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The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead

The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead

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  • Create Date：2021-06-26 07:52:58
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
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  • Author：Timothy Leary
  • ISBN：0141189630
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Summary

The Psychedelic Experience， created by the prophetic shaman-professors Timothy Leary， Ralph Metzer and Richard Alpert， is a foundational text that serves as a model and a guide for all subsequent mind-expanding inquiries。 In this wholly unique book， the authors provide an interpretation of an ancient sacred manuscript， the Tibetan Book of the Dead， from a psychedelic perspective。 The Psychedelic Experience describes their discoveries in broadening spiritual consciousness through a combination of Tibetan mediation techniques and psychotropic substances。

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Reviews

Dmitrii ，

It's a great book， although I have troubles getting all the concepts at this point。 However， the things mr。 Leary describes correlate a lot with my personal experience。 There's a though that probably the book need to be read before any experience takes place， but at the same time， it might be more useful to read it having some experience。 Probably， should be both to take more from internal brain's capacity to change。Another value of the book is purely intellectual。 Leary makes it possible to uni It's a great book， although I have troubles getting all the concepts at this point。 However， the things mr。 Leary describes correlate a lot with my personal experience。 There's a though that probably the book need to be read before any experience takes place， but at the same time， it might be more useful to read it having some experience。 Probably， should be both to take more from internal brain's capacity to change。Another value of the book is purely intellectual。 Leary makes it possible to unite western and eastern concepts， to link those as a whole， to see how there is no east or west， if we look at the goals and underlying message。 There is a difference in forms， in metaphors， but not in core values， not in basic virtues。 Those are the same。 。。。more

Shivam ，

Good books light the path to more knowledge。 This book led me to the ancient Tibetan philosophy and I’m glad for that。

TJ Price ，

When I was a teenager and wandering around the library's book sale， I happened across a strangely squarish book that was of a particular purple hue， and whose pages were a paper-bag brown。 Being a curious kid， （and envious of my fictional heroes who always seemed to 'stumble across' magical， esoteric texts which inevitably led them to fantastical worlds） I was instantly drawn to the strange blocks of serif-heavy text that tumbled and twisted across the pages。 I knew nothing of Buddhism， or relig When I was a teenager and wandering around the library's book sale， I happened across a strangely squarish book that was of a particular purple hue， and whose pages were a paper-bag brown。 Being a curious kid， （and envious of my fictional heroes who always seemed to 'stumble across' magical， esoteric texts which inevitably led them to fantastical worlds） I was instantly drawn to the strange blocks of serif-heavy text that tumbled and twisted across the pages。 I knew nothing of Buddhism， or religion， really， beyond the drone of uninspired Bible readings at church on Sundays。 Phrases like "heart cave" and "ocean of existence" and "you're standing on a bridge， watching yourself go by" mesmerized me。This was， of course， "Be Here Now，" by Ram Dass （née Richard Alpert）， who was also a contributor to this book。 In the bardo between reading that book and now， reading this one， I had a great many psychedelic experiences - some more memorable than others， some downright brutal to the psyche， and others positively beatific。 It's been many years since I've altered my consciousness in such a way， but reading this slim manual brought a lot of those memories back， and made me wish I'd read it sooner。 A lot of what is detailed is exactly what it claims to be: a guidebook for those who want to embark on a psychedelic experience。 It's couched in language that isn't necessarily thoroughly explained， and utilizes a lot of heady concepts that assumes the reader is familiar with Buddhist imagery and iconography， but not so much that one can't "grok" what's being discussed。I found that this did a surprisingly thorough job of accounting for the varied ways one might approach a trip， as well as gently cautioning of the ways one might disturb oneself during the journey。 I also found myself genuinely considering sending a copy of the book to a few friends who are considering taking first trips of their own， if only because they are the kind of folks who might analyze the awe out of such an experience rather than give themselves over to it and perhaps enjoy profound realizations。 I， too， am such a person， and have done so， and reading about that "danger" in Leary's prose definitely resonated with me。 This book pre-supposes that one is taking a trip with the overarching intention of achieving some sort of spiritual， universal One-ness， though it doesn't completely ignore the fact that some might only be interested in tripping for purely recreational motivations。 Not everyone wants to trip on LSD to experience "ego-death，" and such a concept is going to be frightening to anyone who has been ill-advised or ill-prepared for such a thing to happen， especially in our modern times， where ego is as an insecure king on a rickety throne。 All that said， though， what surprised me the most about this read is how unexpectedly poetic Leary waxes while discussing the possibilities of the psychedelic experience。 One of my favorite bits came in the middle of the "first bardo" section， discussing the feeling of ecstasy diminish under the sudden analytical eye of the ego - "On the endless watery turbulence of the Pacific Ocean bobs a tiny open mouth shouting （between saline mouthfuls） 'Order！ System！ Explain all this！'" Such nuggets like this， encountered at certain intervals， delighted me throughout despite the largely esoteric language and metaphors。 I have to say that I enjoyed this more than "Be Here Now，" even with that book's quirks and illustrations， though both are certainly artefacts of their time， and should be enjoyed with that in mind。 。。。more

