psychedelic experience迷幻体验

In The Early Sessions Book 7, Seth explores "psychedelic experience" in depth, defining its essence as a manifestation of "expansion of consciousness" and "inner mobility" ^[1]. Seth points out that psychedelic experience allows the individual to glimpse psychological structures more complex and advanced than the everyday ^[2], and it is the necessary first step toward recognizing multidimensional identity (including probable selves, reincarnational selves, etc.) ^[3].

Seth compares in detail the differences and advantages and disadvantages of psychedelic experiences obtained through drugs versus without drugs (such as through developing the inner senses or psychological exercises):

1. Drug-induced psychedelic experience and its limitations and dangers: Abuse of psychedelic drugs violently shakes the learned response patterns necessary for effective operation in physical reality, disrupts delicate connections, interferes with electromagnetic functions, and may even cause ego failure ^[4]. Drug experiences are greatly limited in direction by chemical substances, and there is danger of straying into certain dimensions from which no way back can be found due to molecular interference ^[5]. Seth compares drug experience to drugging a baby about to be born for the convenience of delivery, and its psychological organization is inferior to drug-free experience ^[6].
2. Advantages and conditions of drug-free psychedelic experience: Psychedelic experience without drugs (such as through the development of the inner senses) is a more effective and more natural way of personality expansion ^[4]. In this case, chemical changes are natural byproducts of the movement of consciousness, and the inner self can follow its familiar electromagnetic pathways and avoid danger ^[6]. Drug-free experience requires excellent physical and environmental cooperation. A north-south body position, a full moon, rainy days, and eating citrus fruits (whose acidity has electromagnetic auxiliary properties) are all helpful aids, while aspirin and rubber are hindrances ^[7].

Seth particularly emphasizes the core role and transformation of the "ego" in psychedelic experience:

• The ego's role of translation and integration: The ego is a highly useful fiction ^[8]. In drug experiences, the ego is often excluded, which leads to difficulties in integration afterward ^[9]. A trained and flexible ego can temporarily relinquish dominance during the experience and afterward act as a "translator" and "interpreter" to organize new and old data; otherwise, normal waking consciousness may not be able to retain any record of these experiences at all ^[10].
• Expansion rather than annihilation of the ego: Any expansion of consciousness must include the ego ^[11]. Through Seth's methods, the ego is brought inside and participates in the expansion; it remains structurally intact but is altered chemically and electromagnetically, becoming more like the "inner self," able to open to inner data and temporarily step outside itself ^[12]. If the ego is forcibly pushed aside, it will rebel and bring high danger ^[13].

In addition, psychedelic experience brings about physiological and multidimensional perceptual changes:

• Activation of brain potential: Psychedelic experience activates previously unused areas of the physical brain (such as the pineal gland, pituitary, and thalamus), enabling the individual to perceive physical reality in different ways, such as "hearing colors and smelling sounds" (synesthesia) ^[14]. Once these physical channels are opened, future perception becomes easier ^[15].
• Contact with multidimensional space-time: Psychedelic or mystical experiences sometimes allow the individual to contact portions that appear to be the "future self" (which in fact have always existed) ^[16], or in some cases to recall past lives ^[1]. For the fullest development of the personality, these perceptions from other systems of reality must be brought into the conscious level, and even the ego must become aware of them ^[16].

In Seth Speaks, Seth profoundly expounds the nature of consciousness expansion and non-ordinary conscious experiences from the perspectives of multidimensional states of consciousness, the use of the inner senses, and the shifting of the focus of consciousness.

First, Seth points out that in informal, non-waking states of consciousness, human beings practice the use of the inner senses and multidimensional abilities more frequently than they suppose. The manner in which the physical environment presents itself is determined by the individual's psychological structure. If people's perceptual apparatus were based primarily on "intuitive association" rather than "time sequence," the experience of physical reality would be entirely different; for example, one could see objects of the past and present simultaneously. This alteration of the perceptual pattern reveals an entirely new dimension of experience brought about by consciousness expansion ^[1].

