Vipassana Meditation & Ayahuasca

Over the last several decades, serious study of Tibetan Buddhism and the use of ayahuasca as an agent for spiritual growth have both become widespread in the West. Though the two traditions originate in widely different parts of the world, both are effective in working with the ego and creating a genuine spiritual opening.

Uniting the two paths, the author takes readers through his own journey as a long-time but sometimes-struggling Buddhist practitioner whose sojourn to Peru for a series of Ayahuasca ceremonies provided an invaluable shift in his own spiritual approach. He reveals how ayahuasca was a remarkable catalyst in pointing out self-deception in his spiritual path, providing insight into psycho-emotional obstacles to spiritual growth and ultimately reinvigorating his practice and authentic presence in daily life. But, as he points out, although a skillful means and a useful aid, ayahuasca is not a complete path on its own.

Instead, he introduces Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and the calm mindfulness of Shamata Vipassana meditation as a sustainable developmental path to support and integrate the opening caused by Ayahuasca. He emphasizes the complementary nature of both the medicine and his longer-term studies in Buddhism. He describes his own challenges with spiritual self-deception and stagnation—not uncommon on the Buddhist path—and how Ayahuasca helped him see it. Finally, he shares how to integrate the lessons of his ayahuasca experiences into his Buddhist practice, offering readers a methodical and guided introduction to the progressive techniques of Shamata Vipassana meditation.

Whether readers are long-term seekers or novices, this book can provide a singular means of aligning and re-invigorating the spiritual path.