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Understanding Better Than Academics https://www.actualized.org/insights/understanding-better-than-academics Experiment with vlog style: Leo is trying an informal vlog format to share his non-linear, rapid, and intuitive thought processes that are difficult to convey in structured videos. Intuition versus logic: He describes his intuitive thinking as a vast neural net that allows for simultaneous processing of many ideas, unlike the clear and precise, but linear nature of logic. Communication struggles: Leo admits to the communication challenge presented by his intuition-driven insights, expressing the difficulty in convincing others without a linear argument structure. Content prioritization dilemma: With a limit of one video per week, Leo must prioritize which topics to include, leaving many insights unshared due to the constraint of releasing only about 50 videos a year. Vision for actualized.org: Leo hints at the deep and far-reaching potential of his work with actualized.org and the long-term commitment required from followers to realize the full benefits. Long-term strategic thinking: He promotes long-term strategic thinking as part of being successful in life and overcoming short-term setbacks and lack of vision. Expert knowledge through commitment: Leo promises viewers profound understanding surpassing top academics in various fields if they commit to watching his content and doing the work for several years. Open-mindedness as a knowledge key: He emphasizes radical open-mindedness as the key to profound knowledge, which he claims is often underestimated and lacking in academia and general society. Challenges of maintaining openness: Leo discusses the difficulty of remaining open-minded enough to fully embrace and comprehend reality, which requires a radical and unbiased approach. Transformation via deep engagement: Stresses the life-changing potential of deeply engaging with radical ideas about reality, which can lead to a transformative shift in understanding and personal growth. Resistance to change: He observes that many people resist change, preferring to defend existing belief systems, which inhibits the deep understanding he advocates for. Limitations of the academic system: Leo talks about the cultural constraints within academia that indoctrinate PhDs and prevent them from adopting maverick or radically open-minded positions due to the need for approval and adherence to established paradigms. Academic marginalization: He mentions how institutions isolate mavericks by relegating them to less influential areas, such as the philosophy of religion, effectively neutralizing the threat their ideas might pose to established norms. Threatening nature of transformative ideas: Leo notes how deeply transformative ideas can be perceived as a threat to social structures, relationships, and institutions, resulting in resistance to change. Academic career constraints: Highlights the career and livelihood dependence on not challenging the status quo within academia, which discourages radical openness and innovation. Academic dependency and career limitations: Academics are deeply invested in their institutions and face significant pressure to conform, compromising their ability to think outside the box due to dependence on salary, reputation, and incentives like tenure. Specialization and barrier to big-picture ideas: Universities force researchers to focus on narrow, specialized subfields, making them more akin to technicians. This hyper-specialization obstructs the pursuit of broad, interconnected ideas and understanding. Corruption of truth in academia: Leo observed the university system's corruption firsthand, watching philosophers prioritizing institutional bureaucracy over the true pursuit of wisdom, leading him to abandon the path of becoming an academic philosopher. Financial independence for uncorrupted truth: Leo emphasizes that his ability to share unadulterated insights on actualized.org is underpinned by his financial independence from traditional employment, reputations, and external funding resources. Creative freedom from non-conformity: Before actualized.org, Leo's commitment to financial and creative independence allowed him to escape the corrupting influences that plague professionals in academia and other creative fields. Balance of practical and metaphysical content: Leo curates content for actualized.org that balances practical utility with his passion for metaphysical subjects, enabling him to maintain his creative independence and share his vision for understanding reality. Promise of deep understanding: Leo believes that following his guidance on actualized.org over the course of several years can lead to a profound understanding of reality that surpasses the knowledge of the most adept academics. Deep curiosity for truth: Leo stresses the importance of seeking truth for its own sake, highlighting that all life decisions hinge on our understanding of reality. Without truth, we can't be confident in the validity of our actions or life choices. Human capacity for understanding: Emphasizing humanity's unique ability to reflect and comprehend, Leo places high value on philosophy and science as means to explore the fundamental questions of existence. Importance of open-mindedness: Leo criticizes the limitations of strict beliefs and encourages a genuine curiosity that leads to undertaking serious research across various fields of knowledge. Life as a great privilege: Viewing the pursuit of understanding reality not as an obligation but as a privilege, Leo finds fulfillment in the intellectual exploration of life's fundamental aspects. Interconnectedness of reality: Leo describes his admiration for the intricate interconnectedness of all elements in reality, leading to a deeper appreciation for existence and an experience of life akin to witnessing a masterpiece. Enriching daily life through curiosity: He encourages finding unconditional love and satisfaction in both positive and negative aspects of life, leading to a more magical, childlike wonder in everyday experiences. Crafting a holistic vision for one's life: Leo discusses the importance of taking the time to craft a meaningful life through planning, vision, and correcting past mistakes, asserting that it's never too late to reshape one's life path. Value of long-term vision: Working towards a meaningful, long-term goal provides a sense of relief and purpose compared to the monotony of a typical nine-to-five job. Liberation through correction: Acknowledging and correcting past mistakes is difficult but ultimately liberating, as it allows a person to work towards a larger, more conscious life vision. Conscious life construction: Piece by piece, one can construct a conscious life by focusing on personal development, aligning with like-minded individuals who support growth, and minimizing distractions. The importance of vision and trust: Keeping the vision of a profound understanding of life in mind is crucial, and trusting the process is essential-even though life decisions are inherently gambles. Radical open-mindedness as a principle: True open-mindedness involves not taking a fixed position on any issue and trusting that this approach will lead to positive insights and understanding. Pursuing truth as a noble endeavor: Centering life around the pursuit of truth, and being genuinely curious about it, is a rare approach that can yield interesting and strategic life developments. Power of big-picture understanding: Obtaining a comprehensive understanding of life by connecting different areas of knowledge confers a unique confidence and strategic advantage. Radical ownership of life: Taking full ownership of all aspects of life, including finances, information consumption, and personal growth, avoids societal corruption and empowers individual choices. Trusting resonance in consciousness work: Trusting the intuition that resonates with profound, truthful, and high-consciousness content is key to aligning with transformative ideas. Long-term self-actualization as an investment: Self-actualization is a process of connecting knowledge dots, which initially may not yield visible results but gradually leads to a deeper understanding of life. Gratitude for life's miraculous nature: By continually working towards the vision of life's potential, one can tap into feelings of infinite intelligence, creativity, love, and gratitude for life's miraculous nature. Visioning challenges and psychedelic shortcuts: Developing a clear vision of what is possible is difficult, and psychedelics may serve as a means to see the potential, though not as a substitute for the work required to actualize it. Avifors

