psychedelicsutra-The-Guardian

THERE ARE THINGS KNOWN AND THERE ARE THINGS UNKNOWN IN BETWEEN LIES THE DOORS.
     
                                                                     
     


The day destroys the night
Night divides the day
Tried to run tried to hide
Break on thru to the other side
     
                                                            We chased our pleasures here
                                                             dug our treasures there
                                                              but can you still recall
                                                               The time we cried
                                                               Break on thru to the other side


THE DOORS OF PERCEPTION

If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is Infinite
                                -William Blake The Marriage Of Heaven & Hell


Jim Morrison's self-procured knowledge and his search for the true experience of re discovering the Infinite fascinated him with the concept of The Doors Of Perception a book written by Aldous Huxley based on the psychedelic experiences of mind elevation through the use of hallucinogens or psychoactive drugs for spiritual purposes thereby unlocking the doors of perception was named in accordance to William Blake's lines.

TIBETAN BARDOS

The interim  state between the known and The Unknown as Morrison states is a indirect yet clear reference to the Tibetan Bardos or the 6 intermediate stages of existence experienced.
The word Bardo signifies the in-between state or the inter-mediate or the Transitional State liminal state or the state of inter change.

 The Sanskrit synonym is Antarabhava, as explained by Vasubandhu in his Abhidharmakosha (The Treasury of Abhidharma)
   
                         " There is a level of existence, experienced
                             In between death and birth.

What is it? What is an intermediate being, and an intermediate existence? Intermediate existence, inserts in between  existence at death and the existence at birth, not having arrived at the location where it should go, cannot be said to be born. Between death-that is, the five skandhas of the moment of death -and arising- that is, the five skandhas of the moment of rebirth. There is an existence- a" body" of five skandhas- that goes to the place of rebirth. This existence between the two realms of rebirth (gati) is called intermediate existence. "


In Padmasambhava's Bardo Thodol, six intermediate states of existence are enlisted, held in the Nyingma tradition in the 8th century were later rediscovered as  Terma or Treasure Teachings by Terton Karma Lingpa in the 14th century  along with the Zhitro Mandala teachings and the Dzogchen practice of Zhitro.

Padmasambhava

1. Shinay Bardo - The first bardo of birth and life extends from the moment consiousness or the soul manifests in the womb until the last breath.

2. Milam Bardo - The second bardo of the dream state, starts from the moment of sleep till the awakening. It is a subset of a first bardo.

3. Samten Bardo - The third bardo of meditation. Is also a subset of Shinay Bardo

4. Chikkhai Bardo - The fourth bardo of death, initiates from the primary signs of decline till continues through the transmutation and dissolution of the Mahabhuta ( Sanskrit : elements constituting matter) till the commencement of the last inner breath.

5. Chonyid Bardo - The bardo of supreme reality or the self luminosity of nature is experienced between the last inner breath ( sanskrit: prana vayu ; Tibetan: rlung)  and the subsequent visions and auditory experiences which correspond to the Thodgal or Lhundhrub Togal (the practice of separating samsara and nirvana - djungne- drosom)    manisfestation as  practiced in Dzogchen teachings. All sentient beings can experience Od gsal or The Clear Light in this state if inexperienced during  their previous life span. The attainment of the white light vision is Mahaparinirvana  - the state of Eternal bliss.

6. Sidpa Bardo - The sixth bardo of re-birth or metempsychosis (transmigration ) as the soul enters another womb for the  fulfilment of its Karmic accounts back on earth .

PSYCHEDELIA,  DZOGCHEN AND SHAMANISM

Tibetan Bon or Yungdrung a pre-historic religion founded by Lord Tonpa Shenrub Miwo in 16, 017 BCE in parts of Tibet and Central Asia in Confederation of Zhang -Zhung region encircling around  Mt Kailash (Yungdrung Gutseg) as its central sacred apostle, based on the teachings of the Dzogchen practices or the attainment of The Great Perfection by eradicating dualism reaching the Non - dual of Unified Cosmic Harmony or the Natural State of Existence . The re- union of one's own awareness (rig pa) as it merges  with the ever present  Divine consiousness (kunzhi) is highly similar to the Shamanistic practices in other parts of  Asia ( The Shamanistic practitioners of Nepal and The Himalayas) and North America. As discussed Shamanism and Psychedelia  both intend to the restoration of the State Of Nature or the State of Existential Being Non -Dualism  highly corresponds and is a mirror reflection of the Pre-historic Bon. The inter influence of the traditions of Yung drung Bon, Tibetan Buddhism,  Shamanism can be visualised in Jim's lyric verses and poetry.......


