Drugs and Spirit Medicine

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom.  Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Humans have been using substances to have ‘extraordinary experiences’ for millenia. 

Sometimes this is motivated by a simple sense of curiosity, and at other times it might be to ‘fill a void,’ while in other cases it might be motivated by a promise of an elusive ‘spiritual experience.’ 

In some cases it leads to addiction and dependence, while in others it might just be a bucket-list experience that someone moves on from.

In this episode, Thom takes a non-judgemental look at the motivation and impact of such experiences, and outlines an alternative approach, one that’s more sustainable and that leads to a ‘permanent high’ that most people couldn’t even conceive of.

Episode Highlights: 

[00:40] The Desire to Belong

[02:29] Tribal Life 

[04:27] A Sense of Identity 

[06:00] Join the Club 

[07:14] Human Beings Crave Variety 

[08:33] The Nature of the Knower 

[09:51] Badge of Rank 

[11:29] The Difference Between a Cult and a Religion 

[12:39] Shibboleth 

[13:25] Drugs 

[14:35] Why Drugs Work

[15:59] Endogenous Chemicals 

[18:03] The Prime Directive of the Body

[19:32] Ayahuasca, LSD, THC 

[21:13] Mimicking Molecules 

[22:44] Lizards on LSD and Psychotic Dogs 

[24:31] The Confused Body 

[26:23] Sublimation and Addiction 

[27:47] An Overload of Experience 

[29:35] Premature Cognitive Commitments 

[31:10] Psychedelic Experiences 

[33:11] Where Are the Icons of Drug Use? 

[35:19] A Sustainable Systematic Approach 

[37:32] What About Soma? 

[38:30] Vedic Meditation - A Better Methodology 

[39:44] An Overload of Experience 

[41:21] Supreme, Inner Contentedness 

[43:01] An Experience of Self 

[44:57] Our Body is a Drug-Producing Machine 

[46:19] Unsustainable Ways to Extraordinary Experiences 

[47:26] The 4/20 Club and Counterfeit Substances 

[49:13] Consciousness-Led Experiences 

[50:35] A Perpetual Psychedelic State 

[51:59] Learning the Sustainable Way 

[53:28] Being in the Tribe 

[54:29] A Regular Daily Practice 

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