Monday Morning Greetings 2026 #34 – The Yoga-sūtras and Consciousness-Altering Herbs (Drugs)

I recently watched a podcast in which a devotee talked about ayahuasca as a legitimate means of elevating consciousness. He supported his claim by quoting the Yoga-sūtras 4.1. My purpose here is not to invalidate a person’s experience. Honestly, I don’t know enough about shamanistic practices to comment on that.[1] I do know, however, the Yoga-sūtras. A close analysis of the text does not support the claim that drugs (herbal or chemical) are a legitimate means of yogic attainment. Here is the verse: “Accomplishments (siddhis) arise from birth, auṣadhi (healing herb), mantra, austerity, and samādhi.” The important thing here is to pay close attention to what Patañjali actually says. He is not saying that auṣadhi elevates or purifies consciousness. All that he is saying is that siddhis (extraordinary accomplishments or powers) can arise from various sources such as birth, auṣadhi, mantra, austerity and samādhi. What are these astonishing powers? They are certainly extraordinary,…