Medicine, sex, and religion are presented as related areas of human thought and behavior in which people traditionally have sought temporary release from daily living. In essence, these areas represent a search for altered states of consciousness. The harmful way is through drug addiction.Five common characteristics are cited for the three areas. Examples of their universality are traceable by their omnipresence and their appearance in most childhood games-especially those taking on sexual nuances-which are usually hidden from adults.If Eastern knowledge and control of bodily processes were geared to Western technology, mankind would benefit.