Unveiling the Mystery of the
Yatra Press
Exploring the profound connections between
psychiatry, spirituality, and philosophy.
Our mission:
To disseminate ground-breaking perspectives
and cutting edge-ideas
Dedicated to exploring the deeply psychospiritual and existential dimensions of the human condition, Yatra Press brings psychiatry into conversation with spirituality and philosophy.
Our roots:
The wellsprings of the world’s wisdom
and philosophical traditions
Found across several spiritual and religious traditions, and having connotations of an inner as well as outer journey, the word YATRA (यात्रा in Sanskrit) is variously translated as journey to a sacred or holy place or journey with spiritual significance.
Published by YATRA PRESS
Date of Publication: July 2024
ISBN: 979-8-35095-623-8
Moksha & Mescaline
in Hollywood
A Psychiatrist’s Exploration of Contemporary Religion and Spirituality
by TONY B. BENNING
First edition, 359 pages
Each of the 24 essays in this book explore a specific aspect of the multifaceted landscape of contemporary religion and spirituality.
Reflecting the author’s commitment to upholding an ecumenical and pluralistic frame of reference, the essays in this volume, wide-reaching in their scope, encompass such themes as engaged Buddhism, inter-faith studies, comparative religion, psychedelics, the religion-science relationship, integral theory, Jungian and archetypal psychology and much more.
$24.95CAN
Have a look inside …
I learned a lot from this remarkable single author book. It covers a staggeringly wide range of topics: ‘eastern’ as well as ‘western’ religion, science as well as religion etc. I also especially liked the many chapters that discussed Carl Jung’s ideas
Dr. Vijender Balain, Consultant Psychiatrist, Red Fish Healing Centre for Mental Health and Addiction, Coquitlam, BC, Canada
Moksha and Mescaline was a real pleasure to read. There were subtle yet intriguing connections between many of the chapters, with the rich content stimulating powerful subjective reflections for me. Insofar as it addresses so many different topics: quantum phenomena, psychedelics, religion, psychiatry and capitalism, evolution of consciousness, and much more, this book represents a truly monumental achievement. For one thing, it gives the reader a glimpse into the spiritual/intellectual journey that the author has clearly been on for a long time. This is an eye-opening read!
Dr. Yvain L. Rumalean, Consultant Psychiatrist, Tower Hamlets, London, UK
A fine collection of erudite and elegantly written essays on contemporary spirituality. What impressed me most was the way in which the author harmoniously reconciles scientific, psychiatric, and spiritual perspectives. This is a must read book for spiritual seekers and scholars alike!
Dr. Ravi Vanukuru, Family Physician, Maple Ridge, BC, Canada
Some of the chapters are quite dense and ‘heady’ and presume prior knowledge while others are more accessible. The essay on Ambedkar and Buddhism was my favourite
Dr. Jyoti Balain, Consultant Pediatrician, Maple Ridge, BC, Canada
About the Author
Originally from England, Tony Benning FRCPC PhD practises general adult psychiatry in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. As a 22-year-old medical student, while undertaking a road trip with a friend around the spectacular Southwest region of the United States, Tony fell in love with California.
He felt an especially strong draw to the various institutions that since the 1970s had come to be important hubs for the worlds of transpersonal psychology, spiritual psychology, and east-west studies such as the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology/Sofia University, California Institute of Integral Studies, Esalen Institute etc.
Understandably sad about having to return to rainy Manchester at the end of a glorious summer of road tripping, Tony vowed to return to California one day in the future to pursue those areas of study to which he felt so powerfully drawn. Return he did, eventually, and the essays in this book are the product of the exploration of and engagement with the various ideas that he subsequently encountered.