ardacigin

It is important to realize not all states are the same in terms of how they affect the mind system. But this is not because of the content difference between states per se. The mind system is a HUGE, systemic, multi layered and complex structure all of us have. And this plays a big role in developing lasting understanding in spirituality. What happens in your conscious experience - seeing the coffee mug (qualia of any kind) - can be attended by 00001% of your unconscious mind or 90% of it. And with what receptivity and availability your sub-minds utilize decides whether you'll integrate the spiritual insight or not. That higher receptivity of the unconscious sub-minds will provide that ESSENTIAL wisdom that you experience in psychedelics (or sober life) into your everyday reality permanently. The issue is that your average person who has no actual skills in meditation, or introspective awareness has only 000001% of his sub-minds be available to the insights that happen in consciousness (whether in psychedelics or sober), so the effects will be short-lived as an after glow and no major part of your psyche will revise their wordviews and perceptions in line with the insight. You'll continue to deal with same life problems, egoic structures, patterns and reactions over and over again. Once, for instance, 80% of your unconscious sub-mind system is receptive to the information presented via qualia, then you can actually examine your mind, see through what is false and true and actually help integrate the majority of the unconscious to revise their understanding of reality with that insight experience. We ALWAYS experience those insights. The question is how receptive your mind is to receive AND revise its core programming when you do experience them. That 'noticing' of insight is also a skill developed in your mind through meditation. That is the key difference of why psychedelic awakenings RARELY, if ever, are permanent. Unless you go through this process of nurturing and understanding how your mind works through traditional spirituality, no insights will DEEPLY become an actual part of your life. Without realizing how much delusion you are suffering through each moment of each day, you might think this is not a big deal. You can only understand how profound the insight become when 80% of the mind system gets it, rather than 0000.1% that gets it now. This is not a paradigm that is understood where you are now. Psychedelics can only take you too far. In terms of depth, they are extremely profound. But living those insights (which has to do with breadth) is a separate matter psychedelics cant often, if ever, address due to this dynamic that I've outlined in this post. Much love,

Well, those are paradoxical statements that doesnt really mesh well unless you explain exactly what you mean by 'deep' and 'shallow'. In this post, they refer to how much of the mind system the insight penetrates.

Thats cool. I'm not against psychedelics for treatment. It is just not the full picture, only the beginning. How is your depression now? Much love,

Well,that argument assumes Alan Watts was 'deeply' awakened which I would personally not suggest. Second of all, understanding the depth of no self goes all the way from stream entry to Salvia levels of understanding and then also beyond that as well. Further stages of awakening also requires emotional and samatha levels of mastery over the mind. I dont remember Alan Watts teaching or practicing jhanas or higher levels of emotional training. I wouldn't dismiss that Alan Watts had a certain depth of awakening. But as a 'depressed alcoholic', I wouldnt assume he has enough wisdom to work through those habitual forces. Also he might have been stuck in a 'dark night' sort of episode for years and not go further with spirituality. We simply dont know enough to make an assesment. Thats why I said emotional problems are deep and requires not only some degree of awakening + samatha vipassana mastery over the mind to permanently eliminate its source. After all, depression is a form psychological suffering produced by the mind. If Alan Watts was as awakened and wise as people make him out to be, he'd have enough introspective awareness and equanimity to not only work on his depression but also his alcohol addiction. Alan Watts is certainly a charismatic and wise teacher but that doesnt mean we should assume exactly what he is conscious of.

The illusory perception of feeling like a self looking at the world as a person rests at the core of your depression and all problems. 0nce the source issue is gone, so is the symptom.

@Theplay Thanks. Glad it was helpful.

