Psychedelics, Meditation & Enlightenment - Dr Daniel Ingram

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