John Vervaeke - Cognitive Science of Wisdom, Meaning, & Psilocybin Mushrooms

John and I sit down to talk about different types of knowledge, and how we decipher the world around us. We discuss Self-Deception, Flow States, Mystical Experience, and where we go to find Wisdom and Meaning in our lives.

John is a professor of Cognitive Science and Psychology at the University of Toronto. He's also studied in Buddhism and Tai Chi. He hopes to organize a psilocybin micro-dosing study at the University, and he talks about the difficulties in his way when it comes to getting a study like that approved. 

We really touch on a lot here, and John's passion and enthusiasm carries us through the conversation. It was a real pleasure for me to break down these ideas with him, so I hope everyone enjoys the chat as much as I did! 

Find John at his website: JohnVervaeke.com

Find his Book here

His YouTube channel: here

Download mp3 from iTunes here

Download mp3 Directly here

Will Johnson - How to Use Marijuana Effectively

Will joins me from Costa Rica to talk about his ideas integrating Buddhist practices with Marijuana use. Traditional Buddhism encourages abstinence from intoxicants. While Will does also teach in this traditional manner, he points to the Hindu God Shiva as an alternative representation of how the use of Marijuana can be very well suited to some of the physical practices Buddhists use.

Much of our conversation is about how to use Marijuana effectively when it comes to the physical body and putting someone in tune with their movements and breathing, and out of the mind. We also talk about Ida Rolf and her philosophy behind Rolfing, and the practice of Gazing.

Find Will at his website: Embodiment.net

And Find his Book here

Download mp3 from iTunes here

Download mp3 Directly here

Danny Nemu - Savantism & Hotboxing the Tabernacle

Danny's latest book, Neuro-Apocalypse, deals with how individuals perceive things differently. He breaks this down in many ways, including how the Japanese language shapes the minds of those who speak it differently than English does. He's also studied autism, and the extreme cases of autistic savants who have perspectives on the world much different than the regular person. 

We talk about all of this in the podcast, in addition to Danny's research on the possibility of psychoactive drugs being used in the bible. There are multiple examples Danny points to that seem very plausible, notably the high priest in the tabernacle prophesizing by burning a number of substances in a tightly enclosed space.  

There is also manna, which is referred to by Moses, and seems to be described similarly to ergot. Ergot is of course what Albert Hofmann originally used to create LSD. 

It's all very fascinating! Thanks Danny for the talk. 

Find Danny at his website: NemusEnd.co.uk

And Find his Book here

Download mp3 from iTunes here

Download mp3 Directly here