Samuel Stanton ，

I found the book surprisingly eloquent， though perhaps a bit dramatic。 As discussed in the foreword， the book is quite interesting as a cultural artifact of the 60's counter-culture。 I found the book surprisingly eloquent， though perhaps a bit dramatic。 As discussed in the foreword， the book is quite interesting as a cultural artifact of the 60's counter-culture。 。。。more

Adam Koebel ，

Really interesting stuff， and definitely in line with my attitudes towards psychedelics。 Seeing them as a spiritual experience in such clear （if somewhat arcane terms） was really neat。 Found it super engaging and relatively easy to understand， despite being clearly written in its time。 Part spirituality， part occultism， what I liked most was that it was very clear about the whole process of experiencing Void as part of psychedelic trip。 Super cool， and something I'll definitely read again。 Really interesting stuff， and definitely in line with my attitudes towards psychedelics。 Seeing them as a spiritual experience in such clear （if somewhat arcane terms） was really neat。 Found it super engaging and relatively easy to understand， despite being clearly written in its time。 Part spirituality， part occultism， what I liked most was that it was very clear about the whole process of experiencing Void as part of psychedelic trip。 Super cool， and something I'll definitely read again。 。。。more

Jordan ，

This book is mostly interesting at this point as a cultural artifact from a different time。 Daniel Pinchbeck’s introduction is excellent and insightful and is a nice backdrop to Leary’s very purple prose。

Gustavo Schroeder ，

I hated this book。 A bunch of nonsense， never gets anywhere。 Couldn't even finish it and gained absolutely nothing from it。 I hated this book。 A bunch of nonsense， never gets anywhere。 Couldn't even finish it and gained absolutely nothing from it。 。。。more

Bella Joiner ，

Good for what it is

Stephen ，

"Turn off your mind， relax and float downstream。" The classic guide to psychedelic experience， based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead。 Unusually practical for a book about traversing altered consciousness， hallucinations， colors and sounds， ecstasy and ego-death and rebirth。 I feel like a Beatle。 The journey of 1000 miles begins with one step， so let's go， I'm ready。 "Turn off your mind， relax and float downstream。" The classic guide to psychedelic experience， based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead。 Unusually practical for a book about traversing altered consciousness， hallucinations， colors and sounds， ecstasy and ego-death and rebirth。 I feel like a Beatle。 The journey of 1000 miles begins with one step， so let's go， I'm ready。 。。。more

baduizm ，

Reading without background knowledge on Buddhism may make it difficult to understand at times， but still good

Raúl Delgado ，

Slightly wide gap between this and my personal interpretation of the Bardo Thodol。 Still very useful advices are given for a psychedelic voyage and is an interesting read for the curious and those eager to know。

Rory Tregaskis ，

Interesting read， but I can't help thinking one， the idea an LSD， mushroom or DMT trip can bring you instant enlightenment is naive， and two the use of the Tibetan Book of The Dead is inappropriate because Buddhists may say blissful transcendence of psychedelics without the moral inquiry that gives it meaning is itself illusory， the 'maya' our attachment to causes our suffering。 In fact Leary even says at one point many Buddhist mystical teachings are kept occulted because without the work of bu Interesting read， but I can't help thinking one， the idea an LSD， mushroom or DMT trip can bring you instant enlightenment is naive， and two the use of the Tibetan Book of The Dead is inappropriate because Buddhists may say blissful transcendence of psychedelics without the moral inquiry that gives it meaning is itself illusory， the 'maya' our attachment to causes our suffering。 In fact Leary even says at one point many Buddhist mystical teachings are kept occulted because without the work of building a moral foundation they can actually be dangerous。 Having said that， I did recognise quite a few of the states of consciousness described in the various bardos from experiments I have done with various psychedelic drugs。 It also helped me reflect back on some and made a little more sense of experiences that happened years ago - but much of that came from experience I've lived and contemplation I've done since the trips themselves。 The practical stuff about tripping toward the end might actually be more useful on it's own， and reading and understanding the Tibetan Book of The Dead also seems like a very worthwhile thing to do separate from drug experiences and I intend to。 I do see a lot a value and potential in mind altering drugs， but I'm not sure Leary's approach was the best one。 。。。more

