Dennis McKenna
Michael Crowley’s book Secret Drugs of Buddhism is a major contribution to an important and long-neglected area of ethnopharmacology: The likely use of psychedelic plants and mushrooms in Buddhist traditions. Crowley has done his homework, both as a practitioner of psychedelic Buddhism, and as a scholar who has thoroughly documented the plants utilized, the historical roots of the use of psychedelics in Buddhism, and the significance of these substances in Buddhist rituals. His work deserves to be taken seriously by Buddhist scholars and laymen alike, and will hopefully stimulate further open-minded discussions of this formerly forbidden topic. Dennis McKenna, Editor-in-Chief of the ESPD50 symposium & the Principal Founder of the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy.
From the Publisher
"Secret Drugs of Buddhism represents Mr. Crowley’s extraordinary effort to uncover entheogens at the heart of one of humanity’s oldest and most enduring philosophies. Weaving a narrative that is both engaging and challenging, Crowley mixes history, lore, language, a most impressive handle on Eastern religions, and his own unique insights into a book that is as controversial as it is charismatic." —Tom Hatsis
"Michael Crowley’s book Secret Drugs of Buddhism is a major contribution to an important and long-neglected area of ethnopharmacology: The likely use of psychedelic plants and mushrooms in Buddhist traditions. Crowley has done his homework, both as a practitioner of psychedelic Buddhism, and as a scholar who has thoroughly documented the plants utilized, the historical roots of the use of psychedelics in Buddhism, and the significance of these substances in Buddhist rituals. His work deserves to be taken seriously by Buddhist scholars and laymen alike, and will hopefully stimulate further open-minded discussions of this formerly forbidden topic."—Dennis McKenna, Editor-in-Chief of the ESPD50 symposium & the Principal Founder of the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy.
Tom Hatsis
Secret Drugs of Buddhism represents Mr. Crowley’s extraordinary effort to uncover entheogens at the heart of one of humanity’s oldest and most enduring philosophies. Weaving a narrative that is both engaging and challenging, Crowley mixes history, lore, language, a most impressive handle on Eastern religions, and his own unique insights into a book that is as controversial as it is charismatic.