Acharya Prashant responds to a question about the use of psychedelic substances for spiritual discovery, as advocated by figures like Terence McKenna. He begins by questioning what one truly gains from consuming substances like cannabis or bhang, sarcastically remarking that if one takes them, they too will have many 'discoveries.' He points out that people use these substances because they get something out of them, which he and the questioner identify as a momentary way to forget oneself. Acharya Prashant explains that spirituality is the path of knowing oneself with a sharper vision, a move towards greater consciousness. In contrast, substances like cannabis, bhang, datura, and LSD push a person further into unconsciousness. Therefore, they cannot be considered right or beneficial for spiritual growth. He states that their primary use is for people who live such ugly lives that they feel a need to escape the naked, bitter, and ugly reality of their existence for a short while. He calls this escapism a cheap way out, born from a lack of courage and unwillingness to put in the effort to change one's life. Man is the only creature that seeks intoxication because he is the only one with consciousness. This consciousness seeks upliftment and height. When it is not provided with true height, it settles for intoxication. Thus, intoxication is cowardice, a false cure for one's inner restlessness. He dismisses the idea that these substances lead to spiritual experiences or philosophical discoveries. He explains that the effects, such as a quiet person becoming talkative or hidden frustrations coming to the surface, are not miracles. They are merely the emergence of suppressed garbage from the mind, not the truth. This does not lead to any real knowledge about oneself or life. The core issue is dishonesty with oneself, which makes one vulnerable to all kinds of 'viruses' or false ideologies. The solution is to have a firm inner refusal—a 'Neti-Neti' (not this, not this)—to being sick. One should aim to be untouched by the world's garbage, like crossing a river without getting wet.