Tantra & Intoxicants

There are several tantric rituals that require use of Intoxicants. Those who neither have proper knowledge about it nor do they understand it condemn Tantra for using intoxicants. There is nothing good or bad, everything in the world is relative. Food can be cooked using fire, but a house can also be burnt. It depends on your level of intelligence, how you use it. Same is the case with intoxicants.

If used properly, intoxicants can prove to be of immense help for humanity. They can unlock the door of deep recesses of unconscious and take you to the doorstep to Samadhi – the state of superconsciousness. In India, several sects of monks use intoxicants in order to get a glimpse of Samadhi. There’s a sect of such sannyasins called Rasayana. They use chemicals for intoxicating the mind in such a way that Kundalini can be arisen to reach Sahasrar. In Tantric terminology, this is called the union of Shiva and Shakti. Even in the Vedic era, ancient Aryans used the intoxicants for spiritual growth. They used a drink called "Soma" to raise the level of their consciousness. It was used widely during Yajnas they used to perform. But one must know how intoxicants should be used. It is a science and it can be very harmful physically and spiritually without proper knowledge.

These substances are not used just for intoxication. When certain amount of intoxicant is used during sadhana (while performing Tantric rituals), as mentioned in Tantric scriptures, it stops the flow of thoughts in mind. Mind becomes thoughtless, very relaxed and silent. This is the state of mind that can be used as the pedestal to step into the realm of superconsciousness. But a silent mind alone is not of any use in itself. Because silence created by intoxication is nothing but a kind of inertia. This is the similar state as deep sleep. During dreamless sleep, no thought penetrates the mind. Mind becomes inert and hence silent. Intoxicants do the same thing.

But this is the moment of sheer importance. If you can be fully alert in this moment, the divine transformation can take place. Because thoughts are the only hindrance in the path of enlightenment. Keep your mind awaken – aware in that very moment – and you will start to feel vibration in your spinal cord. Shakti is going upward to meet Shiva. The more aware, more alert you are; Kundalini will arise more rapidly – with a blast in your consciousness. At this point, Sadhaka should not frighten and keep the flame of awareness affirm. If Sadhaka does so, the real silence and divine bliss descends on him/her.