Lama Mike Crowley
 | An editor has determined that sufficient sources exist to establish the subject's notability. (September 2026) |
Lama Mike Crowley | |
|---|---|
 Crowley in 2022. | |
| Born | Michael Lionel Crowley 1948 (age 77–78) Cardiff, Wales |
| Occupation | Author |
| Writing career | |
| Language | English |
| Years active | 1966–present |
Lama Mike Lionel Crowley (born 1948; spiritually named: Lama Karma Tenzin Dorje, Tibetan: ཀརྨ་བསྟན་འཛིན་རྡོ་རྗེ, Wylie: karma bstan 'dzin rdo rje) is a Welsh author and teacher of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. He is known for his writings on the use of psychedelic drugs in Vajrayana, particularly for his book Secret Drugs of Buddhism.
Having taken refuge in Buddhism in 1970 and having been ordained a lama in 1988, Crowley founded the American Buddhist community Amrita Dzong, a branch of his teacher Lama Chime Rinpoche's organisation. He is also a member of the advisory board of the Psychedelic Sangha.
Early life
Crowley was born in Cardiff, Wales, on 26 February 1948. His father was a psychopath. He first tried psychedelics at 15 years old.
In 1966, when he was 18 years old, Crowley met Tibetan Lama Chime Rinpoche in London and became his first Western student. He formally took refuge and the five precepts on 1 May 1970, entering the Kagyu lineage as a lay disciple. He studied Buddhist scriptures and learned Sanskrit, Tibetan and Mandarin.
Views on psychedelics
Crowley advocates the integration of psychedelics into Vajrayāna Buddhist practice, describing them as a form of amrita (nectar of immortality). He states that the Buddhist prohibition on intoxicants is a modern interpretation, and that entheogenic substances historically played a role in certain tantric rituals.
Crowley has proposed a staged approach according to the three vehicles (yana) of Buddhism:
- Hīnayāna practitioners should abstain from all psychoactive substances.
- Mahāyāna practitioners may use empathogenic substances sparingly.
- Vajrayāna practitioners may employ entheogens during ritual initiations and monthly ceremonies.
Crowley interprets traditional Vajrayāna iconography – particularly the skull cup (kapala) filled with amrita – as symbolic evidence of an ancient psychedelic sacrament.
Personal life
Crowley has lived in California since 1988.
He worked as a software consultant.
From 1995 to 2009, he ran etymology webzine Take Our Word For It.
Bibliography
Books
- Crowley, Mike (2016). Secret Drugs of Buddhism: Psychedelic Sacraments and the Origins of the Vajrayāna. Amrita Press. ISBN 978-0692652817.
- Crowley, Mike (2023). Psychedelic Buddhism: A User's Guide to Traditions, Symbols, and Ceremonies. Amrita Press / Inner Traditions. ISBN 978-1644116692.
Later editions
- Crowley, Mike (2019). Secret Drugs of Buddhism: Psychedelic Sacraments and the Origins of the Vajrayāna (2nd ed.). Synergetic Press. ISBN 978-0907791744.
References
- ↑ "Lama Mike Crowley Explores Psychedelics and Buddhism". Normalize Psychedelics. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- ↑ "Psychedelic Buddhism 2025". Psychedelic Buddhism 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- 1 2 Simonds, Colin H. (17 January 2025). "Intersections with Indigeneity in Psychedelic Buddhism". Psychedelic Intersections. 1 (1). doi:10.70423/0001.19.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Yee, Kate Madden (28 February 2023). "On Psychedelic Buddhism With Lama Mike Crowley". Spirituality+Health. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Review: Secret Drugs of Buddhism by Mike Crowley". Psychedelic Press. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ↑ "Lama Michael Crowley". TIBET HOUSE US NYC. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- 1 2 Guru Viking (3 September 2021). Ep111: Secret Drugs of Buddhism – Mike Crowley. Retrieved 31 May 2026 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "5 Questions for MIKE L. CROWLEY". Psychedelic Sangha & Dharma Art Productions. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ↑ Miller, Richard L. (29 May 2026). "Confessions of a Psychedelic Polymath with Mike Crowley". www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ↑ Crowley, Mike (2016). Secret drugs of Buddhism: psychedelic sacraments and the origins of the Vajrayāna (First ed.). Hayfork, California: Amrita Press. ISBN 978-0-692-65281-7.
- 1 2 "Psychedelic Society UK Presents A Talk with Lama Mike Crowley". Synergetic Press. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ↑ Brand, Danielle Simone (6 March 2020). "Did Ancient Buddhists Use Psychedelics?". DoubleBlind Mag. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ↑ "Psychedelics, Meditation & Enlightenment – Part 2". The Psychedelic Society. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ↑ "Secret Drugs of Buddhism". Buddhismus Aktuell. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- ↑ Crowley, Mike (2015). "Umbrellas, Wheels and Bumps on the Head: A Proposed Solution to the Uṣṇīṣa Mystery". Time and Mind. 8 (2): 191–218. doi:10.1080/1751696X.2015.1026028.
- ↑ Crowley, Mike (2023). Psychedelic Buddhism: a user's guide to traditions, symbols, and ceremonies. Rochester, Vermont: Park Street Press. ISBN 978-1-64411-670-8.
- ↑ "Lama Mike Crowley". www.innertraditions.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- 1 2 "The Net result of Cymru, a love of words: Marriage". Chicago Tribune. 13 April 2004. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ↑ "About Take Our Word For It". www.takeourword.com. Retrieved 1 June 2026.