Cannabis in Spiritual Practice: The Ecstasy of Shiva, the Calm of Buddha

Name: Cannabis in Spiritual Practice: The Ecstasy of Shiva, the Calm of Buddha
Price: 17.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: Johnson, Will
ISBN: 9781620556856

✍️ Johnson, Will

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17 $

📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Uncover ancient wisdom for a profound spiritual journey with cannabis.

Will Johnson’s latest work delves into the sacred history and practical application of cannabis within spiritual traditions. Drawing on decades of experience in embodied spirituality, the author guides readers through specific techniques for integrating conscious cannabis use into practices like meditation, ecstatic movement, and gazing. He reimagines Eastern philosophies, including a unique reinterpretation of Buddhist ethics, to support a legitimate path of spiritual growth through entheogens. This timely book offers a framework for seekers to explore deeper states of awareness and connection, moving beyond recreational use to a truly sacred engagement with the plant.

Key themes

{'title': 'Cannabis as Entheogen', 'body': "This book positions cannabis not as a mere intoxicant but as a powerful 'entheogen' – a substance capable of revealing the divine within. It explores how ancient cultures, like the devotees of Shiva, recognized its capacity to facilitate profound spiritual experiences and connect practitioners to higher consciousness or their inner self."} {'title': 'Embodied Spiritual Practices', 'body': 'Johnson provides detailed, actionable instructions for various spiritual exercises enhanced by cannabis. These include spontaneous movement, ecstatic dance, focused sitting meditation, and contemplative gazing. The emphasis is on using cannabis to deepen bodily awareness and open energetic channels, fostering a more expansive and connected spiritual experience.'} {'title': 'Reimagined Buddhist Ethics', 'body': 'A significant contribution is the reinterpretation of core Buddhist principles, specifically the Five Moral Precepts, to accommodate the mindful use of entheogenic substances. The author argues for a nuanced understanding that allows cannabis, when used judiciously and with spiritual intent, to support rather than hinder the path to enlightenment and self-realization.'}

In stock

🏛 Inner Traditions International 📅 2018 📖 144 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781620556856

Fun fact

Johnson offers a refreshingly serious and practical guide to cannabis as a spiritual ally, moving far beyond superficial discussions. He expertly blends Eastern wisdom with actionable techniques, making it indispensable for those seeking conscious engagement with entheogens. While it shines in its practical guidance and ethical re-framing, readers expecting a purely secular or traditional Buddhist perspective may find its approach challenging. This book firmly establishes itself as a foundational text for the emerging field of entheogenic spirituality.

📝 Description: Cannabis in Spiritual Practice: The Ecstasy of Shiva, the Calm of Buddha

An exploration of the use of cannabis as a sacrament in spiritual practice - Provides instructions for using marijuana for the spiritual practices of spontaneous movement, ecstatic dance, sitting meditation, and gazing meditation, allowing you to open the body's energies more fully and get closer to the Divine or your higher self - Includes a new translation of the Five Moral Precepts of Buddhism, adapted to include energetic practices and the judicious use of entheogenic substances as a legitimate support for spiritual growth - Includes access to 9 audio meditations With the end of marijuana prohibition on the horizon, people are now openly seeking a spiritual path that embraces the benefits of cannabis. Drawing upon his decades of experience as a teacher of Buddhism, breathing, yoga, and embodied spirituality, Will Johnson examines Eastern spiritual perspectives on marijuana and offers specific guidelines and exercises for integrating cannabis into spiritual practice. The author explains how the great Hindu god Shiva enjoyed consuming bhang, a marijuana mixture that would cause his body to make spontaneous movements. From these cannabis-inspired movements, Shiva brought the body-focused practices of dance and yoga to the world. Examining the spiritual path of Shiva, including the Sadhu tradition, Johnson provides specific instructions and protocols for using marijuana as a sacrament as Shiva did. He explores how to embrace cannabis for the practices of spontaneous movement, ecstatic dance, sitting meditation, and gazing meditation. He reveals how the ecstatic surrender to the feeling energies of the body in these practices is enhanced through the ingestion of Shiva's herb, allowing you to open the body's energies more fully and get closer to the Divine or your higher self. Exploring the Buddhist practices of calming the mind and grounding yourself in sensory awareness, Johnson shows that, while traditional Buddhist teachings forbid the use of intoxicating substances, Buddhists who use cannabis are not committing a cardinal sin--in following our dharma, we must embrace what best supports our spiritual practice. He concludes with a new translation of the Five Moral Precepts of Buddhism--what he calls the Five Precepts of Embodied Responsibility--adapted to include energetic practices using breath, interaction with the energies of nature, sacred sex, and the judicious use of entheogenic substances, such as cannabis, as legitimate support for spiritual growth.

⭐ Reader reviews

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⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.8/5

★★★★★

If you're a spiritual seeker exploring conscious cannabis use, a meditator looking to deepen your practice, or simply curious about the ancient sacred relationship between humanity and this plant, this book offers profound insights and practical guidance for a meaningful journey.

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❓ Frequently asked questions

Absolutely not. This book provides a structured approach to using cannabis as a tool for spiritual exploration and growth, emphasizing mindful intention and specific practices rather than recreational intoxication.

Johnson offers a reinterpretation of Buddhist principles, including the Five Moral Precepts, to demonstrate how cannabis, when used consciously and ethically, can align with and even support a path of spiritual development within a Buddhist framework.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Cannabis as Entheogen

This book positions cannabis not as a mere intoxicant but as a powerful 'entheogen' – a substance capable of revealing the divine within. It explores how ancient cultures, like the devotees of Shiva, recognized its capacity to facilitate profound spiritual experiences and connect practitioners to higher consciousness or their inner self.

Embodied Spiritual Practices

Johnson provides detailed, actionable instructions for various spiritual exercises enhanced by cannabis. These include spontaneous movement, ecstatic dance, focused sitting meditation, and contemplative gazing. The emphasis is on using cannabis to deepen bodily awareness and open energetic channels, fostering a more expansive and connected spiritual experience.

Reimagined Buddhist Ethics

A significant contribution is the reinterpretation of core Buddhist principles, specifically the Five Moral Precepts, to accommodate the mindful use of entheogenic substances. The author argues for a nuanced understanding that allows cannabis, when used judiciously and with spiritual intent, to support rather than hinder the path to enlightenment and self-realization.

💬 Quotes from the book

«The plant's gentle embrace can be a gateway, not to escape, but to a deeper encounter with the sacred energies pulsing within us.»

«Through conscious breath and the plant's influence, the body becomes a fluid conduit, inviting the spontaneous dance of Shiva into being.»

📜 Historical context

This work places cannabis use firmly within a rich, ancient lineage of spiritual practice, referencing figures like the Hindu deity Shiva and his association with bhang. It bridges this historical understanding with contemporary interest in plant medicine, offering a modern framework for integrating these age-old traditions into personal spiritual development, particularly in an era of shifting perceptions about cannabis.

📚 Glossary

Entheogen
Bhang
Five Moral Precepts (reinterpreted)

📔 Questions to reflect on

{'prompt': 'Reflect on a time you experienced an altered state of consciousness. How did it affect your perception of self or reality? Could cannabis facilitate a similar, yet more intentional, experience?'}
{'prompt': "Consider the reinterpretation of the Five Moral Precepts. How might integrating 'energetic practices' and 'judicious entheogen use' reshape your personal ethical framework for spiritual growth?"}
{'prompt': 'Choose one of the recommended practices (e.g., ecstatic dance, gazing meditation). How might you prepare your mind, body, and environment to consciously integrate cannabis for this specific spiritual intention?'}