Marten

"Is there a conspiracy theory you don't believe in?" *Laughs* ... "I can't think of one on the top of my head right now."

@Gesundheit Why do you say so?

@Gesundheit Hehe... yes everything is Love and Truth, every state is. But at higher states it is much easier to recognize it, to grock it, to "reach enlightenment".

@Gesundheit You sound confused. Higher states are what helps you recognize Truth and Love, because higher states are Truth and Love. That's why they are called "higher states". If one doesn't grock it then it is not a matter of disregarding higher states, but rather going into them more. With care. And then integrating them - being them - being Love, being Truth.

LOL. Of course they help, more than anything. Several posts here way underappreciates psychedelics.

Psychedelics are amazing. In my experience they have been a perfect continuation of my 8+ years of practicing Vipassana meditation rigorously. I went deeper into consciousness in my first low dose magic mushroom trip than ever did meditating, including a very deep 30-day silent meditation retreat. However I did notice the overlap between serious meditation and psychedelics. Very very similar experiences. In fact hard to tell the difference at a very high level of meditation and a very low dose of magic mushrooms. To me it is ridiculous to call psychedelics artificial. They are just so much more potent than meditation but work very very similarly. Most people will never ever meditate enough to get into - even low dose - psychedelic states of consciousness, because it takes years and years of diligence and sacrifice. I did it and it's just unimaginable the effort. I notice that a lot of people have a very hard time to wrap their stubborn minds around radical experiences and possibillites. Which of couse is natural. Still, I think this is one of the biggest traps on this path - not to be open minded enough. Psychedelics have change my life forever. My sober state is just radically different. I don't meditate regularly anymore, just sporadically. I keep working with psychedelics. Going deeper into Love, here and now. Harmonizing with everything. To me meditation is more like training wheels. Psychedelics is like mounting a jet engine on your bike.

Lots of Love friend!

@Alfonsoo Interesting... so you're getting some mixed messages. I sense some tension in what you write, that you want to "push through" and "should" and "have to". If you're honest with yourself, I'm curious, what is it that you want to do?

@Red-White-Light I feel you. Also struggling with it. Had some night mares, my wife dying etc. I had a realization years ago, pre psychedelics, I was meditating a lot back then, just looking at two men unloading a truck, realizing that there was just emptiness/ nothingness thinking it was two men unloading a truck, but in fact there's nothing there. As I watched the video that realization came back and I've felt depressed on and off the past days. Questioning the meaning in what I do etc... Powerful stuff! We will get through it! Lots of Love...

@Alfonsoo Depends how you function. For me it's intuitive, I sense it when I'm ready. For others it is a feeling and for others more of a logical thinking thing. This video gives great tips on safety etc.

@Alfonsoo That sounds scary. My intuition is to face whatever fear is there, as all fear is illusion, it cannot harm you. The only thing that's real is Love. That doesn't mean to be careless in ones preparation before a trip. But rather prepare and be ready to face whatever comes up. Once you feel ready (even though you may still feel fearful) face it. And if you are not ready and similar things happen, that's fine too! Forgive yourself, Love yourself. Try to follow all the preparatory steps. Perhaps make a preparation list before hand and commit to not just tripping on a whim. Facing my fears on LSD has been the most miracolous awakening of my life. Also remember that all your "distractions" are Love and there's nothing "wrong" with them. And you don't "have to" do anything. What do you really want to do?

@erik8lrl Just wow!

@Bazooka Jesus Yes, humor is divine, healing, if used properly. Healthy humor arises naturally more and more the lighter one's ego. At the same time, one also becomes more still and serene. The stillness is a different kind of pleasure in itself. Just being present, just being joyful. Also the gravity of Consciousness, Love and Truth brings a feeling of respect and seriousness. It is very very radical and extremely significant. Even though it's all a cosmic joke, it has very real and serious ramifications for the ego. Love can be hard as a diamond. In great teachers there's a balance. Being soft as a rose petal and hard as a rock. Some people are at times too unconscious and foolish to understand teachings (or Love) through humor. Humor is one tool, there are many more, it is all Love.

@Bazooka Jesus writing stories - finally figured out who you are!! Sooo adorable!

Oh man, you're in for a shock... Love shock coming your way friend!! IT IS ALL LOVE!! Keep it up and you will see, without a doubt!!

YES, but it is not much fun unless we "peak" and realize how IT - the present moment here and now, whatever IS - is the most exquisite expression of Love ever deviced, for eternity.

Oh man, what a beautiful trip! YES, it becomes more and more self evident - it is all LOVE, ALL OF IT! Loved reading your report, very inspiring, thanks for sharing!

@Bazooka Jesus I don't know if you agree, and my intuition might be off, but it seems to me it's your heart that's opening up and awakening, not your head. The head just gets out of the way! I just love this, very well put. I'm more and more engrossed in this realization, it's completely transforming everything in my life. This is Love and Truth. Super healing, miraculous. So much serenity and peace coming from this. Keep it up friend! Love reading your posts!

@Kabala I see, in all of Burma there are monks and monasteries, I didn't go further north than Mandalay so don't know anything about the north. There are great vibes for meditation pretty much everywhere. People are very supportive.

Wow, bravo!! Reminds me of recent DMT trips... it's just incredible how beautiful we all are and how we keep manifesting in ever more miracolous ways on and on for infinity...

@VeganAwake I have this feeling too... just breathtaking...

@VincentArogya Love it, mesmerizing!

Oh, and also expect these places to be heavily steeped in spiral dynamics stage blue.

@Kabala I almost ordained as a monk when I was in Burma (Myanmar). This was years before I knew of or tried psychedelics. It was so inspiring to see how the tradition of monks and nuns is so vibrantly alive in that country still. They go for alms rounds in the cities and villages every day, and are well taken cared of by the people. My heart really felt home at Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangoon. I felt so much love as I meditated there. I met several western monks in Burma who were progressing steadily on their paths, very inspiring individuals. There are many different temples and monasteries to ordain temporarily or for life. It is tradition in Burma that boys (and some girls too) ordain for a certain time during adolesence (a few months to years). Remeber that you typically have to surrender yourself to a monastery abbott and follow instruction. Some places are more relaxed and openminded than others. One western monk I talked to had some issues with this and eventually left his monastery and became sort of a wandering monk on his own. There are a lot of rules and expectations. If this option is interesting to you perhaps best to visit the country and do your own in person research before committing to anything. Burma is the first place I'd look if I wanted to live as a monk. They have special meditation-visas and are super eager to support westerners who want to ordain. There are also Vipassana centers all over the world where you can do "long term service". But you have to comply to their rules and expectations, and be a serious student in their tradition (which can be severely limiting). Personally, if I wanted to do a longer retreat, I'd save up money and take time off from work, live in the forest nature reserve for a while. That way I would have the most freedom to practice whatever I want and lead myself. Also I could do psychedelics which is a big no-no for most Buddhists.

That's very understandable that you don't feel the aliveness. It takes time and practice. We are typically not used to focus our attention inside and are mostly focused outside. If you want to feel the aliveness you need to increase your sensitivity by practicing. This is why there is 10-day silent Vipassana retreats. By day 8 or 9 you will surely have started to experience the aliveness all over your body, if not sooner. Or you could try to start meditating for 10-60 minutes every day, and give it a few months.