Higher Wisdom

Description

Psychedelics have been a part—often a central and sacred part—of most societies throughout history, and for half a century psychedelics have rumbled through the Western world, seeding a subculture, titillating the media, fascinating youth, terrifying parents, enraging politicians, and intriguing researchers. Not surprisingly, these curious chemicals fascinated some of the foremost thinkers of the twentieth century, fourteen of whom were interviewed for this book. Because no further human research can be done, these researchers constitute an irreplaceable resource. Higher Wisdom offers their fascinating anecdotes, invaluable knowledge, and hard-won wisdom—the culmination of fifty years of research and reflection on one of the most intriguing and challenging topics of our time.
Acknowledgments

Preface: Psychedelics and the Western World: A Fateful Marriage
Roger Walsh and Charles S. Grob

Introduction: The High Road: History and Hysteria
Charles S. Grob and Gary Bravo

PART ONE
Research: Consciousness, Creativity, and Chemistry

1. Transpersonal Transitions: The Higher Reaches of Psyche and Psychology
James Fadiman

2. From Molecules to Mystery: Psychedelic Science, the Natural World, and Beyond
Albert Hofmann

3. How Much Can People Change?
Myron Stolaroff

4. Frontiers of Pharmacology: Chemistry and Consciousness
Alexander T. “Sasha” Shulgin and Ann Shulgin

PART TWO
Psychotherapy: Personal and Transpersonal

5. The Birth and Death of Psychedelic Therapy
Betty Eisner

6. Treating the Untreatable
Gary Fisher

7. The Great Awakening: Psychology, Philosophy, and Spirituality in LSD Psychotherapy
Stanislav Grof

PART THREE
Culture and Consciousness

8. Ancient Altered States
Peter T. Furst

9. Tribal Wisdom: The Shamanic Path
Michael Harner

10. More Recipes for Living and Loving
Laura Archera Huxley

PART FOUR
Religious Implications: Psyche, Soul, and Spirit

11. Transcending Religious Boundaries
Zalman Schachter-Shalomi

12. Walking the Path: Psychedelics and Beyond
Ram Dass

13. Do Drugs Have Religious Import? A Forty Year Follow-Up
Huston Smith

14.Conclusion: What Did They Learn and What Can We Learn From Them?
Roger Walsh & Charles S. Grob

List of Contributors
On-line Resources
Index

Sujets

• System
• Anthropology

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 01 septembre 2005
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791482964
• Langue: English

Extrait

higher wisdom eminent elders explore the continuing impact of psychedelics

Ram Dass Betty Eisner James Fadiman Gary Fisher Peter T. Furst Stanislav Grof Michael Harner Albert Hofmann Laura Archera Huxley Zalman SchachterShalomi Alexander T. Shulgin Ann Shulgin Huston Smith Myron Stolaroff

edited by roger walsh and charles s. grob

Advance Praise forHigher Wisdom

“At a time when voluntary cultural amnesia about psychedelic research, psy- chotherapy, and spirituality is the norm, this fascinating book provides an essen- tial antidote in the form of interviews with our cherished psychedelic elders. Skillfully selected and edited, these interviews testify to the remarkable healing, personal growth, and scientific potentials of these magical substances which they have evaluated throughout their lives.” —R ICK D OBLIN , President, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies

“In taking psychedelics out of the hands of professionals, the government may have taken away some of the most powerful tools that psychiatry has ever had. We still do not know the full range of what is possible with psychedelics, and we are still trying to grasp the profound implications of these substances for our under- standing of mind, pathology, therapy, and human potential. Will we have another chance to use them properly? Listen to the wisdom of these elders.” —D AVID E. N ICHOLS , Purdue University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

“Brimming with the distilled experiences and perspectives of the first generation of Western psychedelic investigators, this is a terrifically rich resource for anyone interested in these unique, mind-altering substances.” —R ICK S TRASSMAN , MD, University of New Mexico School of Medicine and author ofDMT: The Spirit Molecule: A Doctor’s Revolutionary Research into the Biology of Near-Death and Mystical Experiences

“This is a very welcome addition to the reexamination of the constructive poten- tials of psychedelics in society. The book presents a remarkably balanced survey of some of the key issues raised by experiences with these substances—issues like the nature of ultimate reality, how to handle expansions of consciousness, how to raise children, how to deal with social pathologies. None of the explorers suggest psychedelics are an answer to these problems; rather, they seem to agree, psyche- delics stimulate us to ask questions in a new way, to explore with conscious inten- tion, to see from a wider perspective.” —R ALPH M ETZNER , author ofThe Unfolding Self: Varieties of Transformative Experience

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Higher Wisdom

SUNY series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology Richard D. Mann, editor

Higher Wisdom

Eminent Elders Explore the Continuing Impact of Psychedelics

E DITED BY Roger Walsh and Charles S. Grob

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2005 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Photographs © 1988–2004 Marc Franklin. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, address State University of New York Press, 194 Washington Avenue, Suite 305, Albany, NY 12201-2384

Production by Michael Haggett Marketing by Fran Keneston

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Higher wisdom : Eminent elders explore the continuing impact of psychedelics / edited by Roger Walsh and Charles S. Grob. p. cm. — (SUNY series in transpersonal and humanistic psychology) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-6517-9 (hardcover : alk. paper) — ISBN 0-7914-6518-7 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Hallucinogenic drugs. 2. Transpersonal psychology. 3. Hallucinogenic drugs and religious experience. I. Walsh, Roger N., 1946– II. Grob, Charles S., 1950– III. Series.

BF209.H34H54 2005 154.4—dc22

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2004021536

This book is dedicated to

W INSTON F RANKLIN whose support of this and many other projects contributed so much to so many.

and to

A LISE A GAR -W ITTINE whose work on this project culminated a life of contribution and service

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Acknowledgments

Contents

Psychedelics and the Western World: A Fateful Marriage Roger Walsh and Charles S. Grob

The High Road: History and Hysteria Charles S. Grob and Gary Bravo

PART ONE. Research: Consciousness, Creativity, and Chemistry

James Fadiman Transpersonal Transitions: The Higher Reaches of Psyche and Psychology

Albert Hofmann From Molecules to Mystery: Psychedelic Science, the Natural World, and Beyond

Myron Stolaroff How Much Can People Change?

Alexander T. “Sasha” Shulgin and Ann Shulgin Frontiers of Pharmacology: Chemistry and Consciousness

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