Living with addiction

The following is an excerpt from a samvaad (dialogue) session with Acharya Prashant.

Questioner (Q): What is wrong with taking a stimulant — like nicotine or alcohol?

Acharya Prashant (AP): Nothing. Stimulant is just an expression of what you are, a bored one. Because I am bored, so I require to stimulate myself, so stimulant is not right or wrong, you need to figure out what brings you to the stimulant, your boredom, is that right for you? Now, if you are bored, obviously you will require something to excite you. The stimulant, the object of excitation cannot be held as right or wrong. In fact, it is predetermined that you will be drawn towards centers of excitement if you are bored. Given that you are bored, what else is your destiny? That you will go to places of excitement, entertainment, stimulation. Why judge those places or things? You would rather look at the mind that is drawn towards those things. What is the quality of that mind?

Q: Where does that boredom come from, actually.

AP: Obviously! That’s what we need to inquire into.

Q: And, what is that boredom all about

AP: What is that boredom all about.

Q: At this moment, it can be addiction also. At this moment, you might not be bored, but…