Psychedelic Buddhism
A User's Guide to Traditions, Symbols, and Ceremonies
Published on 16. March 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
328 pages
978-1-64411-669-2 (ISBN)
Description
In this user's guide to Psychedelic Buddhism, Lama Mike Crowley presents techniques for Buddhists who wish to incorporate psychedelics into their practice as well as for psychonauts who are interested in the maps of inner space provided by Buddhism. The author details how psychedelics have led to spontaneous awakening experiences, such as "Indra's net" and universal voidness, that were once thought to be available only to advanced meditators. He explores the use of psychedelics, such as LSD or psilocybin mushrooms, in a Buddhist context, sharing the kind of spiritual experiences and benefits that can be gained with each. The author also looks at the use of psychedelics encoded in Vedic and Buddhist scriptures, particularly in the Vajrayana tradition, from the Middle Ages until the present day.
Presenting an informed summary of Buddhism for psychonauts, the author explores the key beliefs of Buddhism, the life of the Buddha, and the practices followed in various yanas, or paths. He describes meditation techniques, with special attention being given to the generation of the Four Positive Attitudes: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, each being taken from their personal to their universal forms. He looks at Buddhism symbols, ceremonies, deities, and initiations, as well as psychic powers in Buddhist tradition, and how these ideas and practices can be used in the exploration of the inner realms of consciousness.
Providing a complete guide to integrating psychedelics into Buddhist practice, this book reveals how the ancient Buddhist teachers discovered their universal maps of consciousness and how you can use their wisdom to guide your journey.
Presenting an informed summary of Buddhism for psychonauts, the author explores the key beliefs of Buddhism, the life of the Buddha, and the practices followed in various yanas, or paths. He describes meditation techniques, with special attention being given to the generation of the Four Positive Attitudes: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, each being taken from their personal to their universal forms. He looks at Buddhism symbols, ceremonies, deities, and initiations, as well as psychic powers in Buddhist tradition, and how these ideas and practices can be used in the exploration of the inner realms of consciousness.
Providing a complete guide to integrating psychedelics into Buddhist practice, this book reveals how the ancient Buddhist teachers discovered their universal maps of consciousness and how you can use their wisdom to guide your journey.
Reviews / Votes
"When it comes to the intersection of psychedelics and Buddhism, Lama Mike Crowley is like a living encyclopedia, ever-ready with mythological interweavings and historical facts that serve to ground the wisdom he has to share. Adorned with awe-inspiring visionary art, Psychedelic Buddhism lays out an ethical path for the modern Buddhist curious about the integration of psychedelic substances as tools to enhance and deepen spiritual practice." * Jasmine Virdi, M.Sc., writer, educator, poet, and activist * "Lama Mike Crowley comes fully out of the psychedelic Buddhist closet with Psychedelic Buddhism. This book shows how psychedelic experience can be applied to Buddhist practice for those who already practice Buddhism and how psychedelic users who are interested in Buddhism can familiarize themselves with a wealth of Buddhist traditions, symbols, and ceremonies such as meditation, chanting, visualizations, and even dream yoga. Though a Lama in the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition, Mike provides his readers with a solid Buddhist education by making ample references to all the various permutations of Buddhism from the early, 'basic' Buddhism of Hinayana to the later developments of Mahayana and ultimately to Vajrayana Buddhism. Mike skillfully covers a wide range of Buddhist topics and practices, and as such, the book serves as a well-informed introduction to Buddhism from an insider's perspective. Additionally, Mike discusses various psychedelics and how they could experientially contribute to Buddhist practice, and he offers guidance and suggestions for creating opportunities for the practicing of psychedelic Buddhism from meditation to picnicking with friends, including how to avoid unnecessary intrusion by curious onlookers. Pour yourself a nice cup of amr. ita, get your bottom properly positioned on that meditation cushion, and let Lama Mike Crowley show you a very different side of Buddhism and Buddhist practice that harkens back to the days when amr. ita and soma were much more than colored and flavored water. Let your bodhicitta flower like a visionary lotus of a thousand psychedelic petals. You just might discover that you've always been just what you've been looking for in the vast nondual emptiness of the dharmakaya." * Martin W. Ball, Ph.D., author, visionary artist, and host of The Entheogenic Evolution podcast *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Rochester
United States
Publishing group
Inner Traditions Bear and Company
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Includes 8-page color insert and 34 b&w illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 224 mm
Width: 151 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
556 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-64411-669-2 (9781644116692)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
03/2023
Park Street Press
€15.81
Available for download
Persons
Lama Mike Crowley met a Tibetan lama, Lama Radha Chime Rinpoche, in London when he was 18 years old. He became Lama Chime's first student and has continued to study with him to the present day. He took "refuge" and the five Pansil vows on May 1, 1970, and, after much study and meditation, was ordained as a lama on January 1, 1988. He is the founder of Amrita Dzong, an American extension of his teacher's group, and a member of the advisory board of the national Psychedelic Sangha. The author of Secret Drugs of Buddhism, he lives in northern California.
