Welcome!
Psychedelic Sangha invites practitioners, teachers, researchers and community leaders to come together to engage in rich dialogue, practical exploration, and community building.Psychedelic Buddhism 2025 is a unique conference for open discussion on the intersection of Buddhist wisdom and psychedelic practice, offering tools and insights to empower and support our communities. Through presentations, interactive discussions & hands-on sessions, we'll share practical insights and build a supportive, evolving community of practice.This two-day conference will get started on Friday, February 21st with a special Co-Founder's Lecture by Psychedelic Sangha co-founder Erik Davis PhD., this will be followed by the Inaugural Lecture by Tenzin Bob Thurman Ph. D. After screening/streaming these pre-recorded videos will be a live Keynote Address by Lama Liz Monson Ph. D. -- in-person and streaming online from the campus of Eugene Lang College, The New School University in the City of New York.Saturday morning, February 22nd, we will commence the first of three virtual panels--all entirely online.We are grateful to the Religious Studies Program at The New School University for co-sponsoring Friday's free in-person keynote lecture. More information (including registration details) about this historic conference can be found below.
Who Should Attend
This gathering is designed for:
Buddhist teachers and practitioners exploring how to incorporate psychedelics into Buddhism
Psychedelic enthusiasts with an interest in Buddhism
Community leaders and facilitators at the intersection of Buddhism and psychedelics
Researchers and scholars studying contemplative practices and psychedelics
Program Overview
Friday, February 21
Inaugural Lecture & Keynote Address
IN-PERSON & ONLINE
2:00pm EST | Co-Founder's Lecture
Erik Davis, PhD - "Rocketing through the Paisley Gate: Psychedelic Buddhism Then and Now"
(Virtual / Pre-Recorded - Online & Live Viewing at New School)
3:00pm EST | Inaugural Message
Tenzin Bob Thurman, PhD - TBA
(Virtual / Pre-Recorded - Online & Live Viewing at New School)
4:00pm EST | Keynote Address
Lama Liz Monson, PhD - "Relaxing in Space: Exploring the Role of the Natural State in Psychedelic Journeys"
(in-person & streaming)
The New School, New York City
Saturday, February 22
Psychedelic Buddhism in Practice
10:00am - 12.30pm EST | Online Only
A practical look into how individuals, communities, and researchers are integrating Buddhism and psychedelics
Moderator: Tomas Sander
Lisa Kring, LCSW, “Mindful Self-Compassion and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy - Promising and Potential Synergies”
Phil Wolfson, MD, “Psychedelics and Their Benefit to Meditative Practice (An Aphorism)”
Spring Washam, "A Bridge Between Worlds: The Heart’s Awakening Through Dharma and Plant Medicine"
John Gorman, “A Practical Guide to Psychedelic Meditation - Radiant Great Bliss With 5-MeO-DMT”
Chris Timmermann, PhD, “Deconstructing the Mind with 5-MeO vs Advanced Meditation - Preliminary Findings”
Kokyo Henkel, “How Buddhist Practice might benefit Psychonauts and how Psychedelic Practice might benefit Buddhanauts”
Stephen Batchelor, “Psychedelics and the Middle Way: An Ongoing Journey”
Psychedelic Buddhism in Context
1:00 - 3:30pm EST | Online Only
An exploration of the controversial use of mind-altering substances throughout premodern and modern Buddhist history
Moderator: Doc Kelley
Ian A. Baker PhD, “Mind-Altering Substance Use in Vajrayāna Buddhism, or How Tantra Altered Pre-Existing Proscriptions”
Rob Heffernan, “The 5th Precept, Religious Freedom, and Appamada”
Lama Mike Crowley, “Psychedelics and Buddhism: Modern Innovation or Ancient Tradition?”
Acacea Lewis, “Datura Dreaming, Niguma Yoga, and Mushroom Use: Psychedelic Experiences of Purifying the Body, Speech, and Mind”
D.E. Osto, PhD, “Psychedelic Buddhism as Contemporary Heterodox Buddhist Practice”
Lama Justin von Bujdoss, “Doing the Work: The Importance of Context in Psychonautic Visionary Practices”
Stuart Ray Sarbacker PhD, "Vasubandhu on achieving perfections (ṛddhi) through the use of herbs (oṣadhi): a window to Buddhist perspectives on psychoactive substances, past and present?"
Psychedelic Buddhism Going Forward
4:00 - 6:30pm EST | Online Only
A discussion on the opportunities, ethical considerations, and challenges moving forward
Moderator: David Boon
Alex Belser, PhD, “A Queer Critique of the Psychedelic ‘Mystical Experience’: A Cautionary Tale for Buddhists”
Chandra Easton, “Feeding Your Demons: Buddhist Practices for Psychedelic Preparation and Integration”
Sara Lewis, PhD, “Psychedelic Skillful Means in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Meeting Space, Flexible Time, and Infinite Realms”
Roman Palitsky, MDiv, PhD, “Recognizing and Navigating Persisting Challenges in Psychedelic & Meditation Practice”
Ryan ‘Ghenigho’ Rich, “Touching the Earth: Technologies that Bring Us Home”
Michael Taft, “Building Sustainable Frameworks: Navigating the Promises and Pitfalls of Psychedelics in Buddhist Practice”
Featured Talks

