r0ckyreed

Solipsism is the view that the only thing that can be known is that you exist. Nothing outside of I Am exists or can be known. This leaves us with the conclusion that knowledge of anything is a belief because you only know that I Am. You don’t even know if the room you are in exists beyond the mere appearance of a room. Appearances can be wrong and deceive us such as sunrise and sunset. We still use the terms sunrise and sunset despite our knowledge that it is illusory. Consciousness is Truth. Appearances are false. The end.

Here are my questions that I forgot to post here. I hope they got asked!: How can we know anything at all? If our minds and perception can be fallible, and if self-deception is omnipresent in us all, how can we know anything? Is there a “best” method in epistemology to derive knowledge? What is infallible that can be trusted? If nothing is certain, then what do we really know? What is solipsism? We are all trapped in our own bubbles of perception and any understanding of “others” is relative to our own understanding. For instance, my feelings of depression, anger, or even my self-image may be worlds apart to another. I am imagining you and your world and you are imagining me and my world. But notice that it is just your world imagining my world because you never actually experience anything outside of this one experience. So is there only one bubble of perception or are there infinite bubbles of perception that we can say is One Bubble with a capital O and B? How can you be certain of anything beyond the fact of consciousness? I am conscious; therefore, I exist. Nothing else outside of awareness can be known to exist? I can doubt that my perceptions may be false or my mind is the evil demon, but I cannot doubt the incorrigible truth of appearance and awareness right? What if all the psychedelic trips are the false perceptions of evil demon? How do you know that your finite mind can grasp reality? Thank you!

You asked a different question. Nobody is or was enlightened.

Eternity. There are no “other” masters. You are the only authority. Either be a master of yourself or be a slave. Reread what I wrote and apply nuance. You can learn from other people and different environments can help you tremendously, but the ultimate retreat is sitting alone in an empty room with no others and no distractions. If you can do that, then that is the ultimate retreat and step, and you may realize at that moment if you do it right that you were playing authority games. You don’t need to buy a meditation pillow. You don’t need to buy a ticket to Sadhguru’s retreat. That is the spiritual marketplace that deludes millions of “seekers.” You are the authority. You don’t know if the “master” is a master. Any wisdom you find is within yourself. Be honest, could you sit in a traffic jam with no music, no communication with others, and be completely satisfied with the present moment for 13 hours let alone for 10 minutes? If your retreats can’t get you satisfied in a car jam, your house, or in a court room, then what do your “retreats” amount to really? Yes. Correct. However, retreats is where the training may start but not where it ends. Learn to go inwards and stop looking outwards. Feel that seeking retreats is seeking external experiences. Feel that.

Thank you so much for your response! That is really interesting that a lot of the kids don’t want to do Wilderness Therapy. I am exploring my options. I think I definitely would like to be a writer and an author because I think it is one of my strengths, and it is something that I enjoy, but it is a skill that I find difficulty in monetizing. I am still giving counseling a chance because I do like sharing my wisdom and helping my clients find and share their wisdom in session. It is really amazing to hear when they have breakthroughs but having breakthroughs is rare in therapy. My biggest issue with the counseling field is that it is so divisive, and politics and legislation shape that field more than I realized. But maybe having my own private practice or wilderness therapy program could be an alternative for me to explore. Thank you!

