Resources
The Psychedelic Meditation Institute is a community of people interested in psychedelic meditation. You can read chapters of the book, watch videos, and join Zoom discussions. Sign up for the mailing list to be notified about news, upcoming classes, and discussions. https://psychedelicmeditation.org/
The Psychedelic Sangha holds space for Psychedelic Buddhism, a non-traditional approach to Buddhism that values the spiritual efficacy of psychedelics on the Path. Psychedelic Sangha was founded as a spiritual refuge for Buddhistic Psychonauts and Psychedelic Buddhists. https://www.psychedelicsangha.org/
The mission at F.I.V.E. is to provide the world with a centralized hub for resources and education on 5-MeO-DMT. As this compound continues to grow in popularity, so does the importance of creating a space that brings awareness to the ethics, integrity, and safety of this medicine. The first step to this is education. https://five-meo.education/
The Pattern Project is a collective of mental health researchers, therapists, meditators, and innovators based in Canada. The organization is the first dedicated to exploring the breakthrough potential of combining mindfulness and other practices with low-dose 5-MeO-DMT. https://patternproject.substack.com/
Books
The Citadel of Awareness by Anam Thubten is a commentary on Jigme Lingpa’s Dzogchen Aspiration Prayer. This book is an unusually accessible plain language description of the ground, path, and fruition of the Dzogchen path.
As It Is Volumes I and II, by Tulku Urgyen, are excellent books on Dzogchen practice. Tulku Urgyen was one of the most realized Dzogchen teachers to leave Tibet. Three of his sons, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, and Mingyur Rinpoche, have continued his teaching lineage. Here is a video of Tulku Urgyen giving pointing out instructions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YftLXnUCr98 Erik Pema Kunsang recounts his own pointing out instruction by Tulku Urgyen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s23Fhsak88U
Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche presents a step-by-step guide to understanding the nature of mind.
No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz is an excellent introduction to Internal Family Systems (IFS). You Are the One You’ve Been Waiting For, by the same author, applies IFS to intimate relationships so that all of our relationships become sources of healing. Search YouTube for “Richard Schwartz IFS” to find many excellent talks, interviews, and IFS sessions.
Self-Therapy by Jay Early is a clearly written IFS manual for working on ourselves.
A Treasure Trove of Scriptural Transmission by Longchenpa, translated by Richard Barron, is Longchenpa’s auto commentary on the Chöying Dzod. It includes the root verses of the Chöying Dzod, Longchenpa’s commentary, and many quotes from the tantras. A Treasure Trove is a poetic, precise, and detailed description of empty luminosity. It is available at http://tibetantreasures.com/.
Buddhist Training
There are many authentic teachers in the Mahamudra and Dzogchen traditions. Here are several good examples.
If you would like the full Buddhist training in nature of mind practice, you can study Mingyur Rinpoche's Joy of Living and Path of Liberation curriculums.
The Joy of Living curriculum is three online courses. https://joy.tergar.org/
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Calming the Mind: Recognizing Awareness. Everything is Meditation. Emotional Balance.
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Opening the Heart: Love. Compassion. Joy. Transformation and Equanimity.
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Awakening Wisdom: Analytical Meditation, Innate Wisdom. Multiplicity and Interdependence. Impermanence and transformation. The Self Beyond Self. The Luminous Self. Timeless Awareness.
The Path of Liberation curriculum is the four introductions to the nature of mind. See the Nature of Mind Practice chapter on these. Mingyur Rinpoche goes into great detail for each introduction, including meditation instructions. https://tergar.org/what-is-the-path-of-liberation
The Path of Liberation includes pointing out the nature of mind instruction in person with Mingyur Rinpoche. It is worthwhile to receive a qualified teacher's pointing out instructions in person. The in-person transmission of the pointing-out is how the lineage is passed on from generation to generation.
If you already have some Buddhist training and want to receive the pointing-out instruction, you can attend an in-person open retreat with Tsoknyi Rinpoche. Visit his site for his teaching schedule and a member’s area with videos of many teachings and retreats. https://tsoknyirinpoche.org/
Tsoknyi Rinpoche’s Fully Being site explains handshake practice and essence love with more detail about making friends with our beautiful monsters. https://fullybeing.org/
Anam Thubten is an excellent and clear Dzogchen teacher based in California. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WY_x-eDlRw You might enjoy his book, The Citadel of Awareness. For more information, see https://dharmata.org/
Psychedelic Safety
Pharmacology and Drug Interactions of 5-MeO-DMT. You can download the free Five Guide. https://www.spiritpharmacist.com/blog/5MeODMTPharmacology
SSRIs, SNRIs, and other psychiatric medications can diminish the effect of 5MeO and LSD because they compete with the same receptors. Taking psychedelics along with psychiatric medications is generally okay, as psychiatric medicines are often combined.
5MeO is more potent than regular DMT, so never take 5MeO with MAOIs, which can result in serotonin toxicity and death. Never take 5MeO in an ayahuasca setting. Taking 5MeO while on lithium can result in seizures.
There are currently no definitive studies about psychedelic use and health. Here is a Nature article that suggests that psychedelic use may be correlated with decreased heart disease (22%) and diabetes (12%). This study suggests that psychedelic use is at least not causing detectable overall harm. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-93787-4
Additional Information
5MeO is legal in Canada. https://chemiverse.ca/
