Rating: 
Summary: Mind meeting
Review: a highly informed and elegant look inside the world of our minds. This is a work that adds to the classics on the subject and offers a slightly more sophisticated perspective than one would expect.Very interesting stuff.
Rating: 
Summary: A provocative yet insightful and non-judgmental survey
Review: A Highly recommended addition to Metaphysical Religious Studies, Cleansing The Doors Of Perception: The Religious Significance Of Entheogenic Plants And Chemicals is the work of philosopher and religion scholar Huston Smith and presents an informative survey and analysis of psychedelic and entheogenic drugs, including their usage to connect human beings with the divine. History, theology, philosophy, psychology, and personal experience fill the pages of this provocative yet insightful and non-judgmental survey of man's use of chemicals in a dedicated quest to expand both mind and spirit.
Rating:
Summary: new insights
Review: a powerful, eloquent look inside the workings of mind and vision by one of the less "radical" writers on the topic. The author is eminently qualified and open-minded to handle such a task as this subject. The writing is fresh, highly intelligent and inspires one to search out other like-minded books. Definitely recommended, whether or not you are experienced.
Rating:
Summary: A Sober Look AT Spiritual Use of Entheogens
Review: As an advocate of the use of entheogens (psychedelics) as a means of expanding consciousness, I have to praise this book for several reasons. One, due to Dr. Huston's reputation, many people who would not have considered psychedelics as a spiritual path will now have to take the spiritual use of these substances seriously. Two for those of us who do use entheogens, Dr. Smith offers an interesting critique of the psychedelic movement of the 60s. He asks himself if the corrolary of "tune in" and "turn on" has to be "drop out". He also underscores the importance of paying attention to "set" and "setting" (the attitude of the user and the physical environment in which the user takes the psychedelic). He rightly notes that a lot of people pay lip service to this idea without being rigorous in it's application. There seems to be a kind of libertarianism, even philistinism, in the contemporary psychedelic scene. We're going to explore alone without paying attention to the lessons from other cultures who have used these substances for thousands of years. Understandably we do so under the banner of authenticity, but I think we lose out. We should not ape or follow the lessons of those cultures dogmatically, but we should investigate them and heed what is good...especially about set and setting. Third, he assigns psychedelics their proper place. They are tools. And like any tool, psychedelics work for some and not for others. Or they work for a time for us and then we need to leave them behind. Any way it goes, we are left with integrating the lessons learned from our psychedelic explorations into our everyday life. This is a sober treatment of the role of psychedelics, not an absolute glorification. I love to dream and hypothesize along with Terence McKenna, but I also love the grounded nature of "Cleaning The Doors of Perception". If you are interested in a serious discussion of psychedelics,please check out our webclub "Entheogens and Psychedelics" at http://clubs.yahoo.com/entheogensandpsychedelics TSEAY
Rating:
Summary: Great thanks to Huston and the CSP
Review: Having just picked up "Cleansing the Doors of Perception" I would like to thank Huston Smith for writing this book at the urging of the Council on Spiritual Practices in the face of such an anti-drug media frenzy. His credibility and lifelong pursuit of knowledge in spiritual matters is just the backbone needed to open the eyes of the many and acknowledge the hearts of the few. That such a noteworthy piece of literature has been written is a testament to Huston's and the Council's drive for truth ! Sincerely Dirk
Rating:
Summary: an evolutionary gem
Review: huston smith has had a front row seat in spiritual evolution for over 45 yrs now. in the present volume he makes clear that indeed entheogens can inspire and manifest and sustain true mystical knowing of what IT is. as a life long seeker and entheogen experimenter for several decades in my youth, i think this book makes a tremendous contribution for those of us who have used godconsciousness endgendering substances in the right way. what way is that? you enter into the experience with a pure heart and with thanksgiving! there comes a time, however, in authentic spritual life, when this too must be left behind if in fact we truly seek the highest realms of spiritual attainment. thanks, huston, you have said beautiful things some of us have experienced but can't make plain. life is a mighty torrent of evolution and this book will help you,the sincere seeker, make the most of your own opportunity to live, enjoy, contribute, and SEE.
Rating:
Summary: A Fascinating Book
Review: I found this book to be very interesting. Most of the people that I have known who are part of the "drug culture" (and by drug culture I mean anyone who partakes of any drug on a regular basis) would have no idea of the value of the chemistry covered in this book. Why?, Because our culture primarily abuses drugs. Personally I have not yet met an individual who did not use chemistry in conjunction with their dysfunction. Unfortunately, this book will be appreciated mainly by the few folks who have no serious chemical addiction. I loved this book and found it fascinating. I was especially fascinated by the chapter on Stanislav Grof. I learned more about pure psychotherapy from this book than any book I have read on the subject. This book speaks about cultures within cultures such as The Native American Church. It illuminates the fact that there are societies who use natures chemistry to fight drug addiction. Near the end of the book you hear the testimonials from the patrons of the Native American Church, and it is most enlightening. This book is about religion, philosophy, psychology, the science of mind, and the study of reality--all in one short and sweet text. I found it very eye-opening and inspiring.
Rating:
Summary: good druggie book
Review: Need to read this and 'The Doors of perception', 'The teachings of don juan', 'Junky', 'On the road', 'Fear and loathing in las vegas', etc
Rating:
Summary: On the Desire for Peak Experience
Review: The book "Cleansing the Doors of Perception", is a collection of essays on the topic of entheogens, by the renowned scholar of world religions, Huston Smith. The word 'Entheogen' was coined to describe the 'God Disclosing' properties, that certain plants and chemicals have, on people who invite such substances into their body. Mr. Smith points out that if one compares descriptions of authentic mystical experience with descriptions provided by individuals influenced by an entheogen, that it would be difficult to make any distinction between the two. A mystic, however, might suggest that 'God Disclosing' experiences are one possible aspect of relationship between an individual and an advanced spiritual being. When such experiences are consensual, being sought by both parties in question, then inspired revelations may exist between the two. With an Entheogen, on the other hand, desire for a peak experience is primarily with one party and an advanced spiritual being is not necessarily consulted. While the desire is for a kind of 'cleansing', due to chemical impurities within these substances, the possible lack of spiritual preparation, and unforeseen complications within the setting, a peak experience is not necessarily guaranteed. Indeed, as Mr. Smith describes in the book, a hellish experience is a very real possibility. My personal feeling is that it is better to seek peak experiences through meditations on religion, music, video art, film, consensual sex, and recreations such as mountain climbing. When an advanced spiritual being feels the need to disclose the possibility of bliss in your life, you might then be ready to receive her. A Special Thanks to Mr. Smith for helping to elevate the dialog on this topic. "Cleansing the Doors of Perception" remains a unique contribution to this field of study.
Rating: 
Summary: Read "The Doors of Perception" instead.
Review: The greatest contributions in this book were just the native americans talking about what peyote meant to them, and why it should be legalized. The author, although more than qualified to write on the subject, has no passion or fire behind his writings and the essays seems to be written in a manner which Mr. Smith's extensive vocabulary is showcased over the much more exciting power of the entheogens. If you haven't read Aldous Huxley's masterpieces "The Doors of Perception" and "Heaven & Hell" read them instead. If you have read those already, you will not learn anything new here.
| 