Solo Retreat Videos & Insights - Day 9 https://www.actualized.org/insights/solo-retreat Final Day of Retreat: Leo had a shorter meditation duration on day nine, diverting to capture scenic footage and realizing the last day of retreats often sees a drop in the intensity of practice due to the anticipation of resuming everyday life. Jarring Contrast Between Retreat and Routine: Leo felt a striking contrast between the retreat's tranquility and the routine tasks of checking his phone and planning, which led to a profound lesson about the transient nature of life and the futility of seeking future happiness. Mindfulness and Work Efficiency: After the retreat, Leo changed his approach to work, focusing on savoring the process rather than obsessing over efficiency, as he recognized that ultimate productivity pursuit is meaningless without appreciation for the present moment. Solo Retreats Over Group Retreats: He emphasized the superior power of solo retreats for personal growth over group sessions with teachers, planning to incorporate more solo retreats into his schedule for deeper learning and self-development. Self-Inquiry Advancements: Leo delved into meditation and self-inquiry techniques, gaining clarity on the pitfalls of conceptualizing the process of seeking answers to "who am I" and "what am I," setting the stage for more in-depth future discussions. Integration of Mindfulness into Daily Retreat Activities: He learned the importance of integrating mindfulness into all activities, not just formal meditation sessions, to fully embrace the retreat experience. Extended Meditation and Concentrated Growth: Reflecting on the retreat, Leo meditated more intensively than in any formal setting, recognizing the exponential growth possible through focused retreats compared to scattered daily practices. Prioritizing Periodic Solo Retreats: Considering the effectiveness of uninterrupted retreat time, Leo contemplates meditating less daily and instead saving the time for more impactful periodic solo retreats. Rethinking Work Pace and Creativity: He decides to reduce his work pace, shedding the mechanical approach for a more conscious and savored process, with an acceptance of achieving less to gain more fulfillment and creativity. Conceptualization During Meditation: The retreat highlighted Leo's understanding that infinity and true nature cannot and should not be conceptualized-a key obstacle in the path toward self-realization. Creativity Boost from Retreat: Leo observed a significant increase in creative insights during the retreat and plans to implement a similar solitary environment at home to foster creativity without the distractions of routine life. Encounter with Suffering: He stressed the importance of mindfully confronting suffering to overcome personal development barriers, highlighting the retreat environment's ability to bring these issues to light without the opportunity for typical distractions or avoidance. Revision of Daily Meditation: Leo contemplates reducing daily meditation to accumulate hours for longer solo retreats, hypothesizing that this would lead to more powerful outcomes due to the elimination of daily distractions and the concentrated momentum gained from extended retreats. Work Ethic Transformation: He plans to alter his approach to work, focusing less on mechanical productivity and more on conscious, mindful engagement, accepting less output but deeper fulfillment, and understanding that work is not a destination but a present-moment experience. Conceptualization versus True Nature: Leo reflects on the problem of trying to conceptualize the infinite aspects of his true nature, realizing that all concepts are finite and cannot encapsulate infinity. This understanding will shape his future teaching on how to mindfully approach self-inquiry without clinging to concepts formed by teachings or experiences. Creativity Unleashed in Solitude: The retreat led Leo to a significant insight that creative power multiplies when not deliberately working or trying to be productive, reinforcing the idea that creativity flourishes in an undistracted, contemplative state and suggesting that periods of solitude can greatly benefit creative thinkers and artists in any field. Facing Suffering for Personal Growth: Leo experienced profound personal growth by facing suffering head-on rather than avoiding it, understanding that suffering is an inevitable part of growth and transformation, leading to authentic shifts in being. He acknowledges the tendency to distract from suffering in everyday life and emphasizes the necessity of mindful endurance to achieve genuine development. Flipendo

John Vervaeke relates them all through the concept of "fluency" (how fast or easily you process something): The right end of the spectrum is probably closer to your idea of "awakening". Every step in the figure contains the previous step within it (it's a holarchical structure): An insight is a sudden spike in fluency, local to some specific idea or activity, and of course local to a specific point in time. When you have an insight about something, suddenly you understand it better and process it faster. It doesn't have to be an abstract idea. It can be something embodied like tying your shoelaces ("aha, now that I know that, suddenly this got much easier!"). "Flow" is a cascade of insights; many insights extended through time, still local to some specific idea or activity (more often the latter). When you're in flow, for example while surfing, you always know what to do, instantly. It just flows through you. You're maximally fluent in your processing for that specific activity, in every moment. A mystical experience is the flow state extended not just through time but also through different activities. You can be walking or sitting or standing and have the same mystical experience. It feels like you're in flow with everything you're doing, despite how mundane or boring it otherwise may be. You can be mowing the grass or doing the dishes or sitting on the toilet, all while being in flow. Maybe this is closer to your idea of awakening. The mystical experience is still only a temporary state. It doesn't last forever, and it doesn't necessarily lead to a deep transformation of your being or stay with you for the rest of your life. But when it does, it's indeed a "transformative experience": the experience leaves a mark. Now, if it leaves such a deep mark that your baseline state is fundamentally transformed to sustain the mystical experience, then you maybe want to call this "enlightenment" (persistent non-dual baseline). I think this is a pretty good framework that ties together all these "higher" states of consciousness in a neat way.

