Religion and Psychoactive Sacraments:
An Entheogen Chrestomathy
Thomas B. Roberts, Ph.D. and Paula Jo Hruby, Ed.D.
Author Index | Title Index

Psychedelics & The Path (Topical Issue).

Gnosis: A Journal of the Western Inner Traditions., (Winter, 1993). , No. 26.


ISBN: (ISSN) 0894-6159


Description: Quarterly periodical, topical issue on psychedelics, 96 pages.


Contents: Partial Table of Contents

1	Editorial, by Jay Kinney
14	The Fires of Artifice: Where do psychedelics fit on the spiritual path? by Richard Smoley
18	Mysticism: Contemplative and Chemical: Is there a difference between drug-induced visions and religious experience?, by Roger Walsh
22	Drugs and the Path: Can psychedelics and other drugs provide a legitimate way for the seeker? A number of spiritual thinkers give their view, by Georg Feuerstein
26	Using Psychedelics Wisely: A Veteran Researcher Explains How Psychedelics Can Be Used To Give Beneficial Results, by Myron J. Stolaroff
31	Psychedelics: A First-Amendment Right: If certain chemicals open one up to religious experience, should they be protected by the Constitution?, by a Psychedelicist
34	Jean-Paul Sartre and Adelle Davis: What do the French philosopher and the health-food guru have in common? Profound experiences with psychedelics., by Thomas Riedlinger
42	The Gnosis Interview: Ram Dass, by Jay Kinney and Richard Smoley
51	The Sobriety that Surpasses Intoxication: A Sufi teacher discusses the advantages of a drug-free path, by Kabir Helminski
54	Ecstasy Revisited: From psychotherapy to the hip rave scene: a capsule history of MDMA, by Bruce Eisner
60	Gracie's Visible Language: Can a psychedelic show what human speech is really made of?, by Gracie & Zarkov
64	Gerald Heard: Soul Guide to the Beyond Within, by John V. Cody

Note: "Just Say Gnosis"(inside back cover).


Excerpt(s): Do psychedelics have a legitimate place on the spiritual path? I know of very few people who are interested in mysticism who haven't at some point experimented with psychoactive drugs. Indeed, many esotericists would likely point to psychedelic experiences as the trigger that led to their further exploration of inner places. Such is the legacy of coming of age in the `60s ...

And yet ... despite all the madness and sorrow, there's no denying that certain drugs at certain times in certain places have given, and still give, thousands of people as strong a taste of sacred reality as they're likely to find in modern America. Moreover, the last two or three years have seen an upsurge in the use of both psychedelics and "empathogens" (particularly the ubiquitous MDMA, also known as X or Ecstasy). The trend, symbolized by the return of light shows and quasi-tribal dances courtesy of the still-growing "rave" scene, has cut across all age groups.

Whether this seems like good news or bad, the question lingers of what relationship drugs, particularly psychedelics, have to a coherent spirituality. Are they a spark plug? A false lead? A legitimate path? All of the above? This is a serious issue, and one not easily answered. In order to better help you formulate your own opinions, we've drawn together a kaleidoscope of perspectives in this special issue: some pro, some con, but all thought-provoking. And they all have that skin-free crunchy coating you've come to expect from the Colonel. Chow down! (Jay Kinney, Editorial, page 1)

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