Prem Das

Prem Das (also known as Paul C. Adams) is a former associate professor at Antioch College (West) and the California Institute of Integral Studies, a drummer, and was well known in the early New Age movement.

He was a colleague of Timothy Leary and Ralph Metzner. He has studied with Huichol Native American Shaman Don Jose' Matsuwa and lectured on Shamanism. Prem Das has fought for legal status of the sacramental use of peyote for the Native Americans, and studied Yoga and Hinduism with Baba Hari Dass (author of five books including "Silence Speaks"). He has given workshops at Esalen on the peyote rituals of the Huichol, performed some of their songs with Don Jose', and recorded tapes of some of these offerings for Esalen and Big Sur Tapes [ [http://www.bigsurtapes.com/merchant.mv133.htm Big Sur Tapes Website] ] .

His descriptions of his peyote experiences have been printed in writings by Nevill Drury and others ["The Elements of Shamanism" by Nevill Drury (1989) Element] , and he has co-facilitated workshops and co-authored the book "Shamanic Pathways" with anthropologist Joan Halifax. Prem Das performed a well-received New Age meditation tape called "Journey of the Drum" with Muruga Booker [ [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=1898 All About Jazz Website] ] and Shakti featuring Prem Das on water drum, Muruga on Nada Drum, and Shakti on deer-hoof shakers. It was used for one of the earliest Mind-Machine recordings, developed by Andrzej Slawinski of AudioStrobe Labs in Germany [ [http://www.toolsforwellness.com/jourofdrumcd.html Tools for Wellness Website] ] .

Bibliography

* "Shamanic Pathways" by Joan Halifax and Prem Das (1992) ISBN 9993853550

Discography

* "Huichol Cosmology: The Story of Creation and The Return to the Gods" - Prem Das (1977) Esalen (Two Audiotape Set)
* "The Singing Earth" - Prem Das (1980) Esalen (One Audiotape)
* "Journey of the Drums" - Prem Das, Muruga Booker and Shakti (1990) Musart (One Audiotape)
* "Shamanic Pathways" by Joan Halifax and Prem Das (December 1992) New Dimensions Radio ISBN 9993853550, ISBN 978-9993853558 (Audio Cassette)
* "Journey of the Drums Audiostrobe CD" - Prem Das, Muruga Booker and Shakti (1996)(developed by Andrzej Slawinski of AudioStrobe Labs in Germany)
* "Journey of the Drums" - Prem Das, Muruga Booker and Shakti (1996) Musart (CD)

Notes

References

* "Carlos Castaneda, Academic Opportunism and the Psychedelic Sixties" by Jay Courtney Kikes (1993) Victoria, BC: Millenia Press ISBN 0-9696960-0-0 [http://www.csp.org/chrestomathy/carlos_castaneda.html]
* "Wirikuta Calling: Peyote" by Leo (June 26th, 2000) [http://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=2136]
* "Technoshamanism: Cyber-Sorcery and Schizophrenia by Dave Green, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK [http://www.cesnur.org/2001/london2001/green.htm Center for Studies on New Religions]
* "The Elements of Shamanism" by Nevill Drury (1989) Element (republished in 2000 by Element as "New Perspectives: Shamanism")