Second, consciousness at different levels or stages can perceive different kinds of events, and the key to experiencing these events lies in learning to shift the focus of attention from one level to another. Accompanying these different stages of consciousness, subtle chemical and electromagnetic changes occur in the physical body itself, along with substantial changes in hormone production and pineal gland activity ^[2]. This explains the physiological and energetic mechanisms behind experiences of consciousness expansion.

In the undifferentiated level between waking and sleeping, consciousness is in a state akin to floating, becoming a passive and open "receiver" of telepathic and clairvoyant information. In this state, the individual produces distinctive bodily sensations: among them, the "sensation of expansion" is precisely a physical interpretation of psychic expansion (consciousness expansion); while the "sensation of falling" is the interpretation of consciousness suddenly returning to the body ^[2].

Furthermore, Seth emphasizes that the boundaries between different parts of the self (such as the boundaries between waking and sleeping, and between dream states) are only the result of custom and convenience, and are not absolutely necessary ^[3]. He specifically mentions that the practice of hospitals using drugs to force patients to sleep through the night is harmful, because such drugs prevent the necessary "dream cycles" that help the body recover, causing consciousness to become very confused when returning to the body ^[3]. This illustrates, from the opposite side, the interference of artificial drug intervention with the natural flow of consciousness and dream experience.

In summary, the book regards consciousness expansion and psychedelic-like experiences as part of humanity's multidimensional heritage. By shifting the focus of attention, understanding pineal gland activity and chemical changes, and perceiving intuitive associations in non-waking states, human beings can break through the limitations of physical space and time and experience the substantial expansion of the psyche ^[1][3][2].

In The Nature of Personal Reality, Seth offers a profound analysis of "psychedelic experience," explicitly distinguishing between two entirely different dimensions: "destructive experiences artificially induced by chemical drugs" and "natural, spontaneous expansion of consciousness and states of grace." First, Seth takes a strongly critical stance toward artificial chemical psychedelic experiences, represented by high-dose LSD. He points out that LSD is a chemical product of technological knowledge, completely different from natural products of the land such as marijuana or peyote ^[1]. Psychologists attempted to use high-dose LSD therapy to seek cures for emotional problems and to attain clarity of body, mind, and spirit as well as inner peace ^[2]. However, this approach actually induces a "chemically induced unnatural madness," forcing consciousness into a state of powerlessness and attacking the frameworks that enable the rational existence of human beings in the physical world ^[3]. Seth describes this high-dose drug experience as "a psychic slaughter carried out by artificial means" ^[4]. In this state, the ego consciousness is forced to confront its own death under unnecessary circumstances, causing the deepest biological and psychic structures to be altered. Even if a "new self" is born, it will be filled with fear because it has experienced the destruction of the previous self, and it will never again be able to trust the external world in the same way ^[4]. This assault on the psyche even threatens the integrity of the cells, and its destructiveness exceeds that of electroshock therapy ^[5]. In the crisis induced by LSD, consciousness loses its innate logic and sense of identity, and its original allies (association, memory, the power of the inner self) turn into enemies instead ^[6]. Seth points out that the reason people resort to LSD therapy is rooted in a mistaken belief that "the conscious mind is impotent," and that the inner self is a garbage repository of repressed fears ^[5]. This distrust of the conscious mind also exists in certain Eastern philosophies or spiritual schools that deny the flesh and pursue nirvana ^[7]. By contrast, Seth strongly advocates natural, spontaneous expansion of consciousness. When undisturbed, a person will spontaneously experience "states of grace or illumination," feeling inner peace and oneness with the universe, which can benefit health ^[8]. For example, American Indians use natural peyote in moderation in order to enhance their innate perceptual gifts, not to destroy the self ^[9]. Furthermore, through spontaneous alteration of consciousness, by withdrawing experience from the time-bound neurological structure, people can safely and directly experience "the nature of nonphysical reality" and probable selves ^[10]. Ruburt (Jane), without using drugs, spontaneously experienced raindrops in a puddle transforming into beautiful liquid creatures, which is an example of this joyful natural expansion of consciousness ^[11].