Erik Davis, PhD
Co-Founder's Lecture
Erik Davis is an American writer, scholar, and speaker exploring the intersections of technology, mysticism, and culture. Author of Techgnosis, his work spans rock criticism, esotericism, and California’s countercultures. With decades of essays, lectures, and podcasts archived on Techgnosis.com, Davis blends deep research with vivid storytelling, offering insights that bridge history, spirituality, and contemporary thought.

Lama Elizabeth Monson, PhD
Keynote Address
Elizabeth Monson, PhD, is the Spiritual Co-Director of Natural Dharma Fellowship and the Managing Teacher at Wonderwell Mountain Refuge. Liz was authorized as a dharma teacher and lineage holder in the Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism and has been studying, practicing and teaching in the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages for over thirty years.

Tenzin Bob Thurman, PhD
Inaugural Message
Bob Thurman, the first Westerner ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk by the Dalai Lama, served 30 years as Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University. Founder of Tibet House US and the American Institute of Buddhist Studies, he’s a renowned advocate for Tibetan culture and Buddhist teachings.
Virtual Panelists

Ian Baker, PhD
Panelist
Ian Baker, PhD is a scholar, author, and explorer specializing in Himalayan and Tibetan culture. Honored by National Geographic as an "Explorer for the Millennium," he has authored seven books, conducted groundbreaking research, and led programs for Smithsonian and National Geographic. His current work focuses on the intersection of contemporary science and Vajrayāna Buddhism. He contributed the lead chapter in MIT’s recently published, 'Expanding Mindscapes: A Global History of Psychedelics', based on his fieldwork on a living tradition of Soma consumption in West Bengal, India.

Stephen Batchelor
Panelist
Stephen Batchelor began his Buddhist journey in 1972 in India, inspired by Tibetan monks' wisdom and compassion. He took monastic vows and later studied Zen meditation in South Korea, integrating Buddhism into daily life and the arts. Returning to the West, he gained acclaim for his 1997 book, Buddhism Without Beliefs, which presented a modern, accessible approach to Buddhism. Now based in France, he continues to inspire as an author and teacher.

Alex Belser, PhD
Panelist
Alex Belser, PhD is a clinical scientist, licensed psychologist, and author focused on psychedelic research and LGBTQIA+ mental health. At Yale, he co-investigates psilocybin treatment for OCD and has led trials on psychedelics like MDMA, ketamine, and DMT for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction. His books include EMBARK Psychedelic Therapy for Depression and Queering Psychedelics.

Lama Mike Crowley
Panelist
Lama Mike Crowley, born in Cardiff, Wales, in 1948, has studied Buddhism since 1966, specializing in the Kagyud lineage. He has also studied Sanskrit, Tibetan, and Mandarin. Mike has lectured at institutions like the California Institute of Integral Studies and University of Wisconsin-Madison. His work appears in Fortean Times and Time and Mind. In 2016, he received the R. Gordon Wasson Award for his contributions to entheobotany. He serves on the advisory board of The Psychedelic Sangha and teaches at the Dharma Collective in San Francisco.

Chandra Easton
Panelist
Chandra Easton, a Dharma teacher, author, and translator, has taught Buddhism and Hatha Yoga since 2001. She studied Tibetan language and Buddhism in Dharamsala and at UCSB. Co-translator of Sublime Dharma (2012), she emphasizes feminine empowerment in Buddhism through retreats and programs, particularly at Tara Mandala Retreat Center. Co-founder of the 21 Taras Collective, she recently published Embodying Tara: Twenty-One Manifestations to Awaken Your Innate Wisdom (2023).

