About Ganja.

Only Naga sadhus in India smoke this herb and they take it in a
certain way by invoking a certain deity and by chanting some mantra which nullifies
any negative effects and takes one into a different space.

Most youngsters take it irresponsibly and create a mess with their constitution.
Even in Ayurveda, there is a way to take it as a medicinal preparation else only if
the vaidya deems it fit else it creates more tamas and toxins within oneself.

The two strains of ganja; one which relaxes which is for people who have too much
rajas and need to be slowed down and one which activates which is for people who
have too much tamas. But tamas itself is a dangerous thing and if it is activated
suddenly (by overdosage) then there can be problems.

I see the legalization of this herb as a tricky thing. Yogic sadhana is a much
safer way.

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The reason people were dissuaded from pursuing/attaining supernatural powers was to
prevent misuse. There are many spiritualists who engage in this pursuit. Once a
certain level of attainment happens then there is a chance of getting stuck there
and not going further. Moreover, these gains can be used to make money, attain fame
and further entrap oneself in material coils.

In yoga things are different, these things are shunned till one attains the core
and sees things from a higher perspective. Unless one gets this kind of perception
and a really strong sense of discrimination one cannot use any power effectively.
Wisdom helps one to use their resources correctly else whatever power is gained by
spiritual practice becomes a tool for 'selfish' empowerment instead of universal
good.

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The Vedantic statement 'Aham Brahmasmi' is said to be the final goal of the Vedic
stream. It means that one has realized their non-difference with the creator who is
also known as Brahma.

The Shaiva Siddhanta has a slightly different conclusion. In Siddhantic view, the
soul is said to be of the same 'essence' as that of Lord Shiva but there is a
difference of magnitude. One can experience oneness with Lord Shiva in a state of
samadhi and a continued experience of such state leads to a higher state of
awareness. But there is always a gap in which - a sense of separateness exists. The
soul has realized its identity as an immortal fragment of the Lord and it also
experienced sameness and difference with Lord Shiva.

In Kashmiri Shaivism the soul is said to be Shiva itself but bound due to 6
different conditions and when these conditions break due to various reasons like
sadhana, grace of a master and so on the soul realizes that it was Shiva all along.

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Reading all this talk about meditation makes me sick. You cannot MEDITATE. Period.
Meditation is a result of something. The stage is like this- Pranayama ->
Pratyahara -> Dharana -> Dhyana (Meditation) -> Samadhi.Each step enables the next.
Pranayama enables one to keep Prana stable which leads to withdrawal of senses
which leads to Dharana/concentration and then meditation and finally samadhi.

Meditation is the last step before Samadhi which is non-dual. Samadhi is equanimity
with Self.

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One thing people do these days is try to act like Lord Shiva, by smoking weed and
doing crazy stuff. Their justification is if Shiva can do it why can't I? The
problem here is that Shiva is Bhagavan and you are insaan. Shiva knows himself
inside out, outside in - within and beyond.. He is kind of a super alchemist who
can handle poison and even make it into nectar if needed.

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The devil is in the details and such details only become apparent to a crystal
clear mind tempered by extensive penance and rigorous contemplation. Ordinary
people miss these things and remain ordinary. Some manage to grasp and internalize
some truths and become a light to others, but the truly great ones are forever
elusive and away from the snares of samsara.

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