DGA wrote:MindTheGap wrote: I worry I'm just trading a smoking habit for a vaping habit. But, may come a time the nicotine is so low, I'll be like,"meh" and just quit. If the craving does come back, it's a better alternative to coffin nails.
that's the way. I wish you good health.
Thanks to all for the encouragement.
The conversation sort of took a nosedive into smoking/vaping, but I really do want to explore the topic of what qualifies as an intoxicant.
For example, I know that the advice commonly given about prescription medications is that, if it is prescribed for a medical condition, it's ok. It's the abuse of such medicine that causes harm.
Recently, I hurt my back and was put on a muscle relaxer. The stuff was so strong, I couldn't form coherent sentences. I cut the tablet in half and I still conked out for most of the day. That meant that I was so incoherent that I couldn't practice, besides the fact that I don't like ingesting anything that causes me to lose my mental faculties in such a radical manner. Also, because of my history of smoking and thus showing an obvious proclivity for addiction, I try to avoid any medication or substance that has the possibility of addiction (opiates, and the like). The pain isn't fun, but it's better, I tell myself, than the pain I would suffer if I became addicted - I have one addiction that I'm trying to rid myself of already. I have friends who took opiates to treat a medical condition and ended up becoming addicted. This is not uncommon these days, and is something we should extend compassion for, not judgement.
Another obvious example is the medical use of marijuana. I'm not judging about whether it is good or bad - but, it is an intoxicant. It is supposed to have other medicinal properties, but I don't know enough about that to comment.
However, I wonder if, by not taking my medicine as prescribed, I'm not hurting my body by not allowing it to heal properly.
I'm not a doctor, so I don't really know (I suppose I should ask my doctor, whom I'll be seeing on Monday). But, from a Buddhist perspective, is it better to take the medication to help your body heal or, if you feel it interferes with your practice, forego it all together? Pain can interfere with practice too, I suppose - but you can practice with pain. You can't practice in oblivion.
Also.. I was hoping I wouldn't have to bring it up, but...
What about coffee?
Some people are just as addicted to coffee as other people are to cigarettes. I think that this is apparent to anyone who knows an avid coffee drinker, and I can see that the craving for coffee could be an obstruction to practice. So, could that be seen in terms of an intoxicant, or is it just a part of dealing with one's own cravings in general?
I myself don't like coffee. It doesn't agree with me, uh, gastrointestinally. I do like a good strong tea, but I don't crave it.
I think, once again, it comes down to how fine a point one wants to put on it. But, I'm interested in how individual practitioners frame these things in view of their own practice. Or, what other things people might have to contribute to the conversation - such as was brought up earlier about TV and the Internet.
Hopefully, we can agree to disagree on some things and not try to provoke one-another. Let's keep in mind that, in a format such as this, it's hard to intuit someone's tone and intent by just reading their words on a screen.
it's not always easy for me - sometimes we can mis-interpret the message someone's trying to get across by our own projections and we might react in what is perceived as an inappropriate manner. That's part of samsara, I guess. If anyone has perceived anything I've said as harmful or inappropriate, I apologize for any misunderstanding. Please know that my intentions were good, if, perhaps misguided at times. I also extend compassion and regret to those who, like me, may have perceived my reaction as inappropriate.