Psychedelics show you the truth of reality by putting you in a 1000000x more equanimous and insightful mental state to see the truth and accept it. For the remainder of your day, keep in mind that the same insight is still there. You can be conscious of it. Unfortunately, you are spending 99% of your day in an obsessive mental state that is often preoccupied with inner thoughts regarding survival and planning. If you've had a way to maintain 100x more equanimity than usual on demand and learn to contemplate an aspect of reality with introspective awareness (which are the core pillars of spiritual training), you'd still access those same insights right now with even more depth. However, you need to get the fruits of meditative practice to strongly KNOW that this is the case. Not because you read it and it 'makes sense'. A zen master telling you the importance of this is surely motivating. Maybe even seeing how conscious he is. However, these are all temporary sources of motivation. Unless you examine your mind and experience the unrefutable benefits of meditative practice INSTANTANEOUSLY, then you'll always backslide and spend your life dealing with the same problems and issues over and over again. Use the psychedelics to show you what is possible and stop wasting the remainder of your day in petty thoughts, repetitive plans, obsessive mental states that are full of delusion and dissatisfaction. If you think this is productive or conducive to ANY spiritual work done in a psychedelic session, you are in a need of serious introspection. Take this practice seriously. If psychedelics, by themselves, would solve all of your spiritual shortcomings; then everyone would pop LSD multiple times a day and deconstruct their reality and be conscious indefinitely. Psychedelics are valuable and depending on your stage of development and life experiences CAN be an essential part of your spirituality but it is the easy part of this work. Embrace the spiritual life fully and explore all that it has to offer. Having a bunch of negative beliefs about what you can or cant do will only stifle your potential and sabotage you massively. Without realizing it, you might be in a circumstance where 20 years have passed and you have little to nothing to show for it. Much love,

I highly suggest continuing and changing your contemplation as soon as possible. Instead of asking 'Why am I me?' which assumes that the sense of being a separate self is true, ask 'How do the sense of me arises in my mind' or 'What is this 'I' sensation I cling to?' or 'Who am I'? until you realize the 'unique center of perception' in any form is an illusory construct of your mind. There is no self in reality. You just feel like that and it is also why you crave so much as a human and are such an attached being. It is all interconnected. The answers will make sense with more practice, meditation and contemplation. Great work. Much love,

Seeing the truth of reality in a psychedelic session when your entire mind is in the effect of said substance for 30mins-12 hours straight (depending on the substance) is a completely different ball game to understanding and integrating the truth deeply permanently, letting all of your core programming of your unconscious mind revise its wordlview and perceptions indefinitely! If what you said was true, everyone would be spiritual masters after taking 1 high breakthrough dose of 5 meo dmt. You saw the truth VERY DEEPLY AND CLEARLY there so it should have an 'infinite' and 'bottomless' understanding that is integrated until the moment of your 'death', right? It is the same childish fantasy this scientific research is trying to prove. A few psychedelics in a clinical setting (even with amazing guidance) wont solve such a deep systemic problem like depression permanently. The possibility of this happening is not even theoretically high let alone practical. Especially after seeing how reality, mind and emotional states really work and arise. It can be helpful as a catalyst for further spiritual practice. But that will the be the main benefit. Unless any further practice is initiated by the person, no actual growth or change will occur. Your mind, personal issues, emotional problems, and their solutions are WAAAAAY more complicated than you give credit for.

This entire idea of 'Using a psychedelic substance a few times and completely overcoming depression for the rest of your life' is a pipe dream. It is an extremely childish notion that defies the nature of how complicated each person is, let alone impermanence and radical interconnectedness of all phenomena. Your baseline emotional states (like depression) which is a multi-layered unconscious feeling directed and generated by incredibly deep illusions which include your sense of being a separate self, is not a small thing. It is all interconnected and just saying 'use this psychedelic a few times and all your problems will go away' is nothing more than humanity's desire to find a superficial shortcut to a more systemic and deep problem.

LoU part 2 is in my top 10 favourite games of all time. Its core story telling strategy (which only a game can fully utilize its intended experience) was extremely unique and adding the 'Sony' polish, we have an unforgettable experience in our hands. Here are my thoughts:

Since many people here are into psychedelics, I've decided share some of my early experiences with them. Although it is not a really a psychedelic I recommend it to people, if you really want to get a sense of what 'no self' is, salvia is the way to go. The issue is that this is an advanced and shocking psychedelic that can create traumatic trips for the uninitiated. This is definitely something your mind will resist experiencing. (unless you are highly awakened) A trip sitter is advised. Most other psychedelics do preserve the inherent sense of being a self to a degree. That illusion is rarely dispelled so completely. Salvia obviously doesn't FULLY represent what awakening is all about but I see a lot of people who have a big talk about how 'easy' no self is. Well, that entirely depends on the depth of the insight. I wouldn't say Salvia brings about the deepest insight into no self but it is definitely one of the more advanced and profound variations of no self. Be careful if you are going to try this psychedelic and personally, You shouldnt try it unless you already have some permanent awakening under your belt. Not only you go deeper that way but the experience leaves you empowered rather than traumatized. So if your friend offers you some salvia at a party, just say 'no' just in case ;)) Also, keep in mind that Salvia provides only a highly dysfunctional depth of no-self. Actual awakening will allow you to combine the depth of this insight with everyday life. It might sound crazy but this is why I recommend people to actually meditate rigorously. You'll start with baby steps and with time and practice, you'll mature your consciousness to such high levels. The fact of the matter is that if you want such high levels of understanding in general, you need to dedicate yourself to spirituality and integrate your entire life with contemplation and meditation. Otherwise, it will be impossible. Much love,

It is possible. But this is a gradual process. Dont compare your initial permanent awakening with the peak of a 5 meo session. You wont use that comparison mind post-awakening anyways. Your liberation will unfold a little bit EVERYDAY after stream entry (or your 1st permanent awakening). As long as you keep seeing the insights everyday when you are drawing, talking, walking, playing games etc. Your entire life will be your playground. I do have contact with 5 meo dmt insights 24/7. Thats what I meant. Now are these insights as clear on 5 meo dmt peak compared to when Im going to a meeting or hurrying somewhere to do something? Not always. But thats okay. I can taste the liberation any time. And if I want to I can go deeper in meditation any time as well. Now, THATS what is so life transforming. My old life seems like a memory at this point. So much delusion and suffering pervaded my life back then just like everyone else and Im thankful for this process to get kickstarted relatively early in my life. I cant even imagine what a 90-year-old Zen master is capable of :)) I'm getting more conscious literally each second and each day. You seem interested to go deeper. We can do a coaching session if you are interested. Just DM me here for the details. Let me know if you have any more questions as well. @Breakingthewall Much love,

The sensation isnt negative or demonic. It is a reflection of your unconscious mind. Salvia is better of explored with a more unified mind. Awakening and pre-awakening mind is not even remotely similar. My experiences of Salvia has zero negative aspects to it (basically the same as other psychedelics). I did have bad trips prior to awakening. Never had any post-awakening.

Basically all of them apart from 4 aco dmt and 2CB. I never found them back in the day but I feel completely content with my psychedelic exploration and I've learned quite a bit from them. Actual awakening happened thanks to my meditation practice afterwards and my entire life changed along with my view on psychedelics. Now I'm conscious 24/7 and doesnt depend on a substance to deconstruct or explore consciousness.

Basically, once you become permanently awakened, this experience will be your default state. Just keep in mind, the wall and the room is not 'true'. It is just as much of a concoction of your mind as your sense of self. This was a solid glimpse. You are on the right track. I suggest doing the technique I've posted here and see how it helps along with self enquiry:

@kieranperez Yeah. Thats exactly what I recommend people do. I just wanted to make sure no one is using the technique as a mantra. That would be false. This post is basically a practice of how to do self enquiry in stillness and in motion. Much love,

Your Illusory Unconscious Model of Reality Lets keep it really simple: When you are in your normie state, you have a certain degree of 'I'm self/human looking at the world, interacting with people and objects'. This is your unconscious model of reality. And to be as blunt as possible, this is a complete delusion of your mind, falsehood, a concoction that appears so real and convincing that you mistakenly believe there is no way out of it. But thankfully, you probably do know it is possible. Psychedelics show you how you can experience the same couch and TV in God consciousness where the sense of self - separation is completely absent. How do I bring this insight back to reality so that this persistent illusion is seen to be obviously false? I want you to realize that this is why you meditate. Stop this highly illusory comparison of 'Meditation VS Psychedelics'. Ask yourself: What delusions can I taste in sober state with the guidance of psychedelics and meditation? And now that I've tasted them in sober state, what can I do about them to completely transform my mind and the deepest recesses of my psyche? --- We'll focus on the sense of doer and experiencer you feel each time you look at the world. Also the inherent sense of being a self but that requires highly advanced practice you can't undertake at this moment as it requires a certain degree of permanent awakening as a baseline. 1- Reducing the Illusion of Doership and Manipulation Meditation in movement will help you see this illusion more clearly. When you are walking, instead of thinking intutively 'I'm moving my feet and going to the kitchen', try to inutitively feel 'My feet are moving by themselves and there is not even an observer' To facilitate this more accurate perception, I recommend fixating your gaze forward without too much movement and create a spacious visual sensation. You'll feel as if your field of visual awareness takes more information but less focused on any particular object. A little 'fazed out' feeling is normal and expected initially. Just keep this mental state of 'Process and movement happens, there is no controller, no observer and no doer'. Maintain this each time you walk and move, eat, move the spoon, talk, look at people etc. An effortlessness needs to arise as if a great burden is lifted. 2- Reducing the Illusion of Experiencer of Experience Unfortunately, this is the more challenging insight you'll have to repeatedly cultivate to grasp it. Basically the culmination of no experiencer will result in the first stage of permanent awakening: stream entry. I suggest REPEATEDLY doing the practice of reducing doership I've outlined above and doing the same process to breathing in meditation or any other formal practice (etc Im not breathing. The breathing occurs without my involvement) once that is extremely clear in both meditation and daily life, now ask: 'Who is experiencing? Who is looking?' Maintain this formal practice until you awaken. Along with constant daily practice of reducing doership. Let this practice awaken you and dont manipulate the process with distractions. But if you do get distracted by stuff, remember how much better life was with this practice and re-align yourself with it. ----- Much love,

5 MEO dmt is generally speaking significantly deeper than LSD. The process is the same. You need to find the 'no self' muscle in your mind and strengthen it. Use psychedelics to help you understand the insight and then try to replicate it in meditation. Do it over and over again and it will get easier.

It is great. Certainly it makes it more likely to awaken compared to 'just' dozing off

@Breakingthewall I mean the permanent awakening. You are doing this practice of 'seeing no self' as a preparation for awakening.It is an intuitive practice you'll grasp the more you do it. Imagine one of your LSD experiences and remember how spacious it felt. How less controlling it required to experience reality. Try to bring the same state of mind right now. You are worrying about something you shouldnt worry too much. Just do the practice diligently and the balance will occur by itself. 'You' are not going to do it. The practice will do it.

You can do both simultaneously prior to awakening. I didnt mean it like that. Just keep in mind, it will be harder and some days, your obssesive qualities will demolish your practice. You need to have advanced levels of mindfulness + the practice I've outlined above to refrain from OCD like egoic mode and find that conscious balance. You can only do what you aim to do with an industry strength level of practice. The practice above will lift many of the egoic burden you carry both in movement and stillness. But this practice requires that you get a feel for 'no self' as soon as possible in daily life. Then integration will be relatively effortless even prior to awakening.

The key practice here is the 'Doership' technique I've outlined above. It is a daily practice you must undertake and doesnt require the unnecessary 'Who am I?' question constantly. You need to get the intuitive grasp of reducing the sense of being a self in motion and stillness, not repeat the question like a mantra and hope that with fluke luck, you establish the god consciousness. You need to see this insight hundreds of times as you move, walk, talk to people etc. Then you sit down in meditation and ask 'Who am I?' Now you'll start to contemplate thanks to the doership technique which is something you've been doing whenever you are in movement and/or doing something. (which is 90% of your day) 1 hour a day of self enquiry/meditation wont compute. The remaining 23 hours will reinforce all the wrong perceptions. This technique is only powerful if you do BOTH the doership and experiencer training I've described simultaneously.

@Breakingthewall You cant balance anything at this point since awakening will be shocking when it permanently occurs. Whatever ego death you experience in a psychedelic session will SLOWLY become your everyday reality (with more practice) and you'll figure out how to add survival post awakening, not now. If this is your goal, here is a practice system that can help you. I've literally just posted this: Much love,

@billiesimon Thats great. Are you still experiencing this understanding as a constant baseline or was this a one time state of insight realization that seems no longer possible to replicate?