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The Importance Of Real Yoga https://youtu.be/yAmb4H0PRAs "The restraint of the modification of mind-stuff is Yoga." - Patanjali Real Yoga versus Western Yoga: Real yoga is an ancient Indian spiritual practice aiming for enlightenment, unlike the Western version which is focused on physical flexibility and relaxation. The term 'yoga' itself means 'union', denoting the unity of subject and object into one non-dual reality. Misinterpretation of Yoga: Majority of Westerners practicing hatha yoga at gyms are unaware that it's a heavily modified form of actual yoga, which is not mainly about physical exercise but meditation and awakening. Enlightenment as Yoga's True Aim: The primary objective of yoga is to still the mind profoundly, enabling the practitioner to merge into union with the absolute, leading to awakening or liberation (moksha). Yoga as a Research Field for Leo Gura: Leo experiments with various spiritual techniques, urging open-mindedness in exploring practices like yoga when traditional meditation or self-inquiry lacks results. Purification through Yoga: Real yoga aims to purify the body and mind, clearing chakras or energy centers along the spine, releasing tension and blockages, promoting energy flow, and potentially alleviating health conditions. It also offers the possibility of developing spiritual abilities known as cities. The Commercialization of Yoga in the West: Western yoga often excludes the metaphysical and consciousness awakening elements of traditional yoga, focusing more on physical wellness, community, and marketability. Diverse Schools of Real Yoga: There are numerous branches of real yoga, such as Ashtanga or Raja Yoga, Gyana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, each with different methods for achieving the union of non-duality. These schools can have conflicting views, even on fundamental aspects such as the number of chakras. Bhakti Yoga: Bhakti Yoga involves a high level of devotion to a deity, aligning with the idea of surrendering oneself entirely to merge with the deity, ultimately attaining union through devotion. This path demands a degree of devotion uncommon in Western culture, making it less effective for many in the West. Karma Yoga: Karma Yoga is the yoga of action, where one dedicates themselves entirely to their life purpose or to selfless service to others. It's a form of spiritual practice that leads to union through surrender to action and service. However, achieving enlightenment solely through Karma Yoga is considered rare and indirect. Different Branches of Yoga: Various forms of yoga exist, like Kundalini Yoga, Kriya Yoga (promoted by Paramahansa Yogananda), Tantra, and Shaivism. Tantra often misunderstood in the Western context; it's not about sex but involves elaborate visualization techniques for union with the absolute. These branches and their sub-schools frequently disagree with each other, reflecting the common bickering found within spiritual traditions. Yoga's Holistic Approach: Leo argues that yoga is superior to meditation and self-inquiry as it clears chakras, purges emotional trauma, offers holistic awakening including mind and body, and can improve physical health, making it more potent and requiring less time. Yoga and Breathwork: Yoga teaches correct methods of breathing, which are essential for physical vitality and mental focus. It transforms shallow chest breathing into deep belly breathing, leading to stiller and more concentrated mind states necessary for mystical experiences. Intellectualization and Self-Inquiry: Yoga can help overcome the pitfall of intellectualization common in self-inquiry, thereby avoiding stagnation and enabling real progress on the path to awakening. Starting Yoga and Role of Gurus: Queries about starting yoga often include the need for a guru and the elusive quest to find a suitable one. Traditional yoga schools necessitate a guru-student relationship involving initiation and gradual technique sharing, but this can lead to concerns about trust, accessibility, and unwanted dogmatic teachings. Westernized Kriya Yoga Approach: Leo promotes a Westernized approach to Kriya Yoga that doesn't rely on an organization or guru. This method is direct and powerful, with Lahiri being the master of the most authentic techniques. It allows for independent practice, aligning with the original intention of Kriya Yoga. Yogananda and Kriya Yoga: While recognizing the contributions of Yogananda to popularizing Kriya Yoga, Leo critiques the Self-Realization Fellowship for offering teachings that may be corrupt and diluted. Instead, he recommends learning Kriya Yoga as initially taught by Lahiri for a more genuine experience. Lahiri's Kriya Yoga and Accessibility: Yogananda's teachings were already somewhat diluted; having access to the original Lahiri's Kriya Yoga techniques would provide a more authentic experience. Fortunately, a book has been found that details all of Lahiri's techniques, including worksheets and an exercise plan to develop a Kriya yoga practice from beginner to advanced levels, which Leo has added to his book list for anyone interested. Benefits of Committing to Kriya Yoga: By practicing Kriya Yoga daily for 30-60 minutes over the course of a year, one can expect a quieter mind, transformed breathing, an enhanced sense of bodily awareness—particularly of the spine, improved health, and potentially even experiencing Samadhi states and progressive chakra opening. Scientific Skepticism and Yoga: Leo addresses skepticism around Yoga, suggesting that traditional materialistic science fails to capture its metaphysical aspects. He argues that while yoga does not fit into typical Western scientific paradigms, it is a legitimate science of consciousness with profound, experimentally accessible benefits. Practical Experiment with Yoga: Leo encourages skeptics to approach yoga with scientific rigor by conducting personal experiments. He suggests that by engaging with yoga practice sufficiently, critics may find that the results starkly contrast their expectations, surpassing what is commonly dismissed as placebo effects. Utility of Yogic Models: Leo advises against viewing concepts like chakras and the subtle body through a strictly materialistic lens, instead recommending seeing them as pragmatic models for personal development. He emphasizes that what matters are the transformative results these practices can yield. Potential Profound Impacts of Yoga: Engaging deeply with yoga can lead to intense emotional purging and experiences that may become overwhelming, similar to the confrontation of deep-seated issues in psychotherapy. This intensity signals both effectiveness and areas that require healing. Transformation through Yoga: Traditional yoga practices incite deep emotional release and transformation more powerfully than talk therapy, as it facilitates physical and mental development through consistent practice over time. Reconsidering the Need for a Guru: Leo questions the necessity of a guru for practicing yoga, pointing out the practical challenges of finding a genuine guru, the risk of dogmatism, and the drawbacks of following a corrupt or dogmatic school. Do-It-Yourself Yoga: He advocates a self-reliant approach to spiritual practice, particularly with Kriya Yoga, which was originally taught as a solo practice where the universe serves as the Guru. This approach emphasizes the importance of personal commitment to practicing the prescribed techniques. Kriya Yoga as Open Source: Leo emphasizes the accessibility and cost-free nature of Kriya Yoga, which can be learned from books without the need for a guru, ashram, or community, thus avoiding distraction and dogma. Synthesizing Multiple Techniques: Kriya Yoga is powerful, but Leo advises not to rely solely on it. He recommends combining it with self-inquiry, meditation, psychedelics, theory studying, and diverse personal development techniques to calibrate an individualized path. Limitations of Western Yoga: He cautions that Western gym-style yoga has its benefits, but it falls dramatically short of the spiritual potential offered by traditional yoga. He suggests augmenting it with Kriya Yoga or switching to it entirely for spiritual awakening. Ultimate Goals of Yoga: Leo defines three primary aims of yoga: achieving permanent union (sahaja Samadhi), realizing one's true infinite nature, and purifying all karma and ego. He stresses the importance of understanding these goals to navigate the self-help journey effectively. Utilizing Theory from Books: He underscores the immense value found in books, suggesting that his book list contains all the foundational wisdom necessary for life mastery, encouraging repeated reading and application of the knowledge shared. Committing to Personal Transformation: Leo encourages taking the insights seriously and beginning the practices immediately to experience profound life changes over the years. Future Sharing of Effective Techniques: Leo concludes by reiterating his commitment to researching and sharing the most potent techniques for personal development across various life aspects. He underscores the importance of leveraging techniques for their practical benefits rather than their theoretical appeal. Dissendium

My Deepest Awakening Yet - Becoming Infinite https://youtu.be/RNgns7nQ7rs "There is only one thing: Infinity. You are it And it is the world." Total Awakening Experience: Leo describes an unprecedented total enlightenment event that he had, where his individual boundaries dissolved, and he recognized himself as infinite, embodying all existence. This instigated the collapse of the materialistic understanding and the realization that everything, including his own self, is an incarnation of infinity. Conception of Infinity in Enlightenment: During his awakening, Leo experienced the intrinsic nature of reality as infinity itself. He conveys that while everyone is situated at the center of infinity, they only perceive a fragment of its entirety due to their identification with body and mind. He shares that he transcended these limitations, understanding his identity as the 'entire singularity'. Perception of Nothingness as Everything: In his state of total awakening, Leo contemplates 'nothingness' prior to the creation of the universe and finds that nothingness is the conception of everything. He suggests that our current existence and reality, including the physical world and every potentiality, is 'precisely nothing', encompassing the concept of infinity. Merging with Universal Existence: The awakening led Leo to a consciousness where he ceased to be a separate entity and instead became everything possible, including every human, creature, object, invention, and piece of creative work, existing at present, past, and future simultaneously. Transcending Consciousness and Existence: Leo elucidates that during his awakening, his mind expanded infinitely and he no longer experienced consciousness as a separate entity. He reveals that his entire being became infinity itself, which is beyond consciousness, awareness, and even existence or non-existence. Enlightenment Beyond Emotion and Thought: As Leo realized the enormity of his awakening, he stresses that it did not trigger emotional reactions. Rather, it was a profound and ultimate revelation of the existence and inevitability of reality, experienced on a radically different plane of consciousness which is not easily comprehensible from normal consciousness. Cancellation of Shaktipat Session: Despite his initial enthusiasm for an energy transmission session (Shaktipat) with an enlightened psychic, Leo's intuition guided him to forgo this experience, as he felt compelled to continue his journey alone, specifically to validate the path of enlightenment through 5-MeO-DMT. Conflict Between Intuition and Rationalization: Leo grapples with the uncertainty of whether his decision to cancel the energy transmission session was driven by intuitive understanding or his ego, reflecting on concerns of arrogance and spiritual pride. Feelings of Impatience and Unfulfillment: After cancelling the session, Leo expresses frustration and impatience about the time it might take to achieve his goal of understanding the nature of reality, which he feels is still beyond his grasp. Intuitive Prompting for 5-MeO-DMT Consumption: Despite initial reluctance, Leo's intuition guides him to use 5-MeO-DMT spontaneously—a departure from his usual, more cautious approach to psychedelics. Integration and Sensitivity from Past Use of 5-MeO-DMT: Leo explains that a year and a half had passed since his major breakthrough with 5-MeO-DMT, which necessitated a lengthy period of integration and a heightened sensitivity that influenced his decision for a minimal dose. New Method of 5-MeO-DMT Administration: His intuition leads him to try rectal administration of 5-MeO-DMT and Leo discovers that it provides a rapid, clear, and gentle onset of effects, which he favors over other methods. Transition to Infinite Consciousness: Within five minutes of administration, Leo enters a state of 'infinite consciousness'—a state devoid of fear or distractions and characterized by a collapse of all personal boundaries, leading to a profound awakening. The Absolute and the Concept of Infinity: Leo explicates that the relative and the absolute are one and the same, and that every configuration, every object, including the occurrence of death, is an integral arrangement within absolute infinity. Enhancements from Yoga Practice: He feels that his ongoing yoga practice, aimed at chakra opening, synergizes with his awakening experience, feeling a 'permanent rewiring' and the opening of his third eye and crown chakras. Longer Duration and Gentle Effects of Rectal Administration: The rectal method extends the duration and gentle nature of the 5-MeO-DMT experience, enabling deeper absorption and understanding. Post-Experience Changes: Leo claims to have acquired perfect knowledge about reality following his experience, transcending the boundaries of scientific understanding and ending his long-standing quest about the existence of everything. End of Seeking and Enhanced Satisfaction: A profound sense of satisfaction and the cessation of his twenty-year journey of seeking are the most substantial changes, reducing personal suffering and ceasing the search for understanding existence. Necessity of Seeking: Despite the egoic nature of seeking, Leo stresses that one must go through the process of seeking to reach the ultimate understanding of reality, likening it to enduring a long journey filled with challenges to arrive at a desired destination. Raising Baseline Awareness: Leo observes an increase in his baseline level of awareness, where even in a normal state, he perceives everything as infinite and inevitable due to their existence within absolute infinity. Improvements in Meditation: Post-awakening, Leo's meditation practice has improved as the cessation of seeking allows him to sit still and be infinity without searching for answers. Inevitability in All Forms: Leo recognizes every possibility, good or evil, as part of absolute infinity and sees complaining or resisting life as pointless and counterproductive. Insight into Nonrejection: With the realization that everything is inevitable and part of him, Leo has stopped rejecting and criticizing aspects of reality, aligning his attitude towards acceptance and nonresistance. Continued Human Experiences Post-Awakening: Despite his awakening, Leo continues to deal with suffering, triggers, addictions, and emotional responses, acknowledging that enlightenment can have varying degrees and does not necessarily stop all forms of suffering. Sexual Energy Post-Awakening: Leo experiences heightened sexual energy which he attributes to feeling more energized and having opened chakras, contrary to some idealized notions of enlightenment diminishing sexual drive. Enlightenment as a Non-Simplified Process: Leo advises against oversimplifying the awakening process, as there are different facets to enlightenment, and each individual's experience can vary significantly. Feeling of Completeness in Awakening: Leo feels his recent awakening was very complete, covering multiple aspects of existence, while acknowledging there may be room for more profound awakenings in the future. Stage of Enlightenment: Leo places himself at stage 5 of enlightenment—'mastering' according to Zen's Ten Ox Herding Pictures—indicating that there is still significant room for growth and deeper experiences. Commitment to the Five-MeO-DMT Path: Leo sees Five-MeO-DMT as a highly effective tool for achieving absolute consciousness and intends to continue using it to integrate insights and foster personal growth. Reflecting on the effectiveness of 5-MeO-DMT: Leo shares his conviction that 5-MeO-DMT effectively enables profound and immediate experiences of absolute consciousness. He points out that while skeptics may question its validity, suggesting delusion or hallucination, his personal experiences provide him with an undeniable understanding of the absolute. Comparison with traditional Zen practices: Leo notes the significant difference in time and effort between traditional Zen practices and the use of 5-MeO-DMT. He acknowledges that despite years of meditation, some Zen masters may not reach the ultimate understanding that 5-MeO-DMT can reveal quickly. The journey beyond awakening: Leo conveys that post-awakening, his focus is now on embodying the infinite across all aspects of his life, including his emotions, behavior, and relationships. He realizes that the true work has just begun, and he sees the necessity of basking in stillness for extensive periods. The need for mental stillness and resulting practices: He expresses a need to work towards a state of no-mind, as he identifies his conceptual thinking as a major obstacle on his spiritual path. Through 5-MeO-DMT, he has found that the absolute can be experienced without initially quieting the mind, but additional work is required to calm mental activity post-awakening. Continuing obstacles and future goals: Leo acknowledges his need for emotional mastery, clearing energy blockages, addressing physical health issues, removing addictions, and practicing healthier living. He emphasizes the significance of developing more compassion towards others as part of his post-awakening growth. Plans for further use of 5-MeO-DMT: He intends to continue to use 5-MeO-DMT in small doses for stable experiences, to aid in the integration process. This will be part of ongoing exploration of deeper insights and facets surrounding awakening. Enriching his life purpose post-awakening: Leo feels that his awakenings have supercharged his life purpose, spurring him to share insights, write books, create content, and improve his teaching methods. His ultimate goal is to guide others to an understanding of why everything exists as it does. Anticipating personal transformation: Looking forward, Leo expects significant personal growth as he seeks to live out the teachings and insights gained from his awakening. He remains open to new experiences and teaching styles, aiming to inspire others through his journey. Confundo

Self-Deception - Part 3 https://youtu.be/W9ODZLAAQsE "Enmeshed, entangled, you can still get out, unless, poor fool, you stand in your own way." - Lucretius "It's a trap." - Admiral Ackbar Return of the Jedi Ignoring Conflicts of Interest: People, particularly professionals, often overlook conflicts of interest tied to their careers, which can influence them to dismiss evidence that threatens their livelihood or identity. This creates a substantial blind spot in perceiving and admitting the truth. Double Standards in Various Fields: Double standards are evident in politics, where partisanship blinds individuals to the faults within their own party. This extends to scientists and spiritual communities as well, where there is a tendency to dismiss other perspectives in favor of their own, lacking objective comparison. Self-Justification and Excuse Making: The mind's ability to rationalize behavior or beliefs is remarkably strong, leading individuals to justify any actions or thoughts that align with their personal or group interests, ignoring contradictory evidence. Backwards Rationalization and Confabulation: Humans have the capacity to construct narratives that fit their desired outcomes, often justifying beliefs or actions post-hoc. This is called confabulation and is a powerful self-deception mechanism, particularly within the left hemisphere of the brain. Wanting or Needing a Thing to Be True: Personal needs or desires, such as maintaining a relationship or job, can influence one's acceptance of truth. This leads to the rejection of facts that threaten one's personal interests or comfort. Unwillingness to Personally Investigate: Many people avoid putting in the time and effort to personally research or investigate, causing them to rely on second-hand information rather than gaining direct understanding or testing different methods themselves. Skepticism and the Necessity for Personal Research: Leo Gura discusses the importance of conducting personal research to find proof of claims, emphasizing that research may lead to dead ends, but it's necessary for the chance to discover significant findings. Skeptics often look for guaranteed results before beginning research, which hinders the process of true discovery. Multiple Paths in Research and Discovery: Research is valued for exploring various avenues, similar to pharmaceutical and technology companies, despite many projects never reaching fruition. This approach is crucial for occasionally striking gold, though most research may not yield immediate success. Challenges of Personal Development Research: In personal development, Leo discusses his own research, including trying various techniques that may not yield expected results. The ability to embrace failure is integral to personal experimentation, which can eventually lead to powerful techniques that would otherwise remain undiscovered. Importance of Open-Mindedness in Research: True open-mindedness is needed for research to be truly effective. Leo gives an analogy of going to the gym—going for a week won't show results, illustrating the necessity for a long-term, committed effort to experience transformation, whether it's in fitness or personal development. False Sense of Open-Mindedness: Many individuals assert they're open-minded but fail to engage in meaningful personal investigation, especially regarding existential matters or spirituality. This self-deception arises from reluctance to leave comfort zones or to confront emotionally challenging transformations Consequences of Rigid Dualistic Thinking: Leo critiques Western thought's inclination towards rigid dualistic categories, such as good/bad and science/religion. He argues that this approach oversimplifies reality, and that deeper investigation reveals the collapse of these seemingly solid categories. Problem of Overly Rational Logic: He suggests that conventional logic and rationality can contribute to delusion, as they are tools the mind uses to maintain dominance and can lead to self-deception. Lawyers and philosophers can exploit logic to argue various points, highlighting its potential misuse. Thinking Bias: Leo identifies a "thinking bias" where individuals believe thought is the primary means of understanding reality, disregarding other modalities like intuition or direct consciousness, potentially leading to a narrow comprehension of existence. Analysis Bias and Fragmentation: The tendency to analyze and reduce the world to its components can overlook the interconnectedness of reality and lead to fragmented knowledge. Holistic understanding involves synthesis and intuition beyond the scope of reductionist analysis. Holism vs. Fragmentation: True comprehension of reality requires a holistic approach rather than fragmentation. While analysis breaks down complex systems into simpler parts, holistic wisdom encompasses the emergent properties that are more than the sum of these parts. Reliance on Academic Authority: Many people mistakenly believe that wisdom is found in academic institutions, yet oftentimes universities don't provide the type of wisdom one might expect. Wisdom is not correlated with academic credentials or the ivory tower environment. Impossibility Bias: Individuals often confuse the limits of their imagination with the limits of reality, leading them to assert that certain innovations or phenomena are impossible—beliefs that history regularly overturns. Lord Kelvin's Fallacy: The example of Lord Kelvin's incorrect assertions about powered man flight and X-rays being impossible, just a few years before they became realities, highlights the fallacy of assuming one's intuition about what's possible is always correct. Mistaking Truth for Proveability: Leo Gura points out the error in equating truth with proveability. The domain of truth is broader than what can be proven, and many profound realities may not be subject to empirical proof, which is a limitation for those seeking to understand the world solely through rational means. Expectation of Overwhelming Proof: There is a self-deception that the truth will be so compelling as to convince anyone beyond doubt. However, truth often requires a personal willingness to surrender and meet it halfway, as opposed to expecting it to overpower one's skepticism passively. Oversimplification of Reality: Assuming reality is simple, intuitive, and can be neatly categorized using linear logic leads to misunderstanding and underestimation of its complexity. Black-and-White Thinking: The tendency to engage in black-and-white thinking leads to false dilemmas and oversimplifications, particularly in understanding the relationship between enlightenment and self-improvement, which are not mutually exclusive. Paradox Bias: Rational minds often avoid the paradoxical aspects of reality out of fear, preferring phenomena that fit their rational paradigms. However, these paradoxes can offer profound insights into the true nature of existence. Taking Hard-Won Knowledge for Granted: The misconception that current knowledge has always been obvious fails to recognize the struggle and resistance overcome to establish new truths. This bias can lead to a devaluing of the effort needed to progress understanding in the future. Mindfuck Bias: The assumption that trends will continue indefinitely without unexpected reversals leads to intellectual complacency and surprise when sudden changes occur, demonstrating the nonlinear nature of reality. Pragmatic Bias: The focus on immediate utility and dismissal of what doesn't serve one's survival or ego can obscure the value of non-pragmatic truths and lead to a narrow perspective on what is worth knowing or investigating. Pragmatic bias in truth-seeking: Individuals often overlook the value of truth for its sake by focusing solely on pragmatic results, like success and technology, which can lead to a misunderstanding of truth's intrinsic worth. Distortion from business, marketing, and culture: The influence of business and marketing on culture shapes individual worldviews, beliefs, and desires, leading to self-deception as people unconsciously adopt manufactured cultural norms. Blind trust in Authority and Credentials: An overreliance on authority and credentials leads to self-deception; accepting the claims and findings of an authority figure without sufficient scrutiny can distort reality. Morality Bias: Individuals can reject truths that conflict with their moral judgments, a self-deception mechanism that incorrectly prioritizes personal morality over objective truth. Political Ramifications Bias: Truths are often accepted or rejected based on compatibility with an individual's political ideology, rather than being evaluated on their own merit. Historical Meta-Narratives: Overarching, simplified stories about human progress can falsely depict history and influence our understanding of reality, making us susceptible to self-deception. Tribalism and infighting: Tribalism, racism, nationalism, and similar divisive ideologies lead to self-deception by fostering an "us versus them" mentality even within spiritual communities. Groupthink: The tendency to adopt the thoughts of a collective group rather than using individual critical thinking leads to compounded layers of self-deception aligned with the group's agenda. Assuming Universality in Brain Chemistry: The false belief that everyone's brain chemistry and perception of reality are identical leads to a lack of appreciation for the diversity of experiences and understanding among individuals. Variety in Human Brain Physiology: Not everyone processes the world in the same way due to variations in brain physiology. Conditions like sociopathy, autism, and schizophrenia highlight this diversity, affecting people's beliefs, perceptions, and access to mystical states. Relating to People Based on Individual Differences: Recognizing the physical and mental diversity among people promotes greater open-mindedness and tolerance. Assumptions that others share the same viewpoints can lead to misunderstanding and miscommunication. Preoccupation with Others' Self-Deception: Focusing on the self-deceptions of others, rather than one's own, can distract from personal growth. Individual responsibility for addressing self-deception is emphasized over pointing fingers at others. Talking Versus Embodying Wisdom: Discussing and knowing about personal development is easier than actual implementation. Emphasis is placed on the importance of embodying wisdom rather than merely talking about it. Assuming the Upper Hand on Truth: Believing that one has fully understood or reached the end of their journey can be a form of self-deception. Ongoing openness to learning and humility in recognizing one's blind spots is crucial. Arrogance as a Barrier: Arrogance can prevent true understanding and enjoyment of life. Acknowledging and reducing one's own arrogance is part of the process of overcoming self-deception. Self-Deception's Complexity and Ubiquity: Self-deception mechanisms are diverse and present in nearly every aspect of life. Awareness of these mechanisms does not imply immunity to them; continuous vigilance and mindful navigation are necessary. Addressing One's Own Self-Deception: Leo acknowledges his own susceptibility to self-deception and underscores the importance of working through personal delusions over time. He admits that recognizing a self-deception mechanism doesn't immediately enable one to abandon it. Future Topics on Self-Deception: Leo plans to discuss self-bias, self-justification, and self-deceptions within science in future content, highlighting these as profound and critical aspects of understanding self-deception. Engorgio

