Magic mushrooms can induce mystical effects

A universal mystical experience with life-changing effects can be produced by the hallucinogen contained in magic mushrooms, scientists claimed yesterday.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, Maryland, have for the first time demonstrated that mystical experiences can be produced safely in the laboratory. They say that there is no difference between drug-induced mystical experiences and the spontaneous religious ones that believers have reported for centuries.

The resulting experiences apparently prompt positive changes in behavior and attitude that last several months, at least. The agent, a plant alkaloid called psilocybin, mimics the effect of serotonin on brain receptors-as do some other hallucinogens-but precisely where in the brain and in what manner are unknown.

Leaving aside the question of legality of this fascinating experience , there are several reasons why this new research is important.

First, it shows clearly, and scientifically, that psilocybin can produce mystical experiences.

It's an early step in what we hope will be a large body of scientific work that will ultimately help people," said Roland Griffiths, a psychopharmacologist at Hopkins' departments of Neuroscience and Psychiatry and Behavioral Biology.

Many people spend their whole lives trying to understand the spiritual meaning of their existence. Some never achieve it. Is Griffiths trying to find a short cut to enlightenment?

Now this reasearch will take the debate to a whole new level of finding god.