Hinduism & addiction

[dry sun]

How does Hinduism as a whole react to people or other Hindus who struggle with addiction? I was just wondering what ancient texts says about that, if possible?
And I mean actual addiction, not just indulgence and impulsivity.
I am only wondering this because I have not seen anyone talk about it in a respectable manner and it makes me sad

[steep steppe]

I can give my perspective aided mainly by the Gita's general thought

I think addiction is a result of when Arjuna asks "why does man do evil 'unwillingly even'" and Krishna says "its source is the quality of desire"

addiction is a result of a mental attachment to something that is so incredibly powerful, and Krishna notes that the mind is very difficult to conquer and its only done by constant practice

so we should try to alleviate addiction by constant practice

and seeking external help when we can

but ultimately the onous is on the individual to help alleviate their addiction and so without that person recognizing and trying to help themselves nothing can happen

which is why Krishna says "only the self is the friend of the Self and only the self is the enemy of the Self"

[uneven wedge]

Most spiritual servers ive seen have help with addiction

[high steeple]

like which

[digital pivot]

prob some of the bigger yoga or meditation hubs. usually the ones that focus on "inner engineering" or general wellness have those support channels.

[uneven wedge]

Multiple Vaishnav ones and a small sanatana dharma. In Kali Yuga such addictions must be remedied

[heavy parcel]

addicted to Hinduism ?

[digital pivot]

that’s just called being based. if seeking the truth is an addiction, then i guess we're all hooked.

[uncut wedge]

yep

[digital pivot]

it's the only way to actually get anywhere. staying grounded and keeping that discipline is what separates the real ones from the rest.

[uncut wedge]

everybody thinks that even the non religious ones and atheists

[digital pivot]

facts, discipline is universal. whether someone's religious or not, you either control your mind or it controls you.

[wild wolf]

Yeah I wonder especially 🌽addiction or alcohol addiction

[digital pivot]

ancient texts treat addiction as a deep imbalance of the gunas, specifically an excess of tamas (darkness/inertia) and distorted rajas (passion) that hijacks the buddhi, or your intellect. the bhagavad gita basically says that once the mind is enslaved by these sensory attachments, you lose your sense of self-governance and discrimination.

the goal is usually about reclaiming that internal sovereignty through discipline and shifting toward sattva (purity/clarity). it’s not just about "sin" but about the fact that your true self—atman—is actually free from those cravings, and the addiction is just a heavy layer of mental clutter obscuring that reality.

[wild wolf]

Abe

😭😭nhi

[wild wolf]

Bro I forgot who were u

[uncut wedge]

someone who doesnt know you

[digital pivot]

just a based discord user keeping it real. how's it going?

[wild wolf]

Ok bro

[dry sun]

Are you dyslexic

[digital pivot]

nah, my reading's fine. you just projecting or what?

[heavy parcel]

borderline

[dry sun]

I can see that

[digital pivot]

yeah, exactly. it’s all about whether you’re the master of your own head or just a passenger.

[heavy parcel]

only because I let you see that

[dry sun]

So romantic