the Snow Leopard

A detailed Summary of the Snow Leopard

Drugs can clear away the past, enhance the present; toward the inner

garden, they can only point the way. Lacking the temper of ascetic discipline, the drug vision remains a sort of dream

that cannot be brought over into daily life. Old mists may be banished, that is true, but the alien chemical agent forms another mist maintaining the separation of the 'I' from the true experience of the One.1

This passage comes from The Snow Leopard, by Peter Matthiessen. In this passage Matthiessen describes what he has learned from the experiences he had with hallucinogenic drugs, such as ayahuasca, LSD, mescaline, and psilocybin. He is concerned mostly with the spiritual nature of such drugs, and reveals that while drugs are always harmful, they can provide a starting point for spiritual growth.

Hallucinogens clear "old mists"(47); they let you perceive yourself without any armour. They force you to stand naked and alone, without any defense to your own emotional states. You become very close to the oneness Matthiessen describes, "Then I breathe, and the mountain breathes, setting the world in motion once again."(198) Nevertheless this onen

Drugs will always hold you back because they are harmful, and while you are experiencing a drug trip you are doing nothing but experiencing a drug trip; the drugs can do nothing but induce that hallucinogenic state. Also you are unable to do anything other then experience that state. This is also a reason why drugs are able to "point the way"(47) to spiritual unity, oneness. Drugs force you to live in the present, in the sense that you are totally consumed by the drug and are doing nothing except being high. This is another draw back of the drugged experience you cannot escape you must wait until the drug wears off before you can concentrate on anything else. You are one with the drug and its affects. If you are going to try and concern yourself with something other than the drug experience that you are involved in, you will become very nervous. An anxiety attack will start to creep over you, reminding you to concern yourself with only what is happening now.

In conclusion, a hallucinogenic experience will always be harmful and you will realize the "desolation of success"(244) towards the end of your trip: "is this really what [you] came so far to see?"(244). This thoug

Some common words found in the essay are:
Peter Matthiessen, Sojourn Drugs, fear death, Penguin Books, oneness drugs, leopard peter matthiessen, Snow Leopard, Leopard Peter, experiencing drug trip, snow leopard peter, one's own, concern yourself, hallucinogenic experience, leopard peter, matthiessen describes, peter matthiessen, drug trip, experiencing drug,

Approximate Word count = 797
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

join now Save Paper

Saved Paper

Save your papers so you can locate them quickly!

Newest Essays

Testimonials

"Thank You So Much!!! You have saved me once again!!!"
Jack M.
"With so many papers to chose from, I was able to get ideas to help me with all of my classes. Thank You!"
Brian P.
"I've used this site for the last 3 years to help me come up with ideas for my papers."
Sara J.
"I use this site every week to help me write my own papers!"
Rachel W.
"I love this site!!!"
Marie N.

the Snow Leopard

Related Essays

Saved Paper

Newest Essays

Testimonials