Can drugs induce transpersonal experiences?
Psychoactive drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, MDMA (Ecstasy) or ketamine can induce significant alterations in our perceptions, emotions, and cognitions and may, in certain circumstances, lead to experiences often considered of spiritual or transpersonal significance (e.g., out-of-body experiences, sense of oneness with others or the world, blissful awareness, apparent insights into the true nature of reality). However, in most jurisdictions, possession and use of these substances is illegal. Also their effects are relatively unpredictable, and ingestion may often result in unpleasant experiences or other damaging consequences. Although the use of psychoactive substances for religious purposes is widespread in certain indigenous traditions, ingestion is normally carefully moderated and controlled through specific ritual preparations. No major world religion advocates the use of psychoactive drugs for spiritual purposes and most decry the attempt to directly induce spiritual experiences i