Content
PREFACE
What Is a Psychedelic?
An Email to My Seven-Year-Old Granddaughter
Merging Psychedelics and Buddhism
A Note about This Book
INTRODUCTION
The Lineage of Psychedelic Buddhism
PART 1
PSYCHEDELICS FOR BUDDHISTS
FOREWORD TO PART 1
A Return to Nothingness
Dr. Ben Sessa
1 Prerequisites
2 Psychedelic Drugs to Enhance Your Buddhist Practice
3 Where and with Whom to Trip
4 Managing Experiences
5 A Few Last Words on Psychedelics for Buddhists
PART 2
BUDDHISM FOR PSYCHONAUTS
FOREWORD TO PART 2
The Shared History of Buddhism and Psychedelics in the West
by Gwyllm Llwydd
6 A Brief History of Buddhism
7 Buddhist Beliefs
8 Symbols in Buddhism
9 So . . . What Is a Buddhist?
10 A Few Last Words for Psychonauts Who Want to Explore Buddhism
PART 3
BECOMING A PSYCHEDELIC BUDDHIST
11 Foundations
12 Vows Taken by Buddhists
13 Traditional Practices
14 Sitting Meditation Practice
15 Group Meditation Practice
16 Daily Practices
17 The Four Positive Attitudes
18 Yoga of the Dream Path
19 Psychic Powers and Magic
20 Tales of Psi-chedelics
21 Poems for Contemplation
22 A Final Wish
APPENDICES
RESOURCES FOR THE READER
APPENDIX 1
Suggested Ceremonies
APPENDIX 2
The Formal Refuge Ceremony for Becoming a Buddhist
APPENDIX 3
Refuge Formulas
APPENDIX 4
Bodhisattva Vows
APPENDIX 5
Dedications of Merit
APPENDIX 6
Buddhist Festivals
Further Reading
Glossary
Index
What Is a Psychedelic?
An Email to My Seven-Year-Old Granddaughter
Merging Psychedelics and Buddhism
A Note about This Book
INTRODUCTION
The Lineage of Psychedelic Buddhism
PART 1
PSYCHEDELICS FOR BUDDHISTS
FOREWORD TO PART 1
A Return to Nothingness
Dr. Ben Sessa
1 Prerequisites
2 Psychedelic Drugs to Enhance Your Buddhist Practice
3 Where and with Whom to Trip
4 Managing Experiences
5 A Few Last Words on Psychedelics for Buddhists
PART 2
BUDDHISM FOR PSYCHONAUTS
FOREWORD TO PART 2
The Shared History of Buddhism and Psychedelics in the West
by Gwyllm Llwydd
6 A Brief History of Buddhism
7 Buddhist Beliefs
8 Symbols in Buddhism
9 So . . . What Is a Buddhist?
10 A Few Last Words for Psychonauts Who Want to Explore Buddhism
PART 3
BECOMING A PSYCHEDELIC BUDDHIST
11 Foundations
12 Vows Taken by Buddhists
13 Traditional Practices
14 Sitting Meditation Practice
15 Group Meditation Practice
16 Daily Practices
17 The Four Positive Attitudes
18 Yoga of the Dream Path
19 Psychic Powers and Magic
20 Tales of Psi-chedelics
21 Poems for Contemplation
22 A Final Wish
APPENDICES
RESOURCES FOR THE READER
APPENDIX 1
Suggested Ceremonies
APPENDIX 2
The Formal Refuge Ceremony for Becoming a Buddhist
APPENDIX 3
Refuge Formulas
APPENDIX 4
Bodhisattva Vows
APPENDIX 5
Dedications of Merit
APPENDIX 6
Buddhist Festivals
Further Reading
Glossary
Index