Subject: Religions and Hemp
Sent: 1/22/97 10:16 AM
Received: 1/30/97 5:48 PM
From: ERIC E. SKIDMORE, 104413.3573@compuserve.com
To: Karpinski, Len, anc4hemp@alaska.net

** WEB ** Miscellany

RELIGIOUS USES OF CANNABIS HEMP

1) BIBLICAL SCHOLAR, Sula Benet, writing in 1975, revealed that EXODUS
30:23, in the original Hebrew, referred to hemp...."God directed Moses to
make a holy anointing oil consisting of myrrh, cinnamon, kaneh bosm, and
cassia." Kaneh bosm was erroneously translated as sweet calamus, when the
old testament was translated into Greek in the 3rd century B.C. Kaneh is
the same root word for Cannabis and reed. (Benet, 1975). Another piece of
evidence regarding the use of the word Kaneh in the sense of hemp rather
than reed among the Hebrews is the religious requirement that the dead be
buried in Kaneh shirts. (Klein, 1908). Later linen was substituted for
hemp.

2) MOSLEMS considered hemp as a Holy Plant and medieval Arab doctors
considered hemp a sacred medicine. The SUFIS (a Moslem sect) originating
in 8th century Persia, used hashish as a means of stimulating mystical
consciousness and appreciation of the nature of Allah. They maintained
that it gave them insights into themselves and deeper understanding.
(Abel, 1980).

3) HINDUS. Early Indian legends maintained that the angel of mankind lived
in the leaves of the hemp plant. It was so sacred that it was used to
deter evil and cleanse its user of sin. In Hindu mythology hemp is a holy
plant given to man for the "welfare of mankind" and is considered to be one
of the divine nectars able to give man anything from good health, to long
life, to visions of the gods. The God Indra gave marihuana to the people
so that they might atain elevated states of consciousness, delight in
worldly joy, and freedom from fear. Indian medical works dating back to
1300 A.D. list among the efects of cannabis that it "sharpens the memory,
sharpens the wits, creates energy, and stimulates mental powers." Contrast
these findings with the "alleged facts" perpetrated by the so-called
"Partnership for a Drug Free America."

4) BUDDHISM. The belief among Buddhists is that Siddhartha (the Buddha),
used and ate nothing but hemp and its seeds for six years prior to
discovering his truths and becoming the Buddha. He is often pictured with
"soma" hemp leaves in his begging bowl.

5) TAOISM. A Chinese Taoist priest from the 5th century B.C. wrote that
Cannabis was used in combination with Ginseng to set forward time in order
to reveal future events. The Taoists recommended the addition of Cannabis
to incense burners in the 1st century A.D. in order to achieve immortality.

6) ZOROASTRIANS. The Zend-Avest (ancient Holy book of the Zoroastrians)
tells of two mortals who were transported in soul to the heavens where;
upon drinking from a cup of bhang (hemp), they had the highest mysteries
revealed to them. Zoroaster may have used hemp to bridge the metaphysical
gap between heaven and earth.

7) JUDEO-CHRISTIAN religious tradition stands nearly alone in not having
recognized hemp's sacred, ritual use. Is it any wonder that this tradition
which now dominates world politics is determined to wipe out any evidence
of hemp's uses?

8) The following quote is taken from an old HINDU proverb. "He who uses
no bhang, (Cannabis) shall lose his happiness in this life and the life to
come. In the end he shall be cast into hell. The mere sight of bhang,
(Cannabis) cleans from as much sin as a thousand pilgrimmages. HE WHO
SCANDALIZES THE USER OF BHANG SHALL SUFFER THE TORMENTS OF HELL SO LONG AS THE SUN ENDURES."

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