Sean Fahey ，

“Recognition is the key to liberation。”

Evan ，

Very 'out-there' even when the expectation in picking up a book of this nature is exactly for something out-there。 It starts off predictably enough and goes through the now-established principles of 'set and setting'， but goes sharply left and off the cliff when describing the various levels and example texts from which a guide can read during each。 Very 'out-there' even when the expectation in picking up a book of this nature is exactly for something out-there。 It starts off predictably enough and goes through the now-established principles of 'set and setting'， but goes sharply left and off the cliff when describing the various levels and example texts from which a guide can read during each。 。。。more

Harrison Gourlay ，

"The Psychedelic Experience" is a masterful description of what tripping sack feels like。 It's the most accurate description and advice for such an endeavor。 Highly recommend for trippers and non-trippers alike， if you are slightly interested in this experience， give this quick book a try。 It doesn't overstay its' welcome and definitely doesn't handle these substances in a jokey sort of way。 Beautiful and frankly magical， thank you Leary。 5/5 stars。 "The Psychedelic Experience" is a masterful description of what tripping sack feels like。 It's the most accurate description and advice for such an endeavor。 Highly recommend for trippers and non-trippers alike， if you are slightly interested in this experience， give this quick book a try。 It doesn't overstay its' welcome and definitely doesn't handle these substances in a jokey sort of way。 Beautiful and frankly magical， thank you Leary。 5/5 stars。 。。。more

Stefan Gugler ，

Even though Leary is a bit of a controversial figure， I didn't find his writings too outrageous。 Among the more spiritual psychedelic and meditational readings， I felt him rather more than less accessible than the others。 His positivity is certainly a good trait in writing about transcendental experiences。 Even though Leary is a bit of a controversial figure， I didn't find his writings too outrageous。 Among the more spiritual psychedelic and meditational readings， I felt him rather more than less accessible than the others。 His positivity is certainly a good trait in writing about transcendental experiences。 。。。more

Apoorva Dubey ，

I didn't read。 Will read the Tibetan Book of the Dead first。 I didn't read。 Will read the Tibetan Book of the Dead first。 。。。more

Janina ，

oh timothy leary deary

Gabriel Castillo Arze ，

Interesting take on the psychedelic experience through the filter of tibetan culture。 Probably need to re-read it。

Dwight Cheuk-a-lam ，

Very interesting read， I liked the whole concept of using LSD as a shortcut to enlightenment。 Inspired me to read the full book of the dead。

Light Bringer ，

oh lord - here i come。

Jefferson ，

A lot of good advice mixed with a lot of mysticism。 However， my lack of knowledge and experience may be showing。

Darrin Charles ，

Interesting exploration。 Unique read。

Erick Pastora ，

Timothy Leary， arguably the most controversial figure in the history of psychedelics， provides here a manual for reaching liberation with the use of psychedelic molecules guided by the Tibetan Book of the Dead。 There is so much to discuss about this book， but I think a Goodreads review is not the best place for that discussion。Overall， I have a feeling of appreciation towards this manual because it does give some useful tips for what we now call "safe tripping"。 However， it should be remarkably Timothy Leary， arguably the most controversial figure in the history of psychedelics， provides here a manual for reaching liberation with the use of psychedelic molecules guided by the Tibetan Book of the Dead。 There is so much to discuss about this book， but I think a Goodreads review is not the best place for that discussion。Overall， I have a feeling of appreciation towards this manual because it does give some useful tips for what we now call "safe tripping"。 However， it should be remarkably noted that based on Leary's controversies， the date that this was originally published and all that has happened afterwards regarding psychedelic substances， it should not be something to go stupid about。Nowadays there's a ton of books， studies， articles and even YouTube channels that are very informative about this topic and one should take all this content with discretion to avoid repeating errors from the past。 How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan should become a must read for all people that seek to explore the realms of consciousness。 。。。more

framptonhollis ，

Fantastic reading for the lysergically inclined， whether they be novitiates of the eponymous experience or those already “indoctrinated” and seeking further analysis and knowledge。 Thoroughly researched and unabashedly spiritual （but without judgement）， it remains a classic of American psychedelia and a foundational text for the nexus of East and West， psychologically， spiritually， scientifically。 Leary & co。 prove， additionally， to be talented wordsmiths and can concoct clear， coherent descript Fantastic reading for the lysergically inclined， whether they be novitiates of the eponymous experience or those already “indoctrinated” and seeking further analysis and knowledge。 Thoroughly researched and unabashedly spiritual （but without judgement）， it remains a classic of American psychedelia and a foundational text for the nexus of East and West， psychologically， spiritually， scientifically。 Leary & co。 prove， additionally， to be talented wordsmiths and can concoct clear， coherent descriptions for incommunicable supraconscious sensations。 。。。more

