this side, the Ground is maitri, the Path is curiousity, and the Fruition is playfulness in space. Thanks for the post. Keep asking these questions, for our benefit."

Big Love,

Ed

[CaveatMagnusFrater]

Hi Ed and Deb,

I loved this: ...Swami Satyananda, said how taking LSD was like shooting a bullet to Nirvana but not knowing how you got there, while meditation was like learning the route in detail...

Short cuts short change us.. I like the ride and can only hope the destination is as cool, but sometimes you can't follow the better path. We negotiate with ourselves about which goals, plans, responsibilities or desires take precedence at any moment. Other times, the price is too high. Lately, I've been lucky, I have the time to do so many things that I enjoy and to spend time with people I love. Does love come in a pill? Or is taking the time to build real relationships still the best game in town?

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

CMF Super hearing from you! thanks for sharing

LOVE is who we are ... it is the diamond in the coal ... or essence ....LOve is the thread of the Universe

It is our Divine Nature

Out of your mind and into your heart... the only place to be.. Deb and I wrote a book with this title

Building loving relationships is a key... the Buddhist path speaks of sangha ... spiritual comminity as one of the 3 Jewels

Buddha... Dharma (teachings_ Sangha spiritual community

Make friends not war ... with yourself and others

Ed

[soundheals]

Dear Deb & Ed--great subject this week. Coming from the same generation as you, I know about of meditation and having experienced Swami Satchadananda at Woodstock, I not only know about the power of meditation, but I know about the power of sound to create change on a physical, mental and spiritual level. There's so much about this that is covered in my books such as THE 7 SECRETS OF SOUND HEALING or HEALING SOUNDS. And it's something anyone can experience simply by having an understanding of how external sounds (such as music) can effect us. Want to have a little more "get up and go"--put on a recording with a fast rhythm and it will affect your brain, nervous system, heart beat and respiration. Want to chill out--try some music that's slow and relaxed. Your body will entrain and resonate to this energy. It's amazing how the power of sound can affect us. And even better--it's non addiction and totally natural. What a Blessing!

Love,

Jonathan

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hey Sound Master Jonathan Goldman -- Your Grammy Nomination for Tibetan Master Chants is great.

I recommend your CD's to people all the time.

What is your website .. do let us know?

In sound,

Ed

[soundheals]

Dear Ed:

Thanks for asking. My website is: www.healingsounds.com. Going there takes you to quite a wonderland of sound--not only lots of information, but also many different sonic tools that are created to assist healing and transformation. In addition, this Visionary Award winning website is a portal to other websites about sound. I trust some of your readers will explore.

Blessings of LIght & Love through Sound,
Jonathan Goldman

[Anne Naylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Brilliant article, Ed and Deb. Thank you.

It is now coming up for 30 years that I have been doing daily spiritual exercises. Most days I do 2 hours. I understand that HH the Dalai Lama spends 4 hours in meditation. And a dear Indian lady friend of mine, a devotee of Satya Sai Baba gives 6 hours a day to her practice. These times are just the best investment for me. I hope many others are encouraged by your experiences - and your book when it comes out.

Blessings and love to you both,
Anne

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi wonderful Anne, Love looking at your smiling face

The greatest gift you can give to yourself is Meditation.

It is resting in your essence .. in the beauty of you heart... it is the most beautiful, blissful, joyful, wonder

one taste of this is more beautiful than nythng in this world

Peace is our true nature,

Ed

[nutmeg83]

Meditation never did a thing for me; certainly didn't get me "high". I guess if I practice it for 20-30 years (like some of the comments here) it may have an effect....

Over hyped woo.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi nutmeg83 ... thanks for your comment

what does work for you?

When you drop the "ME" you can "SEE"

The high or realization is Blissful Nirvana .. just one taste is more beautiful than anything you can imagine

The beauty of the universe is within and without,

Ed

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

nutmeg83 forget 20-30 years

It happens in an instant

as it is always HERE and NOW

no past no future

Enjoy .. life is a precious gift,

Ed