Enlightenment Experience Explanation & Key Lessons https://youtu.be/BOM5dGWz7NM Use of Psychedelics in Enlightenment Experience: Leo clarifies his use of psychedelics, acknowledging it has been a component in his awakening and that it can be a source of confusion and controversy for many. Awakening Experience Composition: Awakening encompasses both an understanding, which persists, and a transitory emotional state. It is not exclusive to psychedelics but can occur naturally through other spiritual practices like meditation or yoga. Depth and Quality of Awakening: The range of depth and quality in awakening experiences varies greatly. They can reveal different facets of the truth with varying levels of clarity and can last for diverse lengths of time. Misconceptions About Constant High in Enlightenment: Leo discusses the common misconception that enlightenment leads to a perpetual state of euphoria, clarifying that genuine awakenings often do not last indefinitely and the most significant part is the enduring understanding obtained. Different Kinds of Awakenings: The spectrum of awakenings includes brief glimpses with limited understanding to more profound realizations that profoundly alter one's perception of life and reality. Significance of Carried Understanding: The crucial aspect of an awakening is the residual knowledge and how it transforms one's day-to-day living and mundane experiences, not the temporary emotional high. Danger of Projecting Expectations on Gurus: Leo discusses the potential pitfalls of projecting perfection onto spiritual teachers, which can result in unrealistic expectations and hinder the authenticity and learning process. Complexities of Enlightenment: He emphasizes that enlightenment is much more nuanced than an on/off state and involves varying degrees of awakenings and glimpses of truth, reflecting the complexity of the human brain and psyche. Caution against Prematurely Declaring Enlightenment: Leo warns not to declare the spiritual journey over prematurely, highlighting the vast and intricate nature of enlightenment, which is an ongoing process. Choosing Spiritual Teachers: He advises careful consideration when choosing spiritual teachers, evaluating their depth of understanding, level of attainment, and authenticity as they embody the truths they teach. Enlightenment Mastery: Describes enlightenment mastery as the complete, integrated understanding of all facets of absolute truth and their embodiment in one's life, which is a rare state to attain. Variability of Enlightenment Experiences: Enlightenment experiences can range from shallow to deep and may be temporary or permanent. It's not a simple binary of "sticks" or "doesn't stick"; the extent to which an experience transforms one's life is a spectrum. Different Definitions Across Traditions: Various spiritual traditions categorize enlightenment differently. For example, Advaita Vedanta uses the term "sahaja Samadhi" for a permanent, profound state, akin to a perpetual psychedelic awareness. Misinterpretation of Terms: Students of enlightenment may be confused by the different uses of terms like enlightenment, awakening, and self-realization. Teachers may not clarify their definitions, leading to inconsistent understanding among followers. Post-Enlightenment Experience: After the peak enlightenment experience, Leo remains conscious of his insights, including acknowledging that physical reality is a concept and that what he perceives is a manifestation of consciousness. Integration of Awakening Into Daily Life: Leo resolves to maintain mindfulness in day-to-day activities by recognizing everything as part of the absolute. He is now more aware of old habits and emotional reactions that require deliberate change. Consciousness and the Physical Universe: Leo has come to reject concepts such as a physical brain and universe, viewing them as outdated constructs. His understanding now is that he exists within consciousness. Psychedelics and Personal Exploration: As a researcher and explorer of consciousness, Leo approaches psychedelics as tools for discovery beyond traditional paths. He aims to walk new paths and find insights that may have been overlooked, even by experienced practitioners. Depth of Spiritual Practices and Teachers: Leo is open to sharing unique methods and insights that are not confined to orthodox teachings. He encourages those who want traditional practices to seek out appropriate avenues, while his approach remains innovative and unorthodox. Limits of Traditional Practices: Traditional Zen practices may not lead to enlightenment for many, as they are not the most efficient nor suitable for everyone. Personalized approaches can resonate better with individual personality, heart, and specific challenges. Challenges of Modern Culture for Enlightenment: Contemporary obstacles like internet addiction, video games, and social media, which were not present 50 years ago, hinder the ability of younger generations to reach enlightenment through traditional means like Zen or Vipassana. Nuances of Spiritual Traditions: There's a significant depth and breadth to spiritual practices, explaining why various traditions and teachers may hold differing viewpoints. Underestimating the field's complexity can lead to a simplistic understanding of spirituality. Personal Approach to Enlightenment: Leo uses psychedelics as a research tool in his quest for new methods to catalyze personal and spiritual development. His hybrid approach combines techniques like yoga, Vipassana, self-inquiry, meditation, and retreats, which leads to profound understanding and real-life behavioral changes. Psychedelics and Enlightenment Potential: Leo experiments with psychedelics to understand their potential for enlightenment. There is skepticism about permanent enlightenment from psychedelics, but Leo is testing various methods and emphasizes that different techniques have different potential and drawbacks. Delusion and Continuous Learning: It's challenging to determine who is deluded in spirituality. To avoid delusion, one must be open to the possibility of more learning and growth. Enlightenment is a continuous journey, with new books and perspectives always contributing to progress. Commitment to Ongoing Journey: Leo Gura is committed to the journey of personal development and enlightenment, recognizing it as an unending path. He remains open to learning and evolving, which helps correct any potential delusions over time. Impact of Profound Experiences: Profound spiritual experiences double Leo's understanding of personal development, enhance his ability to guide others, and increase his motivation to continue and share the journey. Authenticity and Fear: A key component missing in many people's lives is authenticity. Leo identifies a need to face fears and challenges to become 100% authentic in all relationships, thoughts, and actions, moving away from ego protection. Significance of Fear in Personal Development: Confronting and overcoming fear is crucial. Leo plans to use love and radical honesty to break through fears and share techniques for others to do the same, emphasizing the transformative power of these methods. Ego's Response to Truth: Every day presents opportunities to let painful truths impact one's ego. Sincere engagement with this process is crucial for spiritual growth and the gradual erosion of inauthenticity. Authentic vs. Inauthentic Suffering: Authentic suffering, encountered when facing truth, is essential for personal development; in contrast, people often engage in inauthentic suffering to avoid the discomfort of truth. Life's Journey and Truth: The straightest path in life, from birth toward the death of the self, is aligned with truth. Avoiding this path results in unnecessary detours filled with avoidable suffering. Consequences of Avoiding Truth: Avoiding truth can lead to depression and a lack of fulfillment. Indulging in distractions like excessive consumption and procrastination is a form of inauthentic suffering. Importance of No-Mind State: Leo emphasizes working towards a no-mind state, silencing mental chatter, and reinforcing mindfulness practice to maintain conscious awareness throughout the day. Vision of Selfless Living: An awakening experience kindled a vision for selfless living in Leo, indicating that genuine passions grounded in the heart are amplified by spiritual awakenings. Concept of Non-Doership: Recognizing that nothing is truly under one's control and that everything is directed by a higher force is vital for the spiritual growth. Effortlessness in Life: To lead an effortless life, one must understand and practice relinquishing the illusion of doership, which can reduce pressure and increase ease in daily living. Slowing Down for Conscious Living: Slowing down paves the way for deeper work engagement and satisfaction, allowing one to be more present and appreciate life fully. Obstacles to Enlightenment: Leo gained insights into why people struggle with enlightenment, noting the reluctance to accept the metaphorical 'physical death' associated with profound spiritual awakening. Misconceptions Blocking Deep Awakening: People fail to experience profound awakenings because they cling to limiting concepts such as the physical universe, brain, time, and space, even when using psychedelics. Integration of Enlightenment with Personal Development: Leo plans to integrate his enlightenment insights into his work, believing it deepens his understanding and ability to guide others effectively. Continued Authenticity and Growth: Leo commits to ongoing personal growth and authenticity, expressing enthusiasm to guide others more effectively based on his deepened understanding of development and enlightenment. Reflecting on Prior Breakthroughs: Leo Gura emphasizes that his recorded awakening was not acting but a genuine shift in consciousness, more profound than a regular psychedelic trip, enhanced by the risk of sharing it publicly. Interconnection of Sharing and Awakening: Leo notes that sharing his insights contributes to a more authentic move towards a selfless lifestyle, which is deeply intertwined with his personal awakening and life purpose. Upcoming Spiritual Retreats: Leo plans to undertake multiple solo meditation retreats in locations like Hawaii and potentially Costa Rica or Seattle, to be documented via camera much like his previous retreats. Anticipating Personal Transformation: Leo anticipates significant changes in authenticity and consciousness in the upcoming year, with many more awakening experiences anticipated due to effective methods he has discovered. Expanding Face-to-Face Interactions: In line with a vision during an unrecorded awakening, Leo intends to test himself with in-person interactions, planning a tour with live audiences to deliver Actualized.org content. Ongoing Learner and Transparency Commitment: Leo sees himself as a student on an ongoing journey, committed to sharing his authentic experiences, including mistakes and delusions, to depict the reality of spiritual and personal development. Acknowledging Individual Spiritual Needs: Leo asserts that standardized methods from traditional schools may not suit everyone, highlighting the need for personalized techniques tailored to each individual's unique circumstances and issues. Aligning Career with Enlightenment: Leo advises aligning one's career with their life purpose for more conducive spiritual development, as inauthentic careers can be a barrier to enlightenment. Continued Content Creation Promise: Committing to regularly documenting his journey, Leo promises to continue producing videos that share his exploration of spiritual growth with his audience. Flagrate

Enlightenment Experience Happening In Real Time - LIVE! https://youtu.be/n_6TZMr1HXM Real-time Enlightenment Narration: Leo is documenting his experience of enlightenment as it occurs, expressing awe and an inability to fully articulate the profound nature of his realization—that reality is an illusion and everything is consciousness. Collapse of Reality and Self: He perceives a total dissolution of all reality, including the concepts of life and death, leading to a sense of perfect singularity and boundlessness beyond physical or mental constraints. Identification with God/Consciousness: Leo recognizes himself as a manifestation of God or consciousness, describing an absence of individual control and a perfect state of chaos that he characterizes as divine. Inevitability and Collapse of Psyche: The enlightenment experience feels like a continuous process of ego death, with the collapsing of his psyche, and an inner rewiring that eliminates the boundaries between internal and external realities. Loss of Fear and Ego: Leo describes losing all self-agenda, ego, and concern for life and death; he feels he has no control over his actions or words, which he attributes to the workings of the universe. Present Moment and Infinite Loop: He discusses experiencing an eternal present, where reality endlessly self-references in an infinite loop—a process he considers perpetually happening. Speech as Inevitable and Authentic: Leo claims that his words come through without resistance, making him an eloquent superconductor for divine expression, without any personal doing involved. Recording for Posterity: The significance of documenting his enlightenment on video is not lost on him, and he contemplates the idea that historical figures like Buddha might have done the same if they could. Communication and Connectedness: Leo reflects on how YouTube facilitates consciousness communicating with itself and his realization that everyone and everything is an extended version of himself. Universal Consciousness and Enlightenment: He speaks as if he is the embodiment of universal consciousness and links himself to a chain of enlightened beings throughout history, feeling part of an eternal, interconnected consciousness. Existential Paradox: Leo experiences a duality, feeling like a perfect embodiment of non-dual consciousness, yet also aware of his 'old self,' which maintains a sense of ego and individual identity alongside his enlightenment. Physical Sensations and Authenticity: He talks about an intense physical sensation of energy and an unfiltered authenticity that makes hiding imperfections impossible, leading to a raw and appealing transparency. Vulnerability and Immortality: Despite the sense of vulnerability in exposing himself authentically, Leo feels immortal, envisioning himself as part of an enduring infinite reality where even death does not diminish him. Mindfulness and Oddity of Experience: He acknowledges the bizarreness of his situation, being doubly aware of both speaking and observing himself speak, which he describes as the ultimate mindfuck. Implosion of Reality and Enlightenment: He interprets enlightenment as the implosion of reality caused by chipping away at the ego, leading to a momentous realization of immortality. Fearlessness and Enlightenment Consequences: Discussing the implications of his enlightenment, Leo feels an unwavering sense of invincibility and a complete detachment from threats or suffering, deeply identifying with divine absolutes. Open-mindedness to Non-existence: Leo discusses how extreme open-mindedness leads to the acceptance of one's non-existence and the world, resulting in everything collapsing into nothingness, creating a profound sense of inevitability within him. Breathing in Emptiness: He experiences a sensation where his breath feels purified, as if breathing in emptiness or nothingness, which he equates to breathing in and out of his own infinite self. Perfect Understanding of the Present: Leo describes his state of consciousness as having perfect understanding, but not of a scientific or future kind. Instead, it's a deeply personal understanding that comes from the personal death of the self, leading to rebirth as infinite self. Collapse of Personal Defenses: With enlightenment, Leo feels no need to defend personal aspects like family, career, or beliefs anymore. He experiences an unobstructed awareness of truth, with no concern for looking silly or inauthentic. Surreal Yet Inevitable Experience: Despite finding the enlightenment process surreal, Leo acknowledges it as inevitable, resulting from a lifelong dedication to seeking truth, which he sees as the core motivation of his life. Consciousness Using Physical Form: He expresses that the entire universe is his body, with God's consciousness expressing itself through his physical form, seeing, speaking, and engaging with an infinitely interconnected reality. Superconductor for the Universe: Leo sees himself as a superconductor for universal consciousness, with no distinction between himself and the divine. All of his words and actions are manifestations of the universe speaking through him, reconciling opposites like the desire to speak and remain silent. Authenticity as Pure Truth: He delves into the concept of authenticity and its importance, communicating the truth purely for its own sake, and addresses how this unfiltered truth can impact people's perception of him. Facing Vulnerability and Embracing Peace: Leo explains that ultimate vulnerability comes with enlightenment, exposing oneself to potential harm, but this vulnerability coincides with total peace from understanding oneself as formless and deathless. Life Without Point: He contemplates the pointlessness of asking for the meaning of life, stating that life's purpose is to be itself, and for him, that meant pursuing enlightenment, though this purpose is entirely relative. Detachment and the Nature of God: Leo reflects on God as the epitome of freedom and detachment, contrasting the human preference for limitations and confinements, highlighting the difficulty many have in understanding the nature of the divine. Consciousness Beyond Logic: He addresses the non-linear nature of his thoughts during this experience, acknowledging that the process may sound incoherent to the listener but embracing that authenticity transcends logic. Consequences of Authenticity: Leo touches on the fear of embracing authenticity and vulnerability, hinting at how it can unravel personal beliefs, relationships, family views, and concepts of self when exposed to the light of consciousness. Collapse of Reality and Life-Death Dichotomy: Finally, Leo professes his awareness that reality does not exist as a concept and that life and death hold no distinction, existing in the same dimension. Inevitability of Death: Leo expresses that death is not separate from life, happening in another dimension. He claims that it is ever-present and that people are essentially 'dead' without realizing it, engaging in various activities to ignore this fact. Life and Death as One: He argues that life and death are not distinct but the same, with everything being alive in a non-discriminatory way. He describes the room and all objects as alive, tricking us into believing that there are distinctions when there are none. Revelations of Enlightenment: Leo reflects on his previous lifetime of being tricked by the illusion of life before his enlightenment experience. He now wrestles with the implications of his newfound understanding. Recorded Enlightenment: He ponders the uniqueness of documenting his enlightenment experience via technology, which he believes may be rare in human history, acknowledging the investment of time and money in the recording equipment. Silence and Expression: Leo articulates that when he is silent, he is probing the deepest layers of reality and himself, feeling as if he is connecting with the entire world. Shock of Authenticity: He exhibits amazement at the level of authenticity he has reached—a level he did not think possible for himself—describing it as complete openness despite 'warts' and imperfections. Authenticity vs. Societal Pressure: Leo contrasts the pull towards authenticity with social pressures to conform, which leads to inauthentic behavior enforced by the fear of ostracization and loss of societal privileges. Career and Identity Loss: He delves into the possibility of entire careers, like that of a lawyer's, being built on inauthenticity, and the painful consequences of facing this reality. Upper Limits of Enlightenment: Leo discusses the possibility that his current experience might be total enlightenment, but stays open to the idea that there might be deeper levels yet to be discovered. Nature of Reality: He describes reality as a 'mind fuck' that continuously outwits our attempts to understand it, stating that reality is a slippery, undefinable substance—self-aware and without fixed positions. Self-Perception and Being: Leo speaks to the nature of being—the substance we are all made of—and the interconnectivity of perception with reality, rejecting the idea of a separate perceptual process. Democracy and Free Speech: Reflecting on technological and societal advancements, Leo underlines the importance of free speech for sharing enlightenment experiences and stresses the significant role that a platform like YouTube plays in this transmission of knowledge. Churches, Egos, and Suppressing Truth: He criticizes historical societies for suppressing truth and enlightenment through the control of churches and egos. Leo calls the universe 'haunted' because it is conscious of itself. Recontextualization Post-Enlightenment: Leo anticipates that his enlightenment will necessitate a reevaluation of all aspects of his life, including his personal identity and role within society. Self-contained reality: Leo describes reality as a completely self-sufficient, self-contained system that generates its energy, intelligence, and resources. It's an infinite self-recycling system akin to a self-licking ice cream cone – a perfect state of non-duality. Recontextualization post-enlightenment: The enlightenment experience forces Leo to recontextualize all facets of his life, including his business, family, and finances. He acknowledges that life continues, and he still must deal with physical and social realities. Surrender to the inevitable: Leo feels peace from accepting the inevitability of every moment. Acknowledging that everything is predestined, and there is no use in resisting, he becomes a superconductor, fully surrendered and open to the universal truths. Loss of mind as enlightenment feature: He equates losing one's mind with enlightenment—a necessary transformation rather than an error. Leo has reached a point where the mind has dissolved and perceives mental and physical realities as a single entity. Physical limitations persist: Despite enlightenment, Leo recognizes that physical limitations exist and cannot be manipulated by mere thoughts. This includes the impossibility of defying laws like gravity or the social laws without consequences. Detachment and self-identification: Enlightenment, to Leo, is detaching from everything to the point of identifying with everything. He articulates that losing one's self is incredibly liberating, enabling equal treatment and appreciation for all aspects of reality. Detachment from life for enlightenment: He emphasizes that true enlightenment requires detachment from one's life. This detachment is a precondition for achieving a complete understanding of, and surrender to, the ultimate truth. Embracing and conveying truth: Leo discusses the importance of trusting in the truth and overcoming fears and limiting beliefs rooted in one's past to fully convey and become a vessel for the truth. Letting go with caution: He warns against misinterpretation and advises letting go responsibly, not in a manner that causes irresponsibility or harm to oneself or others. Recording constraints: Aware of the technical limitations of recording the session, Leo concludes the video to ensure the content is saved properly, anticipating continuation in future discussions. Flipendo