The Ultimate Guide To Happiness - How Happiness Works https://youtu.be/lbOC_tYRNoE?si=m6SyOPo5rvyPB57K "Men become happy by obtaining divinity." - Gottfried Leibnitz "Those who do not observe the movements of their own minds must of necessity be unhappy." - Marcus Aurelius Introduction to "The Ultimate Guide to Happiness": Leo Gura dives into a comprehensive exploration of happiness, grounding the conversation in practicality and experience rather than abstract spiritual ideals. His insights combine philosophy, psychology, and extensive personal experimentation with different pursuits. Obstacles to personal happiness: Despite his profound understanding of happiness, Leo identifies chronic health issues as the primary barrier to his happiness, illustrating the critical importance of health in the pursuit of a happy life. Happiness as a complex pursuit: Leo outlines happiness as a challenging and counterintuitive concept that requires proper living and attitudes, rather than the mere fulfillment of desires or external achievements. Illusion of unconditional happiness: He debunks the myth of unconditional happiness, emphasizing that happiness is inherently conditional and setting up optimal life conditions is vital for fostering happiness. The nuanced balance of proper living: While acknowledging that happiness is not entirely relative, Leo clarifies that while there are definite wrong ways to live, there are also multiple right ways that can vary widely from person to person, transcending traditional conservative notions. Life transformations through practical happiness strategies: Promising concrete advice, Leo intends to share specific actions that foster happiness and warn against common pitfalls that obstruct it, aiming to revolutionize listeners' lives through actionable insights. The essential role of philosophy in happiness: Proper philosophy, according to Leo, goes beyond theoretical discussion and involves a serious understanding of what constitutes a good and happy life, which is neither obvious nor automatic. Distinguishing Personal Happiness: Leo underlines the importance of distinguishing between the general concept of happiness and what specifically brings happiness to an individual. Both are needed for a fulfilling life, as one does not suffice without the other. Observation and Contemplation: He insists on the need for personal observation and contemplation regarding happiness, warning against mere speculation and theory which can be counterproductive without practical application. Learning via Observation: Leo draws a parallel between solving math problems and understanding happiness; to truly comprehend, one must engage in the process oneself instead of relying solely on teachings from others. Empirical Testing for Happiness: The observation process of what makes one personally happy requires empirical testing and honesty, avoiding the trap of becoming invested in the idea of something rather than the reality of how it makes one feel. Customization and Individuality: Emphasizing the need to tailor the pursuit of happiness to individual personality types, genetic temperaments, and levels of development, Leo warns against blindly following generalized advice. Developmental and Temperament Considerations: He stresses the significance of recognizing one's developmental stage and temperament, alluding to his teachings on psychological development models like Spiral Dynamics. Personality Assessments and Happiness: Leo recommends taking personality assessments such as Myers-Briggs, Big Five, and Enneagram to better understand one's personality and the specific factors that lead to personal happiness. Recognizing Ambition and Temperament: Understanding one's level of ambition and whether one leans more towards a conservative or liberal temperament is crucial in determining the lifestyle that will lead to happiness. Incorporating Variety and Creativity: Contemplation on the amount of creativity, art, risk tolerance, masculinity or femininity, variety, socialization, and sexual needs is necessary to tailor a happy life to one's personal preferences. Leadership and Autonomy Needs: One must assess the desire to lead, the need for autonomy, and how much learning, intellectualism, and spirituality are needed to create a personally fulfilling life. Happiness based on maturity and development: Leo discusses the varying needs for spirituality based on maturity and psychological development. While it is vital for some, for others it may cause more unhappiness than it alleviates. Self-knowledge as a key to happiness: The central theme is that deep self-knowledge is crucial to happiness, and this comes from a variety of life experiences, observation, and reflections. Recommendations for younger individuals: Leo advises those who are younger to seek out a breadth of experiences to accelerate self-understanding and the design of a happy life. Reflection for older individuals: For those who are older, the focus should be on reflecting upon their accumulated experiences to draw meaningful conclusions regarding happiness. Age and happiness correlation: Studies indicate that people in their 50s and 60s generally report higher happiness than those in their 20s because the older demographic has typically come to know themselves better. Incompatibility of self-conflict and happiness: Leo notes that internal conflict is detrimental to happiness and emphasizes the importance of resolving such conflicts. Difference between pleasure and contentment: He distinguishes between fleeting pleasure and enduring satisfaction or contentment, highlighting the latter as the true aim for lasting happiness. Neurochemical systems for pleasure vs. satisfaction: Leo explains the distinction between the dopamine system, which rewards short-term pleasure, and the serotonin system, which is associated with long-term contentment. Ineffectiveness of chasing material objects: He asserts that acquiring material objects or chasing different forms of pleasure does not lead to sustainable happiness. Image 1 Success and happiness are not synonymous: Leo emphasizes that success does not equate to happiness and that in the pursuit of success, one might neglect developing aspects that lead to genuine happiness. Life's cultivation as the path to happiness: True happiness is seen as a long-term cultivation that involves growing as a person, aligning with values, and taking meaningful action. Material possessions' diminishing returns: As one grows spiritually, material possessions like money, success, and luxury become less meaningful. Creating a meaningful life: Leo advises on the importance of creating a life with purpose and