close
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages
product

Look Inside

Secret Drugs of Buddhism: Psychedelic Sacraments and the Origins of the Vajrayana

By Michael Crowley

Foreword by Ann Shulgin

$22.95

2nd Edition

Released October 2019.

Secret Drugs of Buddhism is the first book to explore the historical evidence for the use of entheogenic plants within the Buddhist tradition. Drawing on scriptural sources, botany, pharmacology, and religious iconography, this book calls attention to the central role which psychedelics played in Indian religions. It traces their history from the mysterious soma potion, celebrated in the most ancient Hindu scriptures, to amrita, the sacramental drink of Vajrayana Buddhism. Although amrita used in modern Vajrayana ceremonies lacks any psychoactivity, there is copious evidence that the amrita used by the earliest Vajrayana practitioners was a potent entheogen.

Description

Secret Drugs of Buddhism – a historical study of psychedelic uses

In particular, Secret Drugs of Buddhism attempts to identify the specific ingredients employed in amrita’s earliest formulations. To this end, the book presents evidence from many countries in which the Vajrayana movement flourished. These include Bhutan, Japan, Mongolia, and Tibet but special attention is given to India, the land of its origin.

“Secret Drugs of Buddhism represents Mr. Crowley’s extraordinary effort to uncover entheogens at the heart of one of humanity’s oldest and most enduring philosophies. Weaving a narrative that is both engaging and challenging, Crowley mixes history, lore, language, a most impressive handle on Eastern religions, and his own unique insights into a book that is as controversial as it is charismatic.” ―Tom Hatsis

Michael Crowley’s book Secret Drugs of Buddhism is a major contribution to an important and long-neglected area of ethnopharmacology: The likely use of psychedelic plants and mushrooms in Buddhist traditions. Crowley has done his homework, both as a practitioner of psychedelic Buddhism, and as a scholar who has thoroughly documented the plants utilized, the historical roots of the use of psychedelics in Buddhism, and the significance of these substances in Buddhist rituals. His work deserves to be taken seriously by Buddhist scholars and laymen alike, and will hopefully stimulate further open-minded discussions of this formerly forbidden topic.”―Dennis McKenna, Editor-in-Chief of the ESPD50 symposium & the Principal Founder of the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy.

Additional information

Weight N/A
Dimensions N/A
Type

Paperback, eBook

Pages 0

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “Secret Drugs of Buddhism: Psychedelic Sacraments and the Origins of the Vajrayana”

Endorsements

“Michael Crowley’s book Secret Drugs of Buddhism is a major contribution to an important and long-neglected area of ethnopharmacology: The likely use of psychedelic plants and mushrooms in Buddhist traditions. Crowley has done his homework, both as a practitioner of psychedelic Buddhism, and as a scholar who has thoroughly documented the plants utilized, the historical roots of the use of psychedelics in Buddhism, and the significance of these substances in Buddhist rituals. His work deserves to be taken seriously by Buddhist scholars and laymen alike, and will hopefully stimulate further open-minded discussions of this formerly forbidden topic.”
Dennis McKenna, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief of the ESPD50 symposium & the Principal Founder of the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This