Hello. Thank you for your time reading this. I sincerely appreciate any feedback, support, guidance, and wisdom you have to offer! So I took the Life Purpose course back last December 2021, and I thought it was wonderful. I just think that my values and priorities have really changed, and I have realized that the profession I am in does not seem to be making my heart sing. I realize that my conceptions of what the profession was is not how it actually is in real life. I am struggling with some difficult decision. Let me give you some more concise details: Personal Background Overview I am 24 years old, and I graduated with a bachelor's of science in psychology in 2020. I am currently attending a Mental Health Counseling program because my passions and life purpose were to heal people through existential therapy. I am going for my Master's in Mental Health Counseling, and I am almost done with the program and obtaining my Master's of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling. I am expected to graduate in May 2022. I have lived on my 5 acres of land in the same household with my parents and sister. The reason why I still live at home is because it is comfortable, I save a lot of money living at home, my friends and sister are extremely supportive of me, and I have access to nature, a hot tub, my room, my video games, etc. If I move away, I would have to adjust to new environment and not access to many of the privileges I have had. History: I grew up very privileged and isolated from the world's issues. I had (and still have to a point) extreme optimism based on my experiences of growing up in a healthy environment to parents who took care of me and made me aware of the realities of drugs, gangs, bad guys, sex, etc. from a young age. However, I was never exposed to any of the "negative" aspects of life. I spent my childhood playing tennis extremely competitively. I played from 4th grade - 12th grade. I played trumpet and was extremely competitive as well. I played trumpet from 6th grade until freshman year of college. I played chess and did magic tricks. I really loved magic tricks and started doing that in high school and early college. I performed magic for my school and won the talent show there. I also performed tennis tournaments around the country, placing in the top 3 in my State (Oklahoma) in my senior year of high school. I also achieved 3rd chair in the State Orchestra for Trumpet (3rd place). But now, I do all the "competitive stuff" (chess, magic, trumpet, tennis) for fun and here is why: The college that I went to, I was not good enough to make the team, as they accepted mainly foreigners, etc. My college was/is Division I, so it was highly competitive. Since I started tennis at an older age than most who are competitive, I was not good enough to make the team. I also realized that I was using magic tricks as a way to overcome my Asperger's Syndrome in talking and communicating with others. I found that I was shy and did not know how to socialize with others, so I did magic tricks to help me make friends in high school. It worked out well, but since I took Eastern Philosophy, I have focused more inwardly and less outwardly and became more of an introvert. I stopped doing magic tricks because I became tired of pleasing people, and I just wanted people to know me for me and not for my tricks and abilities. I entered college pursuing a music major in Trumpet Performance. However, college was so stressful in general with all the assignments/work, and the music program was so strict and workload heavy that it took the fun and play out of music. I was "working" music rather than "playing" music. I realized that a career playing the trumpet was very unlikely for me. My gut feeling/intuition was telling me to get out of the music program, and so I did. I switched majors from music performance to psychology, and I eventually switched to a minor in philosophy after extremely loving my philosophy classes that I took! I became so passionate about philosophy, and this was when I discovered actualized.org when I was searching the web on stuff about free will, physicalism, skepticism, etc. Philosophy is still my number 1 passion in life, and I felt like I began to think for the first time in my life when I took the intro to philosophy. I majored in psychology because I was fascinated by the human mind and behavior, but it was also because I felt like it was harder to get actual jobs as a philosophy major as opposed to being a philosophy major (I felt like more doors were open with psychology major). So throughout college I took psychology and philosophy classes. Current Situation: I graduated with a psychology degree and minor in philosophy, and I decided to pursue the mental health counseling field (in part because my mom is a professional counselor, but also because I really was passionate about helping people to self-actualize and gain higher levels of wisdom and personal growth), but I realize that a lot of my clients that I see are not ready to self-actualize because of the lower needs not being met. The first part half of the program was focused on theories and knowledge of counseling. This part was very exciting to me because it focused on the philosophy of counseling, which I was/am very passionate