Feb 20 • 22:04 UTC 🇪🇪 Estonia Postimees

GUIDES TO MEANING ⟩ Four messages from religious studies

The article discusses Rupert Sheldrake's perspectives on psychedelics and spirituality within various religious contexts, notably referencing DMT experiences and the Hindu god Vishnu's cosmological myth.

The article delves into the insights of Rupert Sheldrake regarding the intersection of psychedelics and spirituality across different religions. It highlights a chapter from his book 'How to Go Forward', which focuses on the experiences of participants under the influence of the powerful psychedelic DMT, led by clinical psychiatry associate professor Rick Strassman at the University of New Mexico. Many subjects reported encounters with entities and experiences that defy their existing worldviews, raising questions about the nature of reality and consciousness.

Sheldrake emphasizes that the Western worldview is not the sole perspective on existence. Citing Hindu cosmology, he narrates a myth of the god Vishnu who falls into a deep sleep and dreams the universe into being. While Vishnu sleeps, the world persists, and upon his awakening, the cycle of creation is completed, resulting in the universe's dissolution. This myth illustrates a vastly different understanding of existence and time, contrasting with more linear Western ideas.

The discussion around Sheldrake's work and Strassman's experiments underscores a broader contemplation of spirituality's complexities and the role of psychedelics in exploring consciousness. By encouraging cross-cultural dialogue about these themes, the article reveals how diverse religious narratives can enhance our understanding of human experiences and the search for meaning in existence.

📡 Similar Coverage