The Antipodes of the Mind: Charting the Phenomenology of the Ayahuasca Experience
by Benny Shanon
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Book Summary Information
Author: Benny ShanonEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-01-23
ISBN: 0199252939
Number of pages: 496
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Book Reviews of The Antipodes of the Mind: Charting the Phenomenology of the Ayahuasca Experience
Book Review: A Clear View of Inner Space
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a very detailed, academic and disciplined analysis of some of the most extreme and astounding subjective experiences that human beings can have, and their philosophical and existential implications. I was impressed with the way the author tries to plumb the depths of the Ayahuasca experience using the tools of cognitive science, without taking away the mystery and other-worldliness that he and others encounter in their interaction with this ancient shamanic medicine. I was envious of what he had experienced and discovered, while also being somewhat frightened that such extreme states of mind were so close to all of us. The book gives a real feeling of the life-changing consequences that can result from the simple act of accepting a drink of Ayahuasca, and the astounding beauty and richness of the universe that it reveals. It also puts the whole process into a rational and understandable context that those of us with a scientific/rational bent can accept. In no way did I feel that this was something that I would want to do without careful thought. I also came away with the conviction that this medicine has a potential for healing and spiritual growth that is probably without parallel. The fact that it is being used so extensively, and legally, throughout South America and some European countries, shows that it can be incorporated safely into society. As for the book itself - as an academic treatise aiming to cover all the implications of the Ayahuasca experience for cognitive science, it naturally sometimes becomes a bit dry when it gets into the necessarily detailed analysis. However, the vivid descriptions of the phenomenology of the experience, especially the first-person accounts of the author, more than make up for this. In some ways it is reminiscent of Aldous Huxley's "Doors of Perception" and some of Stanislav Grof's work. All in all a great read for those interested in such things.
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