My first post topic: the taboo

Personally, I agree with my fellow Jedi in that providing you do not harm yourself or others then there is no problem with indulging in any of them on occassion (though I do not smoke I do have a drink or two on special occassions) as the saying goes "everything in moderation".

However, from a Jedi perspective and in line with the beliefs and teachings etc, though not really frowned upon, I would say no drugs (Inc tobacco and alcohol) is necessary. The body does not need any of them to be healthy, and arguably none of them add to your life (though I can see some may argue that point). The meditative state you mentioned that drugs can help attain can be attained without them, it just takes time, practice and control. As a Jedi I would think it is more pertinent to dedicate that time and effort to gain that level of control without aid.

Being objective though, my perspective is probably tainted by my personal opinion as no doubt others are too. To be a Jedi is different for each of us and we hold ourselves to our own moral standards. What is acceptable to one person is not always acceptable to others.

Also, though I have been a 'Jedi' for most of my life, within the temple I am only a novice so my words may lack the wisdom of those more learned than myself.

Greetings,

The issue isn't necessarily with the substance, but with the attachment to the substance in its addiction. I indeed use marijuana, smoke cigarettes occasionally, and drink alcohol sparingly. But I do drink coffee in excess. The only actual addiction I have would be coffee. The others I use occasionally or once in a blue moon, under certain conditions. I guess you can say that these are more medical than any recreational sense (helps not to take pills and the like). So the question isn't whether the Temple or Jediism in general is for or against a specific substance. It is more about the attachment and addiction (Everything in moderation). That is my understanding, but like you, I am also new here and waiting on my application to be processed, so I can only give you my thoughts. MTFBWY

what am i attached to that i desire to smoke or get drunk in the first place?

why is it ok to hurt myself just because i feel like it but its not ok to hurt someone else just because i feel like it?

A previous thread that might interest you would be this one Legalization of medical and recreational marjiuana .

There were a lot of good points made on lots of different sides of the issue. It's not exactly the same but overlaps enough that it could be of interest.

Personally I do not agree with the use of any of the substances you've listed, but as long as you are not hurting others in their use I do not think it's my place to tell you that you can't use them. What you do to your own body is up to you as long is does not affect mine.

I guess if you cannot stop something despite your best efforts, it could be approached to understand in terms of why you have to do it. If withdrawel includes physical pain and disablement then it's likely a physiological addiction and one probably should not blame themselves for its continuation in the absence of treatment.

Treatment for physiological addiction is a medical issue, but I'd imagine it might consist of things like very gradual decrease in dosages. This is a common technique, and even used routinely for some medicines such as immuno-suppressants where sudden cessation of the medicine would cause serious health effects - so instead they gradually lower the dose before stopping it, to allow the body time to adjust it's own systems to compensate. Seek medical advice in these circumstances obviously, and sometimes you can also find anonymous medical advice services as well so you can ask the gritty questions without worrying about being identified etc.

If its just a recreational habit, for fun, then it's most likely equivalent to a hobby and any damage caused as a result is just the price of admission to put it bluntly. Ignorance of the effects as an excuse can only go so far in the case of repeated use.

If a person is worried about what they are doing to themselves but keep on doing it, then I think we gotta understand our bodies are designed to operate quite well in a frame of mind which is ignorant to the 'why' of decisions we are making - but its not really a good habit to have because we are letting our instinctive, and therefore inherently selfish, parts of our brain dictate to the 'u' in you what to do! This means a whole raft of biological, psychological or social 'issues' and concerns can shape our subconscious decision making against the beliefs or decisions of the conscious mind. At least that is how I see it.

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