Stress and the Effect of Meditation, Yoga, Drugs and Alcohol

(This post is a reflection of Nīḻāmbara Dāsa’s spiritual experience and attempts to explain the role of Meditation and Yoga in de-stressing the mind and the counter-effect of Alcohol and Drugs on the Human Body)

Meditation & Yoga and Drugs & Alcohol are often (mis)understood to have the same effect on the body. It is referred to as the condition when the Human Body ‘feels high, relaxed, happy’.

Medical Science opines that this feeling called ‘high’, ‘happiness’ or ‘stress bust’ is because of release of one of the popular four chemicals in the human brain: Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin or Endorphin. Often these are called the ‘happy chemicals’, although there are several other chemicals too which when released or ingested can make one ‘feel relaxed’.

From Gaming to Gambling and Liquor to Modern Religion, various industries have used this very core concept to drive engagement and sales. Infusion of air with abundance of Oxygen for example can keep the brain ‘active’ for longer time, thus allowing one to engage in activities beyond the limits of one’s biological clock. Even receiving ‘Likes’ and ‘Upvotes’ on various popular social platforms like Facebook and Quora releases Dopamine in the brain that makes one ‘feel happy’.

The Human Body is a Marvel Machine.

When done right, the process of Yoga or Meditation can help the body slowly go into a ‘State of Statelessness’ called Samādhi which essentially is a State of Relaxation, and then again slowly let the body come out of the Samādhi to the normal Waking State of Consciousness (Jāgrata Avasthā).

This feeling is often (wrongly) compared to the popular feeling of ‘high or buzz’ that is experienced through the use of Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco and other Psilocybin Substances. Even ingestion of Caffeine and Nicotine can make one feel relaxed to a certain extent – this is the very reason why drinkers of Coffee (which has traces of Caffeine) and Tea (which has traces of Nicotine) feel relaxed after drinking them.

However, the methodology in which Meditation and Yoga work vastly vary from the way in which Alcohol and Drugs work.

While in-case of Meditation and Yoga, the core idea is to give the practitioner control of the body, in-case of Alcohol and Drugs the idea is to give up control of the body. Of-course both ‘feel’ relaxing.

The integral process of Meditation and Yoga is internal – which means by naturally and procedurally releasing the necessary chemicals already present inside the body, the body begins to go into a state of relaxation. Further, the process slowly and gradually brings the body back to the normal waking state. The effect of relaxation or distressed state lingers on even after the Yoga or Meditation session is completed. When practised for increasingly longer periods of time, the body starts deeply absorbing itself in meditation and moves to a State of Absolute Statelessness called Nirvikaḻpa Samādhi.

But in case of Alcohol and Drugs, a similar chemical process is triggered via external ingestion of the substance which is naturally foreign to the body. While the mind still experiences a state of forced relaxation, this external ingestion leads to lack of control over the body. Thus, afterwards, as the body struggles to bring itself back to the normal state, it is referred to as ‘hangover’.

Often, the problem intensifies when the body starts demanding more quantity of external substance ingestion to release the same amount of chemicals – to feel the same amount of ‘buzz, high, relaxation’. This finally tends towards substance abuse. The inability of the body to bear the effects of external ingestion eventually results in complete loss of control.

When complete control over the body is achieved through Meditation and Yoga, the effects of external substance ingestion too can be controlled – but that takes years and years of practise.

As one keeps practising Meditation (Japa), one moves from the stage of trying to control Meditation (Japa) to a free flowing state of Internal Meditation (Ajapā Japa), essentially one moves from trying to control the body consciously to letting the body take control subconsciously. As this stage of Internal Meditation (Ajapā Japa) intensifies, one begins experiencing the State of Statelessness continuously, even when one is not trying consciously to be in a meditative state!

This is called the State of Dynamic Equilibrium (Sthitaprajña) – being in an ever balanced state – neither too excited nor grief-stricken, neither too pained nor completely dispassionate, neither overindulged nor completely isolated – like a Water Drop on Lotus Leaf ~ leading a Spiritual Life in Material World.

This is the very key to a stress free life.

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Faith is one of the most important enablers that can help one progress forward in their spiritual journey. Practising Bhāva (Ardour), Bhakti (Devotion) and Prema (Love) can dispel darkness and lead to Divinity.

Nīḻāmbara Dāsa
Śrī Nivāsa, Nīḻāñcaḻa
Written on 23 Apr, 2020

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Posts in Anubhūtimāḻā are selected philosophical reflections of spiritual experiences submitted by individuals from around the world. Although every individual’s journey is unique and may vary from others based on their chosen path and experience along the journey, all paths eventually lead to the same Divine. You too can share your spiritual experience with us privately, or alternately indicate your permission consenting us to share it publicly on this website.