anything we put into our body is chemicals, and the spiritual processes that yoga can induce are caused by chemicals, too. [though yoga is a far superior way of getting there, i’m just saying…]
there are many chemicals in oranges, and we can isolate them and then say “why eat those chemicals” but actually you’re just eating an orange.
i think the way that is termed is a little too microscopic considering we are not dealing with a synthetic chemical drug, but rather a natural plant taken straight from the planet.
this is completely untrue, if we are talking about marijuana, THC, not the carcinogens released while smoking… not only does it not kill brain cells, it has been deomstrated time and time again to help improve brain cell flexibility, it also kills tumors!
the smoke is what is toxic, although a study just came out claiming that smoked marijuana does not cause cancer. It definitely does cause other problems though.
Now what it does to the brain, is it does rewire the way the brain is used to functioning if you either use very high doses too often, or become a habitual user to the point of being desensitized to being high.
this could be construed as “damage” in a sense, if you do not want your brain functioning with THC in it… though the body does have natural THC receptors. so an issue of balance is important.
anyway I do not know how it relates to yoga. The most flexible I have been is while stoned, not only that but I really payed attention to what I was doing and got very into it, and put my ego on hold.
But my personal experience was that smoking it messed my lungs up and depleted my energy far too much for my liking. Eating was a very favorable approach, although I did not experiment enough with eating to discern the effects on general energy flow.
it is more than okay to discuss cannabis pros and cons from the context of spiritual traditions and practices, but it’s important not to spread misinformation.
cannabis is a medicine and to many a spiritual plant. it does not mean it is free from risk, but in comparison to alcohol and tobacco (which i would consider malevolent, and alcohol is most certainly a poison) it is virtually harmless.
misinformatoins help fuel the drug war which punishes millions of innocent people each year for simple posession of plant life. some are irresponsible with it and treat it with disrespect, some are dedicated shamans… regardless, it is very important to spread accurate informatoin about the plant at all times from my perspective, even if you are against use, to not spread out untruths, so that the harm of both the drug and the war itself can be reduced.
people need to know the best facts in such a scandalously dire “issue” facing the world and most of its nations. lives are lost because of misinformation, the cost is astonishing and sad. we can’t expect society to be truthful, so the obligatoin is our hands.
[sorry for off topicness]
anyway, I am yogically an extreme novice, but my experience with cannabis + yoga has been good. I would personally do it once in a while in a very serious manner, being mindful of the energy it generates and trying to maximize the benefit.
If I found it unhelpful then I would stop, as my only criterion is progression, but I doubt it would be smoked, either eaten [which is fine for you physically] or vaporized.
I haven’t used it in a few months though, and sobriety has been very beneficial. But I have found benefits to using as well.
moderation is the key if you do. respect it as a teacher plant.
-my perspective.
the big danger here is the user, not the plant.