Secret drugs of Buddhism: psychedelic sacraments and the origins of the Vajrayana
My adventures to learn secrets of the mind -- Prehistory of Eurasia -- Some soma theories -- Buddhism: a brief history -- Amṛita -- Rāhu, the soma-thief -- Initiations and siddhis -- Peacocks -- Parasol deities -- Wheels and bumps on the head -- Tibet: heir to Indian Buddhism -- Unlikely food -- God...
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| Contributors: | |
| Format: | Print Book |
| Language: | English |
| Subito Delivery Service: | Order now. |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Santa Fe London
Synergetic Press
[2019]
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| In: | Year: 2019 |
| Edition: | 2. edition |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Vajrayāna
/ Psychedelic experience
/ Ritual
/ Hallucinogenic drugs
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| RelBib Classification: | BL Buddhism |
| Further subjects: | B
Drugs
Religious aspects
Buddhism
B Hallucinogenic drugs and religious experience |
| Online Access: |
Table of Contents Blurb |
| Summary: | My adventures to learn secrets of the mind -- Prehistory of Eurasia -- Some soma theories -- Buddhism: a brief history -- Amṛita -- Rāhu, the soma-thief -- Initiations and siddhis -- Peacocks -- Parasol deities -- Wheels and bumps on the head -- Tibet: heir to Indian Buddhism -- Unlikely food -- Goddesses and their trees -- Ḍākinīs -- What are we to make of all this?. "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. It is the nature of this psychedelic form of the sacrament which is the central topic of this book. 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"-- |
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| Item Description: | Includes bibliographical references and index |
| ISBN: | 0907791743 |