Secret Drugs of Buddhism: Psychedelic Sacraments and the Origins of the Vajrayana

Psychedelic uses in Buddhist traditions are a central focus of Secret Drugs of Buddhism, which presents a historical case for entheogenic plants within Vajrayana. The book traces connections from early Hindu soma and later sacramental amrita, arguing that earliest Vajrayana formulations were likely potent entheogens, even though amrita in modern Vajrayana ceremonies is described as non-psychoactive. Using scriptural sources alongside botany, pharmacology, and religious iconography, it examines evidence across regions where Vajrayana spread, with special attention to India and the emergence of Vajrayana ritual practice.