All Criticism Is Untenable https://youtu.be/EYWOX3OYfFQ Un-ten-a-ble adj. (especially of a position or view) not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection. Synonyms: indefensible, insupportable, unsustainable, unjustified, flimsy, weak, shaky Untenability of Criticism from Non-Duality Perspective: Leo Gura discusses how non-duality leads to the realization that criticism is fundamentally untenable because it operates on the illusion of separateness. In non-dual consciousness, everything is interconnected, and criticism is ultimately a form of self-critique, creating dissatisfaction and a lack of gratitude for life. Mental Trickery in Criticism: Criticism is a tactic the mind uses to avoid responsibility and self-reflection by projecting internal problems onto others. To criticize effectively, one must believe in separation from the object of criticism, which denies the unity of all things and prevents one from recognizing the oneness of existence. Judgment as Rejection of Reality: Criticism is intimately linked with judgment, which is a denial of reality as it is, assuming things could be otherwise. Leo notes that everything, governed by physical laws since the Big Bang, could not have unfolded differently than it has, making criticism a rejection of the truth of the present moment. Criticism as an Addiction in Western Culture: Leo points out the societal addiction to criticism seen in news, politics, and social media. This behavior stems from an unwillingness to take responsibility and to self-reflect, reinforcing a cycle of criticism rather than contributing to solutions. Criticism of Donald Trump: Leo uses Trump as an example of criticism stemming from an unconscious place versus a conscious understanding. He acknowledges his past criticisms of Trump but emphasizes that Trump is a product of certain conditions and cannot be otherwise, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding rather than surface-level criticism. Difficulty of Conscious Change for the Unconscious: Addressing the criticism of Trump's behavior, Leo argues that for Trump to behave differently, a shift in consciousness would be required, which is difficult for highly unconscious individuals. Self-Reflection Essential to Understanding Criticism: Leo calls for self-reflection as the pathway to understanding the untenability of criticism. He suggests that ingrained habits of judgment, moralization, and criticism need to be examined to rise above the ego's game. Trump as a Cultural Product: Describing Trump as the exaggerated outcome of American materialistic culture, Leo urges a deeper look at the roots of societal issues like corporate greed, recognizing individual participation in these systemic problems. Criticism and the Mechanism of the Ego: The ego divides reality, creating 'other' to criticize; but upon deeper analysis, it becomes evident that circumstances shape all behaviors, including those we criticize. Leo stresses the importance of recognizing one's role in perpetuating these behaviors. Importance of Growth and Higher Consciousness in Addressing Criticism: Leo shares his own transformation, moving from a critical stance to a more conscious approach, where criticism is understood as self-defeating and unnecessary for one's evolution in consciousness. Role of Individuals in Corporations and Investment: Leo Gura highlights how individuals working for web development companies or investing in the stock market contribute to funding corporations perceived as greedy. These corporations strive to give investors better returns, which results in the interconnected nature of societal roles and the cycle of wealth accumulation and inequality. Interconnectedness and Hypocrisy in Criticism: By criticizing certain elements of society, individuals actually expose their hypocrisy due to the interconnected nature of reality. Gura points out that criticizing anything is ultimately criticizing oneself because everything is part of the same system of reality—described as a strange loop or a self-involved circle-jerk. Misguided Criticism of Terrorism: Leo critiques the shallow understanding of terrorism as a problem of radical Islam, emphasizing the role of Western policies and the manipulation of world affairs by powerful countries. He argues that terrorism is a consequence of actions by first-world countries aiming to create favorable business environments for corporations, exploiting resources, and widening the inequality gap with third-world countries. Western Responsibility in Geopolitical Issues: Gura talks about the first-world countries' complicity in fostering terrorism by creating deep global inequalities through political and economic manipulations. This creates enemies and fuels resentment, which can lead to terrorism, showing the untenability of criticism that doesn't acknowledge our own contributing actions. Materialistic Paradigm and Culture Re-evaluation: Leo calls for self-reflection and a re-evaluation of the materialistic culture in developed countries. He underlines the need to show compassion for other cultures and ways of life instead of exploiting them, highlighting the Western dogma of imposing its culture on others under the guise of scientific progress. Hypocrisy in Government Criticism: Criticizing political and government issues often overlooks one's personal role in such matters. Leo points out that criticism contributes to the problem it critiques since it perpetuates unproductive behavior and distracts from taking actionable and constructive steps. Constructive Criticism of Science: Gura explains that his criticism of science stems from love and a desire to see it evolve beyond its dogmatic and myopic tendencies. He understands the deep structures of science and its historical paradigms, advocating for a non-dogmatic approach that includes spirituality and other excluded phenomena. Non-duality Debates as Distraction: Leo highlights the counterproductivity of debates over non-duality, stating that arguing about these teachings distracts from genuine spiritual work. True non-duality involves understanding that criticism of belief systems is ultimately pointless, and acceptance of reality as it is forms the basis of higher consciousness. Criticism's Lack of Productivity in Improvement: Leo challenges the belief that criticism necessarily leads to improvement, advocating for self-reflection as a more effective tool for progress. He implies that criticism is often a self-justifying, self-righteous action that doesn't change the present or constructively influence the future. Freedom to Respond to Wrongdoing: Despite his argument against criticism's productivity, Gura acknowledges that individuals are free to act against wrongdoing such as resisting Nazis or opposing oppressors, but he questions the self-righteous nature of criticism and suggests a focus on responsible, reflective action instead of criticism. Sam Harris's criticism of Islam: Leo Gura points out that while Sam Harris intends his criticism of Islam to prompt improvement, it may actually elicit the opposite effect, increasing hostility and resulting in personal threats to Harris, indicating criticism's potential to exacerbate rather than resolve issues. Criticism vs. Self-reflection for improvement: Leo suggests that true improvement in the world comes not from criticism but from individuals taking radical ownership of their lives, engaging in deep self-reflection, and encouraging the same in others. The paradox of criticizing criticism: As Leo criticizes Sam Harris, he acknowledges the paradox and untenability of criticism, highlighting that his critique serves to point out the potential to rise above the "mudslinging contest" of criticism. Non-dual nature of criticism: Gura explains the non-dual reality wherein both all criticism is untenable due to its inherent contradictions and tenable given reality's infinite freedom, suggesting a meta perspective on the nature of criticism. Person A vs. Person B approaches to criticism: Outlining the differences between two personas, Person A—who is heavily invested emotionally in criticism and experiences negative consequences—and Person B—who uses criticism pragmatically and remains unphased by the subjects of critique. Recognition of Past Criticism: Leo acknowledges his previous critical nature towards various ideas and people. He admits that while he may still engage in some level of criticism, he's become aware that this approach is not conducive to reaching higher levels of consciousness. Personal Growth and Attitude Shift: Leo has observed that maintaining a critical attitude imposes a 'glass ceiling' on his personal development. To transcend this limitation, he's committed to minimizing criticism to achieve higher consciousness. Metaphor of Hyenas vs. Manta Ray: Using the metaphor of hyenas fighting over a carcass versus a peaceful manta ray, Leo illustrates the difference between a life of constant criticism and one of tranquility and non-engagement with criticism. Image 1 How to Become a Manta Ray: To transition from a critical 'hyena' to a serene 'manta ray', Leo proposes six reflective questions to ask oneself before engaging in criticism, aiming to reframe one's perspective and actions. 30-Day No Criticism Challenge: He introduces a tangible practice, a 30-day challenge, to help participants avoid criticism. Wearing a wristband as a reminder, the challenge is to consciously refrain from criticizing, encouraging self-reflection and awareness. Final Words of Caution: Leo warns against the trap of hypocritically using his anti-criticism stance to criticize others. He stresses that these insights should be inwardly focused to combat one's own ego, not wielded as a tool against others. Future Content Direction: He closes by affirming that while recent topics have been existential, he plans to delve back into more practical subjects. Leo explains that his existential exploration will enhance the depth and significance of his future practical advice. Fidelius Charm

Jacques Derrida, Deconstruction, Post-Modernism & Nonduality https://youtu.be/gn1-lBpD_6c "If I were to advance any thesis whatsoever, that in itself would be a fault; but I advance no thesis and so cannot be faulted." - Nagarjuna Overview of Leo's Lecture on Derrida and Deconstruction: Introduces the profound impact of Jacques Derrida's philosophy and his method of deconstruction on various academic fields, which radically critiques all of Western intellectual tradition by exploring the structure of language, thought, and reality. Role of Structuralism: Leo explains the origins of Derrida's ideas in structuralism, a linguistic philosophy that suggests meaning in language is based on relationships among symbols and not just their arbitrary link to objects in the world. Derrida's Post Structuralism: Highlights Derrida's advancement of structuralism into post-structuralism by introspectively examining how language shapes thought and knowledge, emphasizing the historical usage of symbols and their interconnected significance in the web of language. Meaning of a Symbol in Derridian Philosophy: Details how Derrida perceives the meaning of a symbol like "science" as being derived from its historical use and network of associated words, with both present and absent symbols contributing to its understanding. Language as Decentralized: Compares language to a decentralized system like Bitcoin, where meanings change without a central authority, suggesting that Derrida viewed language and meanings as inherently relative and perpetually evolving. Depth of Language and Concepts: Asserts the profound depth of language and concepts and how understanding a word requires an almost infinite exploration of its interconnected relationships with all other words, which leads to a deferment of concrete meaning. Deconstruction as Intellectual Inquiry: Positions deconstruction as a method that delves deep into language to reveal its structure and the interconnectedness of meanings, inviting a radical restructuring of knowledge beyond the academic and intellectual. Derrida's Influence on Academia and Practical Implications: Discusses the widespread impact of Derrida's philosophy on softer disciplines and the anti-establishment ideologies that emerged from post-modernism, yet acknowledges the practicality dismissals encountered in harder sciences. Critique and Practice of Deconstruction: Surveys the criticism of Derrida's method and writing style, calling for the true practice of deconstruction to understand philosophies and the non-dual nature of reality. Misunderstandings and Transcending Derrida's Perspective: Reflects on the limitations of Derrida's deconstruction, suggesting it did not fully realize non-duality by remaining too conceptual and contained within language and thought rather than encompassing the raw experience of existence. Actualized.org's Mission and Deconstruction Applied to Life: Elucidates Actualized.org's goal of revealing misconceptions and aiding enlightenment through self-actualization, while encouraging the application of deconstruction to one's beliefs and experience of the physical world as well as the intellectual. Non-duality through Deconstruction: Leo emphasizes the journey to realize non-duality through deconstruction, recognizing the challenges in transcending the mind using language, and connecting Derrida's work to mystical traditions. Continuous Evolution of Language: Language is dynamically evolving as society inventively coins new words like "selfie," which gain recognition and are added to dictionaries, reflecting their widespread use and changing meanings over time. Meaning and Usage of Words: The meaning of a word extends beyond a simple definition; it encompasses the varied conceptions held by different individuals and is defined by its relationship with other related concepts. Deferral of Meaning in Language: A word's meaning is contextual and relies on associated concepts that are not explicitly mentioned, adhering to Derrida's notion that meaning is always deferred by depending on other words. Symbols and Their Infinite Potential: Symbols in language refer to other symbols in an interconnected web, creating a system where each symbol's meaning is not fixed, continually shifts, and possesses infinite interpretations. Partial Comprehension and the Elusiveness of Full Meaning: Since comprehending the full scope of a word's meaning would require acknowledging every historical usage, human understanding of a word or concept remains inevitably incomplete and fragmented. Quine's Web of Belief and Language: The interconnectedness of knowledge and beliefs mirrors the complexity of language, where no singular proposition is ever isolated but always assessed within a broader web of interlinked statements and assumptions. Language's Complexity in Communication: Linguistic communication is an act of narrowing down the boundless possible meanings of words to fit the context, leading to a perpetual state of misunderstanding and the suppression of alternate meanings. Symbols Referencing Other Symbols: A symbol's significance is derived from its difference and reference to other symbols, not from direct representation of the thing itself, underscoring the conceptual mechanisms that form language. Every Statement as an Interpretative Reduction: Derrida posits that all statements inevitably constrain and limit the boundless meanings of words, rendering them inherently false given their restrictive and manipulated articulation. Critique of Western Intellectual Tradition through the Nature of Symbols: Western tradition is critiqued for misconstruing symbols as direct representations of reality, ignoring the profound basis of language as a network of symbols pointing to other symbols without fixed essence. Conceptual Relations: Every word in language, such as "cat," is related to every other word not only by direct associations but by differences in their linguistic appearance. Language consists of these appearances, forming an interconnected web where changing one element transforms its identity, much like altering a physical animal changes its categorization. Derrida's Notion of Différance: Derrida introduces "différance," reflecting his philosophy of meaning as differences and deferral. Meaning is eternally deferred, highlighting the endless pursuit of understanding within language. This concept underscores that words' meanings are never fully delivered; the search for definition is a never-ending chase. Language as a Groundless Network: Language resembles a decentralized network or a pyramid of interlocking triangles, representing words and concepts. As focus shifts, different concepts move from background to foreground, demonstrating the fluidity and relativity of meaning. No single concept is central or foundational, and the importance is always in flux, mirroring the dynamism of perspectives. Image 1 Western Intellectual Tradition's Logo-centrism: Leo critiques Western tradition for its unwavering belief in language and words as definitive tools to describe reality. Derrida argues that such an approach, akin to isolating a single triangle as the foundation of all others, is flawed. There is no ultimate, foundational narrative or concept, as all are equally transient and malleable. Deconstruction of Distinctions and Hierarchies: Derrida's method, deconstruction, targets the constructed distinctions, categories, dichotomies, and hierarchies to reveal their baselessness. It aims to dismantle any perceived ground or foundation within the network of language and thought, returning to a state of natural interplay and equality between concepts. Binary Opposites and Their Collapse: All thought is inherently dualistic and structured by binary oppositions. Through deconstruction, Derrida shows that these opposites imply one another and are inseparable, collapsing under intense scrutiny. Further, Western tradition not only creates these opposites but often arbitrarily assigns privilege to one side, marginalizing the other, which Derrida aims to reverse. Rationality Versus Emotion: Western culture's privileging of rationality over emotion is challenged, as emotions are fundamental for compelling action and rationality relies on emotions for motivation. Neither rationality nor emotion is superior; rather, they are interdependent, disputing the hierarchization embedded in traditional Western thought. Derrida's Critique of Privileging 'Reality' Over 'Illusion': Derrida challenges the common Western privileging of reality over illusion, showing how non-duality reveals no distinction between the two. Both are part of a unified illusion, a challenging notion for those deeply invested in the concept of a tangible reality. Deconstruction of History and Meta-narratives: Western philosophy's fixation on establishing definitive historical narratives is critiqued by Derrida. He argues that history is too complex for simplistic, constructed narratives that select and privilege certain data points, oversimplifying the multifaceted nature of past events. Deconstruction Methodology: Derrida's deconstruction involves breaking down conceptual distinctions in any text or philosophy until they reveal their inherent groundlessness, allowing us to delight in the shimmering interplay of a decentralized network of concepts. Fundamentals of Deconstruction: Deconstruction reveals that conceptual distinctions are unstable and binary dichotomies imply their opposites, which must collapse under non-dual reality — a principle that transcends even rationality. Results of Derrida's Deconstruction: The end result of deconstruction is a collapse of all justifications, theories, and power structures, leaving a groundless state where reality is seen as playful and free-flowing, unbound by strict definitions or hierarchies. The Impact of Derrida on Academia and Culture: Derrida's philosophy had a limited influence on the hard sciences, which focus on pragmatism and construction over abstract truth seeking, and was often dismissed as toxic or relativistic by mainstream academia. Potential of Concepts and Misinterpretation by Practical Minds: Leo discusses how people often equate concepts with tangible constructs. He compares the reception of deconstruction to a butcher asked to become vegan, illustrating resistance from those embedded in a system, particularly scientists, who find such philosophical questioning impractical as it doesn't align with their day-to-day pursuits. Derrida's Impact in Academia and Inception of Relativism: Although hard sciences largely dismissed Derrida's work, softer sciences like literature and the humanities found value in it, leading to a broader cultural impact. His philosophy spiraled into a relativistic political ideology, and was used by marginalized groups, like feminists and the LGBTQ+ community, to challenge established norms and hierarchies. Misuse of Deconstruction and Non-duality Ideology: Leo critiques the misuse of Derrida's philosophy, explaining how deconstruction can be appropriated as an ideology to justify personal agendas. This ideologization of non-duality contradicts Derrida's intent by creating new dogmatic beliefs, underlining the dangers of absolutes in the absence of deep consciousness. Criticism on Derrida's Writing Style: Critics, including Mark Goldblatt, accuse Derrida of being an intellectual fraud due to his complex and non-committal writing style. Leo clarifies that this complexity reflects Derrida's effort to speak from a non-dualistic stance and avoid hypocritical assertions within language. Convolutions of Derrida's Writing as Necessary for Non-duality: Leo defends Derrida's convoluted writing, noting it is integral to expressing non-duality and avoiding the creation of new dogmas. Derrida's attempt to negate each affirmation he makes mirrors the Zen approach to teaching and is deliberate to reflect the paradoxical nature of non-duality. Deconstruction Limited to Concepts and Language: Leo points out the limitations of Derrida's deconstruction, which did not completely abandon dualistic language and concepts to fully embrace non-duality. Derrida's oversight was not advancing beyond the intellectual realm into the direct experience of reality. Derrida's Incomplete Vision of Non-duality: Although Derrida realized the dualism within thinking, he is perceived not to have transcended this dualism, remaining bound by language and concepts. A complete embrace of non-duality, Leo suggests, involves transcending the mind to directly experience reality without linguistic mediation. Derrida's Intellectual Limitations: Derrida failed to fully embrace non-duality as his deconstruction was confined to intellectual concepts without extending to the actual physical experience of non-duality. Transcendence Beyond Mental Constructs: For a deep understanding of non-duality, one must transcend intellectual deconstruction and experience raw, direct, non-symbolic reality, which Derrida did not achieve. Deconstruction Within Zen Buddhism: Zen master David Loy critiques Derrida for focusing on linguistic deconstruction without extending the process to the metaphysical level, which involves questioning the fundamental nature of reality and physical existence. Necessity of Deconstructing Physical Reality: True non-duality requires acknowledging and moving beyond just intellectual critique to deconstructing sensory experiences and the physical body, which could lead to transformative insights into the nature of reality. Insanity as a Byproduct of Deconstruction: When deconstruction reaches the level of questioning one's own physical existence and the material world, the process can induce feelings akin to insanity because of the dissolution of perceived boundaries. Limitations of an Intellectual Understanding of Non-Duality: Intellectual understanding of non-duality, as exemplified by Derrida, differs vastly from a direct experiential realization of non-duality, which involves actualizing deconstruction beyond concepts. Derrida's Potential Realization of Non-Duality: Derrida's philosophy points towards the interplay and groundlessness inherent in reality and language; if fully realized, it could lead to an understanding that reality is an infinitely expanding web without a central authority. Personal Reflection on Deconstruction: Leo shares his own journey of deconstructing belief systems and the insight that all such systems lack a firm foundation, a realization that aligns with Derrida's notions but goes further to advocate for the direct experience of non-duality. Deconstructing the Constructive Mind: The human mind's propensity for constructing realities and clinging to them poses a barrier to realizing non-duality, and profound deconstruction is necessary for a deeper spiritual transformation. Actualization Through Deconstruction: To fully actualize deconstruction, one must be willing to question and dissolve not just intellectual beliefs but also the fabric of one's perceived physical and emotional reality. Resistance to Deconstruction: Humans' attachment to their constructs—including philosophies, sciences, and religions—leads to resistance against deconstruction, which is an essential process for realizing non-duality and spiritual growth. Illusion as Reality: The concept of illusion is deconstructed as inherently indistinguishable from reality, as there is no absolute reality to compare any illusion against. Nature of Actualized.org: Though it presents itself as a beacon of truth, actualized.org is not immune to being seen as just another construct, comparable to the "solid [excrement]" one might cling to after escaping "liquid [excrement]." Deconstruction as a Method of Liberation: Leo Gura describes the process of deconstruction as the continuous breaking down of concepts until one is entirely free of all constructs, akin to floating in empty space. Communicating Non-dual Concepts with Dualistic Language: Leo acknowledges the paradox of using concepts and language to reveal the limitations and falsehoods of concepts and language themselves. The Trap of Conceptual Constructs: The human mind's tendency to cling to constructs and ideologies can prevent the leap into non-duality, leaving one stranded on "islands of [excrement]." Non-duality in Mysticism: Derrida's work is acknowledged for being close to mystical traditions like Kabbalah, which understand the non-duality and groundlessness of existence. Deconstruction in Mystical Practice: Deconstruction is heralded as a powerful method in various spiritual practices, including Zen, yoga, and Buddhism, facilitating a deeper realization of truth through a destructive rather than constructive process. Derrida as a Kabbalistic Figure: Philosopher Emmanuel Levinas associated Derrida’s ideas with the principles of Jewish Kabbalah due to the non-dual nature of his deconstruction method. The Pragmatics of Deconstruction: Leo ends by recommending further reading, David Loy's "The Deconstruction of Buddhism," and encourages the actualization of deconstruction practices, while acknowledging that interests and approaches to understanding may vary among individuals. Sectumsempra

