spirituality - lesson 13: smoking

fire is pure energy, and its manipulation is a turning point in the development of civilization. the ability to create fire is probably the most significant discovery in human history. without it, it is hard conceive that primitive man would have ever made it through the stone ages. this newly found source of energy had a sudden effect on man's social environment. not only could food be cooked and warmth taken from fire, but it also brought communities together. it is easy to believe that people sitting around fires in awe of the flames, watching smoke rise to places that man could not. ancient mythology speaks a lot of fire worship and to the primitive mind of early man, it seemed like a gift from the gods. but whilst fire seems mystical and life giving, smoke was the apotheosis of this powerful element. smoke is all consuming, pungent, evocative, stimulating and yet hypnotic. for these reasons, smoke has since become an important part of many spiritual experiences across practically every culture in the world.

friends in a damaskan coffeehouse

a shaman gets ready to puff smoke over the male members of the community

'gentlemen smoking and playing backgammon in an interior' by dirck hals, 1627

native americans with a medicine pipe

a woman praying before incense smoke at a buddhist-shinto temple

a chinese opium den in london, 1875

fortunate eagle mordwall and mohawks with a calumet pipe, 1969

albert einstein, with his pipe, was passionate about his pipe saying- pipe smoking contributes to a somewhat calm and objective judgment of human affairs

unidentified print possibly french, 2nd half 17th century a woman smoking a pipe in an inn

smoke as a cleanser for many spiritual cultures smoke has been a means for communicating with the supernatural world. using things of the earth and burning them is seen as way of honoring creators and sign of prayers rising up to gods. the use of incense, grasses, tobacco and spices creates an atmosphere that lends itself to spiritual contemplation. from buddhism to christianity to native american tribes, smoke has signified a constant reach for spiritual access. one of the most usual executions of this is the use of smoke in purifying the human body and soul. for example, shamen of the trinidad caribs burn incense and blow it over the men of the community to cleanse and strengthen them. the power of the spirit is carried by the smoke and so the men take in than spirit through the orifices of their bodies. likewise the native americans have a similar tradition called 'smudging' in which sweet grasses are burnt to purify negative thoughts or energy, bad spirits or feelings. the herbs are cut and burnt, the smoke is then rubbed on the body (sometimes with a feather) of inhaled, whilst appropriate prayers are said. incense, both cloying and calming, is one of the most traditional ways of creating a mediative atmosphere. it's use has a sedative effect, bringing people into a state of mind that is ready for contemplation. incense is often used in temples or personal meditations so that the sense of smell connects you back to your centre, soul and collective beliefs. in this case, smoke is used like calling bells as well as a sacramental.

preparing for the afterlife for some the cremation of dead bodies sees the material manifestation of the soul's journey onward. for many this is a tradition that runs deep in their culture. we know that smoke was used in the ancient egyptian mummification processes and the vikings were known for their funerals where the dead were pushed out to sea on wooden rafts and set alight. another example of this is the navajo, who not only burn the bodies of the deceased but also their houses. whilst the home is burnt, the mourners would then stand in the smoke to cleanse themselves of the energy of death. the thinking man's aid whilst native american tribes used tobacco and calumets (peace pipes) for their medicinal values and connection with the 'great spirit', in europe it was a different matter. the 'sublime' was an 18th and 19th century romantic idea of the experience of beholding something so immense and powerful that it could cause your death. this experience, philosopher immanuel kant describes as 'negative pleasure' - the result of the simultaneous perception of the bounded and the boundless. this was reflected in social habits during the age of enlightenment. smoking rooms and opium dens opened up in cities, offering intellectual thinkers, writer and artists the change to debate and discuss. whilst the effects of opium many have been individual experiences the use of smoke was one associated with social interaction - much like the hookahs and sheeshas from the middle east. mass production - mass spirituality? cigarettes during the nineteenth century were usually and elite affair, only the upper classes could afford pre-rolled products. they were an european phenomenon, influenced by a chinese tradition of smoking. it wasn't until the early 20th century that cigarettes for the masses took off, thanks to the invention of various rolling machines. the american tobacco industry wanted to break the secular market of european intellectualism and produce for the working classes. it was at this point that the cigarette

became a uniform product, like paper clips or processed cheese. the mass production of tobacco products marked a radical change in the meanings behind smoking, not just the way it was used. in order to sell them, producers needed people to become mass consumers - not connoisseurs. the 'marlboro man' was created in the 1950's phillip morris (cigarette manufacturers) in an effort to produce a reason for smoking. he represented a strong, silent man, taking on his own path through 'marlboro country' - a place that offered escapism and reassurance. the aim was to offer a form of individualism, letting the smoker believe it is his own choice, gi.ing him control over his destiny in a world where there are many forces out of our control. in this way, smoking became a way of easing anxiety in uncertain times. 50 years on... and smoking in contemporary society has become the circumvention of reality rather than the exploration of actuality.