Ray O。 ，

Unexpectedly life-changing。

Carson Q ，

Literally just a English translation of the book of the dead

Mark ，

yep， pretty solid。 I read this one as I was interested in the Book of the Dead and figured that this book would cover both that topic and the Psychedelic experience in one。 My impression （having not read the former） is that this book is very much the latter and doesn't contain much depth on the specifics of the Tibetan book。 So you can't really kill two birds with one stone here。 Also having not partaken in our 'plant friends'， its a bit hard to rate the advice from this book。 It certainly makes yep， pretty solid。 I read this one as I was interested in the Book of the Dead and figured that this book would cover both that topic and the Psychedelic experience in one。 My impression （having not read the former） is that this book is very much the latter and doesn't contain much depth on the specifics of the Tibetan book。 So you can't really kill two birds with one stone here。 Also having not partaken in our 'plant friends'， its a bit hard to rate the advice from this book。 It certainly makes some logical sense， but whether that translates into a trip is hard to know; especially given the multitude of advice for different scenario's here。That said， its short and intuitive and straight forward and gives guidance that I could see being very useful。 The introduction to this edition was also quite useful and set the stage for the books accomplishments and failings considering its place in history。 。。。more

Natalie ，

I was struggling to finish this on my own tbh but after getting the audiobook， it was much easier and it actually made more sense to me。 So for the first time ever， I’m actually recommending the audiobook！

