Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Major/Program

Religious Studies

First Advisor's Name

Aleksandra Restifo

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee chair

Second Advisor's Name

Carlos Grenier

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Third Advisor's Name

Iqbal Akhtar

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Keywords

psychedelics, psychonaut, Jainism, adhyatma, mysticism, consciousness, religion, spirituality, entheogen

Date of Defense

3-31-2023

Abstract

There has been recent inquiry into the intersection between Eastern spirituality and psychedelic mysticism in Religious Studies. An essential similarity between the phenomena is the utilization of non-ordinary states of consciousness to incite metaphysical understandings about the nature of reality and consciousness. In this research, I wish to explore the relationship be- tween induced non-ordinary states of consciousness, ineffability, and religious autonomy. Through a comparative inquiry of corresponding themes and arguments, this research entails a thematic and textual analysis of philosophical sources by four key figures from the Jain adhyat- mik movement and the western psychedelic movement. Despite the array of differences between these two movements, these noetic mystics enunciated a corresponding goal: the reclamation of the self as the supreme source of religious authority. This research concludes that adhyatmis and psychonauts advocated the individual’s right to attain perennial knowledge and empowered the role of the layperson in religion by utilizing non-ordinary states of consciousness as epistemological sources, emphasizing the ineffability of the self and experience, reconsidering the status quo, and advocating for philosophical pluralism and equanimity.

Identifier

FIDC011060

Share

COinS
 

Rights Statement

Rights Statement

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).