Inception

We’re all in pain. It’s inevitable. Reduce it where you can, but stop trying to get rid of it. Instead find a purpose that’s worth it. Once you do, you’ll still be in pain, but you’ll no longer suffer (as much). Jordan Peterson talks about this.

It’d be weird if there was nothing, but it’d also be weird if there was something. It’d also be weird if there was something and nothing simultaneously. There’s really no way Existence could be, without being weird. Because even if it could somehow be explained, you could always ask: “why that way, and not some other way?”. Even saying “Existence” doesn’t make sense. Existence as opposed to what? Non-existence? Well that doesn’t exist by dentition, other than a concept within Existence. All we can say is that Existence just is. It’s inherently mysterious. It’s doesn’t need, and can’t have a reason to exist. And the most incomprehensible thing of all; is that we are Existence. We’re literally a miracle ❤️

Some might claim that you’re just an illusory ego, and some (like me) might claim that you’re a figment of their imagination. But think about it; if you’re all that exist, how can you rely on somebody else to validate your existence? You can’t, and so you’re your own authority. If you say that you exist, then who am I, or anybody else, to tell you otherwise? In the end, you really can’t rely on others. After all, we’re just imaginary from your POV ? Like Yixuan said, if you meet the Buddha on the road…

I’m currently imaging myself to be a human that was born and is living on Earth, in the Solar System, within the Milky Way. Now, in this reality I’m imagining this forum, and you currently reading this post. But see, I have to create a whole backstory about you, as a human who was also born, went to school, and so on up until the point you’re reading this. I have to imagine your life down to the most trivial and minuscule details, like that time you stubbed your toe. And so it goes for all other people. Even those I just walk by, those who appear at the corner of my eye, even for those I’ve just heard about. Not only do I have to imagine the people themselves, but also their parents, and their parent’s parents, etc. I have to do all this just to have a sense of reality. Now this is where it gets really twisted: In order for me (you) to imagine you reading this post right now, you first have to imagine me (yourself) writing it, and so that’s what I’m (you’re) doing. A mirror mirroing itself. Indra's net. Don’t you get it? You’re imagining yourself…

Yes, but of course it’s a lot quieter and more vague than if I “actually” sang. It seems to be coming from the “center”, i.e. in my head. I’m not sure what you mean. How can there be something behind my FOV? But I’d say that which can not be pointed to; Nothingness/Existence. Yes, it looks like Ernst Mach’s self portrait. There’s something deeply disturbing about exploring this… I feel like I’m messing with the engine of reality.

I can’t understand how you can imagine the elephant without a background. There has to be something, right? Even if that something is just black. I have spatial ability, i.e a 3D representation of “the world”, of which my head is the center. The sounds seems to be “located” within this 3D “map”, according to where they’re coming from in “space”.

None at all. I couldn’t imagine seeing something which isn’t actually there. I mean, when you see the elephant, where is it? What’s the background? Is it still, or does it move? When you go from imagining the pink elephant, to say a green lion, how does it change? Does it like morph into the lion, shapeshifter style?

I have aphantasia, i.e no images or mind’s eye; just blackness, like standing in a dark room. It may have developed as a defense mechanism against childhood trauma. It properly plays part in my poor memory, and I definitely relate to getting quickly over things. I also suspect it relates to my general lack of dreams. From a spiritual perspective you might call it a blockage of the third eye (chakra), which my constant headache supports. Scientifically it might be related to the pineal gland. Doing spiritual work has improved my mind’s eye, and so now I can now vaguely “see” things. Trust me, there can be very much mind and thoughts, just no images.

Have you “realized it“ yet? And if not; why are you typing?

Thanks! ?

I literally am your post. But I imagine that there was a human “you” who wrote it. Furthermore, I’m imagining that the imaginary human, is imagining a rapist who kills his imaginary wife, and I’m thereby imagining the concept of death. It’s all just imagination. Stories about stories about stories…

Before I can fully realize the Truth; that I am the “perceived”, I have to surrender the notion of other perceivers (i.e. realize solipsism). That’s what’s stopping me. And so as long as I’m continuing discussion with you, or anybody else, I’m deluding myself and thereby avoiding the Truth. And so it goes from your POV, which of course, I’m imaging because I don’t want to realize the Truth.

Who wrote that comment? Who read that comment? Who wrote this reply? Who is reading this reply?

“Wake up to reality! Nothing ever goes as planned in this accursed world. The longer you live, the more you will realize, that the only things that truly exist in this reality are merely pain, suffering and futility. Listen… everywhere you look in this world, wherever there is light, there will always be shadows to be found as well. As long as there is a concept of victors, the vanquished will also exist. The selfish intent of wanting to preserve peace, initiates war. And hatred is born in order to protect love. There are nexuses; causal relationships that can not be separated. I want to sever the fate of this world. A world of only victors. A world of only peace. A world of only love. I will create such a world. For truly this reality… is a hell” - Madara (paraphrase)

Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that you’re a philosophical zombie; i.e that you don’t have a conscious experience; i.e. that there’s no actual Mason sitting behind a screen right now. How can i tell the difference? That’s the point: I can not, and could never. It’s literally unknowable; a mystery. In the end, it makes do difference whether I believe you’re actual or not; you’ll still punch me if I spat you in the face. It’s fun to think about though.

The simple explanation is that solipsism is true; I’m the only being, and I’m imaging you guys. But the problem is that you guys seem way too real. I can’t help but believe there someone at the other end… Now, I got an even more twisted theory that might explain this: What if solipsism is true from my POV, but also from your POV? It’s the ultimate paradox. There’s an multitude of infinities right? In fact there is an infinite amount of infinities. So I am infinite (i.e all there is), but so are you. What if our realities are separate, beyond space and time, like parallel universes. Just like there’s parts of the physical universe that we can never reach, we can never access each other’s realities.

I think I finally get it! I’m the room. I’m the hands. I’m the phone. I’m actualized.org. I’m this post and the replies.

@Mason Riggle Oh boy is this twisted, I love it. Thanks for the laugh ?

@Mason Riggle I am.

You were able to think before you learned English. Blind and deaf people are still able to think. So thought is prior to language. “Think” about it: Have you ever had an idea you’ve had a hard time articulating? You got the idea in your head, but you don’t know how to communicate it. A lot of you guys are hung up on language, which is how thoughts are often manifested, especially when communicating with others. But often when we’re talking about thoughts, we’re referring to something much more fundamental: intuition, intelligence, and understanding. Stop dismissing thought, just because language is dualistic. You’re only looking at surface, what lies beneath?

@Mason Riggle To keep my sanity, I guess ? Wouldn’t you agree that Magritte’s painting of a pipe isn’t an actual pipe? If so, wouldn’t you also agree that your post isn’t yourself? Look at it from my POV: There’s no biological human named Mason in my direct experience, only your post. So I am literally imaging you as a human, sitting somewhere on Earth right now. That’s something I’m “putting on top” of my direct experience. From your POV (which I’m imaging) you are imagining me. If you don’t believe me, then go ahead and try to touch me… you can’t. Who knows, maybe you could imagine whatever you wanted, if you gave up this reality that is. But be careful; you might quickly find that you want it back once you’ve lost it…

@snowyowl Me neither. But it’s fun to think about ?

Getting mind f’d

@snowyowl Now, let me ask you: Have you ever seen your face before? Really think about it…