Today marks the Inter-national Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The external intoxication is to forget oneself, whereas the intoxication of spirituality keeps one in the state of awareness. The question arises, why is it that, despite being on a spiritual path, some people indulge in smoking and drinking? Are they not happy and satisfied with the height of spirituality? Or are they under the false impression that Lord Shiva is associated with these substances as well. So, first of all, we need to understand what this artificial intoxication actually is. It temporarily makes human being distanced from themselves. Any substance is used to forget oneself. Today, it has simply become a popular tool for forgetfulness.
Guru Nanak Dev ji beautifully said, " May I remain intoxicated with the Divine Name day and night." Most of us have never truly known what divine ecstasy really is. We considered religious after all; we visited temples, gurudwaras, mosques, and churches; performing rituals, keeping fasts and offering charity. But never did it cross our minds why we were doing it all. The external religion became an addiction for us to the extent that it must be simply done mechanically, without any questions. We were not aware of the inner religion. The form of religion the world taught us is just an external facade. Just as the soul is inside the body, in the same way, within religion, there is an inner religion (true essence). External religion is simply 'religion', but the inner religion is 'spirituality'. Knowledge of the self is what matters. Outer worship can be performed by everyone, but internal worship is offered by a rare few. On the outside, we establish physical Idols /statues, and enshrining the idol of consciousness needs a state of purity within.
Everyone wants to progress in life, be it in a field of business or a job. But in the field of religion, people usually slip at the very first stage. They thoroughly read all eighteen chapters of the Bhagavad Gita, but fail to absorb even the second chapter into their lives. They kept reciting the same prayers, performing the same rituals and kept dying. If this is where religion ends, then how Gautam Buddha, Mahavira, Jesus, Guru Nanak Dev, Ram Krishna Paramhansa, Meera Bai, and Saint Kabir ever came into being? They have not done outward worship, and in the end, became God. Spirituality means a total, everlasting intoxication. This is what enlightenment truly is. This intoxication doesn't make a person unconscious; rather keeps one in the absolute awakened state. The outside world keeps moving, profit-loss, respect-disrespect, and birth-death; all of these things happen, but deep within, nothing shakes. This state is wisdom, this is the truth, this is nirvana.
Substance abuse has become a massive addiction in today's world. It may start as a fashion statement, but it eventually leads to misery. Cigarettes and liquor destroy the physical body. It causes lung damage and liver failure. Only on the day a person ends up in the hospital do they finally realise their mistake. Breathlessness happens, and a need for a ventilator becomes unavoidable. This addiction leaves a person very weak.
When an individual progresses on the spiritual journey and crosses at least seventy-five per cent, then the addictions loses its grip. Alcohol, cigarettes, maya and attachments fall off effortlessly. Every step taken with the Guru results in the fading away of every kind of dependency and worldly illusions. I have never questioned anyone if they consume alcohol or not; I only ask to listen to the vaani (divine lecture). As the journey advances, everything else will dissolve on its own.
When the 'divine ecstasy' means spiritual bliss arises within, then no other intoxication can get hold of you. The day a sea of compassion erupts within, you find it impossible to consume the flesh of any living creature. If you let go of desires with your mind, you will hold on to them again. Therefore, observe and move on. Only the one who is imbued with this divine intoxication is a true sage. "O Nanak, day and night, let me remain intoxicated with the Divine Name.
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