Alan Newton ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 A concise book， which is - essentially - a guide for the voyager， aka the psychonaut， the psychedelic tripper based upon the teachings of The Tibetan Book of the Dead， which is a guide for rebirth and reentry from one life to the next。 The Tibetan view is that the mental or spiritual cannot always be reduced to material quanta and manipulated as such — the spiritual is itself an active energy in nature， subtle but more powerful than the material。 The Tibetan view is that the “strong force” in na A concise book， which is - essentially - a guide for the voyager， aka the psychonaut， the psychedelic tripper based upon the teachings of The Tibetan Book of the Dead， which is a guide for rebirth and reentry from one life to the next。 The Tibetan view is that the mental or spiritual cannot always be reduced to material quanta and manipulated as such — the spiritual is itself an active energy in nature， subtle but more powerful than the material。 The Tibetan view is that the “strong force” in nature is spiritual， not material。 This is what gives the Tibetan character its “inwardness”。Timothy Leary famous for his research into psychedelic drugs and their hallucinogenic effects， as well as becoming an enemy of the US establishment following his famous quote to “turn on， tune in， drop out”， a counterculture-era phrase he coined in 1967 when speaking at the ‘Human Be-In’， a gathering of 30，000 hippies in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco。 Where else？Leary outlines the meaning of this phrase in his book ‘Flashbacks’， identifying that the process of turning on， tuning in and dropping out was a stage by stage process of going within to activate ones neural and genetic equipment; tuning in to the many and various levels of consciousness and what triggers engage them; and to detach from our perceived reality， exploring the inner workings of our minds and - perhaps - the universe， allowing one ego to take a back seat and enable insight free of the normal game-theory associated with our ‘waking’ realities。 Drugs were just one way to accomplish this goal。 Regular practitioners of meditation， breath work， yogic practice and lucid dreaming will also be familiar with altered states of consciousness with comparable experiences to psychedelic drug use， albeit maybe not so vivid， colourful and/or wacky。 “Unhappily my explanations of this sequence of personal development were often misinterpreted to mean ‘Get stoned and abandon all constructive activity”， wrote Leary。 The basis of ‘The Psychedelic Experience’ is to provide a map for the psychonaut， exploring the nature of psychedelics as a chemical key to expanding ones mind for inner exploration。 The authors suggest that it is not the drug that produces the transcendent experience， it merely helps “open the mind” and “frees the nervous system of its ordinary patterns and structures。”The notions of mindset and setting are， as Michael Pollan would later write in ‘How to change your mind’， critical to the experience。 Set being ones state of mind and level of preparation for the experience， and setting being the physical environment and your feeling towards those who are with you。 The connection with the Tibetan Book of the Dead is the model by which one would control their experience。 The teachings focus upon direct and controlled awareness in such a way as to reach the level of understanding variously called liberation， illumination， or enlightenment。 This focus helps the consciousness free itself from the self， from ego and personality to free oneself from “positive-negative hallucinations which often accompany states of expanded awareness。”The importance of letting go of the ego and not trying to interpret what’s occurring is a fundamental early lesson that is repeated by many authors reporting on psychedelic use。 “The key is inaction: Passive integration with all that occurs around you。 If you try to impose your will， use your mind， rationalise， seek explanations， you will get caught in hallucinatory whirlpools。”Leary goes on to describe， in detail， 3 Bardos。。。1。 First Bardo - period of ego loss or non-game ecstasy， characterised by ‘The White Light’ （1st bardo energy / God / The creator / the central sun / the one truth / the source）。 “The first sign is the glimpsing of the ‘clear light of reality，’ ‘the infallible mind of the pure mystic state。’ This is the awareness of energy transformations with no impositions of mental categories。” This state can allow for the “ultimate truth” if one is sufficiently prepared and has dispensed with their ego。 It outlines multiple symptoms one may feel at the point of ego-loss， and one must embrace and meld with them， to surrender， in order to transcend;1。 Bodily pressure， which the Tibetans call earth-sinking-into-water2。 Clammy coldness， followed by feverish heat， which Tibetans call water-sinking-into-fire;3。 Body disintegrating or blown to atoms， called fire-sinking-into-air4。 Pressure on head and ears， which Americans call rocket-launching-into-space5。 Tingling in extremities;6。 Feelings of body melting or flowing as if wax;7。 Nausea;8。 Trembling or shaking， beginning in pelvic regions or spreading up torso。2。 Second Bardo - Known as the period of hallucinations。 “During this period， the flow of consciousness， microscopically clear and intense， is interrupted by fleeting attempts to rationalise and interpret。 But the normal game-playing ego is not functioning effectively。”The authors outline 7 common visions / apparitions experiences by westerners， interrupted from definitions similar to the mandalic schema of the Peaceful Deities listed for the Second Bardo in the Tibetan Book of the Dead;1。 The source or creator vision2。 The internal flow of archetypal processes 3。 The fire-flow of internal unity4。 The wave-vibration structure of external forms5。 The vibratory waves of external unity6。 “The Retinal Circus”7。 “The Magical Theatre”3。 The Third Bardo - the period of “re-entry”。 For the average person who undertakes a psychedelic voyage， the return to game reality is inevitable。 Such persons can and should use this part of the manual for the following purposes:1。 To free themselves from Third Bardo traps2。 To prolong the session， thus assuring a maximum degree of illumination 3。 To select a favourable re-entry i。e。 to return to a wiser and more peaceful post-session personality “The Tibetans estimate that about 50% of the entire psychedelic experience is spent in the Third Bardo by most normal people。 At times。。。 someone may move straight to the re-entry period if he is unprepared for or frightened by the ego-loss experiences of the first two Bardos。”The six worlds of game existence （or six levels or six personality types） associated with re-entry ranging from Devas （highest level） and heroes / titans to normal humans （level 3） to wild beasts & insects （level 4）， neurotic， frustrated lifeless spirits pursuing unsatisfied desires （level 5）， to finally。。。 hell or psychosis （lowest level）。 Most return to the human level。The re-entry is of paramount important and should not be rushed。 It should be given time to unfold naturally。 One can select their new ego from the different levels if one is adept and skilled enough to do so。Leary indicates the importance of seeking an intention， a Goal of a trip。 Classic Hinduism suggests 4 possibilities; 1。 For increased personal power， intellectual understanding， sharpened insight into self and culture， improvement of life situation， accelerated learning， professional growth2。 Full of duty， help of others， providing care， rehabilitation， rebirth for fellow man3。 For fun， sensuous and join into， asked Fetick pleasure， interpersonal closeness， pure existence4。 For transcendence， liberation from eco-and space time limits; attainment of mystical unionDifferences between extrovert and introverted mystic experiences:For the extroverts mystic experience one would bring to the session objects or symbols to guide the awareness and the desired direction。 Candles， pictures， books， incense， music or recorded passages。 An introverted mystic experience requires the elimination of all stimulation; no light， no sound， no smell， no movement。A period of time （usually at least three days） should be set aside in which the experience will run its natural course and there will be sufficient time for reflection and meditation。 It is important to keep schedules open for three days and to make these arrangements beforehand。 A too-hasty return to game-involvements will blur the clarity of the vision and reduce the potential for learning。 If the experience was with a group， it is very useful to stay together after the session in order to share and exchange experiences。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Psychedelic Experience: A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0