Adventures in Awareness

In collaboration with The Psychedelic Society, Amir Giles is hosting a series of conversations on Psychedelics, Meditation & Enlightenment. For upcoming events find us here. Listening is free, but your support is appreciated! If you would like to contribute this initiative, donations are gratefully accepted. You can support via Patreon or make one off PayPal donations here. Podcast #2: Stephen Reid   Stephen Reid discusses his personal journey and mystical insights through the intersection between quantum field theory, complexity science, meditation and psychedelics.   Stephen is  a cultural change maker, co-operative technologist and founder of the Psychedelic Society. He completed a Masters in Complexity Science at the University of Bristol as well as a Masters in Physics specialising quantum field theory at the University Oxford University.    He was also the youngest ever board member of Greenpeace UK, and selected as the Green Party parliamentary candidate for Totnes. As well as quantum field theory and Complexity Science, Stephen has training in software development, meditation, plant medicine, and political activism. Discussion points include: 0:40 Mystical Experiences and Quantum Field Theory at Oxford University 4:00 David Bohm - Physics may be infinite 7.30 Physics, metaphysics and mystical experience - the limits of understanding 9:30 Complexity sciences - self organisation & emergence as a bridge to psychedelics 8:30 Science as a platform and context for useful psychedelic experiences 14:00 From Bohm to Krishnamurti - from physics to meditation 15:30 Tao Te Ching as a resonance with complexity sciences 16:20 Zig Zag zen and vipassana 20:00 The value of skepticism around psychedelic trips 22:30 Meditation on Tao te Ching, Seeing that Frees, Reger Rey 24:30 The value of meditation as a support for psychedelic trips, a buffer against bad trips 26:50 The motivations to meditate and to take psychedelics: there is only enlightened action                        Balancing insight & compassion https://stephenreid.net

In collaboration with The Psychedelic Society, Amir Giles is hosting a series of conversations on Psychedelics, Meditation & Enlightenment. For upcoming events with Psychedelic Society click here. Listening is free, but your support is appreciated! https://www.patreon.com/adventuresinawareness Podcast #1: Dr Daniel Ingram Daniel Ingram discusses to what extent psychedelics can either help or hinder in persistent shifts in consciousness and spiritual type awakenings, and is it possible to access the kind of perceptual shifts common on psychedelics in other contexts, and in day to day life?  Daniel is an emergency room physician, author of ‘Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha,’ founder of Dharma Overground and holds an M.D., M.S.P.H. in Epidemiology, and B.A. in English Literature all from UNC Chapel Hill. TOPICS 1:13    Background to Daniel Ingram’s experience 4:31   On the lack of formal research on psychedelics and spiritual awakening 7:13    Formal approaches and maps leading to awakening 8:38  What do psychedelics do; gateways, mystical experiences, damaging and very occasionally permanent transformative awakenings. 13:33 Distinction between spiritual experience and permanent awakening. DMT, psilocyn, salvia, ketamine. 14:50  Psychedelic experiences don’t last long enough for new brain structures to form MAPS AND STAGES OF AWAKENING 17.03  Maps and stages of awakening; Arising and passing away, Dark night, Equanimity, Formal awakening 21:45 The unitive experiences of equanimity 21:30 Psychedelics vs meditation retreats 22:20 Research comparing psychedelics and meditation 22:46 Formal awakening and stream entry vrs temporary experiences PSYCHEDELICS AS PART OF THE PATH 27:30 Psychedelics as part of the path; the parameters of the debate    As a gateway and a motivator    Difficult to integrate & sometimes damaging     As a clarifier 33:30 Micro-dosing; potential for habituation 35:13 Opportunity costs and risks of meditation 39:26 Awakening in indigenous, shamanic and magical traditions 44:30 To trip or not? You have to do your research, know your options. 47:13  Fire Kasina & non substance psychedelic experiences 50:43 The risk, speed and cleanliness; meditation vrs psychedelics   53:30 Handling the weird - psychedelics as the meditation retreat audition 54:43  Is the hero's journey required for the end of suffering? FUTURE RESEARCH AND DIRECTIONS 59:00 Other voices to follow 1:01:13 Taking your wider life into consideration; responsible spirituality 1:05:03 Prospects for future research: Emergent Phenomenology Research Consortium - categorizing the experiences that people have, clearer diagnostics and practise recommendations. Daniel Ingram’s website   Erowid Manual of Psychedelic Support