Psychedelic substances like silisiban can induce mystical experiences and have long-lasting positive effects on attitudes and behaviors.
Mind-altering substances such as psychedelics and meditation promote lateral thinking, creativity, and shut down the default mode network in the brain.
Studies have shown that psychedelics can reduce fear of death, enhance spirituality, improve creativity, and potentially treat depression, addiction, anxiety, and PTSD.
Deep dives
The Mystical Qualities of Psychedelic Experiences
In a study, participants who took a psychedelic substance called silisiban reported higher ratings of mystical qualities compared to the control group. The effects of the experience also had long-lasting positive effects on their attitudes and behaviors. A significant finding was that a majority of the subjects who took silisiban went on to become priests, while none from the control group did.
The Effectiveness of Mind-Altering Substances in Breaking Behavior Patterns
Animals in the wild have been observed using mind-altering substances to break out of repetitive behavioral patterns. These substances increase creative decision-making and innovation, by promoting lateral thinking and far-flung connections between ideas. Similarly, mind-altering substances like psychedelics and meditation have been found to shut down the default mode network in the brain, leading to selfless, timeless, effortless, and information-rich experiences.
The Link between Psychodelics, Spirituality, and Personal Development
Research has shown that mind-altering substances, such as psychedelics and meditation, can induce authentic mystical experiences. These experiences deepen faith, enhance personal development, and have a profound impact on individuals' attitudes and behaviors. Studies have also revealed that psychodelics can repair damaged brain circuits associated with addiction, depression, and anxiety, while uncovering new neural connections that lead to mind expansion and heightened creativity.
The Power of Psychedelic Experiences
A comprehensive study on mystical experiences compared psychedelic and non-psychedelic states, finding that the former significantly trumped the latter in reducing fear of death, increasing spirituality, and delivering intense mystical experiences. The Good Friday Experiment in the 1960s divided test subjects struggling with technical problems into groups. Those given microdoses of LSD and mescaline showed a boost in creativity, leading to breakthroughs in various technical fields. Despite the subsequent shutdown of psychedelic research, recent studies have shown promise in using psychedelics to treat depression, addiction, anxiety, and PTSD.
Multiple Paths to Altered States and Altered Traits
Various techniques, such as psychedelics, flow triggers, and meditation, offer different approaches for altering states and producing long-term psychological benefits. Research shows that MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD can effectively treat PTSD and depression. Flow states amplify creativity by up to 407%, and certain types of meditation also enhance creative skills. The altered state economy, including drugs, personal growth, action sports, media, and technology, amounts to a $4 trillion industry worldwide. Altered states of consciousness hold the potential for personal growth, performance enhancement, and increased well-being.
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“All the psilocybin subjects rated all the mystical qualities of their experience much much higher than the control group. And 6 months later the psilocybin group had all kinds of persistent beneficial effects to their attitudes and behavior they all said the experience had deepened their faith.” ~ Steven Kotler
ABOUT THE GUEST:
STEVEN KOTLER is a New York Times bestselling author, award-winning journalist, and Founder and Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective. He is one of the world’s leading experts on human performance.
His books include The Art of Impossible, Stealing Fire, and The Rise of Superman. His work has been translated into over 40 languages and appeared in over 100 publications, including the New York Times Magazine, Wall Street Journal, TIME, Wired, Atlantic Monthly, The Harvard Business Review and Forbes.
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