Amanda Feilding’s Talk at the Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century Conference in San Jose
Science of the Mind — POSTED BY Amanda Feilding on April 25, 2010 at 2:24 pm 

It’s great to be here today, with so many companeros, on this eve of the 16th of April, the day 67 years ago, when Albert Hoffman accidentally experienced his first LSD-trip, which launched the thousand ships on which we now sail.

I set up the Beckley Foundation in 1998 for the purpose of scientifically studying consciousness and its altered states.

Growing up in an isolated but magical garden on the edge of a marsh in England, I enjoyed several childhood mystical experiences, from which I developed a passionate interest in mysticism, the Sufis and Bhuddism. After my first psychedelic experience with LSD in 1965, I became fascinated by the scientific question: what physiological processes underlie the alteration of consciousness brought about by this miraculous substance? In particular, my explorations led me to wonder whether one of LSD’s principal actions was to increase the blood supply to the brain capillaries, thereby providing extra glucose and oxygen to the brain cells, accelerating brain metabolism, which may in turn be the cause of those experiences that are shared by both psychedelic and mystical states of consciousness. (cont'd)
 

Amanda Feilding is the co-founder of brainwaving.com and Director of The Beckley Foundation, a charitable trust that was set up to investigate consciousness and its changing states from a multidisciplinary perspective.  Through its Science Programme the Foundation initiates, develops and conducts world-class research that will improve not only our scientific understanding of consciousness, but also provide practical information to help optimize health and well being.  The Foundation is working at the frontiers of the renaissance of psychedelic research. It is also undertaking pioneering research into cerebral circulation and its impact on the aging process, including possible ways to counteract some of its debilitating effects.  Collaborative work initiated by the Foundation has brought about not only the first research into LSD with human participants since prohibition, but also the first explanation of the physiology underlying the beneficial effects of the ancient procedure of trepanation. In addition to the Science Programme, the Beckley Foundation conducts a Drug Policy Programme which is dedicated to providing a rigorous, independent review of global drug policy.  The Foundation's overarching aim is to reduce the harms associated with both the misuse of drugs and the policies that aim to control them. To this end, the Foundation commissions reports, alongside organising international seminars which promote informed debate among leading experts from around the world on the many issues surrounding drugs.  The intention of the Foundation is to help develop policies that are evidence-based and rational, rather than those that are ineffectual, due to being rooted in unsubstantiated ideology.

The Play of Light is about the Beauty of Light, of Sound and of Form. As each of these is deeply resonant with the other, the underlying unity that they share is revealed within their dance; and can be realized through direct experience. Within this experience, the mind becomes still and spontaneous Meditation arises. I have developed this technique over a period of 45 years, and this is as effortless and joyful a path into meditation as I am aware of.

Individual and Group sessions are available. Please call or email me, I look forward to sharing this experience with you.

Randall Fontes
R.fontes@comcast.net

Be Still 
Be Still Within 
Be Still Within Yourself 
Be Still Within Your Own Self 
Be Still Within Yourself 
Be Still Within 
Be Still 
Be
 
 

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