The picture shows Dr. Tom Whalen on the left with his beloved Zen teacher on the right.
Katherine speaks with Dr. Whalen about Dreamwork and Zen each of which he has practiced for over thirty years. He speaks about his synthesis of these two disciplines into what he calls Dream Koan practice. We then delve into our guest’s medical pain practice and what results he has seen in using ketamine to ameliorate treatment-resistant depression.
We take two listener calls. The first is from Ellen who speaks out in favor of microdosing psychedelics. The second is from Dr. Whalen’s colleague Rick Issan Elkin, and he speaks about sacred mythology and their collaboration called The Eighth Wave.
BIO: Tom Whalen is an MD practicing pain medicine. For the last 15 years, he’s been following advances in neuroscience, including the use of psychedelics to treat addiction and PTSD. His passion lies in the realms of spiritual practice. After personally experiencing psychedelics in the 60’s, he recognized the short-term benefit that these provided, and sought a more sustaining form of practice. He began to practice Zen in 1971, and eventually found his lineage teacher in 1997. He has been given transmission in the Maezumi-Glassman-Ancheta Roshis lineage, authorized to be a “teacher.” Thirty years ago, he began practicing Archetypal DreamWork with Marc Bregman and Christa Lancaster, with whom he continues to have weekly sessions. With these two practices, he has synthesized a “new” form of Zen practice, which he calls Dream-Koan practice. He currently offers this practice with his buddy and Dharma brother, Rick Issan Elkin, through the Eighth Wave Community at EighthWave.org
Show aired on October 17, 2020.
Ambient music created by Rick Kleffel new every week.
The Dream Journal is produced at and airs on KSQD Santa Cruz, 90.7 FM, streaming live at KSQD.org 10-11am Saturday mornings Pacific time. Catch it live and call in with your dreams or questions at 831-900-5773 or at onair@ksqd.org.
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