juvoci

Watching this video in 2018 probably impacted me the most profoundly. I still remember the day vividly. It was "the straw that broke the camels back" so to speak, the thing which pushed me over the edge, between Tier 1 and Tier 2 of Spiral Dynamics, from green to yellow.

@meow_meow Over time, you'll probably lose interest in those low quality materials. The more time passes, the less you'll crave them. Also, consistently remind yourself why you choose to let go of such things. For example, I used to eat a lot of cheese, but my skin was always unhealthy. Then I stopped eating cheese and my skin became much healthier. Everytime I have an opportunity to eat cheese, I just remind myself: "Would I rather enjoy this cheese for five or ten minutes, and have acne for the next week? Or would I rather eat some stir-fry vegetables instead, and have healthy skin?" The answer is always obvious. In fact, just the other day, I walked into my office and my co-workers were eating pizza. I thought: "Damn, I'm hungry, and the pizza looks delicious." But I resisted the temptation, and felt great about it all day; especially when I look in the mirror and see how clear my skin is. =] <3

@Osaid Ah, yes, that too. Actually, great typing speed might be the most valuable skill I gained from playing so much Runescape. I took a typing test a few months ago and scored 140 WPM which apparently is extremely high.

After leaving university, I traveled a lot. I went to Australia, the Philippines, Belize, and then road-tripped around the USA for 2 years. Now I work for a small company that sells private jets. =] <3

What is the benefit of psychedelics? What is the problem with the mind pre-psychedelics? And how has the mind improved post-psychedelics? The problem with the pre-psychedelic mind is that it is closed, while the post-psychedelic mind is open: open to new possibilities, new perspectives, new ways of understanding the world. This is the essence of creativity. Creativity is a never-ending process. It goes on forever and ever. The opposite of creativity is stagnance: unmoving, unchanging, unwilling to grow. The wisdom of psychedelics is that they expand the mind. They push the mind into new territory. Now, granted, this can be scary at times. Unknown mental territory is similar to unknown physical territory. You can’t be certain what you’ll encounter there. You can’t be certain whether or not you’ll be safe. But if human beings had never ventured into unknown territory, then we would never have discovered this vast and beautiful planet. To use an analogy, and continue this metaphor... in my personal experience, the closed-mindedness of my pre-psychedelic mind is to the open-mindedness of my post-psychedelic mind, as nescient prehistoric cavemen are to super-intelligent multi-planetary aliens. =] <3

You misquoted me a few times, but it's cool.

@BlackMaze Enlightenment is simply a deep understanding of the universe, of existence, of one's self. Enlightenment is clarity of mind, strength of character, awareness of emotion. An enlightened one is openminded, has an ever-expanding and inclusive identity, and takes responsibility for their existential circumstances. It's really quite simple to explain (though not necessarily as simple to achieve). The key is to not over-think it, not to over-complicate it. Enlightenment isn't a competition (and if it is, then it's with one's self, not with "others"). Pointing fingers and saying "we're enlightened and you're not" is just another form of segregation. Enlightenment is also a never-ending process. Enlightenment is like life: eternal, ever-changing, ever-growing, up and down, in and out, off and on. =] <3

@Barbara As much as I dislike the current university system, I would probably advise you to finish the degree. With an added disclaimer that I cannot truly possibly know what's best for you. I personally dropped out of college with less than a year to go. I wouldn't say I regret it, because regrets are basically worthless as far as I can tell. I'm very happy with who I've become, despite college. And who can really say if things would be any better had I finished? But, in hindsight, if i look at it objectively, "in a vacuum" so to speak, I think the smart play would have been to finish. Even if you don't plan on practicing law, having a law degree is a very powerful asset in this modern world. That being said, you'll be fine either way. Things have a way of working out. =] <3

Boston, Massachusetts. =] <3

@Twega Senses, as they exist in humans, are simply aspects of the human experience. The ways in which humans experience reality is fundamental to what it means to be human. If we didn't experience reality through these senses, perhaps we would no longer be human; or at least, not the same kind of human. There is nothing necessary or fundamental about the way in which humans experience reality. It is just one perspective, of infinite perspectives. My advice to all humans, however, is to take your time on Earth to deeply explore each sense. Feast your eyes upon great art, architecture, natural and urban views; your ears upon great music and speakers; your tongue upon the great (and healthy) food and drink; your skin upon the skin (and fur, and bark, etcetera) of others; your nose upon the flowers and spices. Experience each of these deeply and presently, without a care for the past or the future. That way, when your time as a human being nears its end, you'll have lived a rich life. =] <3

@F A B Koyaanisqatsi is quite powerful. This short film by Weval is a mind-fuck: =] <3

@charlie cho I played Runescape for many years as a child. Taught me a lot about economics (markets), finance (investment), hard-work (grinding), goals (99 Prayer) commitment, friendship, tribalism (clan rivalry), betrayal (friends scamming / hacking / turning on friends), greed (players prioritizing Runescape gold over friendships and integrity), fame (I grew a popular Runescape YouTube back in 2010), and probably more. That being said, I wouldn't recommend the game to anyone nowadays. It's too much of a time-sink. The value received is proportionally low to the effort invested, relative to other activities like studying, building a business, physical exercise, etcetera. =] <3

You mentioned writing as a passion. Starting a blog is a great place to start. Write about all the things you love; that can be movies, politics, whatever. If you like speaking, start a vlog too, and post those videos on YouTube and on your blog. Don't worry about if anyone reads or watches the content. If you're unsure what direction to go in, seeking the approval of others is just a distraction. The exercise of a blog / vlog is a self-discovery exercise. Through the creation of these writings and videos, you'll learn a lot about yourself. Now, you might ask: "Why not just write in a private journal or keep the videos on my iCloud?" Because, in my opinion, making the content public is very important. Why? Because someone might read / watch it. It keeps you honest. It makes the process more real. Hiding from the world is a terrible idea if your goal is self-growth and maturation as a human being. Many people marinate in their own private echo-chambers and expect to grow. Incorrect. This is a feedback loop which will often lead to delusion. Instead, interact with the world at large (thank god for the internet). This creates real and quality feedback.

@lmfao This resonates. I love that: "Every breath is one breath less."

@SS10 I think the ultimate truth of it is thus... You used the word yourself: "Limit". Time, any length of time, is like a Limit in Calculus... Forever and ever, approaching infinity; but never quite getting there. Yes, I believe we can indeed extend our lifetime, as humans, indefinitely. But existence is ultimately eternal, and any number of years, relative to infinite years, is essentially nothing, no time at all. So the question of "how long" will we live, is far less important than the question of "how deep" can we go into the present moment? =] <3

Stay focused and relaxed at the same time. It is easier said than done, but it is the state of a true master. =] <3

@Siggi True. =] <3

@Siggi One cool thing about climbing the ladder to higher stages is that, once you're more conscious and can see the bigger picture, you can still engage in "materialistic" activities; but now you're engaging with more wisdom. For example, even at Stage Turquoise, you can still build a business, you can still create "human" value and revenue, you can still purchase nice things. But now that you're wiser, you'll create a more enlightened business; you won't feel guilty about your success; you'll treat those nice things with more respect, you'll share them with people instead of hoarding them, you'll be able to let go of them easier if they break or get stolen. In short, the higher stages don't necessarily forget about the lower stages. Instead, they take the best of each stage and combine them to create a holistic being. =] <3