Zig Zag Zen: Buddhism and Psychedelics

by Allan Badiner (Editor), Alex Grey (Editor), Stephen Batchelor (Foreword by)

Overview

A guide for people in pursuit of greater fulfillment in their lives and for those seeking a deeper spiritual truth and strategies for liberation from suffering. 

Buddhism and psychedelic exploration share a common concern: the liberation of the mind. This new edition of Zig Zag Zen: Buddhism and Psychedelics has evolved from the landmark anthology that launched the first inquiry into the ethical, doctrinal, and transcendental considerations of the intersection of Buddhism and psychedelics. A provocative and thoughtful exploration of inner states and personal transformation, Zig Zag Zen now contains an expanded display of stunning artwork including pieces from Android Jones, Sukhi Barber, Ang Tsherin Sherpa, and Amanda Sage, as well as the original brilliant work of Robert Venosa, Mark Rothko, Robert Beer, Francesco Clemente, and many others, including more work by the pioneering visionary artist Alex Grey. Complementing these new images are original essays by such luminaries as Ralph Metzner and Brad Warner; exciting interviews with James Fadiman, Kokyo Henkel, and Rick Doblin; and a discussion of ayahuasca’s unique influence on Zen Buddhism by David Coyote; all of which have been carefully curated to extend the original inquiry of authors Joan Halifax Roshi, Peter Mattheissen, Jack Kornfield, Ram Dass, Terence McKenna, Rick Fields, and many others. Buddhism and psychedelics are inevitable subjects encountered on the journey to wisdom. Examined together, the reader may understand more deeply the essence of each.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780907791621
Publisher:	SYNERGETIC PR
Publication date:	05/05/2015
Edition description:	New
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	609,209
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	16 - 18 Years

About the Author

Allan Badiner served as the editor in the first and second editions of Zig Zag Zen: Buddhism and Psychedelics (Chronicle Books, 2002; Synergetic Press, 2015), and Alex Grey served as art editor. Allan also edited two other books of collected essays, Dharma Gaia: A Harvest in Buddhism and Ecology (Parallax Press, 1990) and Mindfulness in the Marketplace: Compassionate Responses to Consumerism (Parallax, 2002). He is a contributing editor of Tricycle magazine, and serves on the board of directors of Project CBD. He has been a student of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh for more than 25 years.

Alex Grey is a renowned American visionary artist specializing in spiritual and psychedelic art. His work spans a variety of forms including performance art, sculpture and painting. He is a member of the Integral Institute, on the board of advisors for the Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics and is Chair of Wisdom University’s Sacred Art Department. He and his wife Allyson Grey are co-founders of the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, CoSM, a non-profit church supporting Visionary Culture in Wappinger, New York. Alex Grey served as art editor and a contributor to Zig Zag Zen: Buddhism and Psychedelics, as well as releasing several other inspirational books featuring his visionary visual and verbal messages.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements i

Foreword Stephen Batchelor iii

Preface Huston Smith vii

Introduction Allan Badiner 1

Section 1 Intersection

The Plant Medicine Sutra Robert Schrei 8

A New Look at the Psychedelic Tibetan Book of the Dead Ralph Metzner 9

Mysticism: Contemplative and Chemical Roger Walsh 19

Dissolving the Roots of Suffering Dokushô Villalba 26

A High History of Buddhism in America Rick Fields 32

Psychedelic Experience and Spiritual Practice: Discussion with Jack Kornfield Robert Forte 49

Buddhism, Shamanism, and Thangka Paintings Claudia Müller-Eberling Christian Rätsch 59

A Buddhist-Psychedelic History of Esalen Institute-Interview with Michael Murphy and George Leonard Allan Badiner 66

Shadow Paths Peter Matthiessen 73

A Survey of the Entheogens Robert Jesse 77

Section 2 Concrescence?

Vajravision Alex Grey 85

DMT Dharma Rick J. Strassman, MD 94

Psychoactive David Chadwick 102

Leaning Into Rawness Trudy Walter 111

Relative Truth Brigid Meier 115

Yagé and the Yanas Allan Badiner 119

Jungle Dharma: The Interweaving of Buddhism and Ayahuasca David Coyote 126

Buddhist Harm Reduction and Cannadis Jana Drakka 133

A Trip Hot Taken China Galland 139

The Paisley Gate Erik Davis 145

Section 3 Lessons

Psychedelics on the Path: Help or Hindrance? Charles T. Tart 160

Buddhism and the Psychedelic Society-Interview with Terence McKenna Allan Badiner 167

Liberty and LSD John Perry Barlow 171

Rick Doblin Interviewed Allan Badiner 174

Waking Yourself Brad Warner 179

The Zen Commandments Lama Surya Das 184

On The Front Lines Interview Michele McDonald 194

Do We Still Need Psychedelics? Myron Stolaroff 198

Buddhism and Psychedelics: A Public Dialogue with James Fadinan and Kokyo Henkel 206

A Roundtable with Ram Dass, Robert Aitken Rashi, Richard Baker Roshi, and Joon Halifax Roshi Allan Badiner 215

Contributors 231

Artwork Credits 244

Glossary 246

Bibliography 250

Editorial Reviews

Zig Zag Zen is a must read for anyone who is concerned about the future of Buddhist practice.” –Tenzin Bob Thurman, chair of Indo-Tibetan studies at Columbia University

“An extraordinary ride and guide down the corridors of the mystical psychedelic inward journey that will be of great interest and value to any serious explorer of spiritual insight. The zigzag is not for the straight and narrow.” –Ganga White, author of Yoga Beyond Belief and founder of White Lotus Foundation

“Zig Zag Zen: Buddhism and Psychedelics is a fun, historical exploration of the divergent viewpoints and experiences of many extremely bright people who–like the Buddha–carry the intention of exploring human consciousness with the goal of allaying suffering.” –Ira Israel, Huffpost

From the Publisher