Podcast 627 – “The Birth of a New Humanity” – Part 2
Oct 15, 2019
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Terence McKenna, a psychedelic philosopher and speaker, talks about the mind-altering effects of DMT, the significance of community in building a caring society, and the potential of communicating with ancestors in the future. He also discusses the role of hallucinogens in evolution and the need for challenging doses to truly experience the benefits. McKenna emphasizes that true spirituality is rooted in concrete actions of compassion rather than drug use.
Taking challenging doses of drugs rarely can provide a more profound experience.
Psychedelic experiences can be confounding and go beyond being simply strange or amazing.
True spirituality lies in practical actions like caring for others, not just taking psychedelics.
Deep dives
Terrence McKenna discusses his views on evolution
Terrence McKenna shares his perspective on the theory of evolution, suggesting that life is not solely driven by the past but also by purpose. He argues that orthodox biology has been unwilling to entertain the idea that life is guided by a teleological force. McKenna contrasts Darwin's theory of evolution driven by random processes with Alfred Russel Wallace's belief that evolution involves a tendency toward an end state, a compass notion of evolution. He discusses the role of psilocybin and other psychedelics in exploring the boundaries of human consciousness and speculates on the future evolution of our mental life.
The role of psychedelics in expanding consciousness
McKenna explores the effects of psychedelics, particularly DMT and psilocybin, on human consciousness. He suggests that these substances act as catalysts for language formation and communication. According to McKenna, they dissolve boundaries, allowing individuals to perceive and experience the world in a new and profound way. He discusses the phenomenon of the DMT flash, describing encounters with self-dribbling jeweled basketball-like entities that communicate through a visual language. McKenna also reflects on the potential of psychedelics to enhance our understanding of consciousness and our ability to communicate and connect with others on a deeper level.
The confounding nature of DMT experiences
McKenna delves into the mind-bending experiences and encounters reported during DMT trips. He describes the intense and transformative nature of these experiences, highlighting the impossibility of the objects and entities encountered in hyperspace. McKenna ponders different hypotheses to explain the nature of these encounters, considering the possibilities of extraterrestrial communication, parallel universes, and encounters with human ancestors or beings from the future. He suggests that the DMT flash reveals something so unexpected and existential in nature that the mind immediately blocks it out, making it challenging to convey or fully understand the true nature of the experience.
The potential evolution of human communication
McKenna discusses the evolution of human communication and the potential for language to become visible and three-dimensional. He draws parallels with octopi and their use of visual communication through color changes, suggesting that humans may be heading towards a similar form of communication. McKenna proposes that the use of psychedelics acts as a catalyst for refining our communication skills, enabling us to become more proficient in expressing our thoughts, intentions, and perceptions visually. He suggests that this evolution in communication could lead to a deeper understanding and connection between individuals, erasing boundaries and fostering a more community-minded society.
Understanding the potential of psychedelics beyond their cultural constraints
McKenna challenges the conventional perception of psychedelics as hallucinogens and explores their potential beyond cultural associations. He emphasizes that the spiritual quest and personal development are not necessarily enhanced by psychedelics themselves. Instead, he suggests that true spirituality lies in the practical application of caring for and connecting with others, practicing empathy, and engaging in community-focused actions. McKenna discusses the limitations of current cultural constructs and the need to shift our values away from materialism and towards a richer understanding of human experience, consciousness, and interconnectedness.
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Guest speaker: Terence McKenna
PROGRAM NOTES:
Date this lecture was recorded: October 2, 1992.
[NOTE: All quotations are by Terence McKenna.]
"The best way to do drugs is to take very challenging doses rarely. I used to say to my groups, if you haven't taken enough that you think you may have done too much, then you did too little."
"Death by astonishment is a real danger in [psychedelic] places. I mean, these places are not simply strange, or amazing, or highly peculiar. They are absolutely confounding."
"True spirituality is a very here and now matter. One should visit the sick and imprisoned, clothe the naked, bury the dead, care for orphans, feed the hungry. That's what the spiritual life is about. It's very down to Earth, straightforward."
"In terms of suggesting you are a more spiritually advanced person if you take psychedelics. I don't really see any evidence for that."
"It's too hard for the ego-maniac to take psychedelics. The egoist will turn away from it, will have such bad trips that they will put it down."
"I think history is a state of chemical deprivation that allows ancient animal patterns of behavior that degrade and confuse us to re-emerge and stabilize themselves."
"Ancestor is a tremendously sanitized term for dead people."
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