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Hypomanic Poet

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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 6:24 pm

Do drugs and alcohol prevent one from becoming Enlightened?

Does it become impossible after one has made drug/alcohol use a habit? Or does it simply become more difficult?

Does mental illness inhibit enlightenment as well?

I've heard people say that drugs enable some to have visions that change peoples' lives for the better, and help them become wiser and more compassionate. Do you agree?

Edit: Can one become unenlightened, even after they've once been enlightened at some point?

Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2005 9:07 am

Hypomanic Poet

Do drugs and alcohol prevent one from becoming Enlightened?

Does it become impossible after one has made drug/alcohol use a habit? Or does it simply become more difficult?

Does mental illness inhibit enlightenment as well?

I've heard people say that drugs enable some to have visions that change peoples' lives for the better, and help them become wiser and more compassionate. Do you agree?

Edit: Can one become unenlightened, even after they've once been enlightened at some point?

I would assume drugs/alcohol would prevent Enlightenment since with it your not in you right mind and not to mention that is it against one of the Five Precepts of Buddhism:
5 . I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.

And if someone is addicted to something thing, they should proabably "enlightened" themselves on trying to get sober, and not dependent on drugs, and that goes for mental illness too.

Saucycakes

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Pang Tong

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Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 7:12 pm

Hypomanic Poet

Do drugs and alcohol prevent one from becoming Enlightened?

Does it become impossible after one has made drug/alcohol use a habit? Or does it simply become more difficult?

Does mental illness inhibit enlightenment as well?

I've heard people say that drugs enable some to have visions that change peoples' lives for the better, and help them become wiser and more compassionate. Do you agree?

Edit: Can one become unenlightened, even after they've once been enlightened at some point?

Using drugs and alchohol prevent enlightenment but so does any use of brief escape from suffering. Your past doesn't matter, no more difficult then anything else. Read (I hate to say this but here it goes) Siddhartha by Herman Hesse, it's a good view on addiction and relief from suffering (Meditation also!)

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