John Gorman
Panelist
John Gorman is a student of Mingyur Rinpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, and Trungpa Rinpoche and has taught meditation for many years. In 2022, he discovered that no one had written a meditation manual for nature of mind practice with psychedelics. He retired from computer programming to map out and document the practice.You can read and comment on the current draft of his book, A Practical Guide to Psychedelic Meditation - Radiant Great Bliss With 5-MeO-DMT

Rob Heffernan
Panelist
Rob Heffernan is a co-founder and board member of the Sacred Plant Alliance. He is a member of the Council for the Protection of Sacred Plants, as well as Chacruna Institute's Council for the Protection of Sacred Plants.Active in sacred medicine traditions and advocacy since 2000, he is a certified Shamanic Breathwork facilitator, Sound Healing Practitioner, and Buddhist Dharma practitioner. Rob integrates Buddhist Dharma, sacred medicine, and eco-social justice in his work.

Kokyo Henkel
Panelist
Kokyo Henkel has practiced Zen since 1990, residing at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, No Abode Hermitage, Bukkokuji Monastery in Japan, and Santa Cruz Zen Center. Ordained in 1994 by Tenshin Anderson Roshi, he received Dharma Transmission in 2010. Kokyo explores how original Buddhadharma teachings from India, China, and Japan remain alive and relevant in modern America, fostering peace and harmony in a troubled world.

Vincent Horn
Panelist
Vincent Horn, a meditation teacher and mind hacker, co-founded Buddhist Geeks, a platform for modern Buddhist thought and practice. He began teaching in 2010, guided by Kenneth Folk and Daniel Ingram, after years of intensive meditation, including a year of retreat. Founded in 2006, Buddhist Geeks has been featured in The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Tricycle, and The Atlantic.

Lisa Kring, LCSW
Panelist
Lisa Kring, LCSW, is a mindfulness teacher, psychotherapist, and KAP integration therapist in Los Angeles. Practicing in the Theravada tradition for over 20 years, she is certified in Mindful Self-Compassion, Hakomi Somatic Psychotherapy, and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy. Lisa facilitates cancer support mindfulness groups and integrates meditation, somatic therapy, and sacred medicine in her work.

Sara Lewis, PhD
Panelist
Dr. Sara Lewis, Associate Professor at Naropa University, directs Psychedelic Studies training and research. A psychotherapist and medical anthropologist, her work explores trauma, resilience, and non-ordinary states. Author of Spacious Minds (2019), she studies Tibetan Buddhism, psychedelics, and spiritual emergencies. She also maintains a private psychotherapy practice.

Acacea Lewis
Panelist
Acacea Lewis, founder of Divine Master Alchemy and Divine Master University, is a researcher and alchemist specializing in herbal and entheogenic medicines. A lifelong student of psilocybin mushrooms, she integrates consciousness science, ancestral healing, and cultural anthropology, sharing her insights through research papers, books, and teachings.

D.E. Osto, PhD
Panelist
D.E. Osto is a scholar, author, and Buddhist practitioner deeply engaged with Buddhism, Hinduism, and Asian philosophies. They offer private instruction in mindfulness, hypnotherapy, and counseling while exploring meditation, altered states of consciousness, and spirituality. Dee also self-publishes works on Buddhist and Hindu texts and practices.

Roman Palitsky, MDiv, PhD
Panelist
Roman Palitsky, MDiv, PhD, is Director of Research Projects at Emory Spiritual Health and a Research Psychologist at Emory University School of Medicine. His work explores cultural and existential factors in health, focusing on religion, spirituality, and mindfulness-based interventions. He holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology and an MDiv from Harvard.

Ryan “Ghenigho” Rich
Panelist
Ryan “Ghenigho” Rich is a traditional Bwiti iboga facilitator and founder of Root Healing, Bassé Root, and Ghenigho. With extensive experience in leading iboga retreats globally, he is a Missoko Bwiti practitioner empowered to represent the tradition and pre-initiate men and women. He now focuses on Bassé Root, a non-profit promoting Bwiti traditions, reciprocity, and equitable access.
Stuart Sarbacker, PhD
Panelist
Stuart Ray Sarbacker, Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Philosophy at Oregon State University, specializes in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, focusing on yoga and mind-body disciplines. He explores religious experience, interpretation, and methodology. With a Ph.D. from Wisconsin-Madison, he has conducted fieldwork in Asia and previously taught at Northwestern, earning a teaching award for excellence.

Michael Taft
Panelist
Michael W. Taft is a meditation teacher, author, and podcaster with over 35 years of practice in Buddhist and Hindu Tantra. He authored The Mindful Geek and hosts the Deconstructing Yourself podcast. Michael co-founded the Alembic center in Berkeley and teaches meditation courses, retreats, and individuals worldwide. Previously, he served as editor-in-chief of Being Human and editorial director at Sounds True. He lives with his family in the Bay Area.

