Sarah Tipple

2-9-98

The Burning Meditation

It is morning and I have something to look forward to: the precious moments of smoking my one morning clove. I get to think about what Iím going to do today. I get to think about what I did yesterday. I get to admire the scenery. I get to sit, captured by thought and overwhelmed with peace. Looking at my clove's wrinkley auburn body and smelling its herbal cinnamon scent, I see time. To me, it represents useful and relaxing time where I can contemplate my life. Try contemplating oneís life by just sitting there, itís hard. There is so much distraction. With the sweet clove to hold and the floating smoke to watch, there is always a mental focal point to come back to. Putting the clove cigarette to my lips is an action that Iím focused on. Inhaling the smoke into my lungs is a sensation that relaxes me. Exhaling the smoke into the air is a release that enables my thoughts to clearly surface. By moderately smoking this nicoteen-free cigarette, I am able enjoy this time without the regret of putting my health at risk. The ten minutes that I share with my clove is relaxing time full of purpose. My clove is my meditation.

Meditation is the most effective way to reduce stress. Most meditation techniques emphasize on emptying the mind and allowing it to become open to new perceptions. Meditation teacher, Stephen Hamm, said, ìMany people derive both holistic and spiritual benefits from meditaion. (Michael A. Wanko, 1995:40) Deep breathing, soothing visualization, and scheduled relaxation time are the components of meditaion that make it so benefitial. Those components are found when I am smoking a clove cigarette.

Millions of people use tobacco smoking as their form of meditation. They smoke before work, in between classes, after dinner, while driving, and sometimes just to look cool. Smoking tends to be a bit of trivial meditation. Yet, it still remains a simple and satisfying pleasure that anyone can do. You do not need to be rich to be able enjoy the delight of smoking. You do not need to be a genius to be able to inhale the calming smoke. You do not need to be a superstar to be able to relax with a cigarette. But, you do need to understand moderation. As soon as the calming smoking breaks are taken every twenty minutes, then not only do the moments lose their significance, but health becomes a major problem. There are said to be at least 400,000 deaths per year due to cigarette smoking. (Maclean 1994, :24) However, there are millions of smokers in our world that do not obtain the deadly aspects of smoking. Moderation is a very important factor when using cigarettes as a form of meditation. So, by limiting your smoking ìrituals,î more value is given to your health as well as your relaxation time.

However, the dangers found within habituously smoking can not withstand the power behind how substantial instant gratification is to humans. Is three minutes of pleasurable cigarette smoking eight times a day really worth the risk of the pain that often occurs? Most people care too much about how they feel at the present moment to think about their unhappiness in the future. Perhaps they might even like to convince themselves that they will escape the possible discomfort that could be slowly sneaking up on them with every cigarette use. ìIíll smoke now, be relaxed now, be happy now and Iíll worry about how itíll affect me later. Unfortunately, the meditation value found within smoking is sometimes necessary for people to continue a normal day. They feel as if they need their moments of tranquility to make their life easier. The smokers in our society feel that some potential consequences are worthwhile if the action acts as a medicine for the soul.

For several cultures, smoking is a way to obtain spiritual completeness. The Plains Indian religion revolves around the sacred use of tobacco and pipes. Their beliefs put tobacco smoking on a much higher and spiritual level than our society does. The ceremonial smoking rituals is believed to bond a single manís soul to the vast Universe. Great spiritual and religious importance is placed upon the action of smoking in their tribe.

In mingling his lifebreath with the tobacco and fire through the strait stem of concentration, the man who smokes assists at the sacrafice of his own self, or ego, and is thus aided in realizing the Devine Presence at his own center. Indeed, in the liberation of the smoke, man is further helped in realizing that not only is Godës presence within him, but that he and the world are mysteriously plunged into God. (Richard L. Blanton 1991 :83)

For these people, smoking was used as a tool to become closer to the Universe. Great power and concentration were involved in these rituals. The Indians valued their smoking ceremonies and, therefore, moderation of tobacco consumption was practiced. There were very few Native Americans who have been diagnosed with Lung Cancer or Heart Disease. Then, they only smoked when their religion called for the spiritual role that the tobacco played. Their beliefs, ceremonies, and religious traditions revolved around the sacred pipe and tobacco smoking. "The smoke that rises to the heavens is also, as it were, 'visible prayer,' at the sight and fragrance of which the entire creation rejoices" (Richard L. Blunton 1991:83) . An evolution of this enlightening tobacco use occurred when it was discovered from the Native Americans in the "New World" when Columbus arrived in 1492. This new and intruiging herb was brought back to the "Old World," and unfortunately the intense and deep spiritual value of smoking was not. Tobacco smoking did not remain the religious device that it was intended for, but it still kept its relaxation qualities in our society.

It is a shame that most of our society does not place such an intense spiritual meaning on the whole process of smoking, but itís sacredness is found within itís meditative purpose. It is now simply used to relax. It is now simply used to clear one's thoughts. It is now simply a social solitude. You can be alone and your thoughts can keep you company, or you can be with others and your thoughts can keep you isolated. While smoking, the focal point of oneís thoughts remain the same if by yourself or with others. Either way, smoking permits time where you can try to understand your own emotions. Other activities done in solitude do not allow the mind that type of concentration. Watching television alone is a mindless activity where the emotion is already created for you. Reading alone deeply draws your attension to the adventurous and traumatizing lives of others. Drawing alone taps into your inner self in a creative and less obvious form of expression. But, smoking allows that time where your thoughts are clear, focused, and understandable.

Being with others while smoking can also bring you to that calm and centered state. Thoughts seem to rise to the surface during these group smoking sessions. Ideas are verbally expressed and responses are shared by the fellow smokers. Each person has the inhale and exhale moments where they can think about what they are going to say before they say it. This time allows for favorable communication to occur. We see these types of ìsmokingî conversations in several famous movie scene. Smoking in groups also creates a peace among the recipiants. The Plain Indians used their ìPeace Pipesî in establishing relationships between friends as well as enemies. For they believe:[That] smoking the pipe together, each man is aided in remembering his own center, which is now understood to be the same center of every man, and of the Universe itself. (Victor S. Alpher 1993 :71)

Smoking is a way to bring people together intellectually and spiritually. It becomes a social meditation.

I do not necessarily agree with all that smoking has to offer. Millions of people have suffered because of the extreme habitual use of cigarettes. However, smoking can be understood if it is viewed as a meditational tool. The psychological aspects of smoking can benefit oneís soul through meditational healing and enlightening. The relaxation time can lift your mood when youíre feeling down; thus, stress is relieved. The contemplation time can help to focus your thoughts when they are blurry; thus, ideas are understood. The spiritual time can express the bond that exists between all forms of creation; thus, relationships are established. Smoking is a way for one to appreciate precious time that so often gets taken for granted.