Scholar of of Indian Buddhism Dr. Douglas Osto talks about the intersection between Buddhism & Psychedelics in his most recent book Altered States: Buddhism and Psychedelic Spirituality in America.  Guest bio: Doug Osto grew up in the woods of Redding, Connecticut. He has studied and practiced Buddhism for over thirty years, and has advanced degrees in theological studies, Asian languages, and the study of religion from Harvard University, the University of Washington, and the University of London.  He is the author of Altered States: Buddhism and Psychedelic Spirituality in America (Columbia UP, 2016), Modern Samkhya: Ancient Spirituality for the Contemporary Atheist (2016), and Power, Wealth and Women in Indian Mahayana Buddhism: The Gandavyuha-sutra (Routledge, 2008).  Currently, he teaches Asian philosophies at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Links: Altered States: Buddhism and Psychedelic Spirituality in America  Please help to make Hacking the Self a sustainable project by: * Making a donation at https://www.patreon.com/hackingtheself You can also help us to get the word out by: * Sharing this interview with friends and on your social media platforms * Writing a review for the podcast on iTunes, Sticher or the Google Music Store