The Psychedelic Yoga Research Collective

 

Psychedelic

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A "mind-manifesting" substance.  A substance that alters consciousness without diminishing it.  By altering consciousness without diminishing it, psychedelics restore a state that could be termed "Child's Mind," where learning and creativity are enhanced.

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Examples include LSD and psilocybin mushrooms ("classic" psychedelics), DMT, Ayahuasca, 5 meo DMT, Salvia Divinorum and ketamine.

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According to some, a "Psychedelic Renaissance" is underway, as research resumes that was aborted by the War on Drugs, and the manifold possibilities of these substances for mental-health, spirituality, and creativity are explored with renewed vigor.

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Yoga

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A practice or collection of practices to "unite" body, breath, and mind.  -- And to "unite" the individual practitioner with their "true nature" (the Divine, Universal Love, the Self, etc.).

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A "technology" of the human body-mind.  Methods that are time-tested and experience-based, yet may reside outside the domain of scientific inquiry.

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This approach to yoga:

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-- Begins with the assumption that traditional practices contain deep wisdom about the human body-mind.  This wisdom may not be scientifically explainable in the present but probably has a scientific basis.

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-- Begins with the assumption that some specific aspects of traditional practice are arbitrary.

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For example, the practice of Chakra Yoga focuses on places in the body where "energy" (related to emotions) is perceived and in some cases "stored."  These locations may be connected to the endocrine system and certainly correspond to systems in the brain related to memory and emotions.  But the association of specific colors with specific chakras is most likely arbitrary, since different chakra systems in different schools of yoga have different color-chakra associations.

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Another example is the visualization of the Tibetan letter "Ah" at the throat chakra in Tibetan Dream Yoga.  Visualizing a letter engages parts of the brain associated with written language, while the throat chakra is important for social expression, which is often a focus of REM dreams.  But the letter does not have to be an "Ah."  Tenzin Wangyal suggests American practitioners use the letter "A" instead.

 

Because the "true self" is a universal entity, the goal of yoga can also be expressed in terms of reducing the suffering of other conscious beings.

 

Research

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Processes to develop unique and effective methods, integrating yogic practices into psychedelic states, through experimentation and discussion.

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Our research methods will:

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-- Rely more on intuition and less on rigor, than the scientific method.  

-- Avoid biases associated with non-scientific approaches, through incisive discussion and skepticism.

-- Be oriented toward speedy and useful results (in the areas of wellbeing, creativity, and spiritual progress) rather than tight, scientific conclusions.

-- Be more open to conjectures that are not accessible with current scientific apparatus.

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An inspiration is Tibetan Dream Yoga.  This ancient practice was developed by yogis who passed on knowledge and direct experiences through the generations.  While the scientific basis of many aspects of the practice is unknown, it cannot be denied that Tibetan Dream Yoga is astonishingly effective.  If your goal was to achieve lucidity in your dreams, the wisdom of Tibetan Dream Yoga will be far more useful than brain scans and neuroscientific theory.

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Collective

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All participants have a fundamental right to be heard, to create, and to contribute work.

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Research projects will be conducted by:

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-- Individuals.  One person exploring a topic in depth.

-- Small groups.  Deep collaboration of several folks toward a shared goal.

-- Full community.  Everyone participates in gathering data.

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The projects and methods of the PYRC will be continually discussed, tweaked, adjusted, overhauled by the community.