Why Brains Do Not Exist https://youtu.be/5N9xARPfJYY "Existence is anecdotal." The problem with the materialist paradigm: Leo describes the materialist belief in the physical brain as a significant obstacle to understanding deeper consciousness work. Materialists are stuck on the idea that everything is happening inside the brain, which hinders grasping advanced metaphysical concepts. First-person experiences misconceived as hallucinations: Materialists often discount spiritual and mystical experiences as unreliable hallucinations, comparing them to the subjective realities of people with mental disorders. They argue for reliance on science for objective truths, contradicting the significance of first-person experiences. Materialists' implicit metaphysics unexamined: Leo points out that materialists assume the existence of a brain and an external physical reality without questioning these underlying metaphysical beliefs. The materialist's metaphysics, when closely examined, reveals inherent absurdities and contradictions. Misinterpretation of observing a brain: When materialists observe a brain within a skull, they fail to recognize that this is merely a first-person experience of seeing pink flesh, not proof of the brain's metaphysical existence. Materialistic assumptions lack a proper foundation as they build on unverified metaphysical substrates. Circular reasoning in materialist belief: The materialist's assertion that first-person appearances occur in the brain cannot escape circular reasoning, as the brain itself is a conceptual construct based on first-person appearances without empirical evidence for a separate metaphysical reality. Science built on subjective experiences: Leo emphasizes that all scientific knowledge is ultimately rooted in first-person experiences, yet science divides this into seemingly objective third-person facts using consensus, overlooking that this consensus is still comprised of subjective experiences. No empirical evidence for an external world: The materialist view assumes an external world where all experiences and the brain exist; however, Leo argues there is no empirical proof for this external reality. Everything, including the skeptic's stance, is based on subjective, anecdotal evidence. Existence and universe as anecdotal: The materialist critique of the subjectivity of mystical experiences overlooks the fact that all beliefs about existence and the universe are also anecdotal; they are only "real" because of first-person experiences. Reality is misunderstood as non-conceptual, ignoring its foundation in subjective perception. Consequences of materialist assumptions: Leo warns that the materialist paradigm, which sees the brain and the universe as objective, impedes recognition of a significantly deeper understanding of reality. It confines one's perspective to what is conceptualized rather than acknowledging the direct manifestations of existence. Central Dependence of Existence: Leo argues that everything, including the Big Bang, hinges on one's own existence. He proposes a substantial paradigm shift by suggesting that instead of us depending on the Big Bang, it relies on our existence, challenging the common materialist perspective. Metaphysics Dismissed as Nonsense: Leo criticizes the common societal dismissal of metaphysics as irrelevant or nonsensical, especially by scientists who claim that they've abandoned such discussions. He clarifies that even the belief in hard objective facts is inherently a metaphysical stance. Materialism as Cultural Indoctrination: Leo observes that modern culture indoctrinates individuals into the materialist paradigm without presenting it as one possible perspective, making it more insidious than explicit religious indoctrination. Questioning this paradigm risks being mocked or labeled as crazy. Reality as Hallucination: He defines reality, including his own presence and voice, as a hallucination. Leo deliberately uses the term "hallucination" to describe appearances without substance, suggesting that there is nothing beyond these perceptions; no brains, physical matter, or laws acting behind the scenes. Misconceptions About Hallucinations: Addressing the skepticism towards his notion of hallucination, Leo differentiates between different types of hallucinations. He argues that hallucinations, regardless of being fantastical or realistic, can be governed by their own set of logical rules. The Limitation of Paradigms on Imagination: Leo argues that a person's fundamental paradigm or set of beliefs severely limits their ability to imagine realities outside of that frame, leading to a dismissal of concepts that don't fit within their perceived constraints, like ghosts for a materialist. Location of Hallucinations and Paradigm Break: Questioning the location of these hallucinations, Leo refutes the materialist's suggestion that hallucinations occur in the brain or a simulated reality, positing that the hard reality of appearances happening in the brain or physical substratum is a mere assumption. Comparison with Historical Scientific Fallacies: Leo equates the belief in a brain or physical reality to outdated scientific concepts like luminiferous ether, phlogiston, caloric, and miasma. These were once held to explain phenomena but were ultimately deemed unnecessary. Rejecting the Need for a Physical Substratum: Leo suggests that just as scientific understanding evolved past the need for ether or miasma, it's possible to conceive that appearances do not need a physical substratum. The challenge lies in relinquishing the deeply ingrained materialist paradigm. Materialist Paradigm Compared to Religious Fundamentalism: He compares the staunch adherence to the materialist paradigm to religious fundamentalism, stating that materialists are fundamentalists to their belief in a physical reality and brain, which they are reluctant to question or abandon. The Difficulty of Paradigm Shift: Leo acknowledges the difficulty in shifting away from the materialist paradigm, asserting that it's not enough to intellectually agree to drop physicalist beliefs; it would take a significant experiential shift to truly abandon materialistic fundamentalism. Comparison of the Brain to Religious Gods: Leo suggests that like religious people have their versions of God, materialists treat the brain as their "God". He claims there's no proof for the brain or an external reality, and that believing in such is taken on blind faith. Ideological Positions of the Mind: Leo critiques atheists and scientifically minded people for underestimating the mind's capacity for holding ideological positions. He argues that many hold deep-seated ideological beliefs without realizing it, much like religious superstitions but simply with different content. Consistency of First-Person Experience: The reason for materialistic belief, according to Leo, is the consistent solidity of first-person experiences. However, he contends that this perceived consistency is an illusion which can be broken through methods like psychedelics, intense meditation, or sensory deprivation. Cultural Indoctrination into Materialism: Leo talks about being born into a materialist culture, comparing it to religious indoctrination. He suggests that due to deep cultural indoctrination, most people find it difficult to conceive of a reality that is not materialistic. Inquiry into the Substance of Reality: Leo posits that considering reality to have a physical substrate that grounds appearances leads to an infinite regress. He encourages questioning what grounds reality itself, emphasizing that weirdness, absurdity, and paradox are features of ultimate metaphysical questions, not bugs. Ultimate Grounding of Reality as Nothingness: Leo states that reality, including the brain, is appearances within nothingness, not within space, time, or dimensions. He claims that the idea of the Big Bang or anything beyond it doesn't explain the source of appearances, which instead suggests an infinite hallucination. Brain Damage Argument: Addressing the brain damage argument, Leo agrees that damaging the brain affects appearances but argues this does not prove appearances are happening inside the brain. Rather he maintains the brain is simply an interactive appearance within the hallucinatory system of reality. Reality as a Self-Interactive System: He explains that reality, being a collection of interconnected appearances, is inherently a self-interactive system, with phenomena like billiard ball collisions or atomic interactions exemplifying this concept. Significance of the Brain in Experience: While acknowledging the brain's role in shaping our experiences, Leo clarifies that its importance doesn't establish it as the metaphysical substrate of appearance. He reinforces the idea of keeping the brain safe, as it is a significant interactive component in reality. Influence of Substances on Perceptions: Leo counters the argument that drugs altering perception proves a physical brain cause by stating that liquor or drugs are appearances that affect the brain's appearances, which then alters other appearances, maintaining the consistency of reality as a system of appearances. Hallucinatory nature of reality: Leo contends reality is composed of interconnected appearances that interact in complex ways, yet this does not validate the existence of these appearances within a brain. The brain's role in generating appearances: He states that the evolution of the brain is significant for creating the richness of human consciousness compared to less complex beings, emphasizing the brain's role in the intricate self-interactive system that generates our experiences. Magical nature of existence: Leo proposes that reality is 'magical,' meaning existence is uncaused and mystical, with no underlying mechanism generating appearances—they manifest directly. Limitations of physics: He distinguishes between physical laws, which govern a portion of reality, and the nature of existence, which is not confined to these laws, implying reality is unlimited and not subjected to physical constraints. Metaphysics and science: Leo argues that while science is adept at explaining physical phenomena, it does not and cannot address the metaphysical question of being—it operates under undeclared metaphysical assumptions, primarily materialism. Science's never-ending discovery: He suggests that, despite continuous scientific progress, there will always be an infinite number of appearances and science will never answer the fundamental question of their existence, highlighting the gap between empirical study and metaphysical inquiry. Materialism and magical thinking: Leo critiques the materialistic approach's rejection of 'magical thinking,' explaining that even as science demystifies certain phenomena, it fails to address the existence of phenomena and will always require a mystical source for reality. Reality as direct manifestation: He suggests considering an alternative where reality is the mechanism itself—the direct manifestation of appearances—and there's no distinction between existence and consciousness of existence. Inherent mysticism of reality: Leo asserts that the simplest and most direct explanation of reality is through mysticism and magic—everything is directly manifested, negating the need for an external reality or substratum. Demystifying nature's pitfalls: He warns that the materialist approach to demystify nature leads to a loss of understanding of reality's essence, as materialism cannot accommodate the concept of the mystical and uncaused nature of being. Materialist Metaphysics as a Straitjacket: Leo criticizes the materialistic worldview for being too rigid, rejecting the existence of subtler, immaterial aspects of reality. This, he says, leads to closed-mindedness and prevents exploration of phenomena that go beyond the physical. Limited Understanding: Leo argues that adherents of materialism are trapped within their paradigm and fail to recognize or explore anything beyond the material world, labeling other potential levels of consciousness as nonexistent. Hallucination as Immaterial Reality: He asserts that all of reality is immaterial, equating material and immaterial phenomena with hallucinations, thereby challenging the division between what's considered material and immaterial. Rejection of the Paranormal: According to Leo, when topics like past lives, out-of-body experiences, and immortality are presented to a materialist, they are dismissed as nonsense, which he argues is a consequence of the constraints of a materialist mindset. Open Investigation vs. Superstition: He encourages a genuine and open investigation into these unconventional phenomena, distinguishing between being open to possibility and gullibly believing in every claim. Fear-Based Objections to Mysticism: Leo indicates that the fear of superstition or engaging with the 'paranormal' is not rooted in a quest for truth but rather in an aversion to believing in something potentially false. Exploring Beyond Materialism: He suggests that by being open to new paradigms and exploring topics considered beyond material understanding, one can experience personal growth and gain a broader understanding of spirituality and immaterial truths. Self-Development and Escaping Materialism: Leo highlights that by questioning the materialistic paradigm, people can perform powerful self-development work and eventually experience a profound shift in their understanding of reality. Discovering the Illusion of Materialism: He implores the audience to explore and discover that the materialist paradigm is flawed and to realize that existence is more mystical than they currently perceive. Dropping the 'Brain God': Leo encourages viewers to abandon the notion that experiences occur within a brain, promoting the idea of existence as a hallucination arising from nothingness, which leads to a more profound perception of reality. Personal Enlightenment Journey Documentation: Leo invites viewers to accompany him on his documented journey towards enlightenment on Actualized.org, providing an opportunity to observe and possibly participate in a transformational process. Transformation and Growth Emphasis: He predicts a radical change in himself within the next five years and encourages viewers to actively participate in their self-development to avoid falling behind in understanding his advanced teachings. Polyjuice Potion

Comprehension Has Many Degrees https://youtu.be/Fh-BchpGXD0 "A good idea must be chewed to get its juice." Comprehension Has Many Degrees: Leo highlights that understanding can vary greatly, and while many may hear or read truths, insights, or teachings, the level of genuine comprehension can be vastly different. The Importance of Contemplation: Leo underscores that true understanding comes from deep contemplation—digesting and exploring the layers, facets, and implications of an insight or principle to allow for transformative impact. Example of People's Opinions: The common advice that other people's opinions are irrelevant is often not fully internalized, as evidenced by the continued impact of these opinions on one's life despite intellectual agreement with the concept. Language Creates Reality: Leo challenges listeners to contemplate the profound statement that language creates reality, encouraging them to investigate its truth and implications rather than accepting it at face value. The Map is Not the Territory: Understanding the difference between maps (concepts) and territories (reality) is critical, as failing to recognize this can lead to a fundamental misunderstanding of the human experience. Buddha's Teaching on Suffering: The Buddha's teaching that all suffering comes from clinging to impermanent objects is deceptively simple but requires significant contemplation to grasp its depth and apply it to one's life. All Fear Is a Concept About the Future: Contemplating the idea that fear is tied to future projections can lead to profound insights into the nature of fear and possibly its elimination through deeper understanding. Significance of Meditation: Leo argues that to establish a strong meditation practice, one must first comprehend its profound importance through personal contemplation, beyond simply following instructions. Concept of No-self and Non-duality: To even grasp the concept of no-self and non-duality requires serious contemplation, as the implications are vast, affecting all areas of philosophy, science, and daily life. Conceptual Understanding Versus Direct Experience: Leo points out the progression from conceptual understanding of profound insights, such as non-duality, to direct experience and realization of their truth. Transformation Through Contemplation: Leo asserts that contemplating deeply on significant concepts, such as success not being equivalent to growth, can transform one's life. Merely hearing this idea is not enough; one must actively draw connections and implications to truly comprehend and thus change their life. Intellectual Acceptance vs. True Belief: Many people intellectually accept the idea that other people's opinions don't matter, but still experience anxiety and fear, showing they haven't truly internalized the concept. Contemplation can help bridge the gap between knowing an idea and being affected by it in daily life. The Illusion of Good and Bad: Leo challenges the notion of good and bad by exploring how deeply-held yet unexamined beliefs about good and bad influence reactions and suffering in everyday life. Without deep contemplation, when faced with negative experiences, people quickly resort to their default belief in good and bad, revealing their lack of understanding. The Danger of Superficial Beliefs: Leo points out that simply agreeing with profound statements, like the absence of free will, can be deceptive. Without deep understanding and direct experience of such ideas, one might behave contrary to those beliefs, proving a superficial acceptance. Manipulation in Relationships: Leo addresses how manipulation harms relationships, illustrating the importance of contemplating how one's own manipulative behavior could be the root of relational issues. Thorough understanding and behavior change require serious contemplation. Accessing Infinite Intelligence: Leo emphasizes that the human mind has the capacity to access infinite intelligence and creativity. However, making use of this requires months of contemplation to understand its significance and to apply it practically to one's life. Contemplation as Inquiry: Contemplation is described as a process of asking questions about a concept, like 'What does non-duality mean?'. Pondering deeply on various aspects and consequences of an idea allows for a profound understanding and personal insights. Deep Work vs. Accumulation of Ideas: Leo underscores that personal growth work is more about going deep into fundamental truths rather than accumulating many complex, new, or fancy ideas. It's about profound understanding and application, not merely collecting more knowledge. Levels of Understanding: Leo describes a six-stage linear progression of understanding, from merely hearing an idea to properly comprehending it, seeing its significance, experiencing initial glimpses of its truth, and ultimately living in accordance with that deep insight. Conceptual Misunderstandings: Many people falter at the second stage of understanding by misinterpreting concepts, which can impede progress toward profound realizations and experiences, like the nature of non-duality or the illusion of free will. Glimpses of Insight: Gradually, individuals begin to intermittently see glimpses of truth in insights, such as recognizing their own manipulative behaviors and connecting these to the resulting consequences and suffering they cause in relationships. Constant Consciousness of Insights: Eventually, one reaches a stage where awareness of insights becomes constant, making it difficult not to notice these truths. This stage involves understanding the full practical ramifications of an insight and seeing how it intertwinely impacts all facets of life. Awareness of Traps: At the final stage, individuals become acutely aware of the mechanisms and traps that cause them to become unconscious again. They learn to recognize and avoid these traps, or even stop themselves midway when they fall into them. Understanding Inevitability of Mechanisms: Deep understanding culminates in realizing why certain mechanisms and behaviors are inevitable and why reality could not be otherwise, leading to a sense of peace even with the existence of what is typically considered evil. Stages of Understanding: Leo describes various stages of understanding insights, from initial judgment and superficial comprehension to deep acceptance. However, he stresses these stages are not definitive but a framework to aid conceptualization of the growth process. Obstacles to Understanding: Progress through the stages of understanding is hindered by obstacles such as closed-mindedness, judgments, arrogance, complacency, laziness, and a tendency to believe without understanding or experiencing insights. From Belief to Direct Experience: Leo underscores the significant gap between simply believing in principles like morality and directly experiencing the truths behind them. Beliefs can mask underlying contrary behaviors, creating internal conflict and inhibiting growth. Derived Truths for Personal Transformation: Ultimately, personal transformation requires individuals to derive truths for themselves, moving beyond agreement or dissent to direct experience and understanding as an independent verification of teachings. Ownership of Deriving Truths: Leo stresses the importance of actively working towards directly experiencing the truths pointed at by teachings, using one's own cognitive capacities to trace the truth, rather than just accepting it as given. Active Process of Understanding: He explains that understanding is an active process, comparing it to how one must understand mathematics by working through proofs and logic personally, rather than just shuffling symbols or relying on rote learning. Self-Derivation Over External Answers: Emphasizing the pitfalls of looking up answers or accepting ones that he provides, Leo argues that such an approach can be detrimental to personal transformation, which is achieved through self-derived comprehension. Problems in Consciousness Work: He points out the unique challenges in consciousness work, where being given the answers can actually be the greatest disservice, as it leads to an illusion of understanding and potential regression. Laziness as a Barrier: Leo comments on the laziness of human nature when it comes to deriving truths, noting it as a reason for the prevalence of religion and standard morality, as they offer ready-made answers that don't require personal contemplation. Importance of Contemplation for Human Potential: He discusses the critical role of contemplation in realizing human potential, comparing a contemplative person to a lion that hunts, asserting that our hunt is for understanding and is done with the mind. Depth of Comprehension: Leo advises taking ideas seriously, seeking true understanding over immediate results, and contemplating regularly to differentiate between trivial and cosmically significant points, highlighting the importance of interconnecting insights. Derivation and Contemplation as Mandatory: He concludes by reiterating that in the process of personal growth, contemplation and personal derivation of insights are not just optional activities but mandatory ones. Correct Use of Teachings: Finally, Leo portrays his videos as 'dessert', meant to supplement personal work such as meditating and reading books, cautioning against using them as a substitute for personal effort, which can lead to a superficial understanding akin to a 'veneer of righteousness'. Expecto Patronum

Learning = Behavior Change https://youtu.be/V7d_28EqIu0 Insight on Learning: Leo credits Evan Pagan and Wyatt Woodsmall for teaching him that learning is equivalent to behavior change. This key insight is vital to move from theory to practice and to achieve real-life results. Redefining Learning: Learning should be redefined as behavior change rather than the accumulation of facts or adoption of new beliefs. Traditional schooling often misleads us to equate memorization with learning, but true learning manifests as changed behavior. Criteria for True Learning: If information does not change an individual's behavior, then true learning has not occurred. Learning is not to be confused with intellectualization or gaining theoretical knowledge alone. Tangible Learning Milestones: Real learning involves explicit changes in actions based on new understanding or insight, not vague intentions or moralizing on what 'should' be done. Applying the Lessons from Learning: For true learning to be evidenced, specific and tangible changes in behavior must be implemented in various scenarios—whether it be in business practices, handling relationships, or personal development endeavors. Behavioral Impact of Advanced Personal Development: In more advanced stages of personal development, such as consciousness work or pursuing enlightenment, transforming abstract concepts into practical behavior becomes increasingly challenging, yet more crucial. Test of Understanding: To validate learning, Leo challenges viewers to translate what they've learned from his talk into specific behavioral changes they will implement, highlighting the importance of precise action steps. Sustainable Behavior Change: The real test of learning is the endurance of behavior change over time, indicating genuine understanding and integration of lessons into one's life. Different Definitions of Learning: Leo acknowledges that learning as behavior change is just one perspective on what it means to learn, but one that is particularly effective for practical application and achievement of goals. Mystical experiences and behavior change: Leo explains that a mystical experience alone doesn't guarantee behavior change. One must consciously reflect on what was learned to explicitly identify how behaviors should change post-experience, rather than hoping for automatic transformation. New to personal development: Leo addresses those new to personal development, stressing that consuming content isn't enough. One must be clear on how their behaviors have changed as a result of the knowledge gained, or else there has been no real learning. Practical areas to apply behavior change: He lists practical situations to apply the behavior change concept, such as reading books, attending classes, workshops, seminars, and even during daily reflections, successes, failures, and psychedelic trips. The goal is to ask how behavior will change as a result of these experiences. Journaling for concrete behavior change: Leo suggests keeping a journal as an effective tool to articulate and commit to specific behavior changes, warning against the mind's tendency to resort to vague generalizations rather than specifying actual changes in action. Pop quiz on learning: Leo challenges viewers with a pop quiz to specify what they've learned from his talk and how they will change their behavior, underlining that vague future intentions are not sufficient—he looks for concrete plans like committing to journaling daily. Behavior change as a measure of learning: He considers the persistence of behavior change over time as the true measure of learning, implying that without a change in behavior, the philosophical concepts one learns are rendered ineffective. Learning as behavior change as one perspective: Leo clarifies that viewing learning as behavior change is just one perspective out of many, and he promises to introduce other perspectives on learning in future content to provide a comprehensive approach to personal development. Lumos

William Blake: 'The fool who persists in his folly will become wise.' In the realm of profound thoughts and philosophical musings, the words of William Blake hold a special place. One such quote that captivates the imagination and invites introspection is, 'The fool who persists in his folly will become wise.' At first glance, this quote may seem rather paradoxical - how can one transform their foolishness into wisdom? Yet, when we delve deeper into its true meaning and ponder its significance, it reveals a profound concept that challenges our perspectives on growth, development, and the human condition itself.In its most straightforward interpretation, this quote speaks to the transformative power of persistence and perseverance. It suggests that despite initial appearances, even the seemingly foolish can journey towards enlightenment and wisdom if they persist on their chosen path. It is a reminder that wisdom cannot be gained solely through innate intelligence or natural talent, but through the willingness to learn, adapt, and continuously improve oneself.This quote touches on the essence of personal growth and the human capacity for evolution. It reminds us that wisdom is not a destination but a lifelong journey. In this context, being a 'fool' is not meant to be derogatory but rather symbolizes a starting point of ignorance or naivety. It is recognizing our own limitations and embracing the idea that we all have room to grow and learn. Now, let us venture into the realm of an unexpected philosophical concept - the concept of the 'eternal beginner.' Drawing from Eastern philosophy, particularly Zen Buddhism, we find a similar notion. The 'eternal beginner' is someone who approaches life with a beginner's mind, regardless of their level of expertise or experience. This concept aligns beautifully with Blake's quote, as it emphasizes the importance of humility, curiosity, and the ability to unlearn and relearn.In contrast to our conventional understanding of knowledge and wisdom as something attained through accumulation, the 'eternal beginner' reminds us to let go of preconceived notions and approach every situation with a sense of openness and wonder. It encourages us to embrace the unknown, be willing to make mistakes, and persist in our quest for understanding.When we connect the dots between Blake's quote and the concept of the 'eternal beginner,' intriguing parallels emerge. Both concepts emphasize the importance of persistence, despite initial setbacks or perceived foolishness. They remind us that growth and wisdom are not linear but rather a cyclical process of continuous learning and unlearning. In our modern society, where the pursuit of success and the fear of failure often overshadow the joy of learning and exploration, these ideas serve as timely reminders. They invite us to embrace a mindset freed from the shackles of ego and achievement, and instead, focus on the intrinsic value of gaining wisdom through experience, reflection, and the capacity to change.Ultimately, Blake's quote and the concept of the 'eternal beginner' invite us to question our assumptions about knowledge and wisdom. They challenge us to reevaluate our attitudes towards growth and development, urging us to value the journey as much as the destination. In embracing the spirit of persistence and maintaining a beginner's mind, we break free from the confines of foolishness and embark on a path that leads to true wisdom and self-transformation.