about philosophy so this part was a breeze. However, I had my first doubts at the end of my 3rd semester, half-way through the program, when I realized how divided the counseling field is, and all the requirements to get licensed, and the expectations of being a counselor. It was very intimidating, and I thought about pursuing a career in Life Coaching instead. This was the time where I took the Life Purpose Course to determine if this was my Life's Purpose, to see if I was on track. I took the course, and it confirmed my beliefs and values at the time that I am passionate about philosophy and personal-development. The medium I chose was existential/adventure therapy, to philosophically converse with clients and also exposing them to challenges in nature to use nature as part of the healing and growing process of overcoming fears, challenges, etc., while also philosophically diving into the existential domains of clients' lives of what makes them who they are, who they want to be, and what they want, etc. I still deeply value philosophy and personal-development, but I am unsure of the medium, career/profession that suits my values. I have noticed some changes in my top 10 values btw. Since I have started to actually have some practical experience of seeing and working with clients, I have been stuck in a rut. On the one hand, I believe counseling is one of the most meaningful contributions I can make to society and the individuals, but I also feel that my actual, practical experience is not aligned with the top of the top values on my list. I feel like I make contributions and help, but I feel like my soul is not into it anymore. It may sound selfish/self-centered of me, but I want more adventure and see the world and not be stuck in an office. I mean if I will be spending most of my time working, I would rather be spending it outside in nature exploring and having adventures, etc. I also feel like I spend my times in an office indoors, but I also spend my time working with people with toxic and negative backgrounds and personalities. I find it difficult to visualize myself doing this long-term. I do not want to spend most of my life listening to problems. My ideal is to spend most of my time teaching and giving guidance on solutions, but this is not how therapy works as I have learned. I have to be emotionally supportive and involved in therapy, which can be very emotionally draining. My issue is that I am not sure if I sure if I should push and grind through to get my degree, and then evaluate my options from there or if I should drop it cold-turkey and try to find some adventurous job in nature or something like that. Another issue is that Adventure Therapy sounds like it would be a mode of therapy that may suit me better than traditional talk-therapy (but again, I am not sure if this is another moment of careers looking better in my head than in reality). This issue with Adventure Therapy is that most universities and master's programs do not offer that form of therapy because it is newer to the field, but also because it is different than traditional counseling. If I got my Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling, then I could be in a better position to become an Adventure Therapist, as there may be certifications and other things I may need to know about such as First Aid, ropes/climbing courses, and some actual classes on adventure therapy, which I do not anticipate being difficult for me to obtain. I think if I just grind through it, I will have more options available for me, and I may have more credibility with having a Master's degree. I appreciate your time. I will post my old ME Sheet, along with my updated top 10 values. I may consider retaking the Life Purpose Course, as I think it is possible that I my values may have changed or I may have took the course with biases to confirm my career. I think I just realize from the practical experience that talk-therapy may not just be it for me for long-term living. There may be others modalities and options within the field such as Adventure Therapy that I have not tried out yet but doing so, I would have to finish out the next two semesters. Thank you! My Old ME Sheet: Top 10 Values: 1. Spirituality/Philosophy/Personal Development 2. Creativity 3. Ambition 4. Freedom 5. Authenticity 6. Advocacy 7. Health 8. Mindfulness 9. Playfulness 10. Courage Life Purpose: To use my wisdom to help others thrive and to advocate for social justice. Zone of Genius: - philosophical thinking/wisdom - compassion/empathy Top 5 Strengths: 1. Creativity 2. Love of Learning 3. Hope, optimism, future-mindedness 4. Perspective Wisdom 5. Judgment, critical thinking, openmindedness Domain of Mastery: - personal/spiritual development Ideal Medium: - Existential Therapy, Adventure Therapy, Telehealth Therapy Top 5 goals: 1. Deepen wisdom of personal development 2. attain enlightenment 3. private practice 4. make 6 figure income 5. advocate for mental health and social justice _______________________________________________________________ My New Top 10 Values: 1. Wisdom 2. Adventure/Freedom 3. Mastery 4. Passion/Ambition/Excitement 5. Authenticity 6. Compassion 7. Creativity 8. Fortitude 9. Playfulness 10. Serenity/Tranquility Thanks for reading and your time as always!!

