Buddhism and psychedelic experimentation share a common concern: the liberation of the mind. Zig Zag Zen launches the first serious inquiry into the moral, ethical, doctrinal, and transcendental considerations created by the intersection of Buddhism and psychedelics. With a foreword by renowned Buddhist scholar Stephen Batchelor and a preface by historian of religion Huston Smith, along with numerous essays and interviews, Zig Zag Zen is a provocative and thoughtful exploration of altered states of consciousness and the potential for transformation. Accompanying each essay is a work of visionary art selected by artist Alex Grey, such as a vividly graphic work by Robert Venosa, a contemporary thangka painting by Robert Beer, and an exercise in emptiness in the form of an enso by a 17th-century Zen abbot. Packed with enlightening entries and art that lie outside the scope of mainstream anthologies, Zig Zag Zen offers eye-opening insights into alternate methods of inner exploration.

Huston Smith is an internationally recognized philosopher of religion, whose book The World s Religions has been a classic for nearly 50 years. He is also the author of the recent book Cleansing the Doors of Perception .

Stephen Batchelor is a an acclaimed Buddhist scholar and teacher, and the author of numerous books, including Buddhism without Beliefs and Alone with Others .

Allan Hunt Badiner is a student of Buddhism and a contributing editor at Tricycle: The Buddhist Review . He lives in Big Sur, California.

Alex Grey s paintings have been exhibited throughout the world and are collected in the book Sacred Mirrors: The Visionary Art of Alex Grey .