Drugless Paths to the Mystical Expeience

[Ian Livingston]

Throwing in the Buddhist meditation on death and dying.

On Sat, Jun 2, 2018 at 4:53 AM, Joseph Tracy <brook7 at sover.net> wrote:

> Meant to post this to the list earlier, probably all been covered by now.
>
> Cool discussion all the way around.
>
>  I find qigong is my most powerful and accessible practice with wonderful
> effects on physical maintainence and health. There are those who use it as
> a path into  profound mystical trance states; takes discipline and
> tenacity. For me it is an instant change of mental state and energy flow
> which works much better than yoga.
>
>   There is a shamanic tradition of drumming to induce trance promoted by
> many including The Foundation for Shamanic Studies, a group founded by
> Michael Harner who was one of the anthropologists who first reported on
> ayahuasca.
>
> Holotropic breathwork works for many.
>
> Making art can be pretty mind altering.
>
> If you are looking for something on the order of Ayahuasca, my
> understanding is that one of the few non- drug methods that is similar in
> intensity is 8-9 days in absolute darkness. This requires either someone
> set up to provide the experience and feed you etc. or a lot of
> preparation.    Apparently the pineal gland eventually releases  a powerful
> amount of DMT.
>
> I think that one of the hard things about non chemical holotropic states
> is they require a disciplined break from daily routine. Fasting, sweat
> baths, chanting, drumming, vision quest, deep meditation, kundalini,
> wilderness immersion - they all have the best chance when the disciple is
> deeply and singularly focused.
> --
> Pynchon-L: https://waste.org/mailman/listinfo/pynchon-l
>