Good. Since the distinction between paying for a retreat and discipline at home are one, you might as well turn your home into a retreat since they are one. It makes no sense to make a retreat your home when you can make your home into a retreat. You are your own master. The moment you give away your authority to some “other” being is the day you lost yourself. Can you see the boundary you create as well? Who needs a master or other people if you are God. Now while I agree that the invention of “other” as well as the environment of the retreat can psychologically support and help you, it is nothing if you can’t do it yourself. What is the point in going to these retreats if you can’t do the same thing at home or when you are in a traffic jam? The retreat is here. You don’t need others. The true wisdom isn’t going to a place that imposes structure on your practice, but rather to turn your practice into the “place” that “imposes” structure. You got it backwards. Foolishness is what a fool thinks is wise. When you realize you are the fool and the illusion is the day you become wise.

Hey! I noticed from Leo's recent videos that he was talking about looking at life like a video game where you level up your skills like on Runescape and Skyrim. I am wanting to gamify my life more, and I am wondering what tips, tricks, and secrets have been helpful for you? Here are some resources I have found so far: https://www.cinemablend.com/games/5-Apps-Completely-Gamify-Your-Life-113377.html These are the resources I have found so far! I am wondering what are some practical ways that have been helpful for you to gamify life! Thank you!

Hello. I know it may sound silly to ask "how to be more observant?" because the obvious answer seems to be "OBSERVE!" However, I would really like to improve my ability to observe and make deductions like Sherlock Holmes. Do you all have any tips, resources, or books that may have been helpful to you? I would really like to learn how to read people like a book like Sherlock Holmes as this would help me with my clients. One of the hindrances that I think is blocking me from observing is that it takes a lot of mental energy for me and my mind is usually elsewhere in the clouds, thinking and strategizing. I have been doing meditation, but I could do more. I do not really notice an improvement in my mindfulness/observation. Another obstacle is that it can be uncomfortable for me to observe people because I am pretty reserved and shy. I don't like to draw unnecessary attention to myself. I went to a Sherlock Holmes Exhibition at a local museum, which really inspired me to be more observant and make logical deductions about people, etc. I notice that "I see, but I do not observe." I want to change this, but everything I have tried hasn't been working because my mind and observation muscle keeps going back to sleep. It is like meditation, where I catch my mind wandering and bring it back, but it keeps wandering on and on with no progress in attention to detail and deductions. I cannot make any deductions without knowing how to observe and listen. Thank you for your time! Cheers, R0ckyreed

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wikihow.com/Develop-the-%27Sherlock-Holmes%27-Intuition%3famp=1 https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wikihow.com/Think-Like-Sherlock-Holmes%3famp=1 Here are some good resources that I have found. @Matt23 I think I can be more observant if I wear a wrist band that is associated with observation/contemplation. It is difficult because I have habits of seeing but not observing. I think Leo’s observation video is helpful, but I realize that there is a lot of social conditioning that trains us to not be observant. As kids we could observe well, but overtime, society tells us to not stare, to not look at vendors, to not look to draw attention from stranger, to not look at another kids test, etc. These train us to be blind and I think people underestimate this conditioning. That is why I posted here because I just wanted to see if anyone else noticed this and had any useful tips that helped them override the social conditioning of not observing. I am just gonna say screw it and observe no matter what people think. I have to overcome my shyness and fear of attention somehow. Thank you!

The only times I have been personally scammed has been on RuneScape and Youtube. I used to make YouTube videos and had close to 400 subscribers which was a big deal to me in the 5th grade, as I had other friends who did YouTube and RuneScape who weren’t quite at my level. But then, an account that I thought was an actual YouTube moderator asked for my password in a convincing way. The message and account seemed legit. I gave my password and my account was stolen. Funny story where I scammed a scammer: In this short story, I saw a PS4 for sale for 50$ on a website. Despite my dad saying it was a scam, I was really convinced that it was gonna work. My dad knew it but wanted me to learn. So he paid 50$ for a PS4 in China with his credit card. A few weeks later, all I got was a 50$ U.S. coin in the mail. We did a chargeback and the online system asked for item to be returned so we just but a quarter in the mail! They couldn’t do anything about it cause they were scamming me. Take that scammers!

I agree. But not just mind wandering thinking but single-focused contemplation about a particular topic such as what is fear? What are my greatest fears? What is meaning or love or wisdom etc. Just meditating alone won’t be deep enough to answer these questions. Self-deception, fears, traumas, etc. still pervades the mind of not explored. I wrote a post earlier, Satisfaction Contemplation, about this as well as pointers.

This is becoming a waste of time and detracts from the quality of what this forum is suppose to be about: waking up and becoming a more conscious, wise person. It is wise to realize when things aren’t going anywhere and not to feed the trolls. The only reason why criticism is shared is because you want validation and acknowledgement of it. This is a distraction and a waste of life. If you were to die tomorrow, how would you live today? Life is too short for these posts lately. If you don’t like something, then that is fine. The mistake is to waste your precious time explaining it and convincing others. Thank you. That is all I would say. It is time for this to be locked up, in my opinion. It is like a merry-go-round of bull crap that won’t go anywhere.

