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July 3, 2009
Very few people in the west are aware of the spiritual side of Chinese Medicine. Many of the "medicines" of the pharmacopeia of the world's second largest medical system are actual potent substances that support spiritual practice and cultivation. Many of them are seen as part of the path to immortality.
One such example is Ganoderma Sinesis, also known as Ling Zhi or more commonly as Resihi mushroom. This woody mushroom has been used for thousands of years in Asia. It has a number of powerful properties. It formidably support the immune system. It strongly calms the mind. It nourishes the heart and lungs. Different colored variations of Ling Zhi are said to have different properties with the Red and Purple being the most potent.
It has not really been revealed that Ling Zhi, which literally means "spiritual fungus" over time greatly increases ones spiritual abilities including the ability to see and hear spirit beings. It also creates a very pleasant natural meditative state. Over time, consumed regularly one begins to see the world glowing with a subtle glow most of the time.
In essence, it is a subtle entheogen that can be used safely in modest doses.
Why not try it and see what effect it has for you?
Has anyone tried this herb? Has it helped you and your immune system? Any other similar herbs that you've found?
Comments
I have not tried this one
— Jul 08, 2009
I have not tried this one but I would be very interested in locating some! Anyone in SoCal know a good place for herbal medicine? Im just getting in the game really...
and ling Zhi is most
— Nov 16, 2009
and ling Zhi is most definitely not an entheogen... lets not confuse fungi here...
I guess it depends on how
— Nov 16, 2009
I guess it depends on how you define entheogen. If you define it as an organic substance that when ingested it alters spiritual perceptions of the world, then I would say it's an entheogen. If you define entheogens, as substances that produce have to produce strong auditory or visual hallucinations then maybe not.
"The wilderness holds all truth and knowledge."
Ingwe
saying that water is an
— Nov 17, 2009
saying that water is an entheogen by your definition would work...but in comparison with actual entheogens, that does create some ridiculous problems... not to mention a lack of real clarity... which is fine if thats what your going for.
now ganoderma as a anti-inflammatory now thats something special!
but why not call every thing an anti-inflammatory? even things that cause inflammation....
ganoderma lucidum is really great medicine... but lets not delude ourselves, as to what it does and does not do.
when the definition of entheogen was formed is was not in any way ment to describe the effects of ganoderma fruit bodies.
lets take the example of those that coined that phrase and and find new ways of describing what it is we mean to say when the language is lacking, rather then confuse certain subjects with obtuse personalized definitions. doing so is the noble task of the poet scribe and scholar.
What is an entheogen?
— Nov 17, 2009
Definitions of an entheogen:
An entheogen ("creates god within," en εν- "in, within," theo θεος- "god, divine," -gen γενος "creates, generates"),[1] in the strict sense, is a psychoactive substance used in a religious, shamanic or spiritual context. Historically, entheogens were mostly derived from plant sources and have been used in a variety of traditional religious contexts.
Definition of psychoactive substance:
A psychoactive drug, psychopharmaceutical or psychotropic substance is a chemical substance that acts primarily upon the central nervous system where it alters brain function, resulting in changes in perception, mood, consciousness and behavior.
Reishi or Ling zhi or Ganoderma Sinesis has been used for a very, very long time (it's first mention is in texts over 2000 years old) as a tool spiritual cultivation by both Chinese shamans and Taoist practitioners. It definitely alters brain function and does create changes in perception, mood, consciousness, and behavior. It just doesn't do it all at once with dramatic hallucinatory effects.
I have on multiple occasions seen and heard things others could not after ingesting Ling zhi, and having consumed it regularly for long periods of time it seems to make such experiences more common.
That sure seems to fit the definition of entheogen that is listed above (taken from Wikipedia).
Btw, in Chinese Medicine, Ling zhi is primarily used as a substance that effects the Shen or spirit, it's immune system boosting properties are considered secondary in importance.
"The wilderness holds all truth and knowledge."
Ingwe
there is a discernible
— Nov 17, 2009
there is a discernible difference between classically labeled entheogens and what your labeling as an entheogen... you can call a cat a dog if you want too... or you can call each of them mammals which would be more accurate and help people understand the nature of cat rather than confusing it with the nature of dog.
LL, You seem very concerned
— Nov 17, 2009
LL,
You seem very concerned with being "right" or "correct" in this matter. Honestly, I'm not concerned with being "right" or "wrong" about whether or not Reishi is an entheogen.
