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FREE SACRED BLISS A SPIRITUAL HISTORY OF CANNABIS 1ST EDITION PDF Mark S Ferrara | 9781442271913 | | | | | Sacred Bliss: A Spiritual History of Cannabis by Mark S. Ferrara Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Want to Read saving…. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Other editions. Enlarge cover. Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Details if other :. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Preview — Sacred Bliss by Mark S. Ferrara Goodreads Author. One of the most important relationships that human beings have with plants is changing our consciousness--consider the plants that give us coffee, tea, chocolate, and nicotine. Sacred Bliss challenges traditional attitudes about cannabis by tracing its essential role in the spiritual and curative traditions in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Americas from pr One of the most important relationships that human beings have with plants is changing our consciousness--consider the plants that give us coffee, tea, chocolate, and nicotine. Sacred Bliss challenges traditional attitudes about cannabis by tracing its essential role in the spiritual and curative traditions in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Americas from prehistory to the present day. In highlighting the continued use of cannabis around the globe, Sacred Bliss offers Sacred Bliss A Spiritual History of Cannabis 1st edition evidence of cannabis as an entheogen used for thousands of years to evoke peak-experiences, or moments of expanded perception or spiritual awareness. Today, the growing utilization of medical cannabis to alleviate the pain and symptoms of physical illness raises the possibility of using cannabis to treat the mind along with the body. By engaging sacred and secular texts from around the world, Sacred Bliss Sacred Bliss A Spiritual History of Cannabis 1st edition that throughout religious history, cannabis has offered access to increased imagination and creativity, heightened perspective and insight, and deeper levels of thought. Get A Copy. Hardcoverpages. More Details Other Editions 3. Friend Reviews. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Sacred Blissplease sign up. Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 4. Rating details. Sort order. Jan 07, Alina Yasnaya rated it it was amazing. A comprehensive account of cannabis use over time in different regions. Definitely must be read by anyone who believes cannabis is a modern phenomenon, and Sacred Bliss A Spiritual History of Cannabis 1st edition by those who think cannabis is the devil. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Readers also enjoyed. Videos About This Book. More videos About Mark S. Mark S. Books by Mark S. Ashley Poston made her name with Once Upon a Con, a contemporary series set in the world of fandom, and her two-part space opera, Heart of Read more No trivia or quizzes yet. Welcome back. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Sacred Bliss: A Spiritual History of Cannabis | Culture Magazine Different religions have varying stances on the use of cannabishistorically and presently. In ancient history some religions used cannabis as an entheogenparticularly in the Indian subcontinent where the tradition continues on a more limited basis. In the modern era Rastafari Sacred Bliss A Spiritual History of Cannabis 1st edition cannabis as a sacred herb. Other groups, such Sacred Bliss A Spiritual History of Cannabis 1st edition some Protestant and Jewish factions, have supported the use of medicinal cannabis. Regarding hashish you have pointed out that some Persians have become habituated to its use. Gracious God! This is the worst of all intoxicants, and its prohibition is explicitly revealed. Its use causeth the disintegration of thought and the complete torpor of the soul. How could anyone seek the fruit of the infernal tree, and by partaking of it, be led to exemplify the qualities of a monster? How could one use this forbidden drug, and thus deprive himself of the blessings of the All-Merciful? Alcohol Sacred Bliss A Spiritual History of Cannabis 1st edition the mind and causeth man to commit acts of absurdity, but this opium, this foul fruit of the infernal tree, and this wicked hashish extinguish the mind, freeze the spirit, petrify the soul, waste the body and leave Sacred Bliss A Spiritual History of Cannabis 1st edition frustrated and lost. In Buddhism, the Fifth Precept is frequently interpreted to mean "refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to heedlessness", although in some direct translations, the Fifth Precept refers specifically to alcohol. Prior to assuming his position as leader of the Catholic ChurchPope Francis had spoken against recreational cannabis. He stated in in Buenos Aires: "A reduction in the spread and influence of drug addiction will not be achieved by a liberalization of drug use. Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds, is a grave offense. The Georgian Orthodox Church has resisted legalization of cannabis in Georgia. The Arkansas Baptist State Convention voted to discourage medical marijuana in The National Evangelical Association of Belize opposed the decriminalization of cannabis in Belize. The Assemblies of God USAas well as other Pentecostal and holiness churcheshave historically advocated abstinence from all alcohol, tobacco, and narcotics. Supporters of this view generally cite biblical passages enjoining respect for one's body as well as forbidding intoxication. Inthe church's First Presidency urged members to oppose legalization of recreational cannabis use. During the Hindu festival of Holipeople consume bhang which contains cannabis flowers. Another account suggests that the cannabis plant sprang up when a drop of the elixir dropped on Sacred Bliss A Spiritual History of Cannabis 1st edition ground. Thus, cannabis is used by sages due to association with elixir and Shiva. In Hinduism, wise drinking of bhang which contains cannabisaccording to religious rites, is believed to cleanse sins, unite one with Shiva and avoid the miseries of hell in the future life. It is also believed to have medicinal benefits. In contrast, foolish drinking of bhang without rites is considered a sin. The Quran does not directly forbid cannabis. There is a controversy among Muslim scholars about cannabis as some deemed it Sacred Bliss A Spiritual History of Cannabis 1st edition be similar to khamr alcoholic drink and therefore believed it to be haraam forbidden. Those scholars who consider cannabis forbidden refer to a hadith by the prophet Mohammed regarding alcoholic drinks, which states: "If much intoxicates, then even a little is haraam. The Sufi tradition attributes the discovery of cannabis to Jafar Sharazi Sheikh Haydara Sufi leader in the 12th century. Some modern Islamic leaders state that medical cannabis, but not recreational, is permissible in Islam. It should be permissible only if that is the only option in a medical condition prescribed by medical experts. Though the argument has not been accepted by mainstream scholars, some writers have theorized that cannabis may have been used ritually in early Judaism, though these claims "have been widely dismissed as erroneous". Duke and others identify the plant in question as either Acorus calamus or Cymbopogon citratus. In the modern era, Orthodox rabbi Moshe Feinstein stated in that cannabis was not permitted under Jewish law, due to its harmful effects. It is not known when Rastafari first claimed cannabis to be sacred, but it is clear that by the late s Rastafari was associated with cannabis smoking at the Pinnacle community of Leonard Howell. Rastafari see cannabis as a sacramental and deeply beneficial plant that is the Tree of Life mentioned in the Bible and quote Revelation" They see the use of cannabis as bringing them closer to God Jahallowing the user to penetrate the truth of things more clearly. While it is not necessary to use cannabis to be a Rastafari, many use it regularly as a part of their faith, and pipes of cannabis are dedicated to His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I before being smoked. According to the Watchman Fellowship "The herb is the key to new understanding of the self, the universe, and God. It is the vehicle to cosmic consciousness" Sacred Bliss A Spiritual History of Cannabis 1st edition and is believed to burn the corruption out of the human heart. Rubbing the ashes into the skin from smoked cannabis is also considered a healthy practice. Part of the Rastafari movement, elders of the 20th-century religious movement known as the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Churchconsider cannabis to be the "eucharist", [42] claiming it as an oral tradition from Ethiopia dating back to the time of Christ. Scientology opposes the use of cannabis, and made "Truth About Marijuana" the focus of their World Health Day presentation. In Sikhismthe First Sikh Guru, Guru Nanakstated that using any mind altering substance without medical purposes is a distraction to keeping the mind clean of the name of God. His only routine intake should be food and water". However, there exists a tradition of Sikhs using edible cannabis, often in the form of the beverage bhangparticularly among the Sikh community known as Nihang. Beginning around the 4th century, Taoist texts mentioned using cannabis in censers. Needham cited the ca. Joseph Needham connected myths about Magu"the Hemp Damsel", with early Daoist religious usages of cannabis, pointing out that Magu was goddess of Shandong 's sacred Mount Taiwhere cannabis "was supposed to be gathered on the seventh day of the seventh month, a day of seance banquets in the Taoist communities. Other religions have been founded in the past century that treat cannabis as a sacrament. Some modern spiritual figures like Ram Dass [64] openly acknowledge that the use of cannabis has allowed them to gain a more spiritual perspective and use the herb frequently for both its medicinal and mind-altering properties.