The Tawny One

Soma, Haoma and Ayahuasca

Häftad, Engelska, 2020

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A modern exploration of ancient wisdom relating to psychoactive plants.The ancient ritual drink used in religious ceremonies and known as soma in India and as haoma in the Zoroastrian tradition is praised in the highest terms - as a kind of deity - in both Zoroastrian and Vedic texts, which date from around 1,700 - 1,500 BCE.It is said to provide health, power, wisdom and even immortality.Many theories have been published about the possible botanical identity of this 'nectar of immortality', a plant which appears to have psychedelic/entheogenic properties.Matthew Clark spent several years researching and travelling widely in his quest of soma and in his fascinating, original and highly readable book, Clark reviews scholarly research, explores mythology and ritual and shares his extensive knowledge of psychoactive plants and fungi.The author suggests that the visionary soma drink was based on analogues of ayahuasca, using a variety of plants, some of which can now be identified.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2020-03-30
Mått147 x 230 x 26 mm
Vikt486 g
FormatHäftad
SpråkEngelska
Antal sidor296
FörlagAeon Books Ltd
ISBN9781913274399

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Psykologi inom Psykologi och pedagogik

Dr. Matthew Clark is a Research Associate at the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London), where he has taught courses on Hinduism. He has spent many years in India, which he first visited in 1977. He first engaged with yoga in the mid-1970s and lectures regularly on yoga and philosophy. His publications include 'The Dasanami-Samnyasis: The Integration of Ascetic Lineages into an Order (2006)', which is a study of a sect of sadhus, and a short book on the origins and practices of yoga (2007). He is also a song-writer and musician (Mahabongo).

1. Introduction2. Soma in the Vedas and yoga texts3. Haoma in the Avesta4. ‘Substitutes’ for soma in South Asia5. What are the effects of soma/haoma?6. The botanical identification of soma/haoma: an overview7. Cannabis/hemp8. Altered states of consciousness and demarcation criteria9. Diverse theories about soma/haoma10. Ephedra11. Fly-agaric mushrooms (Amanita muscaria)12. Syrian rue (Peganum harmala)13. Many plants are soma/haoma14. A renewed case for a psychedelic: ayahuasca15. Vedic and ayahuasca rituals16. Greek mystery rites17. Kykeōn and the ergot hypothesis18. Bronze Age origins of entheogenic cults19. Rejoinders to the ayahuasca thesis20. Concluding remarksReferencesList of abbreviationsAppendix 1: The Vedic sacrificial arena for agniṣṭoma ritesAppendix 2: Arundo donax (giant reed)Appendix 3: Darbha/Kuśa grassAppendix 4: Brief outline of the three largest Brazilian ayahuasca churchesAppendix 5: States of consciousness (diagram from METZNER 2009: 64)Appendix 6: Pre-Columbian trans-Pacific contact?Index