According to historians, the use of plant substances as conciousness
enhancers goes back to Paleolithic times - pollen from Cannabis Sativa
has been discovered in caves in use during the Stone Age in France and
Britain.

Some anthropologists think the use of cannabis was the impetus for the
invention and ritual religious use of incense in rituals. The use of
aromatics in ceremonies may have been one of the very first ritual acts
invented by man, following close on the heels of ritual burial.

However, the first religion probably didn't involve medicinal plants,
per se. Probably the first ritual act was the ability to capture fire.
Contrary to popular belief, the ritual use of flame may not have been
for the purposes of warmth nor for the cooking of food but as a magic
fetish to impress the women. Most likely, it were women who discovered
the medicinal use of plants and invented Ayerveda in India.

No less an exalted hero than the Lord Shiva himself smoked the Cannabis
Indica, just like millions of holy men, sadhus, and fakirs do today
throughout India and the Middle East. All indication would lead a
reasonable person to the conclusion that Cannabis ingestion, whether
smoked or mixed as a decoction called 'bhang' is not a recently adoped
source of pleasure.

Ever since the first cultivation of rice in Sundaland over 10,000 years
ago, people have been enjoyers of the herbal medicinal plants that grow
in the forest and jungles of Southesat Asia. The inhabitants called
their religion the 'Tree of Plenty' and exported spices to the Levant
and hence to the Western World for thousands of years; they gave us
cinnamon and lemon for example.

However, in this age of darkness called the Kali Yuga, no one reads
Sanskrit or understands the Vedas, even in translation. Shakya the Muni
said that each of us must work out our own salvation with diligence.
Naga Arjuna said that things do not move hither and thither and that
change was impossible. About the best we can do now is to try not to
harm anything and to be practical and enjoy life, this time around. I
think it's important to understand the law of the excluded middle: you
are not going to get any more than you are going to get, and wanting to
change that which cannot be changed will only result in despair and
frustration.

Sometimes I feel a great thrill listening to devotees sing bhajans and
chant the maha mantra; sometimes I enjoy a satsang at my local dagoba;
and sometimes I like to listen to my old pal Krishna Das on CD. But
honestly, reading the scriptures has been somewhat of a disappointment.
Maybe something got lost in the translation, but it's pretty grim
reading since practicaly all the Gods are armed to the teeth or either
talking about each other's private sex lives and casting about
aspersions.

It's probably a fact that there are no Buddha's in heaven and none of
the Gods are enlightened! Go figure.

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