Matt23

I dunno if it would damage or help people. I figure it's better to contemplate and research these things rather than disregard them right at the get go. Maybe a combo is a good direction. What new forms of spiritual technology do you think could exist? Perhaps new forms of group work? Also, does anyone have any knowledge of biological/neurological research done on enlightenment? I've heard @Leo Gura mention some brain studies and enlightenment being centered in the left hemisphere (could Leo source these preez? ). I wonder if there are any genes, neurological activity or brain area characteristics that are commonly found in people with high degrees of enlightenment or many experiences.

From my understanding, his theory is saying that there is an objective reality, but that it's not the one we perceive. What we perceive is like a user-interface, and the actual reality is the hardware behind it. Though, it's not solipsism since he believes there are "conscious agents" in the true reality behind what we see. He talks about how we, within the "matrix" (they use the video game Grand Theft Auto as an example), have become effective at manipulating the contents of the game, but we have no idea about what the contents are. He goes on to claim that those who focus on manipulating the contents will do far better in survival than those who focus on the truth of what the contents actually are. It seems to me that he's saying consciousness is the basis for everything. Though, he might be alternatively saying that it's only the basis for "conscious agents". This second point, which I don't feel is what he's saying but I'm going to assume it here, raises the question then of what is the reality which "houses" the conscious agents. This then falls right into the "earth on top of a giant tortoise which is on top of four elephants ad infinitum" issue. It would also seem to me to still be putting materialism (or something unknown) as the basis of reality, though at a second-hand level. His idea is that he's created the first mathematical theorem for God. That it's likely wrong. But that it at least lays down something practical for science to pick up and work on.

I was surprised at all the parallels with non-dual teachings.

Ugh... where is das truth?... The data and opinion he presented about B12 deficiency and it having permanent damage put the fear in me.

I just watched this movie since I saw Leo had posted it as an example on the Stage Turquoise Mega Thread. Summary If you're feeling stuck or closed-minded and struggling to feel a sense of wonder in life, I highly recommend watching this movie. It helped me really open my mind to new possibilities. Possibilities I've disregarded since childhood. Possibilities that I've hid, which has probably severely restricted my motivation and passion for life and exploring and practicing. I would suggest watching it after contemplating what you think you know and settling into a truthful awareness of not-knowing. 1st Insight: Analyze beliefs & worldviews = see you don't know = radical considerations/imaginations of what's possible It really opened my mind. It really got me out of my old and limited viewpoints as to what is possible and not. It really helped me imagine what could be possible, like having God-like powers. I realized that, due to certainty in our own beliefs and opinions and in cultural norms, our imaginations get bogged down and restricted. We succumb to the general consensus' views on what's real and possible, which is usually very limited. I realized that being able to use epistemology in observing and critically analyzing what you hold as possible or true and why you hold something to be true or possible or not is key to releasing people from their stuck and limited viewpoints since this makes you see that you really, truly, don't know. Therefore, not-knowing is the gateway to increased imagination and ability to think of new and extravagant possibilities. Imagine being God and the powers and possibilities that would come from that... Imagine having unlimited powers... Imagine what it would be like to be God, so much that you can feel what it's like. Imagine like you did when you were a child. Imagine so hard that it almost seems real. Or, perhaps, maybe it can be real. 2nd insight: quote "We never really die" = appreciating the significance At one point in the movie, Lucy said "We never really die". After all the videos I've seen and books I've read on spirituality and being eternal, things I've agreed with and thought were possible and thought they came from reliable sources, the significance never really hit me until I heard Lucy say this. If we never die, which is a possibility that many/most seemingly grounded, rational, and popular spiritual teachers out there claim is the case.... HOLY.... like, that's nucking futs... that entirely changes everything... that creates heaven on earth... that makes everything amazing....

Cheers

@electroBeam Also, is the institute of integral studies related with Ken Wilber?

Ah, cheers. Fair enough. Have you considered art therapy? I also heard something about Buddhist artists creating mandalas that might somehow help with enlightenment, concentration, and visualizations.

@electroBeam I would say I lean more towards the artistic and less scientific side. I think one of my strengths is in leadership/bringing people together/teaching/exploring and inspiring people. I'd really like to bring people together who are into exploring different avenues in spirituality and form some sort of research institute or enlightenment center of some sort. I think technology would be a great river to explore in spirituality. Perhaps combining it with other techniques etc. P.S. If anyone's near Vancouver Canada and wants to explore, research, and help people with spirituality...

