To: alt.zen
From: !
Subject: ACID (acid!)
Date: 49940825

| Why acid zen?

until recently I figured that this thread would vanish.  apparently it is
 not going to, so I'll offer my input:

	it is indeed possible to construct within one's life a
	zazen that includes psychedelics.  I have done this to
	a limited extent and found it to be a kind of 'reminder' 
	or orientation.

	check out _The Natural Mind_, by Andrew Weil.  In this
	tome he gives some sane advice on the usage of substances
	as allies in neoshamanic practice (though he may not put
	it quite this way. ;>

	the major element of my practice is some grounding in
	ritual magick.  having 'centered and grounded', prepared
	the space and myself for the rite, I approach my ally with
	great respect and honor.  encountering the special state of
	mind that my ally makes possible, I dedicate myself to
	remaining quite focussed in diligent sitting, sometimes
	aided by music if this seems important.

	always I lose my center and sometimes my surface-consciousness.
	sometimes I have found it valuable to interact with other
	people at this juncture and the polar relationship gives me a 
	firm grounding once more (though the new challenge is to 
	withstand the *other* person's lack of centering :>).

	what I've found was that psychedelics such as LSD offer a
	sort of 'preview' of a type of mind-quiet that is seldom
	available to me in daily life.  I don't necessarily assume
	that it is the 'goalstate' for future endeavors, but I do
	appreciate that tranquility and the rituals give me a new
	focus upon direction during my ordinary activities.

	over the years I have noticed that LSD actually points me
	AWAY from going to it for refuge.  my experience is that
	this is true for most (if not all) psychedelics, and it has
	not been true for substances like marijuana or alcohol.


	a rite I once did cemented for me the central koan of
	my life which will only be answered as I live it:

			'What is tao?'

	Each time I answer (in words or actions), I have missed.
	Each time I do not answer (through words or actions) I have
	missed.  Only by seeing between these have I moved to the
	next question: 'What is tao?'  It begins again.


	psychedelics are powerful tools and, like most powerful
	tools, they can take us places for which we are not yet
	fully prepared.  each of us prepares in our own way, whether
	by doing (as the daredevils like me are wont) or by reading
	first (see various psychedelicFAQs) or by watching (i.e.
	by watching second-hand a Sorceror or Shaman at work).

	they are not in any way necessary for all people, and indeed
	for some they are seemingly disadvantageous.  as with all
	methods, one woman's meat is another woman's poison.  take
	care not to simply follow the lemmings over the cliff.

	
| Just listen to Pink Floyd...

or Tangerine Dream
or Kitaro

| Surreal, really

psychedelic, man  :>