The Psychedelic Experience

A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead

By: Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner, Richard Alpert, Daniel Pinchbeck - introduction

Narrated by: Paul Heitsch

Length: 4 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

We are in the midst of a powerful psychedelic renaissance. After four decades of hibernation, the promise of the psychoactive 60s - that deeper self-awareness, achieved through reality-bending substances and practices, will lead to greater external harmony - is again gaining a major following. The signs are everywhere, from the influence of today's preeminent psychedelic thinker Daniel Pinchbeck, to the renewed interest in the legacy of Terence McKenna, and to the upsurge of collective, inclusive (and overtly tripped-out) cultural phenomena like the spectacle of Burning Man.

The Psychedelic Experience, created in the movement's early years by the prophetic shaman-professors Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner, and Richard Alpert (Ram Dass), 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 meditation techniques and psychotropic substances.

As sacred as the text it reflects, The Psychedelic Experience is a guidebook to the wilderness of mind and an indispensable resource from the founding fathers of psychedelia.

©1964, 1992 Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner, Richard Alpert (P)2017 Vibrance Press

Critic reviews

"It is a book for the living as well as for the dying." (Lama Govinda)

A must have in the toolkit..

If you are planning your first trip or curious about exploring the psychedelic realms, you need some sort of guide or reference. This could be in the form of a sitter or a shaman, or through teachings of psychedelic elders. (No scientific knowledge will prepare you.)
This book is a perfect companion if you have no other. It’s not meant to be taken literally as no person’s trip is the same. Instead it will help put you in the right state of mind to have a rewarding experience and give you plenty to watch out for!

Not a book about psychedelics

This book barely mentions any psychedelics at all. It would be a great book for those looking to meditate. It is also highly repetitive.

Text book?

I have always thought of this book as the textbook for a class in doing sessions. The Leary psychedelic Prayer Book the lab manual to accompany the Psychedelic Experience. The prayers are perfect for reaching enlightenment during a session.

listen when your ears are open and ready.

rinse repeat. great for anyone who needs a bit of guidance. dont tell me how many words I have to write

This book is an experience on it's own!

Absolutely loved it. Narrator was nothing but amazing. By the end I was fully immersed.

This is a good tool to have.

Listening to this is good but having the book to reference is a good thing to have on hand. That is if you intend to do or attempt things mentioned in this book.

this book sucks.

this book sucks the only good thing about this book is the preface I do not recommend this book

very enlightening

I enjoyed it dearly. As a psychonaut myself, already knowing a lot about the psychedelic realms, it still managed to teach me a lot of things and made me reflect of some of the things i already knew. 10/10 deffinitly recommend.

Must read for any psychonaut !

Amazing information based on studies and experience.
The Narrator is awesome.

Will help obtain ego death and enlightenment

A ascinating interpretation of the Tibetan Book of the Dying. This is a must read..

Nice intro and interesting insight into that time

It was interesting to listen to, as it gave an insight into some of the thinking at the time. Seems very biased and idealistic in terms of the way of interpreting the psychedelic experience. The intro was interesting and helpful.

Most enjoyable as are all his musings

I really liked this tome having been a devout fan for over 50 years. Leary never fails to impress. He is so "left field", alternative, experimental, unapologetic, supportive, empathetic, interested and invested, it makes you wonder about the rest of humanity. Count me in - I am ready for an extraterritorial happening - I am not frightened or fearful. Recommended highly for his off beat approach to life, psychiatry, the Universe and anything else you can think of, including the proverbial kitchen sink. This guy is happening, he has a cosmic mind, mixing Bhudism, Shamanism along with everything else in his vast psychic toolbox.

skip the intro

loved the main content, the introduction is long wimded, full of personal bias and overservations from someone who sounds like he hasn't actually had a psychedelic experience to be honest. It's irrelevant to the book and can be skipped. The rest is a wonderful guide to a journey that you will remember for the rest of your life should you chose to pursuit it further and can be summed up shortly with in modern Western slang "Breath, just go with with the flow, relax and hold no judgments, it's all you"

Really interesting!

As a Latino, it is really interesting to Liston the authors perspective about the use of psychodelics as it should be, a healing mechanisms for deep existential matters which has been part of our culture for millennia.

The terms are a bit complex, but I am sure that after a second go and then a third, I will get a good hold of the concepts exposed in the book.

Give it a go!

Brilliant

Loved this book, enjoyed having already read the Tibetan Book of the Dead. If this subject is of interest, I highly recommend

Timeless truths

I loved listening to this. I am fascinated by the work done by Leary, Ram Das and Co and also work with psychedelics. Helped me in mapping the realms that one accesses in these spaces. The book is nicely anchored in The Tibetan Book of the dead and assisted my understanding of that text, although I believe it is still important to work with it on its own. Would be beyond interesting what Ram Das made of this piece of work later in his life..?

omg sooooo boring.

pls don't waste time on this. I was hoping for something more but was expecting too much.

insightful

very interesting listen. intrigued to read the Tibetan book of the dead for deeper insights

Good stuf

Psychedelics/mediation are the way forward i believe worth listen if this is your thing. Nature knows best.

good but for newbies

very good book but for someone already initatied in psychedelics and the spiritual laws it's not much.