The Forbidden Tree of Knowledge: Psychedelics & The Bible

Could the origins of human intelligence, spirituality and civilization lie within a mushroom? Could a halakhic framework for ritual consciousness exploration help stem the tide of drug abuse? Explore the "stoned ape" theory of human evolution and its implications for Jewish civilization. Examine allusions to mind altering substances in the Torah and Hasidic literature that may just explain some of our tradition's greatest mysteries and provide a framework for sensible drug policy.

Transcript

1. The Forbidden Tree of Knowledge Psychedelics & The Bible DANIEL SIERADSKI @selfagency ds@danielsieradski.com
7. It is well known that God created the world with the Torah. The Holy One, blessed be He, looked into the Torah and organized all existence. It follows, therefore, that the Torah is the norm of all existence; and the norm of Torah is that the world should function via nature. Thus, all miracles and signs that are above nature are an exception to the order of Torah, and it is as if a person has committed a sin. —Reb Simcha Bunim of Peshischa
11. NEUROCHEMICAL MEDIATIORS •  Prayer •  Meditation & yoga •  Fasting •  Singing & dancing •  Sex & exercise •  Epilepsy •  Schizophrenia •  Electromagnetic stimulation •  Psychedelics & pharmaceuticals
15. Entheogen ἔνθεος γενέσθαι · entheos genesthai Generates God Within
30. A king once told his prime minister, who was also his good friend, "I see in the stars that whoever eats any grain that grows this year will go mad. What is your advice?" The prime minister replied, "We must put aside enough grain so that we will not have to eat from this year’s harvest." The king objected, "But then we will be the only ones who will be sane. Everyone else will be mad. Therefore, they will think that we are the mad ones. It is impossible for us to put aside enough grain for everyone. Therefore, we too must eat this year’s grain. But let us make a mark on our foreheads, so that at least we will know that we are mad. I will look at your forehead, and you will look at mine, and when we see this sign, we will know that we are both mad.” —Rebbe Nachman of Breslov
31. Really, God knows that on the day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God.
32. יֵניֵע הָנְחַקָּפִּתַו םֶהיֵנְׁש Their eyes were opened
34. ,םיילטנמ םייונישל םורגל םילולעה םיחמצ ינימ םנשיש םויכ םג םיעדוי ונא תעדה ץע"ו "םייחה ץע" תונוכת תא ןיבהל רשפא .'דכו םימס יחמצ ןוגכ .עבטה תרגסמב "ערו בוט We know also today that there are types of plants that are likely to cause changes in mental state, like vegetative drugs. It is possible to understand the qualities of the "Tree of Life" and "The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil" within the framework of nature. —Rabbi Gedaliah Nadel z”l primary disciple of the Chazon Ish R’ Avrohom Karelitz z”l, Leader of Haredi Judaism in Israel הילדג 'ר לש ותורותב
36. Adam & Eve fresco 1291 AD Plaincourault Abbey, Indre, France
40. סיבאנק · םשב הנק Aromatic reed Present in Temple incense mixture and anointing oil Greek cannabis Arabic kunnab Syriac qunnappa Hebrew pannag Sanskrit bhanga Persian bang
41. Herodotus has left us a good description of the funerary customs of the Scythians. Hemp was thrown on heated stones and all inhaled the smoke; ‘the Scythians howl in joy for the vapour-bath.’ —Mircea Eliade, The Book of Grass
43. “The high priest's mitre was the same that we described before, and was wrought like that of all the other priests; above which there was another, with swathes of blue embroidered, and round it was a golden crown polished, of three rows, one above another; out of which arose a cup of gold, which resembled the herb which we call Saccharus; but those Greeks that are skillful in botany call it Hyoscyamus.” —Josephus Flavius
45. Manna אוה ןמ · ןמ •  Arrived with the dew during the night •  Had to be collected before melted by heat of the sun •  White like coriander seed in color •  Ground into cakes which were then baked •  Tasted different to everyone, including like honey
46. DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN MANNA & “SEEING THE GLORY OF THE LORD” “All the bread you want in the morning…” —Exodus 16:8 “At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.” —Exodus 16:12 “And in the morning, you will see the glory of the Lord.” —Exodus 16:7
47. And my Lord will give you the bread of hardship and the water of affliction, and your Teacher will no longer hide himself, and your eyes shall see your Teacher. —Isaiah, 30:20
50. •  Arrives with the dew during the night •  Has to be collected before melted by heat of the sun •  White like coriander seed in color •  Often mixed with other substances, including honey, to mask taste or preserve •  Looks like bread
61. •  Kotzker: Driking wine on Purim is a segulah for prayers to be accepted. •  Imre Yoseph of Spinka: Drinking wine on Purim brings geulah closer and the building of the beit hamikdash. •  Yitav Lev: Drinking wine on Purim is a segulah for parnassah. •  Zidichover: Drinking on Purim is as great a dead as fasting from Shabbat to Shabbat — an entire week without food or drink!
62. Rava said: a person must get drunk on Purim until he cannot distinguish between 'cursed be Haman' and 'blessed be Mordechai'. Rabbah and R. Zeira made a Purim feast together. They got drunk. Rabbah stood up and killed R. Zeira. On the morrow, Rabbah prayed for him and revived him. The following year, Rabbah said to him: ‘Come, let us celebrate the Purim feast together!’ R. Zeira replied: ‘Miracles don't happen every day!’ —Purim (Megillah 7b)