A generation that doesn't read has no past and has no future...
LSD, My Problem Child - Albert Hofmann A personal account of the history of the discovery of LSD, written by the man
who first created it and uncovered its effects - required reading.
Using Psychedelics Wisely - an outstanding article by Myron J. Stolaroff, early psychedelic researcher.
Highly recommended reading.
Are Psychedelics Useful In The Practice Of Buddhism? - another important article by Myron J. Stolaroff, early
psychedelic researcher.
The author describes his lifelong methods of using psychedelics to aid his own spiritual development, and responds to
criticism from within the professional community. He discusses his choice of which psychedelic to use, as well as the
appropriate doses for achieving each desired result along the way.
Highest personal recommendation for reading this article. [12 pages]
The Secret Chief - Conversations with a pioneer of the underground psychedelic therapy movement.
By Myron Stolaroff
Highly recommended reading in order to gain an appreciation of the books and articles above.
This book is the story of how I overcame thanatos, the drive for death, to elicit eros, the drive for life.
The informed use of psychedelic substances has been a key element in my personal growth. The material presented
here is not intended in any way to encourage the use of illicit substances. Nor for that matter, the uninformed
use of any substance, licit or illicit. The substances described in this book are powerful, and can easily be
misused. They should be employed only with integrity and a thorough knowledge of their characteristics, both
benefits and adverse affects.
The Doors Of Perception - Aldous Huxley The single most famous literary description of a psychedelic experience,
written in 1954 by the author of Brave New World, one of the most brilliant minds of the 20th century, on his first
experience with mescaline.
Ram Dass (formerly Dr. Richard Alpert, PhD), along with Dr. Timothy Leary and
Dr. Ralph Metzner, conducted the early experiments on the effects of LSD at Harvard,
both on themselves and their associates, as well as on volunteer participants ranging from
divinity students, through artists and musicians, to prisoners and alcoholics. Frustrated
by the inevitable 'coming down' from the clear and lucid state of the psychedelically-liberated
mind and the return back to 'ordinary consciousness', he set out to the Far East in search of
an answer to this problem. He tells his story in this talk given live to an audience of young
people at the Hebb Auditorium, University of Vancouver, in 1969, shortly after returning from
India. With wit and compassion, he creates an intimate atmosphere in which to consider the
meaning of life from a unique viewpoint.
This talk is 2 hours and 18 minutes in length, and anyone considering listening to it
is encouraged to create a comfortable, peaceful, and uninterruptable space in which to
experience it to its fullest. I am offering it here in the hope that you may find it an
opportunity to share in a profound and potentially enlightening event. Consider treating
this as if you had the good fortune to go and hear him speak.
To attend, activate the time capsule by right-clicking the following link and "Save Link As"
your hard drive. Mac users can Control-Click to bring up the Save As menu.
A short (8 minutes) documentary with Ram Dass, prior to his experiences in India, during the days
when the government was trying to come to grips with the emerging counter-culture, early 60's -
Books about the Sixties, LSD and its effect on the 60s counterculture, and about the
history of the Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco in the 1960's:
Storming Heaven, LSD and the American Dream by Jay Stevens
Without question, the best-written account of LSD and its influence in the Sixties. It steers a clear and unbiased path
through the events of the times, covering just about everything. Unlike just about every other book on the Sixties, this
one has very few factual errors - only one or two small details are inaccurate in the entire book. A real pleasure to read.
Life As An Elevator, by D. DeWitt Thomas
Highly recommended reading, the personal story, by the drummer of The 13th Floor Elevators, of his time in the group.
See this page, Slip Inside This House, for one of their psychedelic journeys in song (sound ON).
Most of the above books are available in print at the present time (July, 2007). I'm presenting them here under Fair Use terms for examination and the
valuable knowledge they contain. Persons interested in serious study of these texts should purchase them from their local independent bookseller, or
lacking that option, should buy them online at the usual places.
In any case, knowledge of what came before your time will help you to understand why the world is as it is now, and will help you to pass on the
living truth to others, thus helping the cause of bringing some much-needed Light into the world we live in. Be the change you want to see,
THINK FOR YOURSELF, make up your own mind, and may the pure Light within you guide your way on. Happy trails!
