My question, if they didnt use the mental illness defense during the trial, why can they bring it up during the penalty phase?
Many times these articles, as they continue to present day, say things like "users on LSD believe they are God", but it's completely misunderstood. I think it would be very rare to find someone tripping who thinks they are "God" in the sense of an omnipotent being that single-handedly created "all" and controls it. It's not that people suddenly think they are Jehovah or Allah or whatever other tribal god you want to replace it with - the monotheistic tyrant in the sky. It's that a lot of these drugs dissolve the ordinary boundaries we perceive in life and so the "all" of nature is experienced as being "what you are already" and it's one step away from reaching a monistic or nondualistic understanding of "God" and "all" which includes yourself. When Manson says he's God, this is what he means. We are the "all", we can never be separated from it. We are it. We are life, existence, reality. Us, right now. This might only be a dim thud in your mind if you're sober but in the right receptive state of mind, it can be a catalyst for a profound inner realization of "oneness". There is so much misunderstanding between the "turned on" people and the others. How many people, I wonder, have been admitted to mental health clinics because they were ill equipped to explain their alternative understanding of reality to their parents or school teachers? If you lock them up, you might as well go East and lock all those Indians and Chinese up, because they've got the same ideas. Similarly with statements by the Family during the trials, ala Steve Grogan's acid tinged wisdom, "there is no time, man" (paraphrase). He's not stupid, or as dumb as a donkey, he's just used a lot of psychedelics and grasped some deep metaphysical concepts. A person can be intelligent and still commit crime - I don't see why we have to denigrate all these people and call them stupid or loony just because of it. I was watching the 1992 Manson parole hearing recently. It's probably the sanest & humble I've ever seen him. And you know what? Steven Kay comes off as the nutjob reciting those old Bug lines about Helter Skelter. Manson seems to suggest there were other simpler saner motives, I tend to agree. Steven Kay et all are playing a fear game, Manson is right. Anyway, Pat Krenwinkel always seemed to have schizoid traits to this observer. Very intelligent girl, yet socially detached, withdrawn within herself, prone to rich inner fantasies... of course, all made so much more pronounced from drugs and living with those guys, but still. Even today, I see the schizoid in her in parole hearings and interviews. Compare to, say, Leslie, whose personality is totally different... it's obvious that Pat is a more introverted withdrawn personality type. Leslie has always seemed the sweetest to me, but who knows, that might just be her symmetrical face fooling this male mind. Squeeky also seems lovely in her own way, but obviously a little bit in space. Not that that's a bad thing, of itself.
Well, I can remember once tripping and thinking I was a gas cooker. Go figure. I also remember once - tripping on acid - having multiple epiphanies that revealed to me the whole structure and essence of life, the universe and everything. Realising that this fleeting moment of realisation would not last, I took an exercise book and pen and got it all down on paper. I scribbled away for hours (well it felt like it), filling the exercise book and overflowing on to supplementary sheets, conscious that humanity would for ever thank me for letting them in on the world's greatest mysteries. The answer was not 42, it was far more complex, far more wonderful. I was the chosen one, given this sudden illumination, and I just had to share this with the world. I still have the notes, and have just been looking at them, as I do every few years or so when I do a clear out and somehow pardon them from the trash can for one more cycle. And do you know what, they make absolutely no sense of any kind whatsover. The vision, the clarity, the perception that I had while writing it all down is just not there. Period. I once dropped acid just to see if under the influence the meaning would somehow come back. No way, José - nothing at all. Not a glimmer. So, "profound inner realization of "oneness"? Or Emperor's New Clothes? You decide, I already have. Peace Jem
Wiliam James had a similar experience on Nitrous Oxide... but he still wrote The Varieties Of Religious Experience (and included "drug epiphanies" as one of 'em). In all fairness, surely it's pretty pointless to try and make intellectual, verbal sense out of an altered state. The essence of any intense "spiritual" experience is usually non-verbal. As far as thinking you're god goes... I've known at least half a dozen "Jesus Christs" in my time and any number of other weird, post-psychedelic fixations. It really seems to have a lot to do with whatever religious doctrine you were or weren't imbued with as a child. Some people get quite strange on psychedelics... others don't. There certainly has been some interesting & wonderful art, music & literature created on 'em though over the years... not to mention social movements. Many of the "realisations" people had on acid in the 60s have become quite mainstream now.
A gas cooker?? LOL. I have no idea why but that strikes me as hilarious. Having done my share of tripping back in the day I never had any self- realization, I am God kind of trips. Maybe a sense of "oneness" with the natural world. I mostly just saw the beauty of the world around me and marveled at a God or being that could create it. Trees and nature are really something to see in psychadelic technicolor. FB
With all due respect, what is the point in rallying against a "profound inner realization of oneness"? There are worse things to be interested in. Just because your own words don't make sense to you does not make this the case for all others. If you want to doubt your experiences and knowledge on drugs then why not go the whole way and doubt everything you've ever known? People believe in things like Jesus Christ - and you think drugs lead to delusions? Seems to me that ordinary always sober people are totally immersed in a delusional world of thought. And remember the wise words of Mr Manson, thinking is stinking. The psychedelic experience should transcend ordinary thinking, perhaps that's why your insights make no sense now.