Chris Timmermann, PhD
Panelist
He earned his PhD in 2020 at Imperial College London, collaborating with the Centre for Psychedelic Research. Now a postdoctoral researcher, he leads the DMT Research Group, studying the neuroscience and therapeutic potential of psychedelics like DMT and 5-MeO-DMT. His interdisciplinary work spans neuroscience, psychiatry, psychology, and ethics, focusing on altered states of consciousness. Using fMRI and M/EEG, his research has been published in top journals and featured by BBC, Wired, and New Scientist.

Lama Justin von Budjoss
Panelist
Lama Justin von Budjoss is a vajrayana Buddhist teacher, writer, and co-founder of Bhumisparsha and Yangti Yoga Retreat Center. As former Executive Director of Chaplaincy for NYC Department of Correction, he supervised 30 chaplains and led staff wellness programs. Ordained as a repa by Gyaltsab Rinpoche, he teaches at institutions like Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. He authored Modern Tantric Buddhism and contributed to Buddhism and Whiteness: Critical Reflections.

Spring Washam
Panelist
Spring Washam is a pioneering meditation teacher and author based in Oakland, California, known for making mindfulness practices accessible to diverse communities. She is a founding teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center and serves on Spirit Rock Meditation Center's teacher's council. Author of "A Fierce Heart" and "The Spirit of Harriet Tubman," Spring blends Buddhist wisdom with indigenous healing practices through her organization Lotus Vine Journeys, offering transformative retreats in South America.

Phil Wolfson, MD
Panelist
Phil Wolfson, MD, creator of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) and CEO of the Ketamine Research Foundation, has trained over 900 practitioners globally. Author of The Ketamine Papers and co-founder of Progressive Therapeutics Inc., he blends decades of experience in psychiatry, psychotherapy, and psychedelic research, including MAPS’ MDMA Phase 2 study. A practicing Buddhist and psychonaut, he has lived in the Bay Area for over 46 years.
Registration Details
$80 Early-Bird (by Feb 1)
$108 Regular (after Feb 1)
Access to the live stream of the keynote address and all virtual panel discussions.
1-month asynchronous viewing access of the keynote address and all panel discussions.
The opportunity to participate in online Q&A with keynote speaker and panelists.
Registration is confirmed upon payment.
Refunds available until January 21, 2025 (minus processing fees).
Online access details will be sent to virtual participants one week before the event.
Partial scholarships are available for those who need them. Please fill out the contact form to request one.
About the Organizers
Psychedelic Sangha is dedicated to promoting a non-sectarian approach to Buddhism that values the spiritual efficacy of psychedelics. Psychedelic Sangha was founded in 2018 as a spiritual refuge for Buddhistic Psychonauts and Psychedelic Buddhists—“misfit seekers” looking for a safe place to practice.

Doc Kelley
Organizer
Doc is a Buddhist scholar, educator, and co-founder of Psychedelic Sangha, a non-sectarian spiritual community exploring the intersection of Buddhism and psychedelics. He teaches at Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at The New School in New York City. Doc holds a Ph.D. in Religion from Columbia University, where he studied under Dr. Robert Thurman, and an M.A. in Buddhist Studies from the same institution. His academic and teaching expertise spans Tibetan Buddhism, Buddhist ethics, and experimental mysticism. Beyond academia, Doc is a creative force who blends Buddhist philosophy with avant-garde art and performance. In 2018 he directed "FluxBuddha," a performance art concert at the Rubin Museum. He is currently collaborating with various musicians and artist on a series of immersive Dharma Art experiences dubbed "Bardo Baths."

Tomas Sander
Organizer
Tomas Sander is a Buddhist practitioner and author based in New York. He is practicing primarily in the Tibetan tradition. He has studied with Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche and Greg Goode. He co-authored Emptiness and Joyful Freedom, a book which explores Buddhist insights into the nature of reality using tools from Western philosophy. Tomas is an early member of Psychedelic Sangha where he is leading a speaker series that explores the intersection of Buddhism and psychedelics. Tomas holds a doctoral degree in Mathematics from the University of Dortmund, Germany, and works in the tech industry specializing on data privacy.

David Boon
Organizer
David Boon is an organizer for Chicago Psychedelic Buddhism, creating spaces for exploring the intersection of psychedelics and Buddhist practice. Through the Tergar Meditation Teacher Program with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, David is developing meditation programs both grounded in traditional Buddhist teachings and designed for psychedelic preparation and integration with an emphasis on harm reduction. He has over 18 years of professional experience guiding entrepreneurial organizations and holds an MBA with Honors from the University of Chicago.
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