Intoxicants and Cultivation: Smoking

Out of the Five Precepts, there is one specific about intoxicants. It has been comprehended to mean only alcohol, but it actually refers to anything that alters the mind. Specifically speaking, one common mind altering drug is the cigarette. In our modern world, the cigarette has been advertised as the additive to a casual time spent alone or with friends. This mindset has led out world society to attach to advertised views of casual gettogethers with friends, family and even personal time with oneself. The outcomes of such views are manifest within the behavior and lifestyle of those who smoke cigarettes. All people are good people; it is their views of things which cause unwholesome results. The education of living beings is what causes their ups and downs in life. This is why we have the Five precepts; To look deeper at the mind, and contemplate the causes and conditions which arise from our personal views. Looking deeper in to the precept of No taking of Intoxicants we arrive at a shore filled with myriad views which behold within them poisons which alter the mind, muddle the mind. A cigarette, as we all know, contains over 4,000 additives, all poisonous to living beings. There is nothing good that can come from smoking. The cigarette is the AntiMan; That which is against humanity. It infests the body with poisons which degenerate the body over a long period of time. This slow degeneration alters the clarity of the mind instantly, and opens the doors of confusion, allowing a tidal wave of false views. As a cultivator of Buddhist Education, one must, at all times, keep the body and mind from confusion. Confusion here refers to ordinary mental confusion, anger, and greed, ignorance; as well as sicknesses diseases, cancers and unpleasant situations/experiences. When one begins to smoke, whether they are aware of it or not; their energy becomes clouded and unstable. The smoke itself is filled with poisons which when enter the lungs, disrupt the blood and energy, deteriorate the lungs, heart, stomach, spleen, liver, gall bladder, kidneys, adrenals, urinary tract, large and small intestines, bones and marrow, the brain and the nervous system, for men; gonads, for woman; ovaries and uterus. Every function of the body becomes altered by the cigarette, which in turn alters the mind. When the body is sick, it is difficult to cultivate without hindrances. Pain in the lungs diverts concentration to the lungs, and views of pain result. The same goes for the rest of the body when dis-eased. This outcome is not beneficial to ones cultivation.

The mind is quickly influenced by the poisons absorbed by the body from the cigarette. Dizziness may result; a feeling of a magnetic heaviness expanding throughout the body will arise, as well as fatigue and loss of breath. How does this affect the mind? Because of the poisons in the cigarette, the mind of the person becomes confused. It can not decide what is right or wrong, for the person chooses to take another inhale from the cigarette. If the person was clear before, and smokes, they sacrifice clarity after the first inhalation. There is no excuse for smoking. Cultivation wise, if the mind is not clear, one can not concentrate sincerely. If one can not concentrate, their cultivation has been done in vain. With the mind muddled by views of addiction, one can not detach from views, or will find difficulty in doing so, and as a result, will not attain the Patience of Non-Production. The poisons of cigarettes cause the mind to become fatigued, unclear, easily frustrated, arrogant, selfish, easily angered and violent. They also cause the mind to become submissive to the intoxicant, and inner dialogue as to whether one should quit or not arises, which causes more reasoning, and confusion. This result therefore is not conducive to a wholesome lifestyle. Many, though, would argue that their lives are fine with smoking. They claim to not get sick, be patient, and have better control of their temper. Yet, once they stop smoking, they turn into demons, snapping at anyone who shares criticism, or even finding themselves frustrated at the smallest of misunderstandings. They claim that smoking helps them cope, but actually, the smoking causes their dependency to become stronger and stronger. Anything outside tool used to alter the mind in non-constructive and benevolent outcomes, is not a proper tool, and will only result in suffering, and death. Some also will argue that their family members lived to old ages while smoking and others have as well. This does not mean cigarettes are healthy for you. People are very ignorant to think that they understand all causes and outcomes, without realizing and actually understanding the law of cause and effect. They believe they are immune to bad results, and that karma is only bad and good karma is ordinary enjoyments. There are causes and conditions for the way people live their life, the experiences they have and the people they meet. These things must be considered as well when looking for excuses to pursue what one wants to have in their life. Smoking causes the body to heat up, thus agitating the mind. When the body is imbalanced, it is difficult to function at ones full cultivation potential. The body must be pure, as well as the mind. When there is addiction to cigarettes, the mind can not be at ease, thus making it difficult to attain stillness in meditation. One may experience states of stillness, but the greed of the addiction will cause movement in the mind and the state of stillness is lost. Specifically pointing to spiritual

cultivation, smoking will not enhance ones progress, but only slow them down, making it very difficult to attain any true results. Abilities attained with addictions present in the mind are not the mark of true wisdom. The mark of true wisdom is without marks, for an addiction is the mark of views, not wisdom. One may have some wisdom while with addiction, but it isnt complete. For wisdom to be complete, addictions must be put down permanently Addictions are a view of self, which is the manifestation of greed. When there is greed, the view of separation manifests, vice verse. This view of needing to fulfill holds one back from attaining stillness of mind, and results in distorted thinking. When the mind can be moved, it is mind. When the mind is still, there is no mind, no duality. The state of non moving such-ness can only be attained by the dropping of views, the putting down of addictive behavior and purity of body and mind. To go further on the effects smoking has upon ones spiritual cultivation would take too many years to explain in full detail. It is thus that the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions did not indulge in intoxicants. With this in mind, it is best to follow their example and keep close their Dharma.