Any thoughts on Alchemy in general? The process, websites, links, resources, books, thoughts?

DaltheJigsaw

Any thoughts on Alchemy in general? The process, websites, links, resources, books, thoughts?

Dakini

You've really picked yourself a topic, Leon. This is huge. There's Western alchemy, Indian alchemy, Tibetan and Taoist alchemy. There's alchemy as most know it--turning lead into gold, and other chemical processes, but this is just a small part of alchemy. There's psychospiritual alchemy ( transforming desire into bliss or Enlightenment, or turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones, defilements into blessings), there's medical alchemy (turning mercury into a powerful medicine, gemstones into medicine), etc.

SO: I'm told by a friend who researched alchemy in all the world's major traditions that the best book to get any cultural variety at all is "Alchemy", by Burckhardt. he covers Indian and Taoist alchemy along with Western. Take a look at Amazon: there's: "The Path of Alchemy: Energetic Healing and the World of natural Magic" (Pathways to Enlightenment series)--this sounds interesting.
Then there's "Alchemy and Mysticism', and "Alchemy: An Introduction to the Symbolism and Psychology" ("Studies in Jungian Psychology" series)--you might like that, with your interest in psychology.

That should keep you busy for awhile. Report back to us when you're done.

compassionate_warrior

Maybe we should start an alchemy bookclub! haha--just kidding. ...but...not really. I'd be up for it. It seems like it would only have a very narrow appeal, though.

DaltheJigsaw

I was wondering about Buddhist Alchemy.
Specifically, Zen Alchemy...
Is there such a thing?

Vincenzi

alchemy isn't that compatible with buddhism.
it is interesting as a source of ideas for art, music and literature.

however, if it is phylosophical it is questionable to oscure so much the meaning.
and if it is chemical, it is primitive.

tess

21 century chemistry and Young have given up.

When you will finish this tread please don’t forget to pm me the recipe for gold and elixir of life.

:clap:

Dakini

alchemy isn't that compatible with buddhism.
if it is chemical, it is primitive.

Sorry, Vincenzi, I have to disagree with you here. Tibetan medicinal remedies are actually quite sophisticated (see the film: The Knowledge of Healing. Tibetan medicine gets analyzed in German and Israeli laboratories). One could say (as the Tibetans do) that Buddhism is all about alchemy; the transformation of jealousy into compassion, transforming defilements into the building blocks of Enlightenment, poison into healing medicine. I've already posted about this. If one can overlay Buddhist theory onto tantric sex practices, one can apply Buddhist theory to anything.