“exactly what is happening to the mind or soul under the influence of these substances?”
My view is that the brain excels at filtering out “useless” data.
Psychedelics shut off some of those filters. This is supported by brain studies of psychedelic users that show brain activity decreasing under their influence.
This is a stunning finding—totally at variance with common myths of both pro and anti psychedelic folks.
Great podcast on the “mind” and what it is—and is not:
https://podbay.fm/p/where-is-my-mind
This is one of the most profound things I have seen in my years on FR.
I have studied and read history and science for over 20 years (my entertainment). That podcast boiled down my beliefs from those 20 years into an excellent 45-minute discussion and summary.
I will go one step further than the guy Mark discussed about religion. And that is, while I agree with everything he has to say about religion, I look at a book that was first written over 2500 years ago and mix the wisdom of those words (as directed by God) with the modern science of what we know today. This is especially true about quantum physics and even the creation story, and come to the conclusion that the words in that book and science are telling us the same story. That is, there is a God that created and still directs all this.
As the author pointed out, God is somewhat in the eyes of the beholder. Most of the world's religions recognize a supreme being, and most of them call that being "God."
Now I fully understand that many come to their belief in God through faith and being touched spiritually. I come to that belief as someone who understands and believes the words in the bible AND a logical belief from understanding some level of science AND the Word of God.
By the way, there are many noted scholars and experts who have contributed to that story other than the ones listed in the podcast. From that flows the other beliefs of NDEs and life after death, and we are a "consciousness in a human body" and not a "human that is conscious," as the author noted.
While our modern world has evolved in understanding and technology since the time that book was first written, it's like seeing an iceberg. We only see the small portion sitting above the water.
There is so much more that many of us do not see, understand, or comprehend-- but it's there!
Thanks. I've saved that link. It's a keeper.