I loved Leo’s new video on satisfaction meditation. I think it is important to be able to sit with yourself without doing anything and be totally satisfied and joyful doing so. This is all good. However, the same needs to be done with contemplation. Meditation alone does not clear and unravel all the self-deceptions we have. Contemplation is more “important” than meditation for this reason, as contemplation I feel like is the gateway of living an examined life. A good start to being able to sit alone and think clearly and deeply is to be able to be satisfied alone without trying to analyze anything. However, the issue I have with just meditating is that we don’t train our minds to actually think. For instance, Leo also mentioned this but many people even Buddhists demonize thinking as dangerous and want to silence our minds rather than know how to use them to analyze life deeply. But this attitude will always create a negative relationship with the mind if we try to always empty it. It’s important to know how to use it, which can start with satisfaction meditation, but it should not end there. I have personally noticed that I used to contemplate a lot before actualized.org and when I did so much meditation and neglect contemplation, I noticed that my mind was not working as well as it used to. I noticed that my memories and imagination decreased since I always brought wandering thoughts back to present moment. I noticed that meditation can dumb our minds if we go overboard and not use it with contemplation. It’s like meditation is stretching and contemplation is exercising to me. Stretching gives us flexibility and agility over our minds and self, but without exercise, our minds aren’t able to go as deeply as it can. So here is my alternative exercise in conjunction with satisfaction meditation: Learn how to be satisfied with focused attention only on thinking about ONE topic. This will be a challenge as I have noticed as your mind will like to wander and not focus on the contemplative topic of interest. Start with contemplating “what is satisfaction? And can I be completely satisfied with sitting here by myself thinking about thinking?” Another challenge is that thinking alone can be challenges due to the traumas or anxieties that come up. But learning how to do satisfied contemplation can help one to overcome these challenges. If you meditate by suppressing those memories by coming back to the breath, then you aren’t really making as much progress with your mind as you may think. The traumas and anxieties will still be there to rule you later. Learning how to think alone and be satisfied is to also be satisfied with all your thoughts about the past. Sit with your thoughts and notice where your mind goes and the judgments about them. Dont suppress anything. Then you can contemplate them deeper to gain a better relationship with the mind. That is really the essence of meditation I think is to make friends with yourself (your mind) by being completely satisfied with this moment. Try out satisfaction contemplation. Have a journal or just use your mind and enjoy the process of examining reality. However, the deepest insights cannot be conceptualized. So make sure your contemplative efforts are not just conceptualizations or theories, but rather tools of the mind to focus and raise your consciousness deeper into experiential realm. Thinking out loud can also help from mind wandering when contemplating. Have fun!

Hello fellow actualizers. I am new to psychedelics. I was walking in the mountains, and I stumbled upon red mushrooms with white spots, which I immediately recognized from looking at pictures of magic mushrooms. However, I am not so certain, and I was wondering if any of you psychonauts have any familiarity the mushrooms I found in the mountains? My Images: I believe this mushroom may be called Amanita muscaria, which can be found here on Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanita_muscaria Thank you for your time!

@Thought Art Morning pages sounds like a form of spiritual autolysis, an exercise endorsed by Jed McKenna.

Wow! I sincerely appreciate all the input and detailed information here. I am learning a lot and am glad I posted my pics here! Thank you all so much!

Thank you! Yeah. I am not ready to eat shrooms, particularly ones I have found in the wild. Need to do more research for sure. Thank you for your input! Tripping for weeks?! That is intense! I could see that being useful for a retreat

Another image I have from my spiritual hike in mountains: Of course this is all for educational purposes. Thank you!

Thanks Thanks! The aloness felt with solipsism was realizing I am imagining all bubbles and I only experience myself. The mistake I made was confusing myself for the bubble, but the bubble is all I ever have. I gotta see it from the sponge perspective. But it seems difficult to do that when we will always be trapped in our own rooms or bubbles in consciousness. But I realize it is the same room or space looking out. It is Nothing. Damn. At first I was thinking of past lives, but I realize I cannot verify at the moment if past lives are true. Then I realized that I have killed many ants, bugs, etc. growing up. But then I realize from God POV, I kill every day and heal everyday. What a monster and saint God can be lol.

