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Religion and Psychoactive Sacraments:
An Entheogen Chrestomathy
Thomas B. Roberts, Ph.D. and Paula Jo Hruby, Ed.D.
Author Index | Title Index
Understanding Drug Use: An Adult's Guide to Drugs and the Young.
Marin, Peter, and Cohen, Allan Y. (1971).
New York: Harper and Row.
ISBN: None
Description: Hardcover,
x + 163 pages.
Contents: 5 chapters,
glossary, bibliography, index.
Excerpt(s): The early
and sincere psychedelic users became aware that the esoteric teachings
of all spiritual systems emphasized development of consciousness
of the God Force within and that history has cataloged many techniques
and approaches toward unlocking that latent Divinity. We also
became aware of outstanding spiritual Oneness and Love. In the
youth subculture generally, there was an upsurge in respect for
the "Eastern" mystical tradition. (page 140)
[Meher] Baba's views and the general
thrust of his declarations have been reflected by scores of other
respected contemporary spiritual figures from Yogis to Christian
mystics, all of whom firmly propound that drugs are a blind alley
for spiritual development. As I have personally involved myself
in the approach espoused by Meher Baba, some principal differences
between the chemical and authentic spiritual techniques have become
clear. First, the LSD path denies internal worth. Using
drugs creates an underlying feeling that inner happiness must
somehow be enhanced from the outside. In contrast, authentic spirituality
stresses the omnipresence of God Within and defines the spiritual
task as uncovering that essence. The drug approach emphasizes
separateness and exclusiveness-it is "We, the hip people"
versus the "straight, unaware world." Yet true mysticism
implies oneness and tolerance for every being. The drug orientation
is passive and often leads to disengagement from active life in
society. One supposedly gets results by swallowing the pill, the
sum total of effort necessary. But in Reality, you don't get something
for nothing. The genuine Path entails real effort, and earned
progress can be retained as one's own. Psychedelic experience
is inevitably temporary; genuine mystical experience is lasting
in its impact. (pages 141-142)
Compilation copyright © 1995 – 2001 CSP
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