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Alan Watts: Drugs: Turning the Head or Turning On – Being in the Way Ep. 7 – Hosted by Mark Watts

Be Here Now Network・37 minutes read

The speaker delves into the world of psychedelic drugs, emphasizing the importance of preparation and mindset in using these substances for meaningful experiences, cautioning against reckless consumption. They advocate for a balanced approach to drug use, urging individuals to take personal responsibility and approach these substances with respect and care.

Insights

  • Alan Watts highlights the importance of preparation and mindset when using psychoactive substances, distinguishing between street drugs and lab-tested chemicals, stressing the significance of set and setting in drug experiences.
  • The speaker emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to drug use, cautioning against the growing popularity of psychedelics without proper consideration, advocating for personal intention and context in creating meaningful experiences while warning against the risks of using street drugs without knowledge of their composition or dosage.

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Recent questions

  • What does Alan Watts discuss in the podcast?

    Drugs, religious experiences, set and setting importance.

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Summary

00:00

Alan Watts on Drugs and Cosmic Unity

  • The podcast features an old recording from 1966 at San Jose State on the topic of drugs during a time of civil unrest and widespread psychedelic use.
  • Alan Watts, the speaker, was an early explorer of mind-altering substances like mescaline and LSD25, describing them as producing religious experiences.
  • Watts later cautioned that street drugs were different from lab-tested substances, emphasizing the importance of preparation and mindset when using psychoactive chemicals.
  • He delves into the concept of drugs, discussing the varied substances falling under this category and the significance of set and setting in drug experiences.
  • Watts explores the idea that certain experiences, whether induced chemically or naturally, reveal a profound interconnectedness in the universe.
  • He references religious figures like Jesus Christ and their mystical experiences, suggesting a need for a more positive relationship between individuals and the physical world.
  • Watts recounts his initial skepticism towards psychedelic experiences, eventually undergoing a transformative encounter that led to a sense of cosmic unity and love.
  • Despite initial reservations, Watts and Aldous Huxley shared their experiences in books like "The Doors of Perception" and "The Joyous Cosmology," aiming to provide wisdom and caution amidst the growing popularity of psychedelic use.
  • The widespread adoption of psychedelics by the youth, especially with figures like Timothy Leary promoting their use, led to a disregard for caution and responsibility in drug consumption.
  • Watts highlights the need for a balanced approach to drug use, emphasizing that while these experiences can be profound, they require careful consideration and respect for their power.

23:50

Psychedelic chemicals: transformative, not prescriptive

  • The speaker does not recommend spending three weeks alone in a forest to find oneself, emphasizing the importance of personal choice in such experiences.
  • They express discomfort with the idea of forcing beliefs, like Christianity, on others, advocating for offering but not imposing beliefs.
  • The speaker highlights the potential dangers of psychedelic chemicals, noting the risk of individuals misinterpreting mystical experiences and developing delusions of grandeur.
  • Various psychedelic chemicals like LSD, psilocybin, and cannabis are discussed, with a focus on their non-addictive nature and the question of their social value versus hallucinatory effects.
  • The transformative effects of psychedelic chemicals on consciousness are described as leading to a sense of unity with the universe and a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all things.
  • The speaker suggests that the altered state of consciousness induced by these chemicals aligns more closely with scientific observations of human existence than traditional cultural beliefs.
  • They propose that changing consciousness through such chemicals could foster cooperation with the environment, potentially averting destructive behaviors driven by alienation.
  • The idea of using chemical agents to alter neurology for peace technology is introduced, with some neurologists considering it a potential solution to prevent self-destruction by technological man.
  • The speaker acknowledges the resistance to the idea of reducing human experience to mere chemicals but emphasizes that the effects of psychedelic chemicals are dependent on individual factors and intentions.
  • It is stressed that the use of psychedelic chemicals is instrumental, requiring personal intention and context to lead to meaningful experiences, rather than offering a simple solution or salvation in a bottle.

48:06

Risks of Street Acid and Personal Responsibility

  • Street acid has been consumed by many individuals without knowledge of its composition, dosage, or proper conditions, resulting in negative experiences.
  • It is strongly advised against using Street acid due to the risks involved and the lack of control over its effects.
  • The presence of various substances like lysergic acid, mescaline, psilocybin, dimethyltryptamine, and marijuana in the black market raises questions about public policy regarding their use.
  • Moral behavior, according to Jewish and Christian theology, should be voluntary and not enforced, emphasizing individual responsibility in decision-making.
  • Individuals are urged to assess the risks involved in activities like gambling, altering consciousness, and other behaviors, as personal responsibility is crucial.
  • The state's role in regulating risky behaviors is debated, with a call for open, controlled, and supported exploration of consciousness-altering substances.
  • Removing drug, sex, and gambling issues from police control and treating them as public health concerns could enhance respect for law enforcement and address societal challenges.
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