Consilience

This is awesome man... makes me really happy to hear. I hope you can make it to one of Ralston’s fall workshops, Im going to one as well. It would be goat to meet in person.

Love this ❤️??

For me surrender has been key. Contemplation on this topic was extremely effective at the beginning of my path, and it still is when it comes to dissecting the ways in which the self structure operations in terms of addictions, cravings, desires, life stories, bottom line beliefs, etc... but when it comes to getting “separate” which I think you really mean dis-identifying with the self structure, I find that sitting and literally doing nothing (total surrender) but letting being/existence unfold for 60 mins per day is better than contemplation for the purposes of embodying the fact that I am not the ego structure. As Ive done this practice of totally being/surrendering to myself, it becomes increasing obvious that I am not the ego. I also find contemplation spurs the mind rather than stills. The mind cannot know truth, so it asking questions to itself will not yield any meaningful result other than keeping itself focused, hopefully producing a leap in consciousness. But! I already know (and I think you may too) that you arent the ego. So how much can you surrender and embody this truth? That’s the next step. Total embodiment; total surrender to that which is true. As you increase this embodiment, you’ll discover deeper and deeper truths about what you are.

??

If no self = ultimate self, who identifies with the ego?

Mantra meditation used to help me. Now I focus on surrendering everything, just surrendering all effort or direction when meditating. Literally do nothing and eventually the mind slows down. You have to be patient though, and some days will be better than others. The problem is, there is no way to stop the mind because you do not control the mind. You are not the mind. You are witnessing the mind manifest. So if the mind stills one day, it wont be because you do anything.

Who are you?

They have no choice. The availability of jobs is scarse. It’s either work for true slave wages or go hungry. Hence why the demand for ethical clothing needs ro rise, so new businesses can come in and fill the new niches. This is the transition from orange to green. If you dont see the harm in supporting 3rd world wage slavery, you are being myopic. Edit: also ironic given your forum name ?

This!

Very true!

Agnosticism for me was falling into the skepticism trap. You think you cant know so you just give up your existential questioning and contemplation, when in fact, you can know, by not knowing

The demand for new clothing sources has to rise. As it rises, new business models in these countries will as well. Doing nothing is useless though. Ignoring the issue is useless.

It’s a complex, multi faceted issue. As long as the demand for cheap clothing and fast fashion remains, the finacial incentives for real change in these 3rd world countries wont be there. There are many variables that have to shift in order for sweatshop labor to be eradicated. This applies to things such as veganism as well. We shouldn’t underestiamte the power we have as am individual though. There is something to be said for the power of principles and small acts slowly rippling, one day building into waves. It starts with the individual. All great change has started with individuals, a small group standing up against whatever societal homeostasis is currently reigning. This perspective is easily lost when we’re swept away by the perfection of reality though. However, ignoring this issue further propagates our collective shadow and ego. Whatever action we take, if our goal is self realization, we must act fully and consciously. For me, sweatshop labor does not align with my authentic energy, or “karma” if you will. Hard to explain exactly what I mean here with words.

You dont have to be neurotic to not buy sweatshop labor clothing. It’s actually not that difficult to avoid. But society loves to bury their heads in the sand with these things, Leo included. Who cares if reality is perfect right?

That’s not really what I meant. You said the problem is people taking psychedelics literally. Im asking, if you dont take psychedelics literally, do you take sobriety literally? If you do, or if there is some distinction you’re making between psychedelic state of consciousness and sober states of consciousnes, why are you doing that?

Do you take your sober state as literal?

Why does it feel off? What is the distinction between sobriety and intoxication? What is the existential nature of that distinction your making?

This sounds like it could be effective, but it may have to be a community wide effort rather than from a single individual

@Joseph Maynor

Thank you as well d00d ??

Thank you ❤️??

During meditation, your suggestion about the surrendering seems to be extremely effective. In fact, over the last month Ive made quite staggering progress with seeing the ego for what it really is, which is a thought I normally identify with, but that in fact is not the true self. Furthermore, Ive gained various insights related to the nature of the body, breath, direct experience, the mind... basically consciousness work is going very well. However there is one strange phenomena I don't understand. When going out to my job, it seems like the ego becomes overly inflated and I go about my day in total ignorance. I start reidentifying with the body, mind and ego, and it feels like the insights Ive gained during my contemplations and meditations are simply gone. Why would this be the case? Why can this work be integrating so well outside of work, outside of social situations, but during the work day, mindfulness and consciousness just slip away? Does this represent a lack of genuine progress?

This is a very interesting facet to beliefs you’ve uncovered... Thank you for sharing.

Another interesting insight along these lines is that the sense feeling of body is not seperate from material objects. You’re entire visual field is filled with this sense of body. And to make it even crazier, the feeling of the body is completely shapeless. It’s the mind that molds it around the visual body, but the feeling body is just like... idk shapeless energy or something. But! Not seperare whatsoever from any part of direct experience. Very fascinating.

Yessss this was a game changing insight ??