I am sincerely interested in spreading knowledge and wisdom about its uses historically and modern and the value it has to offer the modern person.
However, I would like to suggest an experiment for you. I recommend you take 30-45grams of Ling Zhi/Reishi of the red variety. Place it in 6 cups of purified or spring water and bring to a boil. Then simmer it for 60 minutes or more. After it is cool enough to drink, drink 2-3 cups of it. Notice what effects it has on your consciousness. If you are so inclined, drink the cups outside in a natural setting or engage in some sort of spiritual practice after ingesting it. Then record what happens for you. Share with us what you experience.
I recommend anyone wanting to pursue the historical use of Reishi as a tool of spiritual cultivation check out Terry Willard's book "Reishi Mushroom: Herb of Spiritual Potency and Medical Wonder" published in 1990.
Here's a quote from the book:
"Many feel that the Ling zhi or should I call it Reishi, as it is the name you are familiar with, was a major ingredient in the great elixir of immortality, if not the elixir itself.
In Chinese, the word Ling is composed of the pictures for rain, shaman, and praying for, together this means spiritual potency or stirring of the soul. Chih means tree fungus and substances used to concoct elixirs of immortality. Thus, the "herb of spiritual potency"".
Again here is the posted definition of an entheogen from Wikipedia, with expanded info:
An entheogen ("creates god within," en εν- "in, within," theo θεος- "god, divine," -gen γενος "creates, generates"),[1] in the strict sense, is a psychoactive substance used in a religious, shamanic or spiritual context. Historically, entheogens were mostly derived from plant sources and have been used in a variety of traditional religious contexts. Entheogens are tools to supplement various practices for healing and transcendence, including in meditation, psychonautics, art projects, and psychedelic therapy.
"The wilderness holds all truth and knowledge."
Ingwe
sigh...
— Nov 17, 2009
I am not as concerned about being right as I am about someone spreading misconceptions and falsities.
You can quote wikipedias definition of entheogens all you like but i have sat and spoke with some of the men who coined the term. the term was meant to replace the humanistic word psychedelic and the misnomer of a word hallucinogen with a word that described the visionary states ,mystical revelation, religious importance and the ecstatic experience that one gets from some plants and chemicals that have previously been labeled hallucinogen or psychedelic, in that sense the definition of the word and the original meaning or etymology of the term is fairly narrow.
IN NO WAY ARE GANODERMAS A HALLUCINOGEN OR A PSYCHEDELIC THAT CREATES MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES... the experience that it can provide is a stark difference in comparison to those that do. a point you are purposely muddling up quite nicely and if some one was to take you seriously those people would be rather confused folk.
I grow ling chi professionally, I discuss ling chi with people over the phone every day, professionally, I take large amounts of ling chi daily. I wild harvest many different varieties of ganoderma and make teas and extracts of them combined with the red variety as well. I work for one of the fore most experts on the subject of medicinal mushrooms in the entire world today.
What we do not need is any one confusing a high beneficial medicinal mushroom with an entheogenic mushroom that has been stigmatized in the general public by counter culture and government propaganda. It is hard enough trying to educate people on the subject of medicinal mushrooms without having people consciously create obtuse mis-catagorical definitions of a polypore whos medicinal qualities cans ave lives.
If your wish is to spread wisdom and knowledge then I am not sure your argument here is doing a very good job of doing so. I would agree that ling chi is an excellent adaptogen and can generate great focus and feelings of well being and spiritual awareness ( though more sublte than an entheogen ever could).
Ling chi taken with l-theanine can produce a spiritual awareness that is quite profound. These are the effects of adaptogens however. much like the effect of rosea rhodiola in how it levels neurotransmitters and elevates dopamine slightly for a short time. the feeling of well being and the ability to be with out stress allows for great spiritual awareness a sort of herbal induced meditation. and indeed it is much like meditation... but meditation is also not to be confused with the mystical experience or religious experience and is indeed not to be confused with the entheogenic experience either... as most buddhist meditation teachers would point out to you especially.
I think what you are discovering and what you want to share about ling chi is really amazing. as well as important... but confusing OTHERS by leading people to believe that it is entheogenic is irresponsible. Very much so to be honest!
I donot think thats your intention though, i think you really think this is an important polypore! So do I it has healed my rotator cuff which was torn two years ago. i am very greatful for it.
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