‘Let Go Of Any Guilt Or Shame’ If You Use Cannabis For Spiritual Purpose Says Meditation Guide
Is cannabis use allowed in Buddhism if it helps in a person’s own spiritual journey, awakening?
To find out more about this complex topic we reached out to Will Johnson, the founder and director of the Institute for Embodiment Training, which combines Western somatic psychotherapy with Eastern meditation practices. Johnson is also the author of several books including Cannabis in Spiritual Practice: The Ecstasy of Shiva, the Calm of Buddha. For Johnson himself, cannabis plays an important role in his spiritual practice.
In the first part of our conversation HERE, Johnson shares his spiritual journey and talks about his first cannabis experiences and the impact Ida Rolf had on him, and Shiva’s sacrament.
In this part, he concentrates on reconciling traditional Buddhist teachings on abstaining from intoxicants with the use of cannabis in spiritual contexts, his thoughts on recreational use and how this book on cannabis and spirituality came to life.
Let Go Of Any Guilt Or Shame
Despite cannabis becoming more openly embraced across the world, in the spiritual universe the stigma is very much alive. What’s more cannabis use is often shamed and ostracized by the spiritual community.
“At every retreat I’ve ever taught at a Buddhist center I would have at least one student tearfully seek me out,” Johnson shares. Students would share that cannabis played an extremely important role in their spiritual awakening but they were shamed by their Buddhist community for using it. He would advise them to “let go of any guilt or shame your spiritual community may have projected onto you because you’re someone for whom cannabis supports …