Intoxication
Both spiritually induced intoxication, as well as intoxication
induced by spirits of alcohol, involve departures from the
realm of rationality. However, each does so in a completely
different way from the other. Moreover, each form of
intoxication leads an individual to totally different results and
ramifications.
Alcohol is a general depressant of biological functioning, in
general, and of neurophysiological functioning in particular.
Different factors affect how quickly, and to what extent, any
given person's biological functioning will be affected.
Nonetheless, on the whole, most people do not have to drink
a great deal before their memory and thinking faculties
become impaired. Not only does one begin to lose the ability
to concentrate on, and carry out, a variety of logical/rational
operations, but one's capacity for making different kinds of
judgement also is diminished after drinking a certain amount
of alcohol.
After drinking, all too many people get in their automobiles
and cause death and tragedy, of one sort or another. Almost
invariably, this is as a result of their impaired: reflexes,
reasoning abilities and capacity to make rational judgements.
In addition, there is a strong link between the consumption of
alcohol and both spousal abuse, as well as, the sexual and
physical abuse of children. This sort of abuse may go on even
independently of the presence of alcohol, but the problem
becomes much worse when the influence of alcohol is added
to the equation. Furthermore, the presence of alcohol
consumption may, in many cases, induce abusive behavior
with respect to one's spouse or children which might not
happen were the abuser not under the influence of alcohol.
There also is a long history between consumption of alcohol
and sexual assault. Perhaps alcohol is used as an excuse by
some in order to diminish the moral blame associated with
such acts. Maybe these people would indulge in acts of sexual
assault even without the alcohol, but the alcohol becomes a
convenient scapegoat. Alternatively, due to the diminished
capacity induced by alcohol intoxication, people often find
themselves doing things which would be repugnant and
horrifying to any rational person.
Even when no sexual assault is involved, many people end up
doing degrading, demeaning things to themselves and others
while operating with impaired reasoning processes due to
alcohol intoxication. People wake up the morning after the
previous night of intoxication only to discover they have done
terrible things of which they have either no, or only a foggy,
recollection. One does not have to commit criminal acts in
order to seriously injure, emotionally and psychologically,
others or oneself.
None of the foregoing necessarily touches on the more
complex problem of alcoholism. In other words, one does not
have to be an alcoholic in order to become involved in the
sort of problematic ramifications of alcohol consumption
which have been outlined in the foregoing examples of
impaired rational thinking and judgement.
Many people who get intoxicated may never, ever do
anything injurious to anyone. Whatever impairments of
reasoning and reflexes which occur with these people may be
just harmlessly amusing. Nonetheless, this is just not so for
millions of other human beings.
The nature of spiritually induced intoxication is an entirely
different kettle of fish. Although this kind of intoxication also
involves a departure from reasoning processes, this is not
due to any sort of impairment of rationality or judgement.
In the case of alcohol induced intoxication, there is a sense in
which one cannot keep up with the realities and requirements
of rationality. On the other hand, in the case of spiritually
induced intoxication, the processes of rationality cannot keep
up with the realities and requirements of transcendence.
In relation to the condition of spiritual intoxication,
rationality actually constitutes a state of diminished capacity.
In fact, some Sufi masters liken the condition of rationality to
a state of being inebriated with the wine of logic. No matter
how good the vintage of this wine may be, it impairs one's
spiritual judgement and interferes with mystical
understanding.
The practitioners of the Sufi path note, however, that
mystical understanding does not interfere with rational
processes. Rather, such understanding informs and
illuminates those processes.
Mystical understanding helps place rationality in its proper
perspective. Mystical understanding shows some of the
limitations of rationality.
When one spends time with Sufi masters, the nature of their
logic, judgement and reasoning is impeccable. The counsel
and advice they give is very practical, logical and
down-to-earth.
Inwardly, these people are spiritually intoxicated, but
outwardly they are sober. The outer sobriety entails an
understanding of the nature of this world and how it works.
The inner intoxication entails an understanding of the nature
of the spiritual dimension of things and how that affects
worldly matters.
Sufi masters use reason, logic, and rational judgement to
help people with their worldly and spiritual problems.
Nevertheless, in order to be of help, the reason and logic
must be infused with, and oriented by, the realities of
spirituality and mystical transcendence.
Rational processes, in and of themselves, are not enough.
One cannot reason one's way to spiritual truth or wisdom.
Mystical truth and wisdom only can come through mystical
experiences and only after these experiences are properly
understood. Spiritually induced intoxication is one medium or
channel through which such truth and wisdom come.
People who are spiritually intoxicated in the Sufi sense of the
term never sexually assault anyone. Those who are in a
condition of spiritual intoxication do not abuse their spouses
or children. Somebody who is spiritually intoxicated does not
get in her or his car and proceed to maim or kill others or
herself or himself.
Although there may be certain theologians who would
disagree, a person in a state of spiritual intoxication does not
do anything to degrade or demean oneself. Moreover, a
spiritually intoxicated individual does not sober up later on
only to discover some terrible deed or deeds which had been
committed while in an intoxicated condition.
At best, a person who becomes intoxicated through the
consumption of alcohol may get a certain amount of
relaxation and enjoyment from the experience. There are no
deep truths or wisdom which arises out of alcohol
intoxication. One is pretty much the same after the
experience as one was before it.
Spiritual intoxication brings overwhelming ecstasy and joy.
One comes away from the experience with a very different
perspective concerning the nature of reality and one's
relation with reality. In addition, there are deep truths and
wisdom which are communicated during the experience of
spiritual intoxication.
Not all conditions of spiritual intoxication are of the same
intensity or depth. The vintage of the spiritual wine being
imbibed by the individual will make a big difference in the
quality and character of the experience of spiritual
intoxication. Furthermore, the spiritual level of the individual
who goes into a state of ecstasy is also an important factor
affecting the intensity and depth of such experiences.
According to Sufi masters, outward manifestations of
spiritual intoxication are, under certain circumstances and
conditions, perfectly acceptable. Indeed, such mystical states
are a sign of God's grace.
Nonetheless, Sufi shaykhs indicate that when an individual is
permanently in a state of outwardly manifested intoxication,
this condition is problematic as far as making continued
spiritual progress is concerned. Such people are, in a sense,
transfixed by their overwhelming experiences of spiritual
intoxication.
Consequently, they are unlikely to move on to further stages
of the mystical path. Their progress is arrested at a
particular stage and state. Spiritually speaking, their
permanent condition of intoxication sacrifices movement
toward the full realization of human potential for the bliss
and ecstasy of the on-going condition.
Although such permanently, spiritually intoxicated individuals
are harmless and, quite often, are sources of blessings for
many who come into contact with them, in their own way,
many of these people (but not all) are the alcoholics of the
spiritual world. This is so in the following senses.
These people are irresistibly drawn and, in a sense, addicted
to the continuously intoxicating experiences with which their
spiritual condition is saturated. Moreover, like their worldly
alcoholic counterparts, those who permanently are in a
condition of outwardly manifested intoxication frequently
lose the capacity to function in a "normal" way in society
and the work-a-day world.
Sufi shaykhs recommend travelers of the Sufi path should
become outwardly sober, while remaining inwardly
spiritually intoxicated. In other words, one needs a foot, so to
speak, in both the physical world and the spiritual world in
order to be a fully effective human being in both worlds.
Sobriety is expressed through the observance of spiritual
etiquette. To be sober in the spiritual sense, one must fulfil
one's spiritual duties and obligations on all levels of
existence. Nevertheless, one cannot perform these duties
properly unless sobriety is underwritten by the truths and
wisdom of spiritual intoxication.
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