Humans have been using substances to have ‘extraordinary experiences’ for millenia. Sometimes this is motivated by a simple sense of curiosity, and at other times it might be to ‘fill a void,’ while in other cases it might be motivated by a promise of an elusive ‘spiritual experience.’ In some cases it leads to addiction and dependence, while in others it might just be a bucket-list experience that someone moves on from.In this episode, Thom takes a non-judgemental look at the motivation and impact of such experiences, and outlines an alternative approach, one that’s more sustainable and that leads to a ‘permanent high’ that most people couldn’t even conceive of.Episode Highlights: [00:40] The Desire to Belong[02:29] Tribal Life [04:27] A Sense of Identity [06:00] Join the Club [07:14] Human Beings Crave Variety [08:33] The Nature of the Knower [09:51] Badge of Rank [11:29] The Difference Between a Cult and a Religion [12:39] Shibboleth [13:25] Drugs [14:35] Why Drugs Work[15:59] Endogenous Chemicals [18:03] The Prime Directive of the Body[19:32] Ayahuasca, LSD, THC [21:13] Mimicking Molecules [22:44] Lizards on LSD and Psychotic Dogs [24:31] The Confused Body [26:23] Sublimation and Addiction [27:47] An Overload of Experience [29:35] Premature Cognitive Commitments [31:10] Psychedelic Experiences [33:11] Where Are the Icons of Drug Use? [35:19] A Sustainable Systematic Approach [37:32] What About Soma? [38:30] Vedic Meditation - A Better Methodology [39:44] An Overload of Experience [41:21] Supreme, Inner Contentedness [43:01] An Experience of Self [44:57] Our Body is a Drug-Producing Machine [46:19] Unsustainable Ways to Extraordinary Experiences [47:26] The 4/20 Club and Counterfeit Substances [49:13] Consciousness-Led Experiences [50:35] A Perpetual Psychedelic State [51:59] Learning the Sustainable Way [53:28] Being in the Tribe [54:29] A Regular Daily Practice Useful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/