Drugs—Modern and Ancient

During the turbulent nineteen sixties, great promises were made by some in high places that mankind was on the threshold of a new age of experience and enlightenment. This was to be made possible by the use of drugs that could expand the mind to higher realms of thought and perception. The new enlightenment was even projected to have religious significance.
This promise of increased perception was not just the claim of the drug pusher on the streets of the city, but of the learned men in high places. Two psychology professors from the great Harvard University, Dr. Timothy Leary and Dr. Richard Alpert, were among those in learned places who were experimenting with what was thought to be a very promising, mind-expanding drug, LSD. Students exposed to this drug were experiencing more vivid perception of colors and sounds and sometimes what seemed to be an experience of religious significance. Some experiences appeared to be pleasant and enlightening and others were nightmarish and frightening.
In the winter of 1962-1963, President Pusey of Harvard fired Dr. Leary and Dr. Alpert for their dangerous experiments with drugs saving. "You may be making Buddhas out of everyone, but that's not what we're trying to do." However, Leary and Alpert continued their experimenting outside the university. The stories of so-called expanded-mind-drug experience became known to the public and many started experimenting with LSD in all sorts of ways that often led to disastrous results. The only legal manufacturer of the drug, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, stopped making it because of the many tragedies associated with its use. It had hoped that uses for it could be found in treating people with mental disorders. The harm caused to people by this drug is now well-known and its use has waned in recent years because of the violent side effects. However, the search goes on for the ideal drug that gives "expanded minds.” The use of mind-expanding ("hallucinogenic") and other drugs is not really new. Timothy Leary linked the LSD experience with that described in the Tibetan Book of the Dead.