meaning, which is individualized and leads to steady happiness. Alignment of life with highest values: He stresses the need to live in alignment with one's highest values to achieve happiness and recommends identifying those values. Maturation of desires for happiness: Leo suggests that to find happiness, one should work on elevating the quality of their desires through self-improvement and karma work. Recognizing the pitfalls of manipulation: He warns about the cycle of manipulation in pursuit of happiness, indicating that higher degrees of manipulation do not lead to increased happiness. Counterproductiveness of manipulation: Attempting to manipulate reality is a fruitless endeavor since complete manipulation is impossible. Failure to manipulate leads to misery, making high manipulation strategies detrimental for happiness. Short-term pleasure vs. long-term growth: Chasing short-term goals that offer temporary enjoyment, like attending a comedy show or playing video games, doesn't contribute to long-term happiness. Transforming these into opportunities for learning and growth can build lasting meaning. Pursuit of dopamine-driven pleasure: Continual pursuit of pleasure through gambling, sex, video games, and drugs, leads to temporary happiness but not lasting contentment. Chasing external validation: Seeking material objects, fame, and approval does not lead to happiness. Such pursuits often result in fleeting satisfaction and long-term unhappiness. Misalignment with personal values: Living a life that is not aligned with one's top values is a significant source of unhappiness. Doing work or being in relationships that contradict deeply held values will lead to dissatisfaction. Consequences of unethical behavior: Immoral behaviors such as lying, cheating, exploitation, and criminality invariably lead to unhappiness. Such actions are destructive to one's sense of self and to relationships with others. Negative impact of a violent environment: Living in a violent or chaotic environment, such as a war zone, creates barriers to achieving happiness. Failure of control-oriented strategies: Trying to dominate or manipulate others is an unsuccessful strategy for happiness. Being controlled or dominated by others also contributes to misery. Financial strain and job dissatisfaction: Financial struggles and engaging in meaningless work are strong precursors to unhappiness. Aligning one’s work with personal values and interests is crucial for satisfaction and happiness. Stagnation and procrastination: Staying stagnant in life, whether due to a dead-end job or a going-nowhere relationship and procrastinating necessary changes or decisions lead to a feeling of wasted life and unhappiness. Importance of personal organization and health: Lack of organization, poor health, and chronic health issues can be profound sources of unhappiness. Taking control of what can be changed, such as diet and exercise, is important, but some aspects may be determined by genetics and require adjustment in life expectations. Sense of powerlessness: Feeling helpless, lacking self-control, being addicted, and unable to escape toxic situations can all significantly reduce happiness. Taking action to improve or leave such situations can give a sense of empowerment and hope, which is essential for happiness. Consequences of toxic relationships: Being in abusive or toxic relationships, having negative friends, or not establishing personal boundaries can deeply impact one's happiness. It's vital to either find peace with these individuals or remove oneself from the situation. Authenticity vs. Inauthenticity: Living inauthentically—sacrificing one's true self for others or failing to set boundaries—leads to profound unhappiness. Finding and expressing one's authentic self is essential to happiness. Attempting to change others: Trying to change people who do not want to change is an exercise in futility that creates unhappiness. Focusing on self-change and allowing others their autonomy is recommended. Truthfulness over falsehood: Untruthfulness, falsehood, and self-deception, as opposed to living in truthfulness, significantly contribute to unhappiness. Ignorance and a lack of awareness can prevent individuals from achieving a genuinely happy life. Detriments of dogma and ideology: Ideologies and dogma, including religious, political, and scientific beliefs, inherently lead to unhappiness due to conformity and lack of critical thinking. Nihilism, postmodernism, and other negative philosophies also contribute to misery. Challenges of mental illness: Mental disorders such as bipolar, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, and multiples can hinder happiness. Management through therapy, medication, or other coping strategies is essential. The problem with high emotional volatility: Emotional drama creates an environment opposite to peace, which is necessary for happiness. The creation or tolerance of drama, including from close relationships, undermines personal contentment. The damage of constant criticism: Persistent dissatisfaction, as seen in never-ending criticism—like that from some political progressives—prevents happiness. This mindset blocks the recognition of positive changes or achievements. Perfectionism as a hindrance: Perfectionism can lead to considerable unhappiness. Its relentless standards create internal stress and dissatisfaction. The negativity of online conflict: Engaging in online arguments, trolling, and leaving negative social media comments results in misery and disrupts inner peace. Issues with narcissism and immaturity: Narcissism, arrogance, ego, and emotional immaturity lead to unhappiness. Developing emotional intelligence and maturity is critical for a happier life. The destructive power of guilt and shame: Negative self-perceptions such as regrets, guilt, shame, and self-hatred lead to unhappiness. Similarly, fears, insecurities, and anxiety hinder the pursuit of contentment. Social skills and loneliness: Lack of socialization and social skills contributes to unhappiness, as does loneliness. Taking on too much responsibility can overwhelm and lead to misery, highlighting the need for balance. The effects of rigidity and inaction: A too-regimented life, indecisiveness, and failure to act on changing negative situations can lead to persistent unhappiness. Avoidance of challenges weakens self-esteem, potentially leading to learned helplessness. Personal acceptance and responsibility: Accepting one's physical appearance and avoiding obligations that don't align with personal beliefs are necessary for happiness. Conversely, divorce and marriage quality greatly influence happiness. Financial stress from risky investments: Losing money in speculative investments, such as cryptocurrencies, causes unhappiness due to financial insecurity. The impact of chronic noise: Persistent, loud, unpredictable noise creates a state of chronic misery, as humans are unable to acclimate to random acoustic disruptions. Unhappiness from overpromising: Promising more than you can deliver creates stress and disappointment, leading to unhappiness. The trap of impossible tasks: Pursuing unattainable goals or conflicting objectives, like trying to attain enlightenment while launching a business, leads to guaranteed failure and unhappiness. Mental traps and misuse of the mind: Small-mindedness, pettiness, and excessive selfishness result in unhappiness. Misguided prioritization, such as naive selflessness or ruthless selfishness, both lead to discontent. Attempting to escape all suffering paradoxically causes further unhappiness due to inevitable failure. Downsides of excessive spiritual seeking: Excessive spiritual pursuits and trying to escape the material domain can lead to unhappiness, as Gura cautions based on personal experience. General contributors to happiness: Engaging in activities aligned with one's values, using talents and strengths, being productive, and striving for excellence can significantly increase happiness. Importance of being your own boss: Independence can be a source of deep happiness for entrepreneurial and self-directed people, though it's not suitable for everyone. Happiness in leadership and helping others: Occupying leadership roles and contributing to society's improvement can be extremely rewarding and meaningful. Necessity of rest and companionship for happiness: Proper rest, human intimacy, companionship, and socialization are essential for sustained happiness and well-being. Setting personal and relationship boundaries: Establishing clear boundaries leads to greater happiness, as does understanding and seeking one's top love languages in intimate relationships. The need for solitude and flow states: For introverts, sufficient alone time is critical, and engaging in activities that induce a flow state can lead to contentment and joy. Meeting challenges and making most of life: Facing challenges and optimizing daily life leads to feelings of empowerment and happiness. Building confidence through exposure: Gaining confidence and overcoming insecurities comes from exposure to various experiences, dissolving anxieties and increasing happiness. Travel for life enrichment: Travel, when used to broaden horizons and consciousness rather than as an escape, can lead to long-lasting happiness. Cultivating hobbies and mastery: Investing time and energy in cultivating hobbies and developing mastery in them can create a steady income of satisfaction and joy. Health, good food, and solitude retreats: Pursuing a healthy lifestyle, eating quality food, and engaging in deep solitude, such as solo retreats, are all foundations for happiness. The value of passion, humor, and personalized space: Living with enthusiasm, developing humor, and creating a comfortable personal living space are highlighted as simple, effective means to enhance overall happiness. Customizing one's living environment: Personalizing and investing in the living space you occupy contributes significantly to feelings of happiness and security. Small comfort features: Incorporating simple conveniences into daily life, like easy-to-reach light fixtures, can have a lasting positive impact on happiness. Doing philosophy properly and achieving self-actualization: Proper practice of philosophy and pursuing self-actualization are cited as deep sources of happiness and fulfillment. Being aligned with truth: Honesty with oneself and avoiding self-deception are fundamentals for achieving happiness. Appreciating and exploring consciousness: Recognizing the beauty of consciousness and diving into spiritual exploration can bring profound happiness, and using tools like psychedelics is suggested as an avenue for this. Activities bringing personal joy to Leo: Creative pursuits, seeking truth, enjoying solitude, and other personal preferences are key to Leo's happiness, while chronic health issues and certain fears contribute to his unhappiness. Consuming art and balancing work-life: Appreciating art forms like pornography aesthetically, finding joy in meaningful work, and ensuring a balance between work and life are pivotal to Leo's sense of happiness. Creating a comfortable living space: Leo Gura emphasizes the importance of investing in and developing a comfortable living space, noting that it does not need to be expensive or fancy. He notes that feeling safe, secure, and comfortable in one's environment can contribute significantly to overall happiness. The value of small comfort features: Gura mentions installing convenient features that improve daily routines, such as easy-to-reach lamp switches, demonstrating that small changes can impact overall happiness long-term. Doing philosophy properly: Leo Gura asserts the proper practice of philosophy as a source of happiness. Misapplied, however, it can be a source of deep misery. Self-actualization and growth: Leo Gura indicates that self-actualization and personal growth, despite their challenges, are potential sources of deep happiness and satisfaction. Being aligned with truth: Having honesty and avoiding self-deception are essential to achieving happiness, according to Gura. Exploring consciousness: Gura emphasizes that exploring consciousness, consciousness of God, and spirituality can bring profound happiness. Falling in love with oneself: Gura suggests that falling in love with oneself can bring immense joy and happiness. Recognizing the beauty of consciousness: Gura cites the recognition of the beauty of consciousness and reality as a significant source of his personal happiness. Specific activities that bring happiness: Gura outlines several activities that specifically bring him joy, including being creative, learning and developing new ideas, seeking truth, spending time in nature, being in solitude, complete creative autonomy, and appreciating music. Exploring consciousness through psychedelics: Gura suggests exploring consciousness via psychedelics as an enormous source of happiness. Using music as a source of happiness: Gura enjoys curating personal music playlists and considers listening to his favorite music an important source of happiness. Finding joy in natural elements: Gura derives pleasure from natural elements like rain, suggesting that such simple joys significantly contribute to overall happiness. Impact of chronic health issues on creativity: Leo's chronic health issues limit his energy and productivity, causing unhappiness due to his inability to meet personal creative standards and expectations. Struggle with strict schedules: Deadlines and schedules are a source of stress for Leo. He feels such constraints prevent him from producing his best work, contributing to unhappiness. Financial concerns and childhood trauma: Despite financial stability, Leo experiences a persistent fear of running out of money related to childhood trauma, causing ongoing distress. Daily tasks and socializing as sources of unhappiness: Leo finds little joy in menial chores, social obligations, and managing people, preferring solitude and personal creative work. Discrepancies between meditation and personal happiness: Leo realized meditation doesn't suit his creative, active mind. He warns against the notion that meditation universally enhances happiness, stressing individual differences in finding joy. Reflections on spirituality and personal happiness: Spirituality has led to increased consciousness and appreciation of life, but has not necessarily aligned with Leo's desire for creativity and active work. Avoiding the happiness trap: Leo advises against relentlessly pursuing happiness or escape from suffering, suggesting a balanced approach focusing on meaningful living and contentment. Pursuing activities for intrinsic value: Leo underscores the importance of engaging in activities because they are intrinsically rewarding, rather than as a means to another end, which fosters deeper happiness. Enjoyment for its own sake: True happiness can be found in engaging in activities for their own sake, without them being a means to an end, such as driving without a specific destination in mind just for the pleasure of it. Highest grade of happiness: Consciousness and the appreciation of it, along with the metaphysical connection to God and recognizing the beauty in everything, is described as the highest form of happiness. The concept of ecstasy: Ecstasy is defined as a transcendent, religious, mystical experience that goes beyond mere pleasure, characterized by a deep conscious awareness of God and immersion in infinite love. Experience of ecstasy: While ecstasy is a powerful and transformative experience, it is not constant and should not be a perpetual state for most people who are not full-time monks or yogis. Transformation through ecstasy: Ecstasy has a purifying effect on the psyche, changing an individual and promoting spiritual attunement, even though it is experienced only occasionally. Pursuit of God for happiness: For the highest forms of happiness, Leo Gura suggests a serious approach towards understanding God is necessary. Appreciation of everyday experiences: Training oneself to appreciate simple, ordinary things in life is where the majority of real happiness comes from. Alignment with the journey: Happiness should come from the journey towards one's goals, not just from achieving them. Enjoyment should be derived from the day-to-day aspects of pursuing ambitions. Joy of existence: Ultimate happiness is being able to appreciate the beauty of consciousness and existence even in stillness and without external stimulation. Happiness journal homework: Leo advises viewers to create a happiness journal, documenting things that make them feel both happy and unhappy over time to understand what contributes to their happiness. Personal exploration of happiness: The teachings encourage personal exploration and observation of one's own mind to determine what is truly a source of happiness. Interpreting teachings through personal experience: All teachings from Leo should be tested and validated through personal experience rather than being taken as ideologies or dogmas. Inner purification and maturity: The experience of ecstasy, although rare, purifies and matures the psyche, pointing out the necessity for readiness to let go of old ways and values. Amortentia

What Is Insight. - How To Become More Insightful https://youtu.be/7rQWWfHsgTU?si=tOXEaSbXfStaPCqK Insight is an avalanche in the mind. Joke as an Example of Insight: A joke about a rabbi inquiring about disabling porn in his hotel room illustrates insight through its surprise punchline, typically generating an "aha" moment by recontextualizing the situation or event. Insight Gained in Childhood: Leo recounts an example from his childhood where he gained an insight into the mechanism of male arousal, a personal epiphany that came spontaneously and provided a new understanding of his own body. Defining Insight: Insight is defined as a mental process that brings a sudden and unexpected solution, a penetrating observation, or a "light bulb moment", often resulting in joy and satisfaction. Recontextualization as a Form of Insight: The concept of recontextualization involves seeing a problem in a larger context or from a fresh perspective, often leading to immediate insight. The phenomenon of Insight: Insight is a mysterious and magical phenomenon of consciousness. It is not merely brain activity; it is the universe's capacity to have insights into itself, suggesting the universe can fundamentally understand truths about its nature. Connected Phenomena: Insight is linked to understanding, comprehension, intuition, consciousness, recontextualization, thinking, intelligence, sensemaking, and creativity. Underappreciation of Insight's Mystique: Leo emphasizes that academics and intellectuals often take the deeply mysterious aspects of insight and understanding for granted, overlooking its profound implications. Insight vs. Static Knowledge: Insight is spontaneous and dynamic, providing the foundation for the more static forms of knowledge, belief, and ideology—yet these static forms cannot capture the nebulous nature of understanding. The Neglect of Understanding and Consciousness: Mainstream Western philosophy prioritizes knowledge and beliefs over discussion of understanding and consciousness, despite the latter being crucial generators of new insights. Understanding as the Key Intellectual Tool: Understanding is highlighted as the most critical aspect of mind and consciousness, yet often ignored and undiscussed in academia and traditional philosophy. Difference between memorizing and genuine insight: Memorizing information for tests and treating it as a belief system does not equate to experiencing raw insight into the nature of reality, a distinction crucial in serious philosophy and spirituality. Pitfalls of parroting in spirituality and philosophy: The majority of spirituality and philosophy involve parroting the words of those with genuine insights, resulting in debates and discussions that lack personal enlightenment. Transformation through deriving personal insights: The process of generating one's own insights from scratch is transformative and distinguishes a truly intelligent sage from an academic or an ideological intellectual. Quality of intelligence and intellect: The true mark of one's intellectuality and intelligence is based on the ability to independently generate fresh insights, not just by reading books or citing others' thoughts. Mental and emotional labor of generating insights: Generating one's own insights requires mental and emotional effort, often a neglected skill in education, which instead focuses on test-passing and information regurgitation. Need for personal insights in spirituality: To truly transform and live in alignment with spiritual values, one must derive and validate spiritual truths for themselves, instead of adopting pleasant-sounding beliefs. Illustrative examples of historical insights: Outlined are the renowned insights of Archimedes with volume measurement, Newton's theory of gravity after observing an apple fall, Darwin's theory of natural selection, and Einstein's relativity theory from thought experiments. Insight in problem-solving and humor comprehension: Insights are necessary for solving puzzles, like the nine-dot problem, and understanding jokes. Comprehending a joke signifies intelligence and, on a meta-level, an awareness of the intelligence used in the understanding. Insight capabilities in animals and humans: Research shows animals, like chimpanzees and birds, demonstrate insight in problem-solving situations. Humans can gain insights during psychotherapy, leading to breakthroughs in personal dysfunctions and emotional reactivity. Differentiating between insight and memory: True insight involves generating new knowledge or understanding, whereas memory is merely recalling known information. Insight often arises from a state of not knowing and is intricately linked to the production of novel understanding. Spontaneity of Insights: Insights can strike spontaneously during everyday activities, highlighting their unpredictable nature and the role of mental wandering in fostering their emergence. Insight as a Mental Avalanche: Leo describes insights as mental avalanches, where the interconnected structure of thoughts in the mind collapses and reorganizes itself into a clearer, more truthful configuration, differing significantly from typical thoughts. Differentiating Thought and Insight: Insight is characterized by its intangible and nebulous quality, being more significant than ordinary thought, and includes a variety of types from minor to major, and from ordinary to mystical. Personal Contemplation of Insights: Reflecting on one's own insights, contemplating their nature, and exploring the connection between insight and truth can enhance one's understanding of insights and their potential deception. Neuroscience and Insights: Neuroscience research indicates that insight generation is predominantly a right hemisphere activity in the brain, associated with holistic and intuitive thinking, unlike the analytical left hemisphere. Insight Problem-Solving: There's a distinction between problem-solving through insight, mainly linked to the right hemisphere, compared to analytical problem-solving associated with the left hemisphere, with the former being more holistic and creative. Research on Insight Generation: Studies suggest gender differences in solving insight problems, the influence of emotionality and openness on insight generation, and startlingly, that 20% of people do not experience insight at all. Insights from Experience: Leo shares insights gleaned from extensive interaction with women, illustrating how a breadth of experience can lead to understanding patterns that others may not perceive. Insights and Self-Knowledge: Recognizing one's own character structure and personal traits is a form of insight that is key for self-development and can only be acquired through personal experience and reflection. Insights on Various Life Aspects: Leo reflects on insights he has had regarding ego behavior, philosophy, psychology, spirituality, success, business operations, marketing, sales, and the nature of success and failure. Insights on Human Nature and Politics: Leo shares his insights on human behavior, conflict, government, and the polarization within the political climate, drawing lessons from his experiences and indicating plans to share more politically oriented insights in the future. Early Insights in Epistemology and Science: In his teenage years, Leo began developing foundational insights into epistemology, philosophy, and the nature and limits of science, which shaped his perspectives on human understanding. Insights from Various Interests: Leo discusses insights gained from his interests in video game design, narrative, story development, character creation, and history, noting their technical and philosophical implications. Deep Existential and Spiritual Insights: He lists his deepest insights, including existential and spiritual realizations such as 'I am God', 'reality as infinity', and 'everything is consciousness'. Practical Advice to Increase Insightfulness: Leo provides advice based on research to increase insightfulness, suggesting relaxation, positive mood, doing homework on subjects of interest, and cultivating radical open-mindedness. Challenging Assumptions for Insights: He emphasizes the importance of questioning assumptions in any given problem as a means to expand the possibility space and potentially lead to paradigm-shifting insights. Necessity of Deep Curiosity: Describing his insatiable curiosity, Leo identifies it as a driving force for his work and insights, suggesting that a deep need to know is crucial for becoming more insightful. Purpose, Motivation, and Ambition as Catalysts for Insights: Leo contends that having a strong life purpose, mission, and ambitious motive can facilitate the generation of insights by prompting the exploration of new ideas and pushing the boundaries of one’s field. Insights on Relationships and Personal Behavior: Insights into personal relationships, family dynamics, work productivity, the nature of emotions, and the workings of the ego are also mentioned as significant areas for growth and understanding. Anticipation of Future Content: Leo hints at future content where he will present insights on wisdom, intelligence, and the complex nature of the ego mind, reflecting his ongoing exploration into human consciousness and behavior. Passion's role in insight generation: One's level of passion, drive, and curiosity directly impacts the frequency and depth of insights. Without a strong interest or care for discovering new truths, a person is less likely to experience profound insights. Importance of intention for insight: Establishing a strong intention to solve problems or understand deep concepts is pivotal. A sense of urgency and importance attached to resolving an intellectual challenge enhances the potential for insightful breakthroughs. Allocating time for deep work: Dedication to long, uninterrupted periods of silence and solitude, such as through solo meditation retreats, significantly boosts creativity and the emergence of insights. Questioning and Contemplation: Creating extensive lists of important questions and tirelessly seeking their answers fosters a rich web of understanding and connections, leading to profound insights. Absorption in philosophical topics: Maintaining concentration on a single philosophical question enhances insightfulness, but this requires time, dedication, and mental fortitude. Value of mind wandering: Allowing the mind to daydream and explore different viewpoints can open pathways to unique and powerful insights. The balance between concentration and daydreaming: Alternating focused intellectual effort with periods of mind wandering can optimize the process of insight generation. Flow state for insight: Achieving a flow state through the removal of distractions can lead to deeper engagement and revelation of insights. Disconnecting for deeper insights: Minimizing the use of social media and phones, which are significant sources of distraction, can foster a more profound understanding of complex concepts. Insights during undemanding tasks: Engaging in simple, almost automatic activities like driving or exercising can facilitate a mental environment conducive to having insights. Avoiding over-scheduling: Keeping a flexible schedule with ample downtime can create opportunities for the mind to process ideas and develop insights. Incubation period for insights: Allowing ideas to simmer over time without forcing immediate conclusions aids the natural emergence of insights. Collaborating for diverse insights: Working within diverse teams can catalyze the generation of a broader range of insights than solitary thinking. Developing mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness meditation enhances attunement to one's own thought processes, increasing the likelihood of recognizing insights. Proper sleep aids insightfulness: Adequate rest, including naps, boosts cognitive function and can lead to insights during or immediately after sleep. Immediate documentation: Insights are ephemeral and can easily be forgotten; hence, it is crucial to record them as soon as they occur to prevent loss. Immediate Capture of Insights: Leo emphasizes the importance of having writing tools like pens and notepads readily available at all times and in all places, such as home, office, and car, to document insights as they occur, ensuring they are not lost. Psychedelics and Insights: He mentions the potential of psychedelics to provoke profound insights but notes this should be approached with awareness regarding legality and safety. Articulating Insights: Leo distinguishes between having insights and the separate, trainable skill of articulating them effectively. He suggests working on insights by finding ways to explain, exemplify, and refine them for clearer communication. Possibility of New Insights: He contemplates the untapped potential for insights that no human has ever had, prompting listeners to consider what percentage of possible universal insights they have personally explored. Impact of Insights on Life: Leo proposes that insights can significantly influence one's life, business, relationships, and well-being and that the more insights one has, the more enriched one's life can be. Practical Engagement with Insights: He encourages listeners to prioritize understanding the value of insights, implying it is worthwhile to arrange retreats or quiet time dedicated to insight generation. Monetizing Insights: Leo shares his experience of turning the generation of insights into a successful business model, using actualized.org as a platform to provide high-quality insights. Power of Personal Insights: The ultimate goal, according to Leo, is not just to accumulate insights but to inspire listeners to generate their own, improving the quality of life through personal exploration. Ongoing Exploration of Insights: He leaves the topic of insights intentionally open-ended, providing a worksheet and encouraging listeners to continuously contemplate the nature and origin of insights, and how they come about in one's life. Dangers of Uncritical Acceptance: Leo urges viewers to critically assess and personally validate the teachings of actualized.org, rather than uncritically adopting them, avoiding misinterpretation and potential harm. Nature of Actualized.org's Teachings: He clarifies that actualized.org promotes a non-ideological approach, focusing on personal validation and direct experience, and warns against the tendency to transform teachings into rigid ideologies. Expectations from Shared Insights: Insights shared should serve as a starting point for personal validation, with the understanding that content evolves and Leo's current insights may deepen over time; insights serve to inspire further individual philosophical pursuit. Ideological Danger of Actualized.org's Work: Leo cautions against treating his teachings as final and encourages viewers to engage with the content critically, validating everything through direct experience, a process he asserts is more demanding and rigorous than traditional science, religion, or education. Experience-Based Transformation: Viewers are invited to directly experience the teachings to unlock their transformative potential, as such personal engagement is posited as key to consciousness reaching its full, adaptive, and creative potential. Furnunculus

The Ten Ox-Herding Pictures - Zen's Stages Of Enlightenment Explained https://youtu.be/w4ZWNzSliGk "Things that smell of Buddhism are disagreeable, but things that have absolutely no whiff of Buddhism are even worse." - Yamada Mumon Evolution of the Ten Ox-Herding Pictures: The Ten Ox-Herding Pictures emerged nearly a thousand years ago in China, evolving into different versions over time with the aim of mapping the stages of spiritual awakening in Zen Buddhism. Yamada Mamon's Influence: Leo Gura bases his explanation of the Ten Ox-Herding Pictures on Yamada Mamon's rare book "Lectures on the Ten Ox-Herding Pictures," highlighting it as a source of advanced wisdom initially intended for Zen monk students. The Map's Role in Spirituality: The Ten Ox-Herding Pictures serve as a