Deep Dive: Descending the Mountain (2021)
Film Lens
Descending the Mountain focuses on a legal experiment conducted at a monastery on Mount Rigi by psychiatrist Franz Vollenweider and Zen master Vanja Palmers. The study involves administering psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, to experienced Zen practitioners who have never used drugs. Set 50 years after the prohibition of psychedelics, the film investigates the effects of combining meditation with psilocybin.
Participants share their mystical experiences, which challenge established beliefs about the role of psychedelics in healing and personal growth. The film captures the unique intersection of traditional Zen practices and modern psychiatric research, providing insights into the potential benefits of psychedelics when paired with meditation.
Why Watch
- •Meet psychiatrist Franz Vollenweider at Mount Rigi
- •Find out how psilocybin affects meditation
- •See Zen practitioners share their mystical experiences
Did You Know
•The film is set 50 years after the prohibition of psychedelics.
•Franz Vollenweider and Vanja Palmers lead the experiment at Mount Rigi.
•Participants in the study are experienced Zen practitioners who have never used drugs.
•The film has a duration of 78 minutes.
Perfect For
Psychedelic researchZen meditationMental health exploration