Prem Das is a former associate professor

Professor

A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...

 at Antioch College

Antioch College

Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...

 (West) and the California Institute of Integral Studies

California Institute of Integral Studies

California Institute of Integral Studies is a private institution of higher education founded in 1968 and based in San Francisco, California. It currently operates in three locations just south of the Civic Center district...

, a drummer, and was well known in the early New Age

New Age

The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...

 movement.

He was a colleague of Timothy Leary

Timothy Leary

Timothy Francis Leary was an American psychologist and writer, known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs. During a time when drugs like LSD and psilocybin were legal, Leary conducted experiments at Harvard University under the Harvard Psilocybin Project, resulting in the Concord Prison...

 and Ralph Metzner

Ralph Metzner

Ralph Metzner Ph.D. , is an American psychologist, writer and researcher, who participated in psychedelic research at Harvard University in the early 1960s with Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert . Dr...

. He has studied with Huichol Native American Shaman Don Jose' Matsuwa and lectured on Shamanism

Shamanism

Shamanism is an anthropological term referencing a range of beliefs and practices regarding communication with the spiritual world. To quote Eliade: "A first definition of this complex phenomenon, and perhaps the least hazardous, will be: shamanism = technique of ecstasy." Shamanism encompasses the...

. Prem Das has fought for legal status of the sacrament

Sacrament

A sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...

al use of peyote

Peyote

Lophophora williamsii , better known by its common name Peyote , is a small, spineless cactus with psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline.It is native to southwestern Texas and Mexico...

 for the Native Americans

Native Americans in the United States

Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...

, and studied Yoga

Yoga

Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...

 and Hinduism

Hinduism

Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...

 with Baba Hari Dass

Baba Hari Dass

Baba Hari Dass was born in 1923 near Almora, India. He is a silent monk and guru who was classically trained in the tradition of Ashtanga Yoga. He has maintained a continual vow of silence since 1952...

 (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 .

His descriptions of his peyote experiences have been printed in writings by Nevill Drury

Nevill Drury

Nevill Drury is an editor, publisher, and professional in many aspects of the publishing business, as well as the author of over forty books on subjects ranging from shamanism and western magical traditions to art, music, and anthropology. His books have been published in fifteen languages...

 and others, and he has co-facilitated workshops and co-authored the book Shamanic Pathways with anthropologist Joan Halifax

Joan Halifax

Joan Jiko Halifax is a Zen Buddhist roshi, anthropologist, ecologist, civil rights activist, hospice caregiver, and the author of several books on Buddhism and spirituality. She currently serves as abbot and guiding teacher of Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a Zen Peacemaker community...

. Prem Das performed a well-received New Age

New Age

The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...

 meditation tape called Journey of the Drum with Muruga Booker

Muruga Booker

Muruga Booker is an American drummer, recording artist, and Orthodox priest.- Biography :Booker was born Steven Bookvich in Detroit, Michigan on December 27, 1942 and is of Serbian decent. His father, Melvin Bookvich, was a shoemaker who played accordion. He has a wife, Shakti; a son, Aaron; and a...

 and Shakti featuring Prem Das on water drum

Water drum

Water drums are a category of membranophone characterized by the filling of the drum chamber with some amount of water to create a unique sound. Water drums are common in Native American music, and in some forms of African and Southeast Asian music....

, 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

Andrzej Slawinski

Andrzej Sławiński is a Polish economist and Professor of Economics at the Warsaw School of Economics. He is a member of the Council of Monetary Policies since 2004 and a fellow of Collegium Invisibile....

of AudioStrobe Labs in Germany.

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)