• Reveals how the author, a long-time Buddhist practitioner, found ayahuasca to be a remarkable catalyst on his spiritual path, ultimately reinvigorating his own practice

• Explores the ayahuasca ceremony process in depth, detailing the author’s multi-session experience in Peru and “best practices” when taking ayahuasca

• Offers an introduction to Tibetan Buddhist practice, including a guided instruction to four progressive techniques of Shamata Vipassana meditation

Over the last several decades, serious study of Tibetan Buddhism and the use of ayahuasca as an agent for spiritual growth have both become widespread in the West. Though the two traditions originate in widely different parts of the world, both are effective in working with the ego and creating a genuine spiritual opening.

Uniting the two paths, C. Clinton Sidle takes readers through his own journey as a long-time but sometimes-struggling Buddhist practitioner whose sojourn to Peru for a series of ayahuasca ceremonies provided an invaluable shift in his own spiritual approach. Sidle reveals how ayahuasca was a remarkable catalyst in pointing out self-deception in his spiritual path, providing insight into psychoemotional obstacles to spiritual growth and ultimately reinvigorating his practice and authentic presence in daily life. But, as the author points out, although a skillful means and a useful aid, ayahuasca is not a complete path on its own.

Introducing Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and the calm mindfulness of Shamata Vipassana meditation, as a sustainable developmental path to support and integrate the awakenings catalyzed by ayahuasca, Sidle emphasizes the complementary nature of both his work in Peru and his longer-term studies in Buddhism. He describes his own challenges with spiritual self-deception and stagnation—not uncommon on the Buddhist path—and explains the structure of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism. Finally, the author shares how he integrated the lessons of his ayahuasca experiences into his Buddhist practice, offering readers a methodical and guided introduction to four progressive techniques of Shamata Vipassana meditation.

Whether readers are long-term seekers or novices, this book can provide a singular means of aligning and re-invigorating the spiritual path.

C. Clinton Sidle is the founding director of the Roy H. Park Leadership Fellows Program at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, where his leadership programs are nationally recognized. A long-time Buddhist practitioner and author of several books, including The Leadership Wheel, he lives in Ithaca, New York.

Introduction

PART I
The Cosmic Fool

1 What Makes You a Buddhist

2 The Cosmic Fool

PART II
Cracking the Cosmic Egg

3 Introduction to Ayahuasca

4 My Experience: Ceremonies and Reflections

5 The Three-Year Cycle Ends: Some Takeaways

PART III
A Path of Awakening

6 Longing and the Spirit of Awakening

7 Meditation Benefits and Myths
Shamata Instruction I

8 The Monkey Mind
Shamata Instruction II

9 The Grip of the Lesser Spirit 1
Sweeping Shamata Vipassana Instruction I

10 The Freedom of the Greater Spirit
Sweeping Shamata Vipassana Instruction II

11 The Cosmic Joke: Peering into Transcendence
and Who Am I?
Open Shamata Vipassana I

12 Bodhicitta and the Six Paramitas
Open Shamata Vipassana II

13 The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life
Open Space Vipassana I

14 Karma and Taking Everything as Path
Open Space Vipassana II

Notes

Bibliography

Index

About the Author and Suggested Retreat Centers