did you edit your post? I thought it was much longer. Was laughing over your suggestion of smuggling in a plant--One of my enjoyments currently (and my only 'intoxicant')is red wine. Isn't the point of Vipassana to break through boredom to see Mind behind that 'emotion'? ...Doesn't that seem like an inspiring call? (I have to say last year it would have frightened me.)I've never done one of these retreats: have an intuition though that it'd be really good.
found this somewhere: A number of anthropologists, ethnologists, and ethnobotanists have documented the use of entheogens within the living traditions of Vajrayana practiced in Nepal and to a lesser extent Tibet and Bhutan. ...little room for doubt that Vajrayana has had a well-documented tradition of making use of entheogenic plants (especially datura and cannabis) for magico-religious and psychospiritual purposes. While this use may never have been particularly widespread, it is certainly significant.
I don't know that I'd go as far as to say Vajrayana was "based on" plants. I think you made some really interesting points about male and female energies. And entering the desert. I've been reflecting on that. Haven't come up with the right response yet.