I will take the red pill of Truth! I am tired of living a lie. I’ve been fed the blue pill from the social matrix my whole life. It is mind blowing the lengths God goes to delude itself that it isn’t God, but I guess that is what makes a mindgasm out of awakening.

I remember Leo had a video about What is Perception where he had the sponge analogy that God is the whole sponge and all of us egos are each bubble in the sponge. And each bubble represents this perception bubble of perception and direct experience that you have here. But then Leo stated in God Realization episode that there is only one bubble. I wonder, why aren’t there other bubbles? Couldn’t there be other bubbles that are outside of my direct experience? I know I am imagining other bubbles right now, but couldn’t they still exist? What is limiting the universe to one bubble? I am still contemplating this stuff cause it blows my mind every day. I understand that this bubble that this ego identifies with is what exists. The ego will never experience another bubble but the one you are in now, but does that really mean that your parents aren’t having an experience of their own bubble reality? Even though I don’t experience other dream characters bubbles but my own, I don’t conclude that this perceptual bubble that I identify with is the only bubble that exists. There are infinite other bubbles in the universe that are all me as God right? All I have ever experienced is my bubble, but does that really mean that I can conclude my bubble only exists? I say my and I cause it is hard to communicate without self-referential thought. What is stopping or limiting infinity to one bubble and not infinity bubbles. In the sponge analogy, the sponge is the one bubble that contains infinite bubbles. If this is the case, then solipsism isn’t true in the way that is commonly thought. There isn’t one ego in the world, there are many egos and one God. edit: I also realize that all “other” bubbles I am imagining are always experienced or rather imagined in this one bubble that I call “mine” and “human.” But that doesn’t mean that a dog doesn’t have its own bubble right? A dog isn’t an NPC like on a single player game like Skyrim, but rather a multiplayer game? Or shared dream?

