I really do feel like the only reason I was able to get through it all is because I was in a mentally/emotionally/spiritually compatible state when I read it proper. I am quite positive that if I had tried to read it when I was sure of anything that I would reject it exactly as you describe.
The only way I can see it being rewarding for someone (who isn't in the midst of the same affliction PKD suffered at the time of writing) is to treat it almost like archeology alongside his published works: read the fiction, then read his mindset about it, and abstractly note things like "ok this week he thinks it was because his spirit was memetically reincarnated"
I really do feel like the only reason I was able to get through it all is because I was in a mentally/emotionally/spiritually compatible state when I read it proper. I am quite positive that if I had tried to read it when I was sure of anything that I would reject it exactly as you describe.
The only way I can see it being rewarding for someone (who isn't in the midst of the same affliction PKD suffered at the time of writing) is to treat it almost like archeology alongside his published works: read the fiction, then read his mindset about it, and abstractly note things like "ok this week he thinks it was because his spirit was memetically reincarnated"