Terence McKenna's Call for a Return to the Archaic: A Vedantic Response.
Can Drugs Reconnect Us to Nature or Only Knowledge of Brahman?
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The concept of liberation, or mokṣa, occupies a central place in all Indian philosophies. Although its interpretations vary from school to school, the ultimate goal remains the same: to reach a state of perfection and inner fullness, freeing oneself from the cycle of rebirths.
In Vedānta, mokṣa is obtained through the intuitive knowledge of the Self (Ātman) as identical to Brahman, the supreme and unique principle that underlies all of reality. Only by recognizing the fundamental unity of self and world can liberation be achieved.
But how does one reach this awareness? According to Advaita Vedānta, study, reflection and meditation are necessary. One must first deepen the study of the Vedas and Upaniṣads to intellectually understand non-dual concepts. Subsequently, it is important to meditate on their meaning to assimilate their truths at an intuitive and experiential level.
If one were to choose to accelerate this process through psychedelic substances, some doubts arise. Altered states of consciousness induced by magic mushrooms or synthetic drugs can certainly bring one closer to a mystical experience, showing the unity and fluidity of the self. However, this does not equate to knowing how to integrate such realizations into everyday life.