PSYCHEDELICS - Sciencemadness.org

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____________________________________________________ Psychedelics
more-striking experiences of a similar nature. In the New
Testament, James says, "The prayer of faith will save the sick
man, and the Lord will raise him up." We studied, we ex-
perimented, as many others are doing, and we found that it
is so.
It seemed that we had no choice but to continue to explore
the depths of the mind and of consciousness. As we did so,
we found ourselves coming face to face with life itself. We
began to be dimly aware that our own true nature is this
depth, which is life, or consciousness, and which is universal,
omnipotent, and omnipresent. Many call it God. To discover
that this is what we really are, rather than the body, the
mind, or the personality, involves a radical shift in perspec-
tive. There are many who fear to experience this shift.
Many of the questions we were asking, and the areas of our
explorations, seem to be off limits in most religious and scien-
tific circles. Those who begin such "metaphysical" (beyond
the physical) seeking are likely to become suspect by their
friends who have chosen to accept the teachings of orthodoxy,
whether scientific or religious. New ideas are regarded by
many as threats to the ego, to personal security. Perhaps this
is a part of the instinct for self-preservation, which we all
have. When our mental structure of ideas is threatened, we
become as defensive as when the physical body is in danger,
for much effort has been invested in each case.
There were many in Socorro who felt that the members of
our group were engaged in a very dangerous enterprise, and
many warnings were given that we should return to the fold.
The minister of one local church, several of whose members
were attending our meetings, warned that such groups could
be useful, but that a minister (presumably of his particular
denomination!) should always be present to be sure that we
did not go too far afield. The minister of another church,
when invited to discuss with our group what his religion
meant to him, declined the invitation. He said that the ex-
plorations in which we were engaged were not approved by
the community, and he did not care to risk his reputation
by meeting with us. A patient told one of our group that the
Aikens had seemed to be fine people, and good doctors, but