@Leo Gura and others who've experienced non-duality. This is slightly off-topic (I might make another thread) but I've been wondering about possibilities with eliciting enlightenment through technology. I've never had an enlightenment so I don't really know how it is. Would some sort of room or presentation (maybe with V.R. goggles) which alters people's perceptions and distorts with how they experience and see reality/perceptions be a possible way of experiencing enlightenment? I've experimented with moving my head back and forth, moving my hand from side to side, walking and trying to see things so that my visual field is moving from side to side instead of me moving through a reality, and other visually altering techniques with the hopes gaining an insight. Do you think these types of methods would be valid enlightenment techniques? Or are they simply messing with perceptions and enlightenment is something totally different (it seems like this to me, but some of the techniques on Leo's enlightenment exercises list seems similar in nature)?

Do you have trouble concentrating and lots of thoughts popping up? I've heard that Kriya can be good for people who have these issues. Though, one of the first four practices is a concentration practice. I've only been doing it for a month, but the first few times, and each time since then, I've experienced a significant (for me) sexual feeling. Like I'm getting fucked by something. This has happened even when my concentration has been fairly poor. I've also been incorporating Reiki as I do it so that might be altering the affects as well.

I've been having difficulty maintaining my in-breath in the Ujjai Pranayama for longer than 9 seconds (in Kriya Secrets Revealed, he suggests to have it go for 10-15 seconds) and I often feel out of breath when doing it. Does anyone have any suggestions or tips to make the breathing easier and effective?

November 21 Practicals No microdose day. Been experiencing an ego-backlash for past week or so (more irritated, anxious, insomnia, groggy waking up, low discipline, food cravings) I did Reiki simultaneously. Observations It was a while ago so my memory isn't great about it. From what I remember, I again experienced sexual feelings when visualizing and concentrating on the spot between the eyebrows. It felt the same at the start, but then I imagined myself fucking a girl. I've been very confused about my sexuality in the last 4/5 years. I found it hard to concentrate and stay on target and disciplined. Particularly with the Ujjai Pranayama and making the in-breath last longer than 9 seconds. The book recommends to have it last between 10 and 15 seconds.

November 17, 2019 Book: Kriya Secrets Revealed by J.C. Stevens Practicals -I started maybe a month ago with Nadi Sodhana Pranayama (3 rounds) and Ujjai Pranayama (6 rounds) while allowing in Reiki before my meditation. It's mostly been uneventful as far as I can remember. I found it a bit tricky to know if I was doing the Ujjai Pranayama correctly. - I've started microdosing a week or so ago with piylocybin cubensis, doing it once every 3 days. Today I did my dose in the morning. - This time I added the concentration practice (pg.47-58) which has you focus on the Bhrumadhya (point between the eyebrows). I didn't do Reiki. -I did 20 minutes total sitting. Observations - I remember having trouble focusing my imagination at first. I also remember seeing a light between my eyebrows, but it would flicker on and off and change a bit. It didn't feel like it was "something other" than my own imagination. -Later on in the session I remember being able to focus better on the point. -I felt some sexual energy and pressure below my naval, or right above my penis. It was like something was fucking me and I liked it. -Then I imagined with white thing that looked like a red blood cell at the Brumadhya. It then split into two and it felt like and seemed like it was representing the two hemispheres of my brain. It felt like it was trying to integrate and connect both brain hemispheres more. -Eventually the two orbs joined in, what I imagined was, the middle of my brain. It definitely feels like it was trying to integrate both hemispheres. "Feel" as in almost a physical sensation in my head. Like a slight pressure or something. -Then the timer went off.

@Serotoninluv Hah! I never put that together.

Space Fascination Stars Wonder Galaxies Imagination The Cosmos Possibilities

@FuriousGeorgeI recently read a book called "The Cultural Creatives" which seems to be describing the rise of Spiral Dynamics stage Green in America. It gives an example of a CEO of a highly successful commercial carpet company who is working to reduce emissions and become totally "green". I suppose any business can be run in a more conscious way and be an example and a leader for others. Though, sometimes I question whether the businesses some people are in is the highest good they could be doing. Though, this is coming from my own biases, preferences, and strengths as to what the ideal job/profession should be (something like a sage, developmental community, etc.).

- A consciousness/spirituality/mind research center It could have two aspects, one being the research side, the other being giving its findings. methods, and technologies to people. It could be anyone, but I was originally thinking people who are low income or live on the street. For free and for the masses. - A research and teaching team who travels the world giving workshops on spirituality and consciousness techniques and theories. Areas for Research - Technology and consciousness/spirituality = first you could test all the existing technologies and then start combining, refining, and creating new ones. - Enlightenment/healing/spiritual insights for large numbers of people at once = Perhaps putting a bunch of people in a room with screens that distort their perceptions (or use sound or sensations) so they see things differently and maybe get an insight into how things are. - Combining methods = reiki + self-inquiry, or reiki + kriya, etc. (I've already been doing these and it seems to work well). - Various types of group spiritual work = perhaps somehow merging consciousnesses