Opening of the Trunk

                            - Moment of inner freedom
                              When the mind is opened & the
                               Infinite universe revealed
                                & the soul is left to wander
                                Dazed & confus'd searching
                                 Here & there for teachers & friends.
                             
                           

                            Made the scene
                               Week to week
                                   Day to Day
                                           Hour to Hour
                                             The gate is straight
                                                              Deep and wide
                                   Break on thru to the other side
         

                        LETS BREAK ON THRU TO THE OTHER SIDE

Well, the music is your special friend
Dance on fire it intends
Music is your only friend
Until the  End

The Doors Album Cover 1967

                                     
                                                               
                             
                                                                                           Sun Sun Sun
                                                                                      Burn Burn Burn
                                                                                  Moon Moon Moon
                                                               I will get you Soon Soon Soon!


The dead are new-born awakening
W/ ravaged limbs
& wet souls
Gently they sigh
             In rapt funeral amazement
Who called these dead to dance?......
I call you up to anoint the earth.
I call you up to announce sadness falling like burned skin
I call you to wish you well, to glory in self like a new monster
& now I call on you to pray
         


Understanding The Fire Symbolism

The Heraclitean Fire

Since ancient mythological references, Fire is considered the fore-bearer of all, an engulfing and eliminating element which leads to destruction and transfiguration, primeval of the five constituent elements that form matter. Among Water, Ether, Air and the Earth, Fire emerges as the all-consuming entity referred by Heraclitus as symbolical to beauty. Fire is also attributed of its transient and ever changing nature as it distorts and dismantles yet giving birth to life anew by changing forms and purging matter from its existential burden and transfiguring it thus, opening up new possibilities giving matter a renewal, a close reference to the Mythological bird Phoenix which rises up anew from its own ashes symbolising the cycle of renewal and regeneration.

Dionysus, Fire and Metempsychosis

Roman Mosaic Depicting Orpheus

Synonymous with Palingenesia , Metempsychosis is an Greek term referring to the concept of Transmigration of Souls or Life after death through the process of Rebirth or Reincarnation . The concept appeared in Pre-Socratic European Philosophers, initiated first in Thrace by Orpheus, and his secret doctrines- as the liberation of the body and soul could be only culminated through the surrendered worship of The Dionysian Force as The God Of Redemption. Alike Fire, the Dionysian energy can cleanse or  redeem, eradicating matter of its past bondage, thereby flowering the evolution and consequent liberation of a specific soul from the cycle of rebirth or  enhancing the ascetic piety of life and Self -purification (Catharsis) of the Soul.  Among the later Greek philosophers, Pherecydes of Syros, his disciple
Pythagoras and Plato also adopted the principle of Metempsychosis.
Metempsychosis can also be attributed to Hinduism, Buddhism and Drudism (the Druids of Britain, Gaul and Ireland).
In Buddhadharma, Metempsychosis is the Continuum Consciousness of the soul from its inception till the attainment of its  Buddhahood as  symbolical to the Fire Imagery. As a small flame which  is transmitted to light different candles or the massive  forest fires  both retain its original element .Thus, the new fire comes from the original Flame referring to the conditioned relationship between one life,  its subsequent rebirths and its ultimate attainment  liberation.
Post classical literary era saw the concept of Metempsychosis used by Modern writers such as David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest , Ovid' s Metamorphosis, Sir Edgar Allan Poe's Metzengerstien,   Guy De Maupassant 's Le docteur Heraclius Gloss, James Joyce 's Ulysses, John Donne's  Infinitati Sacrum along with works of Mallarmae  and Neitzsche

Morrison himself wrote a short poetry on his interpretation of Metempsychosis naming it :
                   
   It has been said..........
                     