Hello fellow Actualizers. I know, I know. Another solipsism thread; however, I felt called to make a post the specifically addresses Solipsism as a part of the spiritual process of God-Realization based on my own experiences with being in the solipsism phase. Solipsism has been a huge obstacle for me (and I also suspect it has been an issue with "other" "seekers" as well) and I think it still is for some part. Is solipsism a trap on the spiritual journey or a feature of it? I will give you my take on solipsism and enlightenment. I will post my objections and answers, and I will post my questions are in the conclusion section. This is my understanding based on my experiences thus far. Introduction In my own experience, I have realized that Consciousness is all there is and there is nothing outside of direct experience and it is completely infinite. Since the ego is an illusion, there are no "others" because there is also no-self. The question then arises if there are "other" consciousnesses or "other" experiences? But deeper contemplation reveals that Consciousness is completely one and ultimately alone, imagining other consciousnesses, imagining a self, and imagining others. Consciousness is in avidya or ignorance with identifying itself as the dream character instead of realizing it is the entire dream experience. Misconceptions of Solipsism There are many misconceptions and stigmas with solipsism. A lot of people think that solipsism is "bad" that being completely alone is "bad." But these are all labels and judgments onto what actually is. Togetherness and aloneness are one in that since consciousness is one, it is either alone nor is it together. In the relative sense, we are all alone together and realizing that, you go full-circle, which can help you cope with nihilism and solipsism. One of the misconceptions and assumptions I notice is that people make a worldview out of solipsism as being the ego as the only thing that exists and everything else is imagination. This is false if you consider the dream analogy. When you are in a dream, you think you are the character in the dream. But when you take the red pill (a psychedelic), you awaken from the illusion that you are no longer a part of something, but that you are everything. You are the entire dream talking with yourself, ultimately alone. But the misconception is to think that being alone on your own little solipsistic island is a bad thing. When solipsism goes full-circle, you realize that there is no island, but that there is a world. You are not cut off from the world alone, you are everything which completely shatters the duality between aloneness and togetherness. You are literally everything and all is occurring in this eternity of a moment is direct experience interacting with itself and you eventually also drop the idea of solipsism. When you are literally present in this experience right now, you realize the present moment has no "others." Contemplate exactly what is meant by "other" and "yourself." Since direct experience is one, there are no other direct experiences now. All that has been going on is direct experience. Coping with Solipsism How do we get off the solipsistic island? By realizing that the island is the mind's own creation to try to ground itself into something that cannot be grounded. Here i will distinguish between true and false solipsism, where false solipsism sees itself on an island completely alone and isolated from the world (because this solipsism is still highly egotistical). Whereas true solipsism realizing that since the ego is an illusion, that means that all "others" are the same as Myself as Consciousness. It is important to learn to go "further" as Jed McKenna stated. Also realize that any suffering with solipsism is another worldview and identity the ego is trying to latch onto. The ego may eventually let go of the realism identity and adopt the spiritual ego identity of solipsism. Eventually, the solipsism identity must be dropped and deconstructed. This is a part of what it means to go meta. Leo gave great examples of going beyond skepticism and all theories and worldviews. Solipsism in the sense of being the only ego is a theory, but it is true in the sense of being the Self or Consciousness that only exists. There are many meanings and interpretations for how your mind constructs reality. Notice this. Notice all the interpretations and reframe solipsism as being total freedom than as being a prisoner to yourself forever. Can you see how going through solipsism and going meta on it is total freedom? Total freedom is awakening from all illusions of attachment and identification with the self. Objections: Prior to experiences of "solipsism" as being "true" or direct experience as being all there is with no others, it is very radical to accept complete aloneness as God. The mistake with God or Consciousness is that people think it is some "mystical" realm that you access, but isn't it just this moment right here with a higher recontextualization of this moment? Q: Some of the objections I have had about solipsism have included that my dog believes in an external reality. My dog right now is outside my door barking to get my attention. The dog has an idea of object permanence and external reality, so how can I be a fool in denying that my dog exists independently of me? A: Consider that consciousness or direct experience is the foundation of everything and is everything that exists. You imagine your dog, yourself, and you experience sounds that you associate with the concept "dog" but a dog is a certain concept and experience within Consciousness. What this means is that when you were born, the entire universe was born and when you die, the universe dies. But then again, what is infinite has no birth or death in the absolute sense. Q: Okay I get how I can only know that I exist, but that does not mean that there are no other experiences or consciousnesses taken place behind the scenes right? Just because I don't observe something does not mean it doesn't exist right? A: Well what does it mean for something to exist? What is existence if there is no appearances? All we have are appearances/experiences occurring right now. You exist as the bubble of perception/appearance/experience/whatever you wanna call it; however realize that I call it a bubble, but true infinity has no shape. Notice what behind the scenes really is. It is existing as nothing in this moment right now. Behind the scenes is always imagined here and now by the mind. Observation is existence. If you cannot observe to exist, then imagine a universe that has no experience, perception or appearance. What is the difference between a universe without subjectivity or experience vs. a non-existent universe? Notice that non-existence is a concept that exists now in experience now. But if there is no experience/perception/appearance, then what could you really mean by existence if everything that you say has existed has taken place within Direct Experience? Q: So if we both close our eyes and I shoot you with a gun, you won't die? A: Well think about it like a first-person shooter video game. In a video game, there is no external reality, but there is only the appearance or illusion of one. In a video game, I can turn my character away from another and I can still get shot in the back even though I never perceived the shooter. Since consciousness imagines everything including external reality and object permanence, there is no difference between reality and imagination. These were some of the objections I had and that I think many others have had. Conclusion How do you understand solipsism? How have you coped with solipsism? What is your take on what I have stated? Do you agree/disagree? What is the difference between solipsism and enlightenment? Is solipsism a bug or a feature?

But also realize that there is nothing wrong with being alone. At a deeper level it is still you talking to yourself. Solipsism can be freeing in a way that you realize that you don’t need to create the illusion of others to feel connected and that there is nothing wrong with being alone. Madness is being lost in duality and separation of thinking you need “others” is it not?

Be nice to have a video that addresses solipsism more in-depth on the spiritual journey. Solipsism is something I think many seekers will encounter on their journeys. Solipsism has stumped me on my journey for sure. It would be a nice sequel to Understanding and Coping with Nihilism. Thank you!