What's you opinion on the experience of ingesting of a plant concoction in the Amazon?

[randompersonavility]

Well yes, I mean he mentioned it himself that after drinking, his visions started pouring in.

[Quinto]

Haoght's spiritual experience is a result of many factors, one of which is the concoction he took. Later in the book, he credits this one incident as having provided an insight to his spiritual growth.

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

Maybe, maybe not. Drugs definitely alter the way our brain chemistry works so, perhaps, even if ingesting the concoction wasn't the definite trigger for the revelation, it did lower the author's inhibitions and made him more open to certain experiences. Many cultures practice these rituals and we can't just dismiss them, but in no way do I think drugs are necessary to develop a spiritual practice.

[chelhack]

My opinion of thought on this is I don't feel or see how that could count as experiencing a spiritual revelation when he took something that was known and intended to alter the mind and or body. So, therefore, I really questioned that when I was reading the book. In a state of mind and body altercation, how was he sure that he was hearing or envisioning that of God's will and not just hallucinating.

[Crazyreader01]

I don't really know what to think about it to be completely honest. I just know that if you believe that something has the ability to do something, then it will. For example, if you're sick and you tell yourself that a certain medicine will make you feel better, then it will, and vice versa.

[Melissa VanCleave Plant]

I believe the plant concoction is a strong hallucinogenic. I believe that he saw what he was concentrating on prior to taking it. I don't think it was a placebo effect, I believe he was truly high. I just think it was more of a self fulfilling prophecy. He believed he would so he did.

[nooregano]

I don't like the idea of using an external substance to help me find what's in me. It feels fabricated, which I know is strange, because there's no real defined boundary between the body and what it ingests and assimilates into its system. Still, it feels wrong on a visceral level.

[janelwhite]

Yes it clearly made a difference. I looked up the Natem ceremony and it was described as a plant that allows people to enter the world of spirits through hallucinations.
http://achuarlodge.com/natem-ceremonies ... -ecolodge/

[Chelsy Scherba]

I couldn’t really get into that part, but obviously ancient cultures have found it beneficial, so I can’t say either way. I don’t think I would try it personally though, as I feel the connection to God I have via dreams and the occasional thought revelation is sufficient for me.

[Renu G]

I think his experience was because of his openness to the paranormal as well as the concoction. He used to experiment with different belief systems and spiritual practices.

[P Reefer]

I found it quite disturbing and dangerous that someone could be so desperate to drink a concoction having no idea of its true contents to lead to a spiritual insight. From the reactions, I don't think its a placebo effect but I think it may be something containing strong alcohol or a hallucinatory drug.

[Kibet Hillary]

The concoction played an important role because I am sure that without it, he might not have had the experiences he had. However, the part I think was only to deal with his own belief. Another person may ingest but not have the same experiences.

[raqstar1]

Having known people who have done something similar, I don't think it's a placebo effect. For some, the plant medicines open one to a deeper place in themselves. For others, it is not helpful. Personally, I don't think I would opt to participate in that type of ceremony, but I feel it is a real tool for those who resonate with it.

[Maya_Nyssa]

Many medicines are synthetic versions of plants with medicinal properties, and some medicines are derived from plants only found in the Amazon (which one why the rainforest is threatened/disappearing). The local tribes are often experts in using plants for various reasons, including inducing hallucinatory states as part of their regular practice. While drugs affect everyone differently, it would be unsurprising if he had visions after participating in one of those ceremonies.

[jahagen]

I certainly don't think that it's out of the question for it to have actually had that effect on him, but based off of other experiences and visions that he'd already had and has later, I don't necessarily think that the plant concoction was the only influence. He seems to be able to reach that level without any outside resources to assist him. And I found it a bit odd that it affected him so quickly, to the point where the person with him said it was way too fast for it to be taking effect.