                         It has been said that
                         on birth we are trying
                         To find a proper womb
                         for the growth of our
                         Buddha nature, & that
                         on dying we find a
                         womb in the tomb of the
                          earth. This my father's
                           fear.It shouldn't be.
                         Instead, he should be trying
                          To find me a better tomb.

Creation Of Man Prometheus,  Berthelemy Louvre

Fire Mythology: The Prometheus Fire Myth

Prometheus (the forethinker) was the son of Titan Lapetus of Clymene one of the Oceanids is introduced in 8th century epic poet Hesiod's Theogony. The Prometheus Fire Myth states the creation of man from and and the Theft of Fire. Prometheus is refered as a Titan, trickster and symbolical to human strife and survival . Punished for his theft, prometheus at last is freed by Heracles or Hercules at the Temple of Athena is hence attributed to her and Hephaestus and other gods of creative skills and technology.

Vedic References

Modern scientific linguistics suggest that the name Prometheus derived from a Proto-Indo -European root refers to the Vedic pra-math to steal or pramathyu-s thief  cognate with Promethus as the thief of fire.
The Vedic myth of the theft of fire by Matarisvan is an analog to the Greek account. Pramantha was the tool used to create fire.

Agni, The Hindu Mythological God of Fire

In Hindu Mytholgy

Agni, the god of Fire and The creator of the Sun and The Star systems is often referred as the sustainer of the universe as it consumes all evil as the benefactor of the human race for its purification, often described seated on a chariot driven by fiery horses and holding a flaming Spear is referred as the God bestowing immortality and redemption.

Fire Rituals

The Australian aborigines with painted patterns dance in a circular ring around the sacred fire similar to The Celtic European handfasting ceremony and ritual fire dance .
In Ancient Rome, a sacred fire associated with Goddess Vesta is symbolical of national well being, young women referred as Vestal Virgins are conferred the holy duty and are responsible for keeping the flame alive.
The Aztecs of Ancient Mexico believe the Fire god Huehueteotl as    the keeper of harmonical existence and the peacemaker between heaven and earth, after a cycle of 52 years all fires are extinguished until the Priest light a New holy fire for use.
In North European countries Pagan Bonfires are lighted on May 1st to mark the New birth of Spring.

Apocalyptic Predictions

Some myths of Apocalypse predict the End of World Engulfed in Fire as the Purging element that shall cleanse the earth for the birth of a Purified New world.

Hence, Fire has been since antiquity the element of Prime worship as the fore bearer, the redeemer and the purger.Jim Morrison's use of the distinct fire imagery of human catharsis


Do you know the warm progress under the stars?
Do you know we exist ?
Have forgotten the keys to the Kingdom?........

O great Creator of being
Grant us one more hour to
Perform our art
& perfect our lives

The moths & atheists are doubly divine & dying
We live, we die
& death not ends it
Journey we more into the
Nightmare
Cling to life
Our passion'd flower
We have assembled inside this ancient & insane theatre
To propagate our lust for life &flee the swarming wisdom of the streets
The barns stormed
The windows kept
To dance & save us
W/the divine mockery of words
Music inflames temperament
                       (When the true King's murderers are allowed
                            To roam free a 1000 Magicians arise in the land)

WHERE ARE THE FEASTS WE WERE PROMISED WHERE IS THE NEW WINE (DYING ON THE VINE)

The Last Supper, Michaelangelo

We'er perched headlong
On the edge of boredom
We'er reaching for death
On the end of the candle
We'er trying for something
That has already found us............


                                 If its no problem, why mention it.
                                     Everything spoken means that
                                     it's opposite, & everything else.
                                           I'm alive, I 'm dying.











 

 

There's a place
In the canyon
Where you & I
Were born

Now I'm a lonely Man
Let me back into
The Garden

Blue Shadows
Of the Canyon
I met you
& now you're gone

& now my dream is gone
Let me back into your Garden

A man searching
For lost Paradise
Can seem a fool
To those who never
Sought the other world.
                                            -Jim Morrison Paris Journal 1971.

Rasa-Lila in the Moonlit Forest of Vrindavan,