UNPOPULAR OPINION: “Plant Medicines”

UNPOPULAR OPINION:
“Plant Medicines” are Drugs.
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Actually, it’s not an opinion - a drug is a medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested.

They’re definitely drugs. But maybe they’re beneficial like aspirin (also a plant medicine). Maybe.

Usually medicine is to treat illness. So what is the illness we’re trying to cure with these cactuses, leaves, and frog secretions?

Or are we just looking for peak experiences?
Is the natural experience of life not far-out enough?

If you’ll forgive me being religious for one moment - if you take drugs for mind-altering effects, you’re not a Buddhist.

The Buddha elucidated just 5 simple guidelines for a basically ethical life. One is to “not take substances that cause intoxication and heedlessness”. i.e. don’t take drugs
... “Yeah but plant medicine, crystals, astrology, veganism… it all feels good man”
... What are we - hippies all over again? (hehe hippies with laptops) Or people pursuing Freedom!
... (As far as I know the Buddha never mentioned crystals or astrology - presumably they’re not essential to liberation. And veganism - he REFUSED to make the Buddhist order vegetarian.)
———
If you take drugs, perhaps ask yourself why. What is your motive?
Better health or altered experiences?

As I understand, all the states of consciousness accessible through drugs are also accessible without them. They’re already possible within you now in seed form.
(Although most people only access a fraction of the range of states possible during their lives). Drugs can take you up on a spaceship before crashing you down to Earth.
Meanwhile, by developing your consciousness with meditation and other practices, you can learn to climb ladders up into the clouds and descend deliciously, up and down, at will.

You develop something sustainable.
You develop your being.
You develop the health of your body/qi/mind. ———
If you want to feel good for an hour, take drugs.

If you want to feel naturally good for no reason in particular - just as your natural state of being, study Buddhadharma.