10% Happier with Dan Harris

Psychedelics and Meditation | Michael Pollan

Sep 20, 2021
Michael Pollan, a best-selling author and co-founder of the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics, dives into the fascinating interplay between psychedelics and meditation. He shares insights on how these experiences may enhance self-understanding and consciousness. Pollan discusses personal experiences with opium, caffeine, and mescaline, and addresses the potential of these practices in mental health treatment for issues like depression and PTSD. The conversation emphasizes the importance of safe usage and community in exploring these transformative substances.
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ANECDOTE

Psychedelics and Meditation

  • Michael Pollan found psychedelics helpful for his meditation practice.
  • They gave him a "taste" of the meditative state and improved his focus.
INSIGHT

Buddhism and Psychedelics

  • Many prominent Buddhists, including Jack Kornfield and Joan Halifax, have acknowledged psychedelic experiences.
  • Pollan suggests American Buddhism might not exist without psychedelics.
ANECDOTE

Ego Dissolution

  • Dan Harris and Michael Pollan discuss the concept of ego dissolution.
  • They explore the "peak experience" on psychedelics, followed by a "long tail" where the ego reemerges.
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