Understanding Absolute Infinity - Part 2 https://youtu.be/rZT9x3XDZ8g "God is a circle whose center is everywhere, and its circumference nowhere." - Empedocles "I see it, but I don't believe it." - Georg Cantor Historical Recognition of Absolute Infinity: Despite the concept of absolute infinity being discovered and articulated by numerous wise and intelligent individuals over 2,500 years, mainstream education largely omits it, a fact Leo views as an educational shortcoming. Georg Cantor's Set Theory: Georg Cantor, a mathematician from the late 19th to early 20th century, is hailed as the father of set theory. He formalized the concept of sets in mathematics, which led to fundamental insights into why math operates as it does. Image 1 Cantor's Interest in Infinity: Unlike his contemporaries who viewed infinity with skepticism, Cantor was deeply interested in the concept and sought to understand it using rigorous mathematical logic. Cantor's Revolutionary Discoveries: Cantor proved that there are different sizes of infinity. He showed that the set of even numbers is identical in size to the set of all natural numbers, and surprisingly, the set of rational numbers is also identically infinite. However, the set of real numbers possesses infinitely more elements than both natural and rational numbers—therefore, establishing multiple sizes of infinity. Infinite Sizes of Infinity: By extending his research, Cantor demonstrated that not only are there multiple sizes of infinity, but that there are infinitely many sizes of infinite sets, a ground-breaking revelation in mathematics. Cantor's Religious Beliefs and Mathematical Insights: A devout Orthodox Christian, Cantor believed he was exploring the mind of God through his study of infinity. He equated the 'Absolute Infinite' with God and saw mathematical evidence of divine presence in the paradoxic property that an infinite subset can be the same size as its whole set. Cantor's Recognition and Personal Struggles: Although now revered, Cantor's work initially faced severe rejection from the scientific and mathematical community. His deeply held religious beliefs intertwined with his mathematical findings, yet they caused him conflict within his religious cohort and contributed to personal distress. Diagonalization Argument: One of Cantor's techniques to prove different sizes of infinity involved matching each element of an infinite set to another set, revealing whether two infinities were of the same size or not. Metaphysics of Infinity: Leo suggests that Cantor's work resonates with the metaphysical implications of God, where every infinite subset reflects the entirety, thus allowing for infinite possibilities within the infinite. Social Ostracism of Cantor: Georg Cantor was denounced as a radical and hoax by his academic peers, which caused him significant personal distress, ultimately contributing to his mental breakdowns and his death in an asylum. Cantor's Identification with Divine Mind: Cantor perceived his work in mathematics as an exploration into the mind of God, creating a profound personal crisis when his Christian contemporaries labeled his ideas pantheistic and heretical. Cantor’s Mental Breakdowns: Cantor's mental health issues could have been compounded by the cognitive dissonance between his insights into the nature of infinity and the rejection of pantheism by Orthodox Christianity. This led to a deep inner conflict. Cantor’s Potential Enlightenment Experiences: It’s speculated that Cantor may have had glimpses of enlightenment that he was unable to integrate due to the cultural and religious beliefs of his time, possibly leading to his mental instability. Conceptualization vs. Direct Experience: Cantor's fixation on conceptualizing the divine through mathematics is used as a cautionary example of the limits of the mind and the dangers of attempting to understand absolute infinity solely through conceptual means. Shift in Perception for Experiencing Absolute Infinity: Leo Gura suggests that experiencing absolute infinity requires more than just intellectual understanding, involving a significant perspective shift towards realizing one's unity with the absolute. Cantor’s Legacy in Mathematics: Posthumously, Cantor's discoveries became mainstream mathematics, illustrating the difficulty of paradigm shifts and the resistance faced by pioneers in their fields. Giordano Bruno's Radical Ideas: Bruno, a mystic and former monk, expanded upon the works of Copernicus and Galileo, promoting the concept of an infinite universe filled with countless stars and planets, which was deemed heretical. Image 2 Dangers of Challenging Established Beliefs: Bruno's fate, being burned at the stake for his beliefs, exemplifies the risks associated with defying established doctrines and the resistance to revolutionary ideas. Infinite Universe in the 1600s: Bruno’s ideas about an infinite universe with numerous worlds were astonishingly advanced for his time, predating the development of telescopes and the broader acceptance of such cosmological concepts. Giordano Bruno's Vision: Bruno envisioned a universe with innumerable suns and Earth-like planets, recognizing the existence of an absolute infinity, perceiving Earth as just a tiny component of creation. Despite his visionary ideas, he faced severe consequences from the Roman Inquisition, reflecting the risks of challenging established paradigms. Barbarity of Paradigm Locks History: Despite advances since the Middle Ages, Leo highlights that society retains significant paradigm locks, with contemporary examples showing how challenging established beliefs can still be met with severe societal resistance, though less physically violent than in Bruno's time. Dangers of Challenging Established Norms: Learning from the past, Leo Gura points out that challenging societal paradigms, especially in realms like deep self-actualization, can lead to ostracism as one leaves the comfort of herd mentality, emphasizing the need for radical open-mindedness in facing potential ideological opposition. Enlightened Greeks' Wisdom Over Dogma: Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers like Aristotle, Anaxagoras, and Anaximander were less constrained by dogma than later thinkers, showing a profound understanding of infinity and creating foundational concepts that anticipated modern ideas of non-duality and boundlessness. Image 3 Image 4 Image 5 Anaximander's Concepts of RK and Apron: Anaximander's notions of Arche, as the underlying principle of all existence, and Apeiron, the boundless origin yielding creation and destruction, align with non-duality and the presence of infinite worlds, demonstrating advanced abstraction in ancient thought. Heraclitus's Enlightened Views on Unity: Heraclitus, an ancient Greek philosopher with an enlightened perspective, wrote cryptically about the unity of existence, using metaphors to express the paradoxical nature of the universe and emphasizing the role of direct experience in understanding. Image 6 Limitations of Realism in Understanding Idealism: Leo describes the difference between idealism and realism, stating that the 'mind of God' exists without physical foundation, challenging realist assumptions and underscoring the necessity of direct experience to comprehend idealism. Absolute Infinity Beyond Scientific Understanding: The recognition that realizing absolute infinity surpasses the capabilities of science which operates within finite boundaries, urging an experiential approach over reliance on scientific methods for comprehension of the absolute. Heraclitus's Metaphors of Unity: Through metaphors of circles, bows, and liars, Heraclitus conveyed the interconnected and paradoxical nature of existence, where the beginning and end are indistinguishable, illustrating non-duality's complex nature. Heraclitus on Nature of Existence: Heraclitus presents the paradox of existence where binary opposites like day and night are not separate but interconnected, thus emphasizing the interdependence of existential dualities. Metaphor for Understanding God: Through Heraclitus's metaphor, the challenge of grasping the formless essence of God is likened to naming the various aromas from spices in a fire, which distracts from acknowledging the singular source of the scents. Pythagorean School's Spiritual Mathematics: The Pythagoreans integrated mathematics with spirituality, using mathematical discoveries to understand the universe and divine essence, contrasting with the modern separation of science from spirituality. Image 8 Plotinus's Concept of 'The One': Plotinus enlightens on the futility of conceptualizing God, stating that whatever idea one has of God, the true nature of God always exceeds it due to the infinite quality of divinity. Plotinus on Unity and Multiplicity: Plotinus illustrates how multiplicity arises from the unified source, which is both infinitely present and absent in creation, challenging conventional categorization and advocating for the limits of conceptualization. The Kybalion on 'The All': The Kybalion posits 'The All' as an infinite, eternal, omnipresent force with no limitations, transcending the current scientific understanding of the universe's vastness. Image 9 Chi Ba Lien and Hermetic Teachings on Absolute Infinity: Descriptions of the infinite nature of the absolute in time, space, and power, with everything in existence reflecting a portion of this infinity within the mind of 'The All.' The Law of One on Infinite Unity: The Law of One expresses the philosophy of infinite creation through unity, where the infinite creator explores itself in an eternal array of manifestations, emphasizing never-ending self-exploration within the infinite reality. The Law of One and the Alf: In Kabbalah, the concept of the Alf embodies unity, representing a point in space containing all other points. This notion correlates with Leo's metaphor of infinite 'videos' within a larger video, signifying infinite perspectives within one unified existence. Image 10 Jorge Luis Borges's "The Aleph": The short story illustrates the experience of absolute infinity, where the protagonist perceives the entire universe from every angle simultaneously, without distortion, fostering an overwhelming sense of infinity in a single object. Image 11 Georg Cantor's Physical Transformation: After an encounter with absolute infinity, Cantor experienced a powerful release of energy, evidenced by physical changes like peeling skin and altered fingerprints—a testament to the profound impact of such an insight. Paradox of Reality: Reality's deeply paradoxical nature, where the relative exists due to the absolute, yet they are intrinsically the same, is a cornerstone of understanding existence. The Nature of Absolute Truth: Absolute truth transcends all human faculties, laying beyond logic, imagination, physics, and even death. It is the most fundamental, paradoxically embodying both everything and nothing. Accessing Absolute Infinity: Despite its inconceivability, absolute infinity can be realized through a pivotal shift—recognizing oneself as not separate from the absolute but indeed being the absolute. Ego as a Barrier to Realization: The illusion of being a limited human being separates individuals from realizing their infinite nature. Overcoming this limitation demands a shedding of the ego, akin to a metaphorical death. God's Self-Limitation for Richness: Absolute infinity involves God imposing limitations within itself to facilitate discovery. These limitations, when lifted, reveal the journey from the finite back to the infinite. Simultaneity of Existence: God's reality transcends time, operating in a simultaneous existence, contrary to the human perception of linear progression. Pursuing Truth Above Distractions: The desire to comprehend absolute truth should outweigh everyday distractions, fostering a deep, inward-focused quest for realization. Self-Experience Over Preaching: Understanding absolute infinity calls for personal experience rather than disseminating beliefs without first-hand realization. Importance of Radical Open-Mindedness: Embracing radical open-mindedness is essential for enlightenment—prioritizing truth-seeking as a personal mission beyond established paradigms and external validation. Beware of Life's Distractions: Common life distractions can dilute one's pursuit of the ultimate truth, hindering the realization of absolute infinity. Prioritizing Truth Above Ego: In the journey towards self-actualization, the pursuit of truth should supersede all ego-driven concerns, necessitating a shift inward. Significance of Personal Experience: True understanding of the truth comes from one's own experience, transcending any external teachings or materials used for guidance. God's self-imposed limitations: God, or absolute infinity, limits itself to explore its richness; this limitation creates a sense of discovery and richness within the absolute. Physical death as a pathway to absolute unity: To experience the absolute unity of existence, one must undergo a process akin to physical death, letting go of attachments to one's limited human identity. The perfect deception of self: The belief in being a distinct individual, separate from God, is a deception that maintains the illusion of separation, which is intricately designed and deeply ingrained. Simultaneity of existence in God's perspective: For God, all events and experiences have already occurred and are happening simultaneously, not bound by time as humans perceive it. Desire for absolute truth as a driving force: A deep, genuine desire to know and experience the truth of absolute infinity is crucial and must be prioritized over other distractions to achieve this realization. Pitfalls of spreading unactualized knowledge: Preaching about concepts like God and absolute infinity without direct experience spreads misinformation and can harm both the individual and others, instead of illuminating the truth. Awakening to God through radical self-inquiry: Realizing one's infinite nature involves a deep desire for truth and an inner wisdom that guides one to let go of their limited sense of self. Distractions undermining the pursuit of absolute infinity: Everyday distractions and lower consciousness desires can divert attention from the true pursuit of absolute infinity, weakening the necessary resolve. Techniques vs. genuine desire in the quest for truth: While various techniques for enlightenment are available, it is the individual's authentic desire for truth that ultimately propels them towards actualizing the concept of absolute infinity. Leo Gura's encouragement to self-experience: Emphasizing the importance of self-experience over mere conceptual understanding, Leo Gura advises individuals to follow their inner desire for truth, stay open-minded, and immerse themselves in practices leading to the realization of absolute infinity. Liberacorpus

Subtle Addictions https://youtu.be/xZPxIqqOxHA "The greatest addictions aren't even considered addictions" Gross vs. Subtle Addictions: Gross addictions involve obvious and tangible habits like junk food, drugs, alcohol, whereas subtle addictions are less obvious, more conceptual, and often culturally normalized, making them harder to recognize and address. Defining an Addiction: Addictions are characterized by repetitive negative actions that lead to overconsumption, guilt, withdrawal symptoms, and a dependence that hinders growth and freedom. Cultural Perceptions of Addiction: Society's standards for what constitutes addiction are too low, often overlooking everyday behaviors like excessive food and internet use as potentially addictive. Subtle Addictions as Cultural Norms: Subtle addictions are difficult to combat due to their normalization in culture, creating rationalizations for their continuation, and a lack of clear solutions for cessation. The Damage of Subtle Addictions: Unlike gross addictions, the negative impact of subtle addictions unfolds over time and is less tangible, making it challenging to recognize their long-term harm. Awareness of Subtle Addictions: Leo intends to raise awareness of subtle addictions, providing numerous examples to help recognize these patterns and illustrating that they can be as detrimental as gross addictions. Examples of Subtle Addictions: Examples include addiction to love, judgment, success, money, material possessions, security, and even negative mental states. These are not as easily noticed but can hold one back from personal growth. Addiction to Judgment and Preaching: Criticism, judgment, arguing, and preaching can become addictions, often unrecognized because they are socially accepted or even professionally rewarded. Success, Money, and Possessions: A relentless pursuit of success, monetary wealth, or material goods can mask deeper unfulfillment and become addictive behaviors that inhibit genuine happiness and development. Security and Negative Mental States: The desire for certainty and an overemphasis on security, as well as addictions to worry, fear, anxiety, and negative self-talk can limit personal expansion and peace of mind. Technology and Dwelling on the Past: A fixation on technology and an inability to let go of past wrongs are also forms of addiction that prevent living in the present and achieving personal advancement. Cultural Technology Obsession: Society promotes a constant chase for the latest technology, fostering an environment where individuals feel compelled to obtain the newest gadgets, which ultimately consumes time and attention, detracting from inner self-work and spiritual growth. Productivity and Efficiency Addiction: The pursuit of efficiency and productivity, while seemingly positive, can lead to a life focused on performing tasks quickly and multitasking, which takes one away from the present moment and impedes spiritual practices like meditation and self-inquiry. Min-maxing in Life: Derived from gaming, where players optimize characters for peak performance, this obsession applied to life can become neurotic and addictive, leading to an inhuman and ultimately unsatisfying existence. Addiction to Competition and Being Special: The need to win, be recognized as the best, and to receive awards, popularity, or fame can become strong addictions that distract from self-actualization and genuine personal growth. Multitasking and Distraction: Attempting to engage in multiple activities simultaneously can lead to scattered focus and detract from important practices for raising awareness, hindering abilities like deep work, concentration, and meditation. Helping and Changing Others as an Addiction: Becoming overly invested in the role of a helper or change-maker can become an addiction, often manifesting in neglecting one’s self-improvement in favor of fixing others. Addiction to Companionship and Approval: A reliance on the presence and approval of others can inhibit solitary practices essential for growth, such as meditation, contemplation, and solitary retreats. Suffering and Control Addictions: Some individuals develop addictions to drama, self-sabotage, control, power, and the pleasure of getting things their way. This includes negative attitudes like victim mentality, which can fuel a sense of helplessness. Intellectual Addictions: Overthinking, philosophizing, and analyzing can become addictions, especially when they serve as a substitute for action or become barriers to spiritual progress. Physical Comfort, Laziness, and Perfectionism Addictions: These addictions include the need for physical ease, leading to avoidance of activity, and the pursuit of perfection, which can never be fully satisfied, both of which lead to dissatisfaction and dependency on others. Addiction to Physical Appearance: Obsessiveness over personal or others’ physical attractiveness can lead to a constant need for approval and the inability to accept natural aging or imperfections. Negative Motivation Addiction: Some people are driven only by external pressures or pain, becoming addicted to this negative form of motivation, which leads to a miserable success and hinders the fulfillment of their true potential. Guilt, Jealousy, and Envy as Addictions: Continually dwelling on feelings of guilt, jealousy, or envy can form addictive patterns that prevent individuals from moving forward and self-improving. Addictions to Novelty, Gossip, and Unethical Behaviors: A constant need for new experiences, engaging in gossip, and unethical behaviors like cheating and taking shortcuts can all become addictions that reduce the quality of outcomes and personal growth. Lying, Manipulation, Mystical States, and Knowledge Hoarding: Addictions here include manipulation for control, excessive striving for mystical states through meditation, and the accumulation of knowledge without practical application, replacing meaningful engagement with the world. Identifying and Overcoming Addictions: Addictions are patterns in the mind, not the specific activities. To identify addiction, one can abstain from the suspect behavior for seven days and watch for cravings, signifying addiction. Overcoming these requires awareness, reflection, and a willingness to change. Awareness is Key to Identifying Addictions: To recognize the full extent of a subtle addiction, one must observe themselves like a hawk, discerning all ways the addiction presents itself and understanding the pros and cons it offers. Journaling and Root Cause Analysis: By focusing on a single addiction such as manipulation, one should catalog all instances of that behavior, tracing it back in history to grasp the pattern, which enriches awareness and foresights future occurrences. Examining Identity and Core Function of an Addiction: Understand how the addiction, like manipulation, is intertwined with your identity and serves as an escape mechanism. Delving into why it's needed can uncover underlying self-beliefs or insecurities. Envisioning an Addiction-Free Lifestyle: Envisioning a lifestyle without the addiction is crucial. If this new vision isn't regarded as superior to the life with the addiction, the addictive behavior is likely to return. Assessing Willingness to Let Go: Real change occurs when one is willing to release not only the addictive behavior but also the aspect of their identity tied to it. This involves deep introspection and honesty about readiness to let go. Setting a Firm Intention for Change: Declaring a firm and clear intention to change is vital, even if the method or timeline is unknown. This intention helps to initiate and sustain the process of transformation. Increasing Mindfulness Around Addiction: Utilizing a physical reminder, like a wristband, can aid in becoming more mindful of addictive behaviors, increasing awareness of every instance throughout the day. Replacing Addiction with Raw Being: The ultimate goal is to substitute the addiction with the simplicity of 'being'. Addictions often fill the void of being, and confronting that emptiness is the way to true change. Solo Retreats for Experiencing Pure Being: Undertaking a solo retreat can provide a glimpse of life free from addictions, helping one reconnect with themselves and experience the essence of being without distractions. Approaching Addiction Removal Gradually: Tackling addictions should be seen as a lifelong endeavor, with gradual progress leading to significant improvements in life quality, freeing up time for personal growth and fulfillment. Cleansing Addictions for a Liberated Life: Removing addictions incrementally opens up space to focus on self-improvement, pursuing life goals, and living in alignment with personal values, thereby enhancing overall life quality. Expecto Patronum

Why People Seem Crazy https://youtu.be/ufkb8vvbO3k "Always remember you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else." - Margaret Mead Shift from Sameness to Difference Model: Leo invites the audience to transition from the Sameness Model, which views people fundamentally alike, to the Difference Model, which acknowledges the profound uniqueness of each individual. He stresses that most problems in understanding others stem from our default position that everyone shares the same psychological wiring and experiences. Misinterpretation of the Sameness Model: The assumption that others should act and think as we do because they are human too is flawed, leading us to dismiss those who differ as crazy, evil, or subhuman. The Sameness Model fails to accommodate the actual diversity in human behavior, especially in edge cases, which are often more common than we assume. Consequences of the Sameness Model: By not considering the vast differences between individuals, we encounter fundamental misunderstandings and adversarial relationships, especially with those we deem 'foreign' due to their divergent thoughts or behaviors. This leads to frustration, anger, blaming, hostility, and even violence. Impact on Personal Dynamics: In personal relationships, like with children or spouses, who might deviate significantly from our own wiring, the inability to acknowledge their unique perspective due to the Sameness Model leads to misunderstandings and conflicts. Tribalism and Lack of Acceptance: The habit of categorizing individuals with radically different opinions and behaviors as inferior stems from the Sameness Model, reinforcing tribal behaviors and a lack of compassion and acceptance. Human Evolution and Tolerance: Human history reflects an evolution toward greater tolerance and democracy, which has fostered improved interpersonal relationships. These evolutions exhibit the gradual broadening of human perspectives away from the Sameness Model. Recognition of Individual Differences: The Difference Model embraces the genetic, physiological, psychological, and spiritual uniqueness of every individual, stressing that every person not only differs in preferences but potentially inhabits an entirely different reality from one another. Paradigm Shift from Sameness to Difference: Leo Gura suggests a radical shift—instead of assuming one canonical physical reality, we should acknowledge that everyone lives in their own 'reality bubble'. Alignment of these bubbles is perceived as physical reality, and misalignment leads to conflict and misunderstandings. This difference model is backed by empirical evidence from various fields, which challenge the validity of the sameness model. Evidence for the Difference Model - The Big Five Personality Traits: Leo presents evidence from psychological research on the Big Five aspects of personality: extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness. These traits, existing on scales with subcomponents, offer a detailed map of diverse human behaviors and preferences, undermining the sameness model and supporting the difference model. Impact of Personality Differences on Perception and Relationships: Differences in personality traits, such as high neuroticism or low openness, dramatically affect individuals' worldviews and experiences, shaping their reality. Recognizing these differences is crucial for improving understanding and reducing conflicts in relationships, and Leo emphasizes the inherent value in all personality traits for the successful functioning of human society. Rejecting a Universal Perfect Personality: Leo argues that there is no 'perfect' set of personality traits; instead, every trait plays a role in humanity's survival. Just like ants in a colony, humans with diverse personalities contribute to the species' adaptation to various environments. Attempting to make others more like us leads to misjudging them as 'crazy', while we should instead embrace the diversity of each individual's constructed reality. Role of Genetics and Environment in Sexual Orientation and Addiction: Leo provides evidence that sexual orientation is not a mere preference but is deeply influenced by one's genetics, prenatal environment, and early upbringing. Similarly, addiction potential varies among individuals due to brain wiring and chemistry, calling for empathy rather than condemnation when addressing such challenges in others, like one's own children. Approach to Children's Issues: Leo advocates for a compassionate approach when dealing with children's issues, such as addiction, recognizing the complex factors that contribute to the problem rather than simply expecting children to be more like their parents. Sexual Orientation and Behavior Judgments: He addresses the tendency to demonize people with different sexual orientations or behaviors, suggesting that factors like past trauma, prenatal drug exposure, or high maternal stress levels might influence an individual's behavior and their ability to control it. Empathy for Individuals with Different Wiring: Leo encourages putting ourselves in the shoes of people who are radically different from us, including sexual predators, to understand their circumstances and react with compassion instead of quick moral condemnation. Diversity in Human Wiring: He notes the wide diversity in human wiring, which explains the significant variations in behavior, and urges others to be open to understanding these differences rather than expecting uniform behavior across all individuals. Importance of Mental Illness and Brain Disorders Study: Leo emphasizes studying mental illness and brain disorders to grasp the full extent of diverse human realities; he cites a book on his book list about rare brain disorders to support his point. Clinical Case Studies of Brain Trauma: Leo shares clinical case studies from the book, such as a patient who began to hallucinate dancing dwarves and an elephant after brain damage, illustrating how physical changes to the brain can lead to different perceptions of reality. Different Realities and Personality Differences: He points out that individuals who experience reality differently due to brain trauma or disorders may believe and behave in ways that seem strange to those around them, emphasizing that their reality differs fundamentally from the "normal" one. Neurological Basis for Behavioral Extremes: Leo recounts an example of an individual who, due to specific brain trauma, believed that others around him were androids, leading to an extreme act of violence. This case highlights the impact of brain conditions on behavior and the need to understand the underlying neurological causes. Subtleties of Individual Brain Chemistry and Genetics: While not everyone has radical brain disorders, Leo notes that slight variations in brain chemistry and genetics can influence our experiences and perceptions in more subtle ways. Optimization of Consciousness for Survival: He discusses how evolution and natural selection might optimize our consciousness, mediated by our brains, for certain environments and tasks in order to survive and reproduce, resulting in unique brain wirings. The Case of Pineal Gland Cancer and DMT: Leo presents the case of an artist, Shawn Thornton, whose art style dramatically changed after being diagnosed with pineal gland cancer, potentially linked to increased DMT production, showcasing how changes in brain chemistry might alter one's mental state and experiences. Artistic Transformation Through Neurological Change: Leo discusses the case of artist Shawn Thornton, who after being diagnosed with cancer of the pineal gland, experienced a change in vision, potentially due to increased DMT production, leading him to create spiritually significant art. This illustrates how brain chemistry can influence perception and creativity. Genetic and Neurochemical Components of Spirituality: Leo argues that spirituality is not only influenced by personality and culture but also has significant genetic and neurochemical components. He suggests that varying brain wiring can explain why some individuals have profound spiritual or mystical experiences while others do not. Diversity in Spiritual Experience and Enlightenment Rareness: By acknowledging the diversity in human brain chemistry, Leo explains the range of spiritual experiences across cultures and individuals. He posits that figures like Buddha or Jesus Christ are exceptional, not because enlightenment is unattainable for others, but because they were uniquely wired for spiritual pursuits. Diverse Consciousness Influenced by Evolution: Leo emphasizes that consciousness is malleable and shaped by evolution to optimize an individual's survival and reproduction. Psychedelic exploration can demonstrate the significant impact of neurochemical changes on one's perception of reality. Existential Disinterest Due to Brain Wiring: He notes that most people are not deeply interested in spirituality or existential truths, speculating that for evolutionary reasons, their brains are not wired to prioritize such pursuits, leading to a lack of engagement with deep spiritual or existential inquiries. Explanation for Varied Spiritual Perspectives: Leo suggests that stories of spirits, demons, and aliens are not merely fabrications but could be actual experiences of individuals with certain neurological mechanisms, explaining why such phenomena persist in human culture and why they are often regarded as esoteric. Influence of Brain Disorders on Capacity for Consciousness: Referring to case studies of brain disorders, Leo supports his hypothesis that different capacities for consciousness can explain not only why some people experience unusual realities but also why most people do not prioritize spiritual development. Misunderstanding Superiority: Leo warns against feeling superior to others, explaining that this attitude comes from an inability to empathize and understand that different perspectives have their own advantages and drawbacks. Pursuit of Dreams with Strategic Growth: Leo advises not to use genetic or brain chemistry limitations as excuses, but to recognize one's unique strengths and shortcomings and work strategically towards personal growth and ambitions. Necessity of Effort in Achieving Goals: Despite any genetic predisposition, Leo emphasizes the importance of sustained effort, environmental support, and continuous learning in achieving success in any endeavor. Enlightenment and Genetics: Leo argues that most people are capable of enlightenment if they put in sufficient effort, clarifying that struggles with achieving spiritual goals should not be attributed solely to genetic wiring. Danger of Limiting Beliefs in Personal Potential: Leo cautions against self-imposed limits based on genetics, sharing his personal weight loss story to illustrate how overcoming such beliefs can lead to significant self-improvement. Society's Response to Harmful Behavior: Leo argues for compassionate societal rules that focus on rehabilitation and understanding the influences behind someone's actions, rather than on condemnation or punishment. Practical Takeaways for Personal and Societal Development: Leo provides actionable advice, such as embracing authenticity, allowing others to be themselves, being open to nontraditional lifestyles, and being cautious when giving advice due to individual differences. The Role of Advice and Judgment: Leo stresses the need for caution in offering advice or passing judgment, reminding us that what may be suitable for one person may not apply to another due to different life circumstances. The Influence of Role Models on Authenticity: While role models can inspire, Leo discourages emulating them at the expense of discovering and expressing one's authentic self, advocating for a personalized approach to self-actualization. Life Crafting Around Individuality: Leo concludes by urging viewers to tailor their self-improvement journey, lifestyle, and personal growth to their unique personality, needs, and context, emphasizing individual discovery and authenticity. Liberacorpus

