Self-knowledge through drug-use???
Jiddu Krishnamurti quote
Q: I think it is possible under certain drugs to
know myself with analysis - there is no conflict.
K: If one takes LSD or various forms of drugs that helps a great deal, because
in that there is not conflict at all. So you please take drugs. Does it really,
does any drug, LSD, marijuana, any of them - does it really expose the totality
of the content of consciousness, or does it bring about chemically a certain
state of mind which is totally different from the understanding of oneself?
These drugs - I have never taken them - they have taken them in India a great
deal - I watched many people there. I have also watched students in universities
in America, and many, many other people who have been taking various forms
of drugs, LSD, marijuana, you know I don't know what all the other names
are - psychedelic drugs. If you have observed, these drugs do affect the
mind, the brain cells themselves. They destroy the brain. If you have talked
to one or many of those who have taken drugs, they can't reason, they can't
pursue a logical sequence of thought - and the doctors and the scientists
are beginning to say it does destroy the very structure of the brain cells.
Not only LSD but marijuana, which is much more dangerous than LSD because
that leaves a toxic condition in the brain cells and is more difficult to
get rid of. In India they have taken drugs for millions, for thousands of
years and they are the most ignorant people who have taken drugs. And all
the so-called intellectuals in India have denied it, said don't do it, touch
it. I am not asking you not to take it, it's up to you, but when you see
the effect of it, on people - they have no sense of responsibility, they
think they can do anything they like, many, many hospitals are full of these
people who mentally are unbalanced through drugs.
[...]
Q: I find your sequence of thought illogical. And also I cannot see how you
can argue against drugs if you have not any experience of taking drugs.
K: Ah wait. How can you argue against drugs if you have not taken drugs yourself?
Must you go through various forms of experience, must you get drunk in order
to understand sobriety? Must you get angry in order to find out what it is
not to be angry? Must you over eat in order - and so on and so on. Can't
one observe without going through all the human mischief?
4th Public Talk, Brockwood Park, 1971
Book: Awakening of Intelligence, Part IX. CD-rom code: br71t4