Carl-Richard

I actually think that is the more likely explanation. There is a transactional process going on between child and parent (they co-develop), and ESFJs with their social intelligence and extravagant extroversion would probably be very good at shaping their parents' behavior according to their needs. ESFJ using their traits to shape their parents is also generally (just a type of explanation) more readily able to account for the specificity of the situation than one parental trait (propensity to spoil kids) supposedly creating excess ESFJs. I mean, just look at the traits that you claimed that ESFJs lack (creativity etc.): you haven't really made a distinction between different sensors at all, let alone the extraverts.

You can just say "depending on the person" ?

????

I sense a severe case of pulling-out-of your-ass-itis. Then there would be an excess of ESFJs in wealthy social democracies like Norway. I know a bunch of non-ESFJs (including myself) that are spoiled brats. My mom is an ESFJ, and to say that she didn't have to work hard would be absolutely ridiculous ?

Nothing new.

These two points summarize why I favor organic states (and its associated techniques) as a measurement for spiritual growth. You're training the very ground which produces all states to hold non-duality: every cell in the body, every energetic movement. Temporary states of profound insight have both standalone value and their own place in spiritual growth, but focusing on the source of all states, I feel is absolutely central.

I couldn't do that. I would catch on to their state and start tripping myself

@zurew I'm a little crazy Last one, in celebration of my country's birthday (in a way):

I'M DONE

@ardacigin It also has to be said that I spent 3 years before that obsessing about enlightenment every single moment of the day, so I'm not saying meditation etc. is not required. I'm saying that the attachment to spiritual practice, or the fruits of the practice, can be a hurdle, and that this attachment is largely unconscious or involuntary, meaning that you can't will yourself out of wanting enlightenment (or dropping the attachment) before you genuinely want to do so, because you can't "will what you want".

???

He spoke with Mr. Girl and revealed a complete lack of empathy for women and homosexuals ?

@Consilience I notice this with basically all psychoactive substances to some degree (especially weed or alcohol), not really while under the influence, but the hours or days after. It's like I lose my 6th sense. It disturbs aspects of subtle processing, of how the mind usually flows. I haven't done psychedelics for a while, so I can't speak for them.

Things are improving, but now I'm showing signs of "Patulous Eustachian Tube" in the right ear, where the tube sometimes doesn't close properly, and every sound that is coming from my mouth or nose (like breathing) goes through the tube and into my ear and makes it so I can hear myself double. It's reeeaaally annoying - my own breath sounds like if someone is blowing into my ears. It might've been caused by a weird DIY breathing technique I used when I had problems relieving pressure (namely plugging the nose, popping my ears and unplugging the nose while steadily blowing in or out the nose or mouth while moving the jaw). I really hope it fixes itself by the time the fluid has fully drained from my middle ear, because this shit is not OK.

I got influenza again last saturday (fever, sore throat, stuffed nose), and this morning I woke up with tinnitus and somewhat clogged ears. I actually thought my life was over for a second. Then I took a nap, and afterwards, my ears became even more clogged and somewhat painful, one much more than the other. What is fascinating is the pitch difference between each ear. I literally can't listen to music without it sounding like a deep fried meme video. It's all just a microtonal mess. I've done some reading and talked to my mom who is a doctor, and it's most likely caused by fluid/mucus in the middle ear, and it seems like there is not much else to do than wait. I'm just a little bit worried that if it were to get worse, that it might cause some permanent damage. Considering how thick my nasal mucus is, I wonder how the hell that is supposed to get out of there. I've tried plugging my nose and blowing several times, but it doesn't work at all. Any tips?

Shieeeet

Feces ?

@Twentyfirst JP has had legitimate mystical experiences, but this isn't what he is describing here, although it's certainly related.

I used to think like this, but recently I found out I really like femdom

You don't need to zoom out to the Absolute to justify piracy. It's generally pretty harmless stuff. It's a bit like using AdBlock. If anything, zooming out to the Absolute to justify human actions is potentially much more harmful than piracy

@Roy

There is a distinction between organic and synthetic states, and you can't translate between them. It's analogous to how giving a pre-pubescent child steroids does not make them into an adult. The very basis on which the state is produced is different. Likewise, there are differences between different types of organic and synthetic states. Persistent non-symbolic awareness (PNSA) might be radically different from a temporary glimpse, just like 5-MeO-DMT might be radically different from LSD. These are all incommensurable realms of existence, but with regards to measurements of spiritual maturity, my heart lies with PNSA. There is something about having a central aspect of your most organic state be a reflection of truth that resonates with me more than the movement between temporary peaks. That said, people who claim to have PNSA, still speak of a continual process of refinement (call it different aspects of karma) that "tests" their commitment to truth so to speak. So to claim that there are no levels to these things is a bit inaccurate, but certainly in the organic realm, these levels are largely sub-ordinate to the greater shift between pre- and post-PNSA.

Own it.

This is false. Lying has an ultimate significance from the bigger picture. It's the denial of reality. It creates conflict within your psyche (neurosis), and it corrupts your sensemaking faculties. It's probably one of the unhealthiest things you can do. The time in my life when I lied the most, my life was collapsing both internally and externally. The amount of stress I was experiencing started snowballing out of control, and I was on the verge of insanity. If there is one ultimate advice for self-development, it's "do not lie". The reason lying feels so wrong is because your higher self (your conscience, your inner ancestral voice, God) is telling you that this behavior is in some way antithetical to your survival. Even if it is beneficial in the short term, you have a feeling deep down that this is unsustainable, and that's true. The best thing to do after you have lied, if not to tell the truth, is to do whatever in your power to not let it happen again.