seventh world of chan buddhism - Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun

CHAPTER 19
RIGHT MEDITATION
EIGHTH STEP ON THE PATH: METHODS
But what, we may ask, is the special virtue of Soto Zen, of gazing at the wall to
achieve liberation? Prisons have walls and inflict humiliating punishments but don't
necessarily turn out Zen masters. Let us go sideways into the intriguing answer.
First, some explanations and a caveat about using drugs or mechanical devices to
achieve higher states of consciousness.
Nobody can deny that drugs have traditionally been used in religious ceremonies.
Soma, the mysterious drug most closely associated with ancient India, the Ling Chih (Plant of
Long Life) tree mushroom and other fungi, peyote, marijuana, alcoholic beverages, and an
assortment of other substances have been employed worldwide and throughout history to
promote or heighten mystical experience.
If a person is already in an exalted spiritual state and uses a drug ceremonially, his
motives, though not necessarily his safety from criminal prosecution, are beyond question. It
is quite another matter when beginners seek to tour Nirvana on an LSD trip or when
clergymen, whose rosy spirituality has been bleached by worldly glare, try to rouge their faith
with a liter or two of port.
Although Buddhists are prohibited by the Precepts from using mind altering
substances, in truth, this rule is sometimes broken by adepts, especially those who engage in
certain forms of Daoist and Buddhist Yoga. Satori and samadhi constitute a dividing line.
Before enlightenment or divine union the rule is no ritual alcohol or drugs. Union with God
is seldom or never experienced by anyone who hasn't been reverently humbled by suffering
through a long period of ego sacrifice.
Yet, every year or so we hear about some marvelous, scientific research project in
which drugs were used to induce higher states of consciousness, including, we are told,
Nirvana. Nothing, as far as the readers of the published reports are concerned, ever comes of
these studies. The writers, however, seem to put them to good use, offering them as evidence
of their academic innocence when they apply for grants and for exemption from the various
controlled-substances statutes. Anyone who thinks he can find a chemical shortcut to
salvation is dangerously wrong. If chemicals could do the job, pot-heads, acid droppers,
CHAPTER 19 RIGHT MEDITATION
S EVENTH W ORLD O F C HAN B UDDHISM
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