Altered States: Buddhism and Psychedelic Spirituality in America

by Douglas Osto

In the 1960s, Americans combined psychedelics with Buddhist meditation to achieve direct experience through altered states of consciousness. As some practitioners became more committed to Buddhism, they abandoned the use of psychedelics in favor of stricter mental discipline, but others carried on with the experiment, advancing a fascinating alchemy called psychedelic Buddhism.

Many think exploration with psychedelics in Buddhism faded with the revolutionary spirit of the sixties, but the underground practice has evolved into a brand of religiosity as eclectic and challenging as the era that created it. Altered States combines interviews with well-known figures in American Buddhism and psychedelic spirituality--including Lama Surya Das, Erik Davis, Geoffrey Shugen Arnold Sensei, Rick Strassman, and Charles Tart--and personal stories of everyday practitioners to define a distinctly American religious phenomenon. The nuanced perspective that emerges, grounded in a detailed history of psychedelic religious experience, adds critical depth to debates over the controlled use of psychedelics and drug-induced mysticism. The book also opens new paths of inquiry into such issues as re-enchantment, the limits of rationality, the biochemical and psychosocial basis of altered states of consciousness, and the nature of subjectivity.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Religion, Philosophy, History, Nonfiction

328 pages, Hardcover

Published April 26, 2016

Reviews

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be very well organized and it maintained a good sense of objectivity regarding such a subjective topic. Osto seemed to approach the subject from every possible angle, with several references reflecting the various schools of thought. With the inclusion of his own research study and interviews, good congruency is achieved. From the Buddhism and psychedelic revolutions in America to where we are now, the history and ideas are presented so fluidly. I read this book as part of a research project and most every other source I found is covered in “Altered States”. To date, this is probably the most complete compilation of information on the relationship between Buddhism and psychedelics.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fairly interesting academic exploration of some key texts in the psychedelics/Buddhism Venn diagram--The Psychedelic Experience and a Tricycle issue that later became the book Zig Zag Zen--as well as some sociological data about Buddhists who are (and many who are are definitely not) users of psychedelics. I got more out of Osto's brief history of American convert Buddhism (as opposed to cultural/pastoral Buddhism mainly intended for various generations of Asian immigrants) than I did out of the history of psychedelics, which I've read way too many times by many different people. Osto makes a credible case that the rise in American convert Buddhism was partially due to the influence of psychedelics on American culture, and I agree with him that the practice of Buddhism can be enhanced by psychedelics (though as always, one must be careful). However, I would have liked to have seen more exegesis on various tantric texts and how psychedelic they are instead of the various interviews he conducted with American Buddhists.

[Rebecca Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't remember how I came across this niche book, but I'm so glad I did. It was a long read but anyone who is interested in Buddhism and psychedelics will get a lot out of this one.

I found myself inspired to deepen my Buddhist practice and am glad to have new knowledge regarding entheogens as a potential addition to my practice. I gathered a nice list of future reads as well.

Thanks to Douglas Osto for this great work, from a fellow American psychedelic Buddhist in New Zealand!

[Roger Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book. I'm writing a detailed review for the Journal of Cultural and Religious Theory and will post a link here when it is published. http://jcrt.org/religioustheory/2016/...

[Robert Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well organized and researched collection offering objectivity regarding a complex subjective topic. Providing several references and various Buddhist schools of thought on the intersections between psychedelics and Buddhism in a very complete collection. I really enjoyed his post script and "about section" offering a guiding framework for why the author is well versed and interested in the topic.

Ultimately the book provides Buddhists and those interested in Buddhist frameworks a non sensationalized discourse on the topic. Leaving the book I think the most important element is the focus on practice and experience regardless of tool or frame.