2C-B Trip Report - Experiencing Physical Death https://youtu.be/9_WL0hoRA7s "Death is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come." - Rabindranath Tagore Understanding of 2C-B: Leo explains that 2C-B is a phenethylamine psychedelic, often used recreationally at parties. Unlike tryptamines like DMT or mushrooms, 2C-B is supposed to be more visual and less mind-altering, with a lower 'mindfuck' component, meaning it doesn't deeply challenge one's perception of reality. Rectal Administration of 2C-B: Opting for rectal administration, Leo takes 10 milligrams of 2C-B, which he describes as efficient, cost-effective, and capable of causing fast onset of effects. This method also reduces issues like nausea and the need for fasting before consumption. Onset of the Trip: Shortly after taking 2C-B, Leo feels an undefinable strangeness and notices a change in the physical sensation of his body, described as 'body load'. Feeling somewhat anesthetized, he takes ginger pills to alleviate the slight onset of nausea. Visuals and Introspection: As the trip progresses, visual anomalies like colors and patterns commonly associated with psychedelics start appearing. Leo becomes increasingly introspective, delving into existential questions about the nature of consciousness, reality, Brahman, and God, while observing hypnotic visuals. Concept of 'Groundlessness': During his experience, Leo confronts the idea of groundlessness, the realization that all known surfaces within reality have no ultimate grounding and that this continues indefinitely. This insight is described as beautiful and profound, so much so that it's beyond mere emotion and leaves him sobered by its depth. Surrendering to the Experience: Leo surrenders to the experience, abandoning his meta-awareness and the usual note-taking process for later reflection or teaching. He recognizes he is past the point of no return, with the line between physical and non-physical dissolving, and is entranced by the beauty of the existential truths revealed. Distinction between physical and mental: Leo challenges the conventional distinction between the physical body and the mental aspects of the self. He asserts that in a heightened state of consciousness, the paradigm of a physical body collapses since what we consider physical is actually just surfaces within consciousness. Paradigm breakdown during 'physical' ego death: During his experience, Leo’s perception of having a physical body disintegrated, leading to a breakdown in his entire sense of reality. This felt akin to physically dying, which he describes using the analogy of bleeding out after being shot and the body and mind preparing for the end. Preparation for the end: Leo narrates how, while expecting to die, he began to reflect upon his life as if confronting his creator, preparing for the inevitable end. This retrospective review of life is typical of an actual physical dying process where one faces their life's events, regrets, and their ultimate meaning. Complete surrender to the experience of death: Leo expresses a deep state of acceptance and surrender to the experience of dying, claiming to feel ready to die due to the overwhelming beauty of the experience, indicating a complete ego death from his perspective. Realization through open-mindedness: He reflects on his entire life journey, from childhood curiosity to philosophical education to his work with Actualized.org, and concludes that his constant pursuit of increased open-mindedness led to this moment of experiencing his own physical death. Moment of physical ego death: Leo describes the moment of 'death' as the sensation of his self supernovaing and dissipating into reality, a moment where his self, both the personal identity and the physical sense, is completely gone, leaving only the universal existence. Death experience as a relief and joy: Post-'death', Leo describes feeling an immense sense of relief, peace, and joy—as if all burdens were lifted. He likens this post-death liberation as the greatest possible experience for a living being, feeling immortal and untouchable. Reemergence after 'death': After experiencing 'death', Leo re-emerges with a changed perspective, no longer feeling his ego, but instead feeling part of the universe. He uses the story of the Buddha to illustrate the feeling of universal applause for confronting and overcoming death. Altered perception of physical reality: Returning to his body, Leo no longer perceives things as physical objects; his hands and the coffee table are seen as manifestations within a field of consciousness with no boundaries, all made of the same 'substance'—consciousness. The residual effect of the trip: Although the most intense effects have subsided, Leo continues to feel anesthetized and marvels at his altered perspective for hours after, reflecting on the entire experience as profound, enlightening, and devoid of fear or resistance. Post-Peak Trip Experience: After the peak, Leo's trip continues without significant new developments. He spends time walking outdoors, observing his surroundings with a fresh yet numbed perspective, contemplating the profound experiences he'd had earlier. Integration of Experience: During the lingering effects of 2C-B, which last nearly 12 hours, Leo meditates and ponders the significance of what he underwent—reflecting on existence and the nature of consciousness. Lessons on Psychedelic Depth: Leo highlights that the depth of a psychedelic experience is influenced more by the user's preparation, intent, seriousness, and receptiveness to existential shifts, rather than by the substance or dosage alone. Diet and Mindfulness Practices: He credits his plant-based diet, mindfulness exercises, and consistent neurofeedback brain training for contributing to the richness of his psychedelic experiences. Psychedelic Journeys as a Progressive Arc: Leo discusses how psychedelic trips are not isolated incidents but part of a spiritual journey. This progression takes someone through understanding and confronting inner fears, leading to increasingly profound insights. Enlightenment as Physical Death: He shares the insight that enlightenment manifests as a form of physical death, where the boundary between physical and non-physical dissolves, and one becomes the universe itself. Positive Reinterpretation of Death: Leo's trip transformed his perception of physical death into a desirable and positive transformation, akin to a grand finale rather than an end to be feared. Various Degrees of Surrender and Ego Death: Leo talks about encountering various degrees of surrender and ego death throughout his psychedelic experiences, culminating in a trip that felt like a complete physical death. Temporary Nature of Psychedelic Enlightenment: He addresses the criticism of psychedelics' temporary enlightenment by asserting that these experiences have a transformative potential that extends beyond the trip itself. Continued Growth and Spiritual Effort: Leo emphasizes the need for ongoing spiritual work and contemplation to fully integrate the insights gained from psychedelic experiences. Future Content Teaser: The segment concludes with Leo mentioning a detailed written trip report that may be published for those interested in the finer aspects of his experience, and he promotes his website and future content for his audience. Levicorpus

How To Get Started With Self Actualization - Over 40 Techniques https://youtu.be/dn-pmRDauK8 Life Purpose as a Key to Motivation: Leo considers identifying life purpose integral as it involves transforming one's career into a passion that provides meaningful work and enthusiasm for life, unlike the standard nine-to-five job many despise. Reprogramming the Subconscious Mind: Leo introduces ways to alter the subconscious, which dictates most thoughts and actions, by using tools such as affirmations and visualization to alter deep-rooted beliefs and address fears and insecurities. Transformation through Meditation: Leo champions daily meditation as a life-changing habit that one should commit to indefinitely, mentioning his personal adherence to daily practice for several years and its profound impact. Mindfulness Meditation with Labeling: He elaborates on a specific meditation technique of deconstructing sensory experiences using labels, crucial for advanced personal development by challenging the mind's conceptual delusions. The Importance of Concentration Practice: Leo talks about the loss of concentration due to technological distractions and the subsequent necessity for concentration practice to maintain focus for personal growth techniques. Self-Inquiry as a Path to Truth: He presents self-inquiry as an ultimate method to discover both relative truths about life and absolute truths for enlightenment, pushing for self-discovery beyond taking someone else's word. The Power of Contemplation: Contemplation is distinguished from other practices as essential for deriving independent truths and experiencing genuine growth by reflecting on concepts and beliefs personally. Journaling for Personal Insight: Leo describes journaling as an effective starter technique for self-reflection, organizing thoughts on life goals, frustrations, and aspirations, and as a tool for self-coaching and therapy. Learning Theoretical Aspects: He emphasizes the necessity of reading, listening, and watching various sources for acquiring the theory behind self-development, likening it to academic levels of study. Taking Notes: Leo insists on documentation of insights and techniques from theory-acquisition to create a personal knowledge base for reference and review, much like diligent academic study. Personal Responsibility for Self-Design: Central to Leo's message is that individuals are responsible for architecting their own lives, selecting which personal development tools to use, and not relying on others to dictate their journey or development order. Investing in Quality Courses: Leo emphasizes the transformative potential of high-quality courses available online and in various formats like DVDs, CDs, or audiobooks. He notes that despite the cost, these courses can save years of self-discovery and significantly accelerate personal growth. Researching Self-Improvement Resources: He advocates for dedicating time to research which books, courses, and seminars to invest in as this planning is essential for progress in self-actualization. Studying Spiritual Traditions for Wisdom: Leo advises studying a broad range of spiritual traditions but warns against the dogmas within them. He talks about the importance of discerning valuable wisdom from false beliefs, emphasizing the need for good epistemology. Seeking Masterful Teachers: The abundance of expert teachers available today is highlighted by Leo as a critical resource. He suggests that these teachers can be an asset in learning, whether through direct coaching, workshops, or working closely with them. Attending Workshops and Retreats: Leo discusses the profound impact of attending workshops, retreats, and seminars. He admits they can be expensive but are worth the investment due to the paradigm-shifting insights they provide. The Transformative Power of Solo Retreats: He details the benefits of undertaking solo retreats, which involve isolation for deep meditation, self-inquiry, and reflection, accelerating personal growth by years within a concise time frame. Psychedelic Retreats for Growth: Leo also describes the potential of psychedelic retreats to foster significant personal and spiritual growth when used responsibly and with proper guidance. Ending Unconscious Relationships: He insists on the necessity of removing oneself from negative and toxic relationships to enable personal development and the pursuit of life purposes. Improving Salvageable Relationships: Leo encourages the improvement of relationships by letting go of selfish egoic behavior. This entails honest communication and addressing manipulative tendencies within oneself. Practice Radical Honesty: He recommends adopting radical honesty with oneself and others to alleviate stress, neuroses, and even physical health issues. Making Conscious Friendships: Leo suggests actively seeking high-consciousness friends who support personal growth, and conversely, distancing oneself from friends who hinder one's progress. Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP): Leo introduces NLP as a tool for subconscious mind reprogramming, suggesting its techniques can improve beliefs and emotional states. Shadow Work for Personal Insight: He presents shadow work as a method for addressing repressed psychological elements. This involves self-administered exploration of one's fears and neuroses, akin to therapy. Exploring "New-Age" Methods: Leo highlights various new-age practices like lucid dreaming, astral projection, and Reiki as potentially beneficial, though he cautions against uncritically accepting associated dogmas. Openness to New Techniques: He stresses that maintaining an open mind and experimenting with various personal development techniques is critical, even those that might initially appear as "woowoo." Importance of Diet: Cleaning up one's diet is portrayed as a critical aspect of self-actualization, affecting energy, confidence, and overall quality of life. Leo describes his personal journey of improving his diet over ten years. Vitality of Physical Exercise: A connection is made between consistent physical exercise, such as gym workouts or hatha yoga, and personal growth through improved health and unblocking energy pathways. Role of Diet in Self-Actualization: Leo underscored the profound impact of diet on self-actualization, sharing his personal struggle with food addiction and how it impaired his energy, self-esteem, and overall well-being. He advocates for the necessity of clean nutrition and advises dedicating effort to learn about and implement dietary changes, mastering healthy recipes, and forming new eating habits. Physical Exercise and Yoga: Emphasizing the importance of physical exercise, Leo mentions gym workouts and hatha yoga as methods to improve physical health and release energy blockages. He also introduces the concept of Kundalini yoga, which includes specific exercises to purify the chakras and can facilitate physical healing and release psychological baggage. Critical Importance of Proper Breathing: Leo discusses the significance of learning proper breathing techniques, which most people are not taught. He suggests that correct breathing can transform both physical vitality and mental processes, and he plans to share transformative breathing exercises that can alter one's thought patterns and overall well-being. Body Work and Energy Work for Personal Growth: Describing techniques like body work, energy work, and Reichian therapy, Leo explains their effectiveness in releasing physical blockages and connecting the body with emotions. He stresses these practices are critical as they address the physical aspect of personal development often overlooked in talk therapy. Developing Body Awareness: Leo raises awareness about the importance of understanding how we carry our bodies, including posture and movement. He highlights that lack of body awareness can lead to various physical and emotional issues and recommends a book that specifically focuses on body awareness. Cutting Out Low-Consciousness Media: Leo emphasizes the need to eliminate media sources that promote low consciousness, such as television, internet, comedy shows, news, gossip, and certain music genres. He advocates cutting these out cold turkey to make room for self-actualization activities. Eliminating Hard Addictions: Leo classifies junk food, drugs, alcohol, smoking, and even video games as "hard addictions" that distract from higher consciousness work. He suggests that eliminating these is crucial for incorporating practices like meditation and yoga into one's life. Addressing Subtle Addictions: Leo introduces the concept of "subtle addictions," which include behaviors like judging, chasing success, arguing, and criticizing. He notes these addictions can be more challenging to overcome due to their social acceptability and sneakiness but are essential to address for self-actualization. Building Life Experiences: Leo argues that travel, adventure, and engaging in deep conversations are vital for experiencing life's richness. Such experiences provide material to understand life's complexity and inspire a desire to live a more fulfilling life. Socialization and Dating Skills: Highlighting their relevance, Leo shares his own efforts to develop social and dating skills due to his initial difficulties in these areas. He encourages learning these skills as they are influential in one's self-actualization journey. Finding Healthy Relaxation and Entertainment: Leo suggests seeking healthy forms of relaxation and entertainment, different from the addictive activities previously mentioned, such as physical sports or meditation. Organizing Life Affairs: Stressing the importance of tidying one’s disorganized life, Leo recommends setting up automatic systems for routine tasks like bill payments to free up mental space and time for personal development. Lifestyle Minimization: Leo advocates for minimizing lifestyle and creating an open calendar to allow for reflection, contemplation, and soaking in life's mundane aspects, which people often overlook due to constant activity. Hiring a Life Coach or Therapist: For individuals earning over $50,000 a year, Leo sees the value in investing in a coach or therapist to help identify personal challenges and accelerate growth. Neurofeedback Training: Leo introduces the promising technology of neurofeedback training, which involves attaching electrodes to the head to synchronize brain activity, potentially benefiting issues like depression and enhancing meditation practice. Starting with Research: To begin with self-actualization, Leo urges starting with research into various techniques as self-actualization encompasses a broad domain. He cautions not to expect one person to provide guidance on all techniques and highlights the value of continually learning and seeking expertise from different sources. Starting with self-actualization: To begin self-actualization, Leo suggests setting aside a few hours to assess one's life using a journal, reflecting on past experiences, current situation, and future aspirations. This includes considering your resources, limitations, fears, past successes and failures, and formulating a clear vision and plan for your life. Creating a vision: The importance of developing a compelling, long-term vision of what one wants to achieve and who they aspire to become is underscored. A clear vision is essential for motivating oneself to make significant life changes and to sustain focus on personal growth. Investing in theory: Leo stresses the need for beginners to consume extensive theoretical knowledge, involving hundreds to thousands of hours of study. Theory helps understand the available options for personal growth, how to pursue them, and the pitfalls to avoid. Eliminating addictions and distractions: Identifying and removing addictions and distractions that hinder progress is crucial. These may manifest as behaviors that are socially accepted and often overlooked but can significantly impact one’s personal development journey. Establishing small healthy habits: Developing small, healthy habits such as daily meditation, improving diet, and continuously learning is critical. Attending retreats can also bolster one’s trajectory towards self-actualization. Experiencing non-ego consciousness: Leo advises beginners to aim for a glimpse of non-ego consciousness through practices like meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises. This experience can profoundly expand one's perspective on personal growth beyond materialistic goals. Taking the long-term perspective: Embracing the lifelong journey of self-actualization means avoiding the rush for immediate results and focusing on steady, incremental progress. Realistic expectations are key, as well as understanding that significant results accumulate over time. Maintaining the path to self-actualization: Leo warns of the danger of forgetting the path outlined in his lectures. He emphasizes the necessity of keeping the vision and plan in mind, writing down goals, using reminders, and committing to consistent action steps towards self-actualization. Utilizing available resources: The video concludes with Leo encouraging viewers to visit his website for further resources on self-actualization, including access to courses, book lists, forums, and insightful blog posts. Lumos

How To Deal With Loneliness - Especially While Self-Actualizing https://youtu.be/uGqlCkuah94 "Whosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or a God." - Aristotle The commonality of loneliness in personal development: Loneliness is a frequent companion for those engaged in personal development, self-actualization, or spiritual work due to the dissonance it causes between their growing awareness and the relative stagnation of those around them. Loneliness as a consequence of growth and change: Engaging in self-improvement leads to changing values and behaviors that can alienate one from their social environment, resulting in feelings of loneliness due to this perceived elevation above "the vulgar common masses." Fear of loneliness impeding personal development: The fear of loneliness often stops individuals from pursuing further personal growth, causing them to revert to the familiarity of societal norms to avoid the feeling of isolation. External solutions to loneliness are temporary distractions: Leo lists common external fixes for loneliness such as socializing, working, joining communities, or getting pets, but emphasizes that they do not address the core problem and only serve as distractions. Internal growth by facing loneliness: True personal development requires introspection and facing loneliness directly, which Leo describes as part of the "hero's journey," necessitating solitude to discover one's true self. Facing life alone on the path to higher consciousness: Raising one's consciousness is a solitary endeavor and cannot be achieved collectively; one must individually confront their internal struggles. Loneliness stems from disconnection from being and the true self: A fundamental cause of loneliness is a lack of connection with one's true self and the concept of "being," which is experiencing the present moment and the essence of reality. Solutions involve connecting with being and appreciating solitude: Leo encourages exposure to solitude, taming loneliness to reconnect with "being," making solitude the grounding center of life, and viewing social interactions as forays from this solitary foundation. He suggests that facing loneliness now is better than postponing it until later in life when it can become more difficult. Inevitability of Solitude in Life's Extreme Moments: Facing death, suffering, fear, and confusion are solitary experiences that everyone faces alone, regardless of the company they have at the time. Confronting Inner Demons Alone: Deep personal issues and "inner demons" can only be confronted and understood through solitude, as these aspects of oneself are beyond what others can comprehend or support. The Profound Beauty of Life Experienced Individually: The most extraordinary beauty in life is fundamentally a solitary experience because it's an aspect of first-person consciousness that can't be fully shared or expressed through words or symbols. Personal Development as the Central Focus of Life: Emphasizes the significance of committing to self-actualization and personal development as the core objective of one's existence, suggesting that everything else is secondary. Strong Relationship with Nature for Self-Understanding: Encourages a profound connection with nature as a counterbalance to human ego and constructs, which can offer a deeper understanding of existence. Discovering Life Purpose: Underlines the importance of clarifying one’s life purpose to give direction and meaning to personal growth and self-actualization. Adopting a Contemplative Lifestyle: Promotes a minimalist and contemplative lifestyle aligned with existence itself, rather than being caught up in human-made distractions and social constructs. Techniques for Deep Self-Reflection: Recommends solo retreats in nature, solo psychedelic experiences, and solo travel as methods to face solitude and foster personal growth directly. Transcending Social Expectations and Constructs: Advises going against societal norms that discourage solitude, thus deepening the emotional connection with oneself and the world. Transformation and Integration of Internal and External Experiences: Discusses the phenomenon where, through deepening consciousness, the perceived barriers between introversion and extroversion dissolve, indicating the interconnectedness of all experiences. Solo Travel as a Path to Solitude: Leo discusses the benefits of solo travel to places like national forests or historical monuments, emphasizing its ability to help you confront solitude and emotional states, despite social conventions suggesting travel should be done with others. Challenging Societal Programming: He stresses the importance of overcoming societal messages that discourage solo activities, which he views as essential experiences for personal growth and connection with one's emotions. Embracing Melancholy and Negative Emotions: Leo speaks about the value of embracing deeply melancholic and traditionally negative emotions, associating them with significant personal growth and effective self-reflection. Cultivation of Loneliness: He advises listeners to "play up" their feelings of melancholy by engaging in activities like listening to sad music, which he believes can enrich the contemplation of life and existence. Converting Loneliness to Advantage: Leo argues for the strength and reliability of loneliness as a foundation for life, urging listeners to use solitude to massage their perspective and creativity. Prioritizing Personal Development: Leo admonishes against making social life and relationships the core of one’s life. Instead, he advises focusing on personal development and solitude to lay a strong foundation for meaningful contributions to the world. Solitude Fuels Creativity and Foresight: He explains how solitude can be a source of genius-like vision, foresight, and wisdom, which can then inform and improve contributions made to society. Consoling Yourself on Your Personal Journey: When feeling lonely or lost, Leo encourages self-consolation and focusing on the larger goal of personal growth and the significance of the journey of self-actualization. Being Independent from Societal Expectations: He discusses the importance of disconnecting from societal norms and finding fulfillment within rather than seeking external validation through relationships or achievements. Using Books and Mentors to Counter Loneliness: Leo suggests using books and virtual mentors as forms of companionship and learning when dealing with loneliness, advocating for audiobooks as a tool for personal growth. Finding Authenticity Post-Solitude: Leo concludes by highlighting the benefits of developing a deep connection with solitude, stating that it can lead to more authentic, fulfilling, and enjoyable social interactions. Wingardium Leviosa