Kriya Progress Report: November 17, 2019 Book: Kriya Secrets Revealed by J.C. Stevens Practicals -I started maybe a month ago with Nadi Sodhana Pranayama (3 rounds) and Ujjai Pranayama (6 rounds) while allowing in Reiki before my meditation. It's mostly been uneventful as far as I can remember. I found it a bit tricky to know if I was doing the Ujjai Pranayama correctly. - I've started microdosing a week or so ago with piylocybin cubensis, doing it once every 3 days. Today I did my dose in the morning. - This time I added the concentration practice (pg.47-58) which has you focus on the Bhrumadhya (point between the eyebrows). I didn't do Reiki. -I did 20 minutes total sitting. Observations - I remember having trouble focusing my imagination at first. I also remember seeing a light between my eyebrows, but it would flicker on and off and change a bit. It didn't feel like it was "something other" than my own imagination. -Later on in the session I remember being able to focus better on the point. -I felt some sexual energy and pressure below my naval, or right above my penis. It was like something was fucking me and I liked it. -Then I imagined with white thing that looked like a red blood cell at the Brumadhya. It then split into two and it felt like and seemed like it was representing the two hemispheres of my brain. It felt like it was trying to integrate and connect both brain hemispheres more. -Eventually the two orbs joined in, what I imagined was, the middle of my brain. It definitely feels like it was trying to integrate both hemispheres. "Feel" as in almost a physical sensation in my head. Like a slight pressure or something. -Then the timer went off.

Can anyone recommend a good book for studying spiral dynamics? Would you read a Ken Wilber integral theory book or Spiral Dynamic book?

I really vibe with Shunyamurti and his style. I don't know why. Maybe it's the balance he strikes between the poetic and story-like way of teaching and the more intellectual and information-based way of teaching. It's like he's able to give off this mystical, open, vast, exploratory, magical, and "juicy" or colorful vibe while simultaneously exploring and delivering the various intellectual distinctions and concepts. I find I also like the balance he delivers between humor and humility versus profundity and seriousness. Maybe it's his ability as a story-teller and holding people's attention while simultaneously delivering the practical concepts and models. Has anyone been to his retreat? What did you think? What was your experience like?

Thanks!

I've never had any patterns of insomnia that i'm aware of in the past. But for the past several (I think only 2, but maybe 3) nights i've not been able to sleep till 4-5am. I do have mid-term exams coming up. But I've also been doing reiki on myself lately which is a new habit i've been developing. I've also been eating more beets (the vegetable) than usual and am wondering if they have anything in them that would cause insomnia. Does anyone have ideas for causes? Solutions? Your own case of insomnia and how you overcame it and what was the cause(s)? Thanks

I'm wondering if there is a balance between accommodating lower stages in society with their needs and moving on without them. In a sociology course I'm taking it's showing the values of Blue societies and how the community and national identities could help people feel more social cohesion and even help prevent suicides. Whereas the stage Orange type of capitalism and industrialist tends to segment the population and may result I further social isolation and unconnectedness. The course wasn't about spiral dynamics but I could easily see similarities in the information that was being presented. I'm confused about how to reconcile the needs for lower stages, like feeling a sense of belonging and group identity, with those of higher stages, like independence. If some people are still at lower stages, they might not be able to handle a society based on higher stages of development. This is something I think about in terms of my own life. I think I'm hovering around stage purple, red, and now a bit of Blue. Mayyybbe some orange on the spiritual line. I've noticed I've struggled a lot with feeling connected and belonging and which I think has resulted in a lot of anxiety, depression, and addictions. I'm starting to see that it might not be 100% caused only by me but also but the environment (social and cultural environment s mostly) which I am situated. That perhaps more advanced stages (im thinking mostly of stage orange) have constructed a society which suits them but is detrimental to lower stages who still need feeling of group identity, security, and belonging. This is one of the issues I feel I've faced quite a bit. I'm not sure what (my internal demons or valid needs for social security and beloning, which i think ive not had) is causing it (the feelings of isolation) or by how much. How much do you see this in modern culture? Do you think it's mostly an internal or group issue? By how much? How do you think this issue (social isolation) can be best solved? It's interesting, another thing we learned in this sociology class was that often the countries who exhibit more stage Orange levels of development (modern industrialized nations: like south korea for example) tend to have higher suicide rates. Even though they are higher on the SD stages. How can this be? Also, work that involved more education and specialization deemed to have higher suicide rates than manual labour and agricultural work.... I'm not so sure how accurate these last two statements are, since they came from studies in the era of Emile Durkheim (late-mid 1800s I think). Or if I stated them correctly as I might have been extrapolating from the data and interpreting it incorrectly.