No one in human history has given as much thought to the interweaving of altered states of consciousness and religion as I have. Huston Smith alterconsciousnesshistory Change image and share on social
Walnuts have a shell, and they have a kernel. Religions are the same. They have an essence, but then they have a protective coating. This is not the only way to put it. But it's my way. So the kernels are the same. However, the shells are different. Huston Smith coatessencekernel share on social
God has to speak to each person in their own language, in their own idioms. Take Spanish, Chinese. You can express the same thought, but to different people you have to use a different language. It's the same in religion. Huston Smith chineseexpressgod share on social
The notion that Western religions are more rigid than those of Asia is overdrawn. Ours is the most permissive society history has ever known - almost the only thing that is forbidden now is to forbid - and Asian teachers and their progeny play up to this propensity by soft-pedaling Hinduism's, Buddhism's, Sufism's rules. Huston Smith asiaasianbuddhism share on social
I don't have any fear of death. I do, however, have an inordinate fear of becoming dependent on other people. To me, that's the severest test, not death. Huston Smith deathdependentfear Change image and share on social
When the scientific method came into being, it gave us a new window on the truth; namely, a method by laboratory-controlled experiments to winnow true hypotheses from false ones. Huston Smith controlexperimentfalse Change image and share on social
Whether things turn out for the better depends on what we do. We ought not spend our time masterminding the future, but recognize our marching orders: to do the best we can for history and the planet. Huston Smith dependfuturehistory Change image and share on social
Rationalism and Newtonian science has lured us into dark woods, but a new metaphysics can rescue us. Huston Smith darkluremetaphysic Change image and share on social
I grew up taking it for granted that missionaries were what American boys grew up to be. Huston Smith americanboygrant Change image and share on social
The Buddha is in me, the Buddha is in you. Live up to it. Huston Smith buddhalive Change image and share on social