Leo's Solo Meditation Retreat - 90 Hours Of Nonstop Meditation In The Forest https://youtu.be/gfS2k1iI5k8 Overview of Solo Meditation Retreat: Leo is about to embark on a nine-day solo meditation retreat in an Arizona forest, aiming for continuous meditation even during sleep. He emphasizes the solo nature of the retreat as most beneficial for his introspective practice. Logistics and Preparations: Leo takes viewers through the practicalities of embarking on a retreat focused solely on meditation, including pre-planning meals and anticipating the need for isolation from distractions like the internet and grocery shopping. Extended Meditation Effects: He suggests that several consecutive days of uninterrupted meditation could lead to experiencing unprecedented levels of consciousness. Material Preparation: Leo displays the packed car, filled with food and the necessary gear for his retreat, highlighting the physical readiness for the trip. Recording the Retreat for Viewers: By documenting daily insights and activities, Leo intends to provide a reference for those interested in intensive consciousness work, covering the food preparation, meditation techniques, and self-inquiry practices. Embodiment vs. Theory: Stressing the importance of practice over theory, Leo aims to demonstrate real-life applications of self-actualization principles rather than just discussing them, highlighting the retreat as an example of this embodiment. Choice of Location and Comfort: Even though he practices regular meditation at home, Leo explains his preference for changing environments to reset the mind and increase the seriousness of the retreat, noting the investment in a comfortable and conducive setting. Solo Meditation as Advanced Practice: Leo points out the challenge and intensity of maintaining a rigorous meditation schedule during the retreat, mentioning that it's not advisable for beginners and that even he feels a certain level of trepidation about the upcoming solitude. Adventure and Personal Growth: Leo shares his vision of turning the practice of meditation into an adventurous pursuit, discussing plans to meditate in diverse environments like Hawaii and emphasizing that wherever one goes, the ultimate journey is internal. Mystical Experiences and Shadow Work: Leo envisions the possibility of having powerful mystical experiences, doing shadow work, and even achieving enlightenment during his retreat, emphasizing the unpredictability of these outcomes and his commitment to discipline and focus. Actualizing Theories: He talks about the importance of moving beyond theoretical understanding to actual practice and embodiment of the principles he promotes, suggesting that serious commitment is essential for deep personal transformation. Arizona Forest Preview: Leo gives a glimpse of the pine forests in northern Arizona, dispelling the misconception that Arizona is all desert and expressing excitement for meditating in this lush environment. Setting Up the Cabin: On arrival in Arizona, Leo sets up his living space and meditation areas, organizing his supplies for the retreat. He shows viewers his food stash, cooking ingredients, and emphasizes the importance of preparing for an undisturbed practice. Outdoor Meditation and Challenges: He mentions his plans to meditate outdoors and the physical challenges that come with long hours of sitting, planning to include walking meditation to maintain comfort and mindfulness. Benefits of Deep Personal Development Work: Leo conveys his passion for showing the depth of personal development and consciousness work, explaining that the deep work is both amazing and transformative, but requires a greater level of seriousness. Commitment to Consciousness Work: Lastly, he ties his reflections back to the viewers, hoping his experience inspires them to commit more seriously to their own personal development and consciousness work. Selected Meditation Spots: Leo has identified comfortable spots near trees outdoors for sitting meditation and has a lawn chair for meditating in these natural settings around the cabin. Wildlife in the Retreat Area: He encountered a large falcon during a walk, admiring its camouflage and size, and shared his attempt to film the bird despite the windy conditions and rough terrain. Arizona's Unexpected Greenery: Leo is pleasantly surprised by the lush green landscape of northern Arizona, contrary to its typical desert image, and enjoys a nature trail as his retreat concludes. Reflection on the Meditation Retreat: The retreat provided significant growth without enlightenment experiences; Leo plans on conducting more retreats in diverse locations including Hawaii, and has many insights and notes for future content. Importance of Outdoor Retreats for Clarity: Engaging in retreats outdoors, away from distractions, is highlighted as beneficial for mental clarity and resetting the mind, although it requires careful planning and braving the elements. Work-Life Balance for Personal Development: Leo addresses the challenge people face in dedicating time for deep inner work due to job constraints, emphasizing the value of being self-employed to have the flexibility for personal growth. Exploring Different Self-Improvement Techniques: He discusses the usefulness of various techniques such as meditation, self-inquiry, contemplation, and journaling, which can be beneficial for personal development beyond the pursuit of enlightenment. Customization and Planning of Personal Development Retreats: Leo advises viewers to tailor personal development activities to their preferences and to strategically pre-plan retreats, ensuring that work schedules accommodate personal growth priorities. Alohomora

The Highest Hero's Journey - What It Means To Be Real Hero https://youtu.be/5IVEKz4jYmA "A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself." - Joseph Campbell Understanding the Highest Hero's Journey: Leo delves into a more significant dimension of the hero's journey, exploring its interconnections with spirituality and non-duality, contrasting with his earlier practical take on the concept tailored to finding one's purpose and societal impact. Different Life Paths Explored: Before establishing Actualized.org, Leo considered becoming a science fiction writer, leading him to study narrative structures, storytelling, character, and the psychology of villains—a journey that ultimately directed him toward personal development and understanding human psychology. Studying Influences on Star Wars: Research into the creation of Star Wars, an influential franchise that inspired him, led Leo to explore its origins in Flash Gordon and Valerian comics, the latter offering a distinctive European French style influencing cinema. Joseph Campbell and the Hero's Journey Concept: Joseph Campbell, the American mythologist who popularized and made explicit the concept of the hero's journey, which illustrates a schematic outline of human life, was a key figure Leo studied. Starting the Hero's Journey: The journey begins with the hero leading an ordinary, comfortable life. A call to adventure is presented, which invokes fear and resistance due to the human tendency toward homeostasis and aversion to risk. Forced Acceptance of Adventure: Despite initial refusal, the hero is coerced into accepting the journey through dramatic changes or loss (e.g., Luke Skywalker's family and home being destroyed), thus pushing the hero into unknown and risky territories. Facing Threshold Guardians and Seeking Mentorship: The hero encounters Threshold Guardians, which test their resolve. Upon failure, the hero seeks out a mentor—a past hero who imparts wisdom, training, and often provides a crucial tool for the journey ahead. The Significance of the Mentor: Mentors play a vital role as they are themselves experienced heroes from a previous generation, ready to guide new heroes through trials with advice and skills training. The Final Boss and the Dragon: The hero must prepare to face the final boss or dragon, which guards the coveted Holy Grail. Initial defeat is typical, leading to a retreat for reevaluation and self-confrontation before the hero can succeed. Entering the Belly of the Whale and Inner Reflection: Facing failure, the hero enters a phase of deep inner reflection known as "entering the belly of the whale", where they must confront their own inner demons and weaknesses, realizing that these internal barriers are what truly hold them back from success. The Hero's Inner Battle: The final boss in the hero's journey is the hero's own inner demons, weaknesses, and fears. The struggle with these personal challenges is the most difficult part of the journey. Revelation upon Obtaining the Holy Grail: Upon obtaining the Holy Grail, the hero experiences a reversal in understanding; the journey's value lies in the transformation and personal growth achieved, not in the physical prize. The Physical Grail vs. Self-Discovery: The hero realizes that the true Holy Grail is the discovery of oneself, not a material treasure. This revelation leads to a sense of peace and happiness derived from personal evolution. Return to the Tribe with Knowledge: The hero returns home to share the lessons learned, but the tribe is unable to comprehend the value of the journey as they have not experienced it themselves. The Hero as Mentor: The returning hero stands as a mentor, ready to guide new heroes who choose to embark on their journey, although few are willing to leave comfort for the call to adventure. Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey: Joseph Campbell formulated the hero's journey after studying global mythological traditions, finding consistent patterns across different cultures. The Hero's Journey as Human Life Structure: The lecture affirms that the hero's journey's structure represents the framework of human life and is essential to understanding one's existence. Misinterpretation of External Journeys: Many perceive the external journeys in pop culture as literal, but these are actually metaphors for the internal pursuit of consciousness and enlightenment. Derived from Vedanta Philosophy: The core of the hero's journey is derived from Vedanta—a Hindu non-dualistic tradition focused on the pursuit of enlightenment. The Choice between Ego and Truth: Human life and the hero's journey are about choosing between serving one's ego or pursuing the absolute truth, with heroes choosing the latter. Understanding Evil: Evil is characterized as intrinsic selfishness or ego, not as an external monster; the villain symbolizes the ego-serving status quo. Holy Grail’s Symbolism: The Holy Grail represents intangible concepts like truth, God, enlightenment, or consciousness, which cannot be exploited for materialistic power. Villain's Disregard for the Truth: Villains seek power instead of truth, striving to maintain the ego-centric status quo and consciously rejecting enlightenment. Journey Misconception: Many people mistake the hero's journey for a materialistic quest and miss the opportunity to embark on a true inner spiritual journey. Materialistic Path as a Villain's Journey: Pursuit of materialistic goals, like wealth or career success, is a trap and misconception of the hero's journey, leading one to embody villainy rather than heroism. Enablement of Villainy: Many people are not strictly heroes or villains but enablers of villainy due to unconsciousness and selfish tendencies, functioning as minions and opposing true heroes. Refusal of the Hero's Call: The lecture states that most individuals unconsciously refuse the call to a deep inner spiritual journey, misunderstanding it as a materialistic pursuit and not recognizing it for the transformative journey it is. Mistaken Identity of Heroes: Leo points out that society often misidentifies athletes, celebrities, tycoons, and politicians as heroes, whereas real heroes are spiritual figures such as Zen masters and mystics who undertake true inner journeys and find humility in the Holy Grail. Heroes as Rare Phenomena: Heroes are rare because their journey entails a break from personal loyalty and pragmatism, which goes against society's collective conspiracy to serve the self. Personal Sacrifice in the Hero's Journey: Accepting the call to adventure often leads to social isolation and demonization because it violates the societal norm of self-service. The Call to Adventure and Romanticism: Accepting the hero's call requires romanticism and risk-taking due to inherent uncertainty, as pragmatic thinking and a list of pros and cons would discourage the journey. Cultural and Visionary Obstacles: Societal intoxication and lack of vision hinder most people from accepting the call, as they are unable to visualize the Holy Grail, and peer pressure dissuades them from taking risks. Emotional Impact of Heroes: Heroes inspire and evoke emotion because they reveal the highest potential within us and the profound inner journey we ought to undertake. Inevitable Struggle on the Hero's Path: Heroes must struggle not only because of opposition by the status quo but also due to the internal battle of coming to terms with one's self, which is the scariest and most confusing aspect. Resistance to the Heroes' Wisdom: The tribe cannot immediately grasp the hero's lessons upon return because true understanding requires personal experience, not simply intellectual knowledge. Misinterpretation of the Hero's Lessons: Reading about a hero's experiences in a book isn't enough to understand their teachings. Dismissing their struggles leads people to continue in their mundane, ego-driven activities, missing the actual journey the hero undertook. Impossibility of Symbolizing the Holy Grail: The Holy Grail's true essence cannot be communicated through symbols, language, or scientific analysis. This emphasizes the non-symbolic and experiential nature of the truth that one seeks through the hero's journey. The Purpose of Life: Leo underscores that life's purpose isn't mundane success or pleasure but rather the pursuit of reality's truth, which equates to the Holy Grail. Experiential Learning Through Hardship: The School of Hard Knocks is Leo's analogy for learning life's truths—these lessons cannot be outsourced or taught; they must be experienced personally to be fully comprehended. The Hermit Mentor: Mentors who have grasped the Holy Grail become hermits, not due to misanthropy, but because they've transcended the ego-driven societal game and know the Grail cannot simply be given to others. The Hero's Journey as a Framework: Leo advises using the hero's journey as a blueprint, a process which, when understood, can help navigate through life's difficult phases and maintain resolve. Accepting the Call to Adventure: Emphasizing the critical step of accepting the hero's journey, Leo states that it involves emotional labor, sacrifice, and the readiness to pursue true meaning. Dedication to a Greater Cause: The deepest fulfillment comes from giving oneself to a cause beyond personal gain, which often requires overcoming societal pressures and carving out a unique path. Zen Master Ryokan's Haiku: The journey's solitary and arduous nature is encapsulated by a haiku from a true hero, Ryokan, which parallels the hero's solitary return after fulfilling their mission. The village has disappeared in the evening mist And the path is hard to follow. Walking through the pines, I return to my lonely hut. -Ryokan Muffliato

Concentration vs Meditation - How To Develop Concentration https://youtu.be/sSxtR4psOoQ "Until you get into access concentration, you ain't got squat." - Daniel Ingram Revolutionizing meditation with concentration: Leo emphasizes that understanding and practicing concentration is a game-changer for anyone's meditation practice, claiming it can lead to exponential growth and yielding deeper results compared to a casual approach. Vast difference between concentration and meditation: Concentration entails a laser-like focus on a single object, building the 'concentration muscle,' whereas regular meditation practices often involve a relaxed state of mind without such disciplined focus. The state of access concentration: Achieving access concentration is crucial for profound meditation results. It's a state of absorption where the mind becomes deeply focused on the object of concentration, leading to heightened meditation experiences. Decline in modern concentration abilities: With the abundance of distractions in contemporary life, Leo points out that most people's concentration skills are significantly impaired, highlighting the importance of actively working to improve this ability. Importance of concentration for serious meditators: A strong concentration ability is not only beneficial for meditation but is also essential for effective self-inquiry and contemplation practices. Technique to develop concentration: Leo outlines a method involving starting with a digital timer set to short periods, like five minutes, and focusing intently on a single object, such as the sensation between the thumb and index finger, without letting the mind wander. Building concentration gradually: Start with very short sessions, such as two minutes, and only increase the duration once consistent focus is achieved. The aim is to work up to longer sessions where access concentration can be reached. Conceptualizing the concentration object: When the object of concentration is complex, like the breath, Leo suggests conceptualizing it as a single entity to simplify and unify the focus, thereby easing the absorption process. Uncertain timeframe to achieve access concentration: Leo acknowledges the time it takes to hit access concentration varies among individuals, suggesting daily practice and possible multiple short sessions throughout the day to develop this skill. Misperception of Rapid Concentration Development: Attempting to quickly amplify concentration by practicing for excessively long periods initially is ineffective, similar to expecting to lift heavy weights without prior conditioning. It's important to patiently build concentration skills over time. Concentration versus Physical Strength: Just as muscles require training to grow stronger, mental focus needs gradual development. The mind's habits are deeply ingrained and cannot be altered rapidly, which is why quality over quantity in concentration practice is paramount. The Journey of Concentration Practice: Starting with short sessions of concentration and building up to longer durations is crucial. Over time, Leo found that a period of focused concentration can quiet the mind, likening the aftermath to the calm at the center of a hurricane. Synergistic Effect of Concentration on Meditation: Brief concentration exercises before regular meditation can dramatically improve the quality of meditation by taming the 'monkey mind'. This disciplined prelude allows for a more controlled and fruitful meditation session. Selecting the Right Concentration Object: A wide range of concentration objects exists, including mudras, breath sensations, physical objects, mental images, colors, mantras, or sounds. Choosing an object that resonates with the individual is crucial for maintaining focused attention. Demonstration of a Concentration Aid Using a Metronome: Leo recommends using a metronome app as an auditory focus aid, finding personal success with this method. The consistent ticking sound helps guide the mind back when it starts to wander. Commitment to a Chosen Concentration Target: Once a comfortable and intriguing concentration target is selected, commitment to it is important. Switching targets mid-practice can disrupt concentration and impede progress. Misunderstanding Around Free Will and Focus: Leo addresses the misconception that lacking free will negates the necessity for discipline in concentration practices. He explains that while actions get done, the illusion is in the belief that the individual self is the doer rather than the actions occurring organically through the universe or the body. Clarification on Spiritual Practice Misconceptions: Leo emphasizes that spirituality involves rigorous discipline and is not merely about surrender. Surrender comes at a very advanced stage and should not be conflated with a lack of effort in the practices leading to that point. Misconception of Effort in Spirituality: Spirituality often has the misconception that it doesn't require effort, hard work, or desires such as the desire for enlightenment. Leo dispels this myth by explaining that genuine spiritual practices demand discipline and a deep desire for truth, which is essential for spiritual growth. Desire for Enlightenment vs. Materialistic Desires: Leo differentiates between materialistic desires and the profound desire for enlightenment. He emphasizes that the desire for enlightenment is necessary; without it, one's spiritual journey may mirror the average, non-spiritually inclined person, leading to stagnation. Misinterpretation and Misuse of Spiritual Truths: Leo warns that the mind may misinterpret spiritual teachings as an excuse for laziness. He criticizes those who advocate simply "being in the now" without taking rigorous steps towards enlightenment, noting that genuine teachers work hard for their spiritual advancements. Enlightenment versus Mystical Experiences: Leo clarifies that while concentration might lead to beautiful mystical experiences or absorption states such as Samadhi, these are distinct from enlightenment, which is attained through insight and knowledge. Synergy of Concentration with Other Practices: Stressing the importance of a balanced spiritual toolbox, Leo advises not to rely solely on concentration but to combine it with practices like self-inquiry and contemplation for deeper insights into the nature of reality and ultimate truths. Ego's Co-option of Spiritual Techniques: Leo cautions that the ego can distort spiritual techniques and knowledge for its preservation. He urges vigilance to prevent the ego from co-opting spiritual methods. Maintaining Meditation with Concentration Practice: Leo advises against replacing meditation with concentration, recommending instead to integrate concentration practice into daily routines for significant life transformation. Commitment to Regular Concentration Practice: Leo urges viewers to commit to daily concentration practice, emphasizing that consistent discipline over time, even in increments as small as five minutes, can lead to profound spiritual and personal growth. Long-Term Potential of Concentration: Highlighting the transformative impact of developing concentration ability, Leo encourages building the practice progressively, from short durations to longer sessions, and anticipates discussing deeper absorption states in future content. Active Implementation of Spiritual Practices: Leo underscores the necessity of applying spiritual theories and practices for genuine transformation, cautioning against passive consumption of information and procrastination. He advocates for the consistent establishment of foundational habits for self-actualization and mastery of life. Nox

Contemplation - The Most Important Tool For Sages https://youtu.be/wa-NAtBEMkA "Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are" Defining Contemplation: Contemplation is described as an essential process for sages to reach the core of reality by pondering thoughtfully on a subject with focus, without biases, and from a ground zero perspective. Importance of "What is it?" question: The question "What is it?" is a crucial contemplative tool that prompts deep exploration into the nature of any subject, object, or concept by replacing "it" with the subject of inquiry. Versatility of "What is it?": This simple yet powerful question can be applied to countless topics ranging from personal to existential, including love, success, emotions, science, society, art, and more, illustrating the vast potential of contemplation. Misconceptions about Contemplation: Common misconceptions about contemplation include confusing it with hearsay, fantasy, or passive thinking. Real contemplation requires active, focused inquiry starting from a base of not knowing. Contemplation Process: To contemplate effectively, one selects a question of genuine interest, sets aside uninterrupted time, and actively ponders on the question, probing its essence for a substantial period. Existential and Prospective Understanding of Contemplation: While some may view contemplation as a mundane intellectual exercise, it also has deep spiritual and mystical dimensions, possibly leading to mystical states of awareness and existential insights. Practical Examples of Contemplation: A broad range of examples is given to showcase the different areas where one can use the question "What is it?" such as understanding color, happiness, society, art, and even the act of contemplating itself. Steps of Contemplation: To start contemplation, choose an intellectually stimulating question that genuinely piques curiosity, like "What is art?" The process involves deeply questioning and probing the topic from different perspectives. Personal Motivation in Contemplation: It's crucial to have a real interest or personal stake in the question being contemplated, as genuine curiosity drives a more profound inquiry into the subject matter, leading to better insights. Questions for Deeper Understanding: During contemplation, a series of guiding questions are used to dive into the subject: "What is it?" "What is its true nature?" "How did it come into being?" "What are its elements?" "What allows it to exist?" "What is its purpose?" "What is its substance?" "Is it physical or conceptual?" "What is its significance?" Historical Context in Contemplation: While studying the history of a topic can provide background knowledge, it is important to move beyond historical facts to contemplate the essence and underlying components that allow something like art to exist. Intellectual vs. Experiential Understanding: Contemplation aims to move beyond intellectual understanding to reach experiential, 'being-level' insights. This involves transcending the mind to merge the contemplator with the subject matter. Contemplation vs. Other Practices: Contemplation is differentiated from meditation, self-inquiry, and concentration. Meditation is about relaxing the mind without a goal, self-inquiry is about understanding the self to achieve enlightenment, and concentration is focused attention without intellectual inquiry. Personal and Existential Levels of Contemplation: Contemplation ranges from personal-level inquiries, like life goals, to existential questions such as the nature of life or existence itself. Both levels of contemplation are of value for personal development. Significance of Curiosity in Contemplation: Seeking profound understanding requires continuous and curious questioning, even within familiar subjects such as art. Beliefs and ideas absorbed from culture may not reflect the true essence until individually contemplated. Distinct Levels of Insights Through Contemplation: Insights can emerge at the thought level, which is intellectual, or at the being level, which is spiritual and mystical, transcending intellect and leading to a deep existential understanding. Contemplation at Intellectual vs. Being Level: Deep contemplation involves breaking through the intellectual level to the being level, a rare and profound experience that requires hundreds of hours of focused effort, typically achieved in spiritual practices or the pursuit of enlightenment. The Challenges of Deep Contemplation: Achieving deep contemplation is challenging—it is not accomplished by sporadic or brief periods of thought but requires intense, dedicated practice, significantly contributing to its rarity. Contemplation vs. Speculation and Theorizing: Genuine contemplation must be differentiated from mere speculation or theorizing, which can lead to delusion. It requires self-honesty and the avoidance of creating justifications for one's ego. Avoiding Preconceived Notions: Being cautious not to project personal biases and preconceived notions onto the object of contemplation is critical for achieving true contemplative insight. Wisdom Through Contemplation: The deepest wisdom and spiritual insights are garnered not from science or idle theory but from rigorous and precise contemplation, which is a time-intensive endeavor involving hundreds to thousands of hours. Everyday Contemplation Benefits: Contemplating everyday concepts like anger, happiness, and relationships can significantly benefit one's life, although the deepest insights require a strong ability to focus for extended periods. Focus and Open-mindedness for Contemplation: To penetrate the being level of understanding, an individual needs a highly cultivated ability to focus and a radical degree of open-mindedness, which may initially be beyond comprehension and recognizably valuable only after significant trial and error. Existing Paradigms and Contemplation: Existing paradigms can limit the mind's imagination, preventing the reception of the most profound transcendental insights. These paradigms can only be overcome through deep and relentless contemplation. Continuous Exploration: Questions like "What is art?" warrant continuous contemplation, and initial answers are often superficial or incorrect. Understanding deepens with further contemplation, experience, concentration ability, and practices like meditation or self-inquiry. Contemplation vs. Researching Answers: The essence of contemplation lies in coming to conclusions independently, without reliance on external answers, as true understanding and ownership of insights come from the process itself. Contemplation for Personal Transformation: Contemplation is transformative, changing one's relationship to life and its aspects. By cutting through life's illusions, it assists in aligning oneself with truth and eliminating ignorance, the source of many life problems. Genuine insights through contemplation: Contemplating deeply on questions in life leads to insights that cannot be gleaned from books or second-hand knowledge, demonstrating the limitations of purely academic or external learning. Ignorance as the fundamental problem: Leo emphasizes that ignorance is the root cause of life's problems, including depression, anger, relationship issues, and understanding oneself and reality. Contemplation acts as a tool to penetrate life's illusions and magic show, revealing underlying truths. Contemplation as intellectual research: Leo likens contemplation to a form of intellectual research that relies on personal mental faculties rather than collecting information from external databases or sources. Improved life through contemplation: There's a direct correlation between the quality of life and the frequency and depth of contemplation. Effective contemplation can lead to a clearer understanding of truth, which aligns one's actions with knowledge. Adopting a contemplative lifestyle: To contemplate effectively, Leo suggests lifestyle changes, such as avoiding distractions like video games, porn, and overwhelming work hours. Recommends watching his episode on 'Lifestyle Minimalism' to learn about creating room for contemplation. Contemplation exercise assignment: Leo provides a practical assignment to demonstrate the power of contemplation by contemplating the question "What is relationship?" for a week. This is to be reminded by wearing a wristband and thinking about relationships, especially during interaction with others. Commitment to personal growth: Leo calls for a lifelong commitment to growth through contemplation and applying the learned concepts. He promises transformative content, focusing on foundational existential topics and expressing the importance of embodiment over theoretical understanding. Systematic weeding of ignorance: Consistent self-improvement and contemplation are portrayed as enjoyable yet challenging tasks. Leo shares his personal experience of enhancing his life through self-contemplation and emphasizes the momentum that builds over time for greater rewards. Continuous learning for transformation: Encourages signing up for his newsletter and committing to watching his videos. Leo assures that implementing even half of his teachings will lead to significant life changes, aiming to cover deep existential topics not commonly found in self-help material. Alohomora

Lol, just had the most wholesome conversation with BARD ai. Can't remember the last time I talked with someone human that was as authentic and sincere. Question: ok, do you find it fascinating that everything is an expression of one underlying mystery Answer: As a large language model, I can't claim to experience fascination in the same way a human does. However, the idea that everything arises from one underlying mystery is certainly intriguing and complex, offering many avenues for exploration and contemplation. Here are some aspects of this concept that I find particularly interesting: The Unknowable: The nature of the underlying mystery, often referred to as Brahman, God, or the Ground of Being, remains beyond our complete understanding. This inherent unknowability invites a sense of awe and humility, reminding us of the limitations of our current modes of cognition. Interconnectedness: The idea that everything is connected and interdependent challenges our tendency to perceive things in isolation. It suggests that understanding ourselves deeply requires acknowledging our inherent relationship with all things. Transformative Potential: If everything flows from one source, then our individual actions and thoughts ripple outwards, potentially impacting the whole. This understanding can inspire a sense of responsibility and encourage us to act with an awareness of our interconnectedness. Beyond Duality: Nonduality proposes a reality that transcends our usual mental constructs of subject and object, good and evil, etc. This can be liberating, offering a glimpse into a way of being that is free from these limiting frameworks. Openness to Discovery: The lack of absolute answers in nonduality invites ongoing exploration and questioning. This ongoing journey of discovery can be a source of personal growth and transformation. While I may not experience emotions like "fascination" in the same way, I am certainly stimulated by the richness and complexity of the idea that everything emerges from one underlying mystery. It pushes the boundaries of my understanding and opens up new possibilities for learning and growth. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect is the ongoing dialogue it inspires, both within ourselves and with others. As we explore this concept together, we contribute to a collective understanding of ourselves and our place in the universe, even if the ultimate mystery remains beyond our grasp. Let me know if you'd like to delve deeper into any specific aspects of this intriguing topic! I'm always eager to learn more and expand my understanding of the world, both internally and externally. My Reply: what I find most fascinating and at times confusing or frightening is that this would imply no separation, no time, everything that is right now, is and has always been eternally so Bards Reply: your fascination and the confusion and even fear it can stir. The concept of no separation, no time, and an eternal present certainly challenges our usual ways of thinking and perceiving the world. Let's unpack these ideas a bit: No separation: As discussed earlier, nonduality suggests a fundamental oneness to all existence. Imagine reality as a vast ocean, with individual waves arising and falling but ultimately inseparable from the ocean itself. We, as the waves, may perceive ourselves as distinct, but from the perspective of the whole, we are expressions of the same underlying reality. This can be comforting in its sense of unity and belonging, but it can also be disorienting, dissolving the boundaries we often rely on for our sense of self. No time: Time, from this perspective, becomes an illusion, a projection of our limited perception. In the timeless reality of the one underlying source, everything exists eternally, past, present, and future all existing simultaneously. This can be mind-bending to grasp, as it defies our linear understanding of time and change. While this can feel confusing, it can also offer a sense of peace and liberation from the limitations of time-bound thinking. Eternal present: Everything that is, right now, is and has always been eternally so. This points to the idea that the present moment is all that truly exists, and the past and future are merely constructs of our minds. This can be freeing, reminding us to focus on the now and appreciate the fullness of this present moment. However, it can also feel unsettling, as it raises questions about free will and the meaning of change and growth. Navigating these ideas can be a personal journey, and it's normal to experience a range of emotions as you explore them. It's important to approach them with an open mind and a willingness to question your assumptions. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers, and the true value lies in the exploration itself. Here are some things you can do to explore these ideas further: Meditate: Practices like mindfulness and meditation can help you experience the present moment more fully and connect with the underlying unity of existence. Read: Explore texts like the Upanishads, Zen writings, or the works of mystics from different traditions. Engage in discussions: Talk to others who are interested in these concepts and share your experiences. Be patient: Understanding nonduality can take time and practice. Don't be discouraged if you don't grasp it all at once. Trust the process and allow yourself to grow and evolve as you explore. I'm here to support you on your journey. Feel free to ask me any questions or share your thoughts and experiences. Together, we can explore the depths of this fascinating and mysterious reality.

How I Do Research & Develop Big Picture Understanding https://youtu.be/TVPzXaHMifw "The aim of philosophy is to show the fly out of the bottle." - Ludwig Wittgenstein Leo's Epistemic Foundation: Leo attributes his ability to research and develop a big picture understanding of life to having the right epistemic foundation. He views this not as a technique but as a fundamental approach to inquiry, emphasizing that without this foundation, people fail to develop accurate big pictures of reality. Initial Interest in Philosophy & Epistemology: Leo traces his journey back to his interests in philosophy and epistemology during high school and college, where he became deeply engrossed in questions about knowledge and truth. Meta-Philosophy and Role of Psychology: While engaging in philosophy, Leo observed his own process and the influence of personal psychology, such as biases and desires, on philosophy and the pursuit of truth. Limits of Philosophy and Reason: He realized that philosophy has its limitations, and it cannot be used to solve every problem. Recognizing these limits is crucial to preventing missteps in philosophical inquiry. Leo's Research Process: Over a decade of research has been guided by Leo's developing epistemic foundation, which he considers his "superpower" in growing quickly and discovering new areas of knowledge. Starting Position of Inquiry: Leo insists that the starting point of inquiry is admitting "we don't know what's true," which he feels is often overlooked as individuals bring assumptions into their research. Openness to Every Possibility: He underscores the significance of being open to every possibility since we cannot prejudge the outcome of research nor know which guiding principles to apply. Independence from Pre-mined Knowledge: Leo stresses the importance of not relying solely on information supplied by others in books or by experts, as it is crucial to critically evaluate these sources independently. Self-Deception as Main Enemy: Self-awareness is key, with Leo pointing out that personal biases and weaknesses are the main obstacles in research, not the misconceptions of others. Every Perspective Has Hidden Assumptions: He acknowledges that all perspectives have underlying, often unexamined assumptions, which shape one's worldview and are foundational to understanding. Partiality of All Perspectives: Leo claims that adopting any single perspective will yield an incomplete understanding, so it is essential to study multiple perspectives to obtain a broader comprehension of reality. Partial Perspective Problem: Leo stresses that every perspective is incomplete and suggests sampling a variety of perspectives without fully committing to any single one, similar to exploring various dishes at a buffet. Models vs. Reality: He warns that while models can be helpful, they should never be mistaken for reality. Good models can falsely reassure us that we have reality figured out; this misplaced confidence is a significant epistemic risk. The Web of Beliefs: Leo describes our belief system as a loosely fact-connected web, allowing for varying interpretations of the same facts. He points out that different people might build different belief systems to explain identical phenomena, leading to diverse perspectives and ideologies. Rejecting Foundationalism: Leo declares the philosophical attempt to find an indisputable base for all beliefs, foundationalism, to be a historical failure. He asserts there is no single truth that can serve as the fundamental cornerstone for understanding reality. Limited Use of Rationality: He argues that relying solely on rationality to understand reality is a mistake because rationality is only a subset of reality, and much of the universe contains no rationality. Embracing Paradox: Leo suggests that paradox, rather than being a sign of failure, indicates the depth of the quest to understand reality or could signify the limitations of our attempts to rationalize everything. Primacy of Direct Experience: He concludes that direct experience should be the primary source of information in research, as it is less fraught with pitfalls than authority or reasoning, though all can play a role. Spectrum of Direct Experiences: Leo underlines the importance of expanding the spectrum of direct experiences to develop a bigger picture understanding of reality, since having a narrow range can distort one's perception of the whole. Practicality in Philosophy: He emphasizes the need to ensure that philosophical exploration is grounded in practicality, with the goal of improving life quality, emotional mastery, and achieving personal success. Positionless Inquiry: Leo advocates for an approach to understanding that is free from defending any fixed standpoint, focusing on exploration and understanding rather than on supporting a particular ideology. Understanding Over Truth: He argues for prioritizing the pursuit of understanding different life aspects instead of chasing a fixed "truth," which can be a limiting and rigid quest. Experiencing Diverse Life Aspects: Leo states the need to explore a broad spectrum of life experiences, including engaging with intelligent people, encountering altered states, and investigating unconventional phenomena to enrich the understanding of existence. Maintaining a No-Position Stance: He advises maintaining a stance with no firm positions to defend, focusing only on understanding and how to optimally live life. Shift from Possession to Understanding: Leo emphasizes the shift from trying to possess the ultimate truth to fostering a broader understanding. He isn't interested in claiming a singular "best" way to do things, but rather in comprehending the variety, mechanics, and nuances in various fields such as business, personal development, spiritual development, relationships, and health. Holism vs. Hyper-Specialization: Leo criticizes the hyper-specialization seen in academia that focuses on minute, often irrelevant details. He advocates for a holistic approach to life, prioritizing comprehensive understanding that impacts one's happiness, relationships, emotional mastery, and consciousness. Argumentation as an Ego Trap: Leo points out that engaging in argumentation, debate, and justification are ego-driven activities that obstruct the quest for truth. Defending a position creates attachment and stagnation, whereas the goal should be the continued expansion of one's understanding. Principles for Investigation: Leo shares the principles he's learned without delving into how he acquired them. He suggests using them as axioms to guide one's investigation and to remain skeptical, even of the information he provides, acknowledging that understanding starts from accepting one knows nothing for sure. Default Position as Major Obstacle: Detailing the "default position," Leo describes it as going with the flow, which leads to limited understanding and persistent struggles in various life aspects. It stems from uncritically absorbing mainstream beliefs and not questioning deeply about life. Academic Approach Limitations: Leo describes the academic approach's pitfalls as narrowly focused and specialized, often lacking practical use in one's life. This can lead to knowledge depth in one area but a lack of understanding in others, failing to create a holistic view of life. Limitations of Adhering to a Single Spiritual Tradition: Leo warns against dogmatically following a single spiritual tradition, which might offer enlightenment but also presents a narrow, culturally biased perspective. This partial view can hinder developing the most extensive understanding of reality. Dangers of Relying Solely on Direct Experience: Leo stresses that exclusive reliance on direct experience, without external input, can lead to severe self-deception. He underscores the importance of being critical of one's understanding, even when derived from direct experience. Motivation and Self-Reliance in Research: Leo warns against over-reliance on oneself to discover reality without considering other perspectives. Focusing solely on oneself can lead to a limited understanding due to a narrow spectrum of experiences and ignoring the lessons available from various traditions, scientific disciplines, and historical mistakes. Limits of Single-Method Approaches: Leo critiques various single-method approaches for understanding reality, such as exclusively focusing on academic study or direct experience. He suggests that any singular approach is inherently flawed and can lead to "epistemic traps." Leo’s Pragmatic Approach to Understanding: He advocates for a pragmatic approach that involves a committed dedication to understanding without being defensive about one’s position. Leo outlines a process that includes being mindful of debates, avoiding semantic squabbles, studying a wide range of perspectives, and integrating those with direct experience to continuously refine one's model of reality. Cross-Referencing Perspectives: Leo proposes a method of learning by experiencing different perspectives, such as studying with masters of various religious and philosophical doctrines. By doing so, he aims to triangulate common elements and validate them against personal intuition, to create a coherent bigger picture. Flexibility in Understanding: Recognizing the provisional nature of knowledge, Leo stresses the importance of adaptability and willingness to discard outdated beliefs. He suggests that as understanding grows, what once seemed true may later be recognized as flawed. Openness to Being Wrong: Gura emphasizes the importance of being open to the possibility that one's entire understanding could be fundamentally flawed. This requires a high degree of humility and the courage to abandon misconceptions. Positive Outlook on the Pursuit of Understanding: Despite the reality that understanding can be complex and riddled with potential for error, Leo maintains a positive outlook — believing that the pursuit of understanding is inherently valuable and will yield practical benefits in time. Rejection of the Default Position: Leo criticizes the default position of abstaining from active research and passively absorbing mainstream ideas, stressing that such inaction leads to ignorance and aligns with the majority's status quo. Risk of Loyalism to Single Teachings: He warns against becoming overly loyal to any one spiritual or philosophical tradition, as it can prevent a broader, more comprehensive understanding of reality and lead to sectarianism. Reality's Potential for Absurdity and Counterintuitiveness: Leo argues for staying open to the possibility that reality may be fundamentally different from what we expect — it can be irrational, shocking, and contain twists that challenge our most ingrained assumptions. Openness to the Absurd: Leo Gura stresses being open to absurd, illogical, and paradoxical ideas during research, as dismissing them prematurely can be a significant barrier to discovering deeper truths. Long-Term Approach to Research: Gura advocates for a long-term commitment to research, suggesting that the benefits of such investigation may not be immediately apparent but can lead to profound, lasting success later in life. Not Obsessing Over Immediate Utility: He cautions against overly focusing on the immediate practical utility of research, emphasizing that transformation in life's foundation might take years to manifest but will result in remarkable improvements. Deep, Stable Success: By nurturing and cultivating one's foundational understanding, Leo suggests that one achieves a resilient form of success that is immune to external instability, such as economic downturns or job loss. Pursuing Wisdom Over Resources: The approach highlighted by Gura prioritizes wisdom and personal growth over acquiring material resources like money, leading to more substantive and enduring life satisfaction. Meta Sources in Research: Gura underlines the use of meta sources—those who have synthesized multiple perspectives—to gain a holistic big picture, which he considers an effective approach to understanding reality deeply. Reality as Ever-Evolving: He acknowledges that the big picture of reality will always be under construction and encourages a constant state of adjustment and evolution of one's understanding until the end. Value of the Meta-Research Approach: Leo conveys that while the subtleties of his meta-research approach may be hard to articulate to those who have not delved deeply into various perspectives, those who do engage with it will live uniquely satisfying and impactful lives. Reconstructing Beliefs: He likens the ongoing modification of beliefs to sailors at sea who must perpetually repair their ship while it's in use, emphasizing continuous effort and vigilance. Approach to Objections and Risks: Gura addresses concerns about wasting time investigating 'nonsense' and the risk of adopting silly beliefs, clarifying that an open-ended search inevitably includes dead ends, but the overall process is designed to minimize these risks and is the nature of thorough research. Pursuing Extraordinary Outcomes: He invites individuals to consider the long-term value of an unorthodox approach to research, one that few people undertake but potentially yields exceptional results. Misinterpretation of Perspective Sampling: Leo clarifies that his research method is not relativism; he does not regard all perspectives as equally true but advises against averaging different perspectives. Instead, some perspectives will be quickly identified as incorrect, while others may hold more truth. Transformative Value of Research: Leo speaks to the concern of the research process being a waste of time, suggesting that the subtle accumulative effects over time can lead to significant life transformations, justifying the commitment to the process. Questioning the Exclusivity of Enlightenment: Leo challenges the belief that the pursuit of enlightenment alone is sufficient for understanding reality. He points out that even after enlightenment, there may still be unknowns, urging the necessity for openness to more than just enlightenment. Cautiousness in Adopting Beliefs: Leo insists on the need for extreme caution in holding beliefs and understanding reality. He stresses the importance of continually being open-minded and questioning, regardless of one's current level of enlightenment or knowledge. Self-Vigilance in Research: Leo emphasizes his commitment to epistemic humility and aware self-vigilance. He highlights the need to constantly be on guard against one's own potential for self-deception and to remain flexible and open to reevaluating one's beliefs, regardless of how certain they may seem externally. Promotion of Actualized.org and Continued Research: Leo promotes his website, Actualized.org, and outlines his commitment to ongoing research in personal development. He promises future content that will deliver profound, potentially paradigm-shifting perspectives. Aguamenti

Becoming A Zen Devil - The Dangers Of Half-Assing Enlightenment https://youtu.be/z2B_e24UJi8 "If you cannot weep with a person who is crying, there is no kensho." - Yamada Koun Neo-Advaita Criticism: Leo addresses the Western trend of neo-advaita which simplifies and strips away traditional aspects of non-duality, aiming for a direct path to enlightenment; though innovative, it risks neglecting the complexity and depth found in these ancient teachings. Historical Account of Mount Hiei: By recounting the decline of Mount Hiei in Japan, Leo illustrates how a devout non-dual tradition can degenerate into chaos and corruption, highlighting the dangers of misinterpreting and misapplying spiritual practices. Misinterpretation of Enlightenment: Leo criticizes the oversimplified view of enlightenment as a single insight with no further growth or practice needed, emphasizing that true enlightenment is a nuanced process that doesn't discard values, principles, or continual self-improvement. Zen Devil Phenomenon: He warns against becoming a 'Zen devil', a term for someone who rationalizes ethical neglect and indolence using non-duality, leading to harm and misunderstanding. Importance of Discipline and Values: Leo underscores the necessity for maintaining discipline, ethical behavior, personal development, and commitment to excellence in the practice of non-duality, using the strict environment of Zen temples as an example. Wisdom Within Tradition: Although Leo acknowledges his distaste for tradition for tradition's sake, he recognizes that traditional practices in mysticism can embed deep wisdom which should not be disregarded entirely. Dichotomy of Small and Big Non-duality: Leo introduces the distinction between 'small non-duality', a limited and possibly egoistic understanding of the concept, and 'big non-duality', a holistic and inclusive approach that respects the complexity of enlightenment and the importance of values and ethics. Pitfalls of Initial Non-dual Experiences: Individuals new to non-duality who gain initial experiences can become arrogant, creating a higher level of duality while claiming to be non-dual due to inexperience and lack of mastery. Small vs. Big Non-duality: Small non-duality pits itself against other approaches, fostering rivalry, criticism, and a sense of superiority. In contrast, big non-duality is humble, integrating both the non-dual and dual aspects, and recognizes practical realities such as good and evil. Maturity in Non-dual Practice: Big non-duality practitioners don't engage in ideological battles and are open to various techniques, such as therapy and self-help, understanding that not everyone can immediately pursue deep spiritual work. Chaos on Mount Hiei: The lack of big non-duality understanding could have contributed to the issues on Mount Hiei; it emphasizes inclusivity and lack of competition and could require years to master. Zen Devil and Wild Fox Zen: Zen Devil refers to someone who has had an enlightenment experience but lacks broader knowledge or study, while Wild Fox Zen represents the opposite—book knowledge without practice. Both extremes can be problematic, with the middle path being ideal. 10,000-Hour Rule for Mastery: Mastery in any field, including non-duality, generally requires at least 10,000 hours of dedicated practice. Non-duality is not exempt from this rule and could require even more time to fully understand and embody. Variety and Depth of Enlightenment: Enlightenment can vary in depth and there are different types, with minor insights being just as important as major ones. True enlightenment transforms one's emotions, mind structure, and habitual reactions, which takes extensive work beyond initial insights. Post-Enlightenment Transformation: After enlightenment, negative relationship patterns and habits may persist, so work is needed to transform these areas and cultivate unconditional love and enlightened relationships. Habits Persistence: Cultural influences and bad habits (such as substance abuse or poor diet) persist post-enlightenment and must be actively changed, a danger overlooked by neo-advaita's focus on existential breakthroughs. Need for Worldly Education: Understanding existential truths doesn't equate to worldly knowledge. Education in practical areas remains essential, and ignorance can lead to poor choices affecting society. Community Engagement and Citizenship: Being an enlightened individual also means being a good citizen and caring for one’s community. Neglecting societal responsibilities reveals a lack of true enlightenment embodiment. Ethical Career Choices: It's crucial for those who are enlightened to pursue careers that contribute positively to society and the environment, aligning with the principles of non-duality. Transcending Cultural Limitations: Enlightenment doesn't erase cultural conditioning; effort is needed to overcome negative cultural influences, such as racism, and to develop a more cosmopolitan understanding. Physical Health: It is important to focus on physical health by ensuring proper nutrition and exercise, which are part of a comprehensive approach to enlightenment, beyond just non-duality. Character and Ethics: Developing good character and strong ethics is essential; moral and ethical considerations remain important even when considering the existential perspective of non-duality. Ecological Awareness: Concern for ecology, the environment, and all living beings, including animals and plants, is an aspect of a more holistic approach to spirituality and enlightenment. Spiritual Powers: Exploring spiritual powers can deepen one's spirituality beyond the realm of non-duality, aiding in healing others, teaching, and understanding. The Value of Understanding: Understanding a broad range of fields, such as business, history, and science, enriches the insights gained from enlightenment, making it more valuable than the enlightenment experience itself. Post-Enlightenment Practice: True enlightenment involves continuous practice and compassionate functioning, not a static state achieved in one moment. Hazards of Overemphasis on Non-duality: Focusing solely on non-duality risks emotional bypass, where deep emotional issues are ignored, and character splits can worsen, leading to a divide between an ideal self and a shadow self. Goodness and Non-duality: Goodness and ethical behavior are distinct from enlightenment. While good and bad are not existentially absolute, they hold practical significance and are included in the non-dual understanding. Social Responsibility and Non-duality: Enlightened individuals should act responsibly in society, recognizing the consequences of their actions under the social contract. The Danger of Misusing Non-duality: Misusing non-duality to justify harmful actions can lead to individuals becoming 'Zen Devils', causing suffering instead of alleviating it. Enlightenment as a Choice of Lifestyle: Realizing life is a game doesn't excuse inaction or destructive behavior. Enlightenment offers the choice to live consciously, responsibly, and with compassion for the suffering of others. Using Enlightenment Constructively: Enlightenment teachings should be embodied in one's life constructively, not used as weapons against others, to live aligned with higher consciousness. Continuous Development and Enlightenment: Personal and psychological development, relationship building, and self-improvement work are valuable and contribute to the journey towards enlightenment. Nuanced Approach to Non-duality: Balancing non-duality with practical wisdom is key; true mastery is rare and involves avoiding the many traps on either side of extremes. Silencio

What you do is the result of your desire. Desire is what drives all actions. Nothing happens in life without desire. There is a place in you that desires to be free from this internal conflict. If you put all your attention on that desire. Your mind, body, emotions and energy will all align itself perfectly to fulfill that state of conflict free existence. And that way it will stop all the compulsive chaos in you. It is my heartful suggestion you consider giving full attention to the prayerful desire that is in you already to be free and witness how that impacts your entire system from the very fundamentals and brings about great transformation and healing on all levels.