Bob Ford
Bob Ford
Sep 9, 2018 · 1 min read

Thank you for this column, Caitlin. And for your marvelous descriptions.

Psychedelics have been used by indigenous cultures around the world for thousands of years for the purpose of spiritual awakening (as defined by that culture).
Some cultures developed means for traveling the spiritual path without the use of psychedelic drugs.
For a very materialistic culture, it is no surprise it took a material substance to open the western mind to the possibility of higher consciousness. It was an accident of history, I think, because the person who invented LSD wasn’t looking for a path to chemical samadhi.
It is no coincidence that interest in psychedelic drugs was accompanied or immediately followed by interest in eastern spiritual paths such as yoga, taoism, zen, and so on.

My introduction to the spiritual path came through the use of LSD, mescaline, and psilocybin. That led me to spiritual writers like Alan Watts, Carlos Castaneda, and John Lilly. That led me to spiritual disciplines and practices which can take us there without drugs.

    Bob Ford

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    Bob Ford