On the Borderlands of Religion and Science: Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Contemplative Traditions and Psychedelic Medicine
Hualin International Journal of Buddhist Studies May 1, 2025 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.15239/hijbs.08.01.08 via OpenAlex
Summary
Psychedelics are viewed as a form of medicine rather than an intoxicant, suggesting they can be ethically defended as medical interventions within Buddhist ethics. Additionally, traditional Indic sources recognize herbs as legitimate for extraordinary experiences, supporting the connection between psychedelic and meditative practices in modern Buddhist communities.
Study at a glance
| Key finding | Psychedelics are considered therapeutic in the context of Buddhist ethics and are linked to meditative experiences through traditional Indic sources. |
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Abstract
Gyatso, 'The Nature of the Mind'.chedelics are argued to be medicine (bhesajja/bhaiajya) as opposed to being akin to alcohol or an 'intoxicant' (majja/madya), they fall into a 'therapeutic' as opposed to an 'enhancement' sphere and are defensible as a medical intervention via Buddhist ethics; and (3) Indic sources convey an understanding that herbs (osadh/oadhi) are a known, if not legitimate, source of extraordinary experiences and capacities (ddhi) and thus provide conceptual grounds supporting the contemporary linkage among Buddhist communities between psychedelic and meditative experiences.