“Oh what happened! You look stressed out. wait wait! Let me get you a drink . You will feel better“.
The way the situation has been dealt above is commendable , for the world at least. But for one, who is aware and wishes the presence of the element of truth in all situations-pleasing or painful, this is the most unreasonable and insensible way to assist someone undergoing stress or conflict.The intention to help someone under stress is well meaning , but pushing someone into a cycle of momentary sensory gratification and altered state of consciousness so that the conflicts of the present get covered by something surreal is childish. When does stress hit us ? When there is a conflict. When there is a mismatch between a desire and an outcome, or an expectation and a reality. Something has gone wrong or might go wrong. So,when one is undergoing conflict in the mind the choice lies in running away or in tackling the issue at hand. If nothing can be done , that option of acceptance or surrender is also there.
But what remedy has been offered ? A distraction . A get away.So all what you needed was a distraction to tackle your stress? A new world to escape into?When you actually needed pure awareness and attention towards the issue at hand , you are running away. When you needed to tackle the naked truth that is haunting you , you are choosing to build false empires of pleasure in your mind . In that heaven of intoxication there is no pain, no disappointment,no fear of failure , no uncertainty, pure bliss . Isn’t it?
So you want to feel light. But what is it that you wish to shed? The load of tackling the problem or the burden of facing the truth itself? Or you do not want to acknowledge the issue itself. Are you sure this drink will relieve you of the stress? It most probably will. But will it prevent you from entering this state once gain ? It never will.
When the situation is crying for immediate attention from you , your drink has taken you away. Far into fantasy land. All the action of thought and deed that was imperative has been deferred over a drink. So you feel light now. Much better. You realize that you were over hyping and magnifying your problem. Wonderful. Exactly a week later. The weekend. Same situation. The drink rescues you again. Life goes on. When the world beyond the battlefield is so beautiful what is the point in aiming arrows at your conflicts?
So much can be deferred by virtue of a distraction( or a drink). Responsibilities,miseries,heart burns, insecurities,stagnating careers,toxic relationships,the nothingness of life, what can’t be thrown at a remote inaccessible corner of the mind by a drink? And yes, if you feel that your understanding and insight about your issue becomes vivid after a drink , if you feel that a few pegs make you express your grief better- you need to do some serious work on self acceptance. If you feel that the so far unexpressed versions of your mind-conflicts get surreptitiously hidden behind a drink and you can escape letting them out without judgment in front of others, either you do not trust others or have some serious self doubt .Cursing , ranting, blaming everything on the earth for your misery is definitely not a very logical way of quietening your mind. It needs other things. One of them is fearlessly tackling what is bothering you.
The issue is not with the drink though. It is more about your decision to run away. You may choose to get intoxicated in full awareness ( if that is possible) . A drink that enables you to tackle all your problems consciously , in taking all those pending tough decisions, in fighting all your demons is welcome. A drink distancing you from all that which stops you from living a life as per your values, that drink would be magical.And why only a drink – even a trip, a movie , a hobby , that you immerse into with complete awareness ,an activity that enables you to discover your solutions or course of action is wonderful.Till the time the battles of the mind are not fought head on, and the truth is not accepted as it is,only liquor companies and travel agencies stand to gain by your “get away from pain” strategy. Signing off with some meaningless hit lyrics from the Indian Film Industry which obsessively and excessively recommends intoxication as the panacea for every life issue-
1) दम मारो दम मिट जाए ग़म Take another hit, all your worries will disappear.What a quick fix!
2)सूरज डूबा है यारों दो घूँट नशे के मारो रस्ते भुला दो सारे घरबार के सूरज डूबा है यारों दो घूँट नशे के मारो ग़म तुम भुला दो सारे संसार केThis one goes into the specifics. Forget everything. Even the roads leading to your home.Forget all the sorrow.Let the world itself disappear from your memory.Spiritual gems !