cetus

@Friend Haha, yea your right-my bad. It was PCP not THC (it has been a very long time). Actually it was both. Somebody turned me on to a joint laced with angel dust. And no, I wouldn't suggest it for any use. As far as THC alone. I find it has different effects on consciousness work. Sometimes it's very contemplative and focused. Other times the mind just wants to wander all over the place. For me the setting can make a difference too. For instance, if I smoke a joint and sit in nature, I totally dissolve into it with no separation. Everything becomes one field of consciousness or Samadhi experience. I wouldn't make smoking it a habit that needs to be relied on, but it can show you a very different view of reality.

@Arman No.

@Power I haven't watched that video for a while but I watched it again up until 10:00. Yea, I slip right into what Leo is saying 'allowing yourself to become all of reality'. With effortless practice you to will eventually stumble upon what he is talking about. Than will you easily recognize it and know exactly where to return to. It is a state of no-knowing. All that remains is what is. Any separation is an illusion.

@sweater That shit broke my cherry. Reality became insanity as I sat and observed people going about their daily business.Than I looked at my own life and seen the same. Absolute -stark reality. This was many years ago. "Angle dust" Yea. Don't let the name fool you. If you want to see reality as it is without the additives and colorization of the ego, this shit will show you. I guess that was my first true experience of 'ego death'.

@Ilya The mind creates an avatar to navigate time and space. This shits a total trip when you see what's really happening.

@Ilya More like realization that it was never really there in the first place. 'You' where never really there.

@Power With mindfulness practice it will get easier. You say 'keep telling my mind'. That's a chore of the mind. Something that needs doing. Practice no- effort instead of effort. That's letting go. I was contemplating this yesterday after observing the mind and all it's wanderings. I wan't to stay present. But sooner or later the mind has run off like a stray dog. And I contemplate, what is this mind when it has taken me hostage? Than something breaks wide open and I see it clearly. Mind is illusory! It continues doing it's thing. But the difference now is that there is an awareness of the of mind and it's illusory nature. So 'let go' and realize that your mind and all there is to it is an illusion. No practice. No doing of any kind. Just truly letting go without any effort.. ......................... Who is here to let go of anything?

@BobbyLowell'Authentic' self is the witness to everything. The one who sees it all. It witnesses the you as a physical entity of thoughts and memories (the self) that exists within reality/space/time. And it witnesses what is you as the absolute. As a very wise man once referred to it "Eyes without a Face".

@Nahm Foo's fan?

@Dan94 That didn't stop Sting

@Dan94 Everything works hand in hand so I say go with a well balanced diet of discipline, meditation, self inquiry, fitness, healthy food, study, life purpose, skill set, ect..

The mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work unless it's open.

@Wormon Blatburm Haha, that got me thinking so I searched, sure enough!

@Dodo Here's one for ya. What were you eight days before your conception?

@Peace and Love Just wondering. How's your friend doing now that she started practicing TM?

@mk0998 The word 'enlightenment' basically means to be illuminated by truth. When all false beliefs fall away all that remains is truth (enlightenment). The problem is when people add mystical experiences and such to what enlightenment really is than it's meaning becomes distorted into something fantastical.

@Martin123 Are you familiar with the 'Default Mode Network'. That's a good study in itself.

@Martin123 Studies of brain wave activity while on LSD. This is interesting field. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/lsd-may-chip-away-at-the-brain-s-sense-of-self-network/

@nightrider1435 That's God. Can you merge with the light?

@Martin123 I posted a video yesterday on the 5-MEO-DMT mega thread if you want to check that out. The guy was one of the volunteers for the research study.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Strassman

This first hand account is interesting so I wanted to share. Sorry if it's already been posted.

@EndofMe Hi, welcome. Great suggestion for@john5170 . Even 20 mins. would help a lot. Just staying mindful of the wondering mind and watching it run it's course. In my response above I used the word 'gently' bringing the awareness back to the point of focus. That's the important part. In others words, don't add any additional content to the thought. It came without any effort. Let it go without any effort. The tricky part is the mind itself. It will go to any extreme not to be still. Like a small child that gets bored restaurant and looking for something to do. If you think to yourself 'ahh, another thought just arose', the mind just added more thought about the first thought. haha And creating the expectation of the next thought that will come along. And it will. The thing is to see what is happening is just something the mind does. Than laugh at it, and step out of it. It will always be hanging around just to test you Easy come- easy go.

@john5170 This is where a mantra is most useful - for newbies. I'm presuming you don't use one. As soon as you notice the mind wondering, gently bring awareness back to your point of focus. It takes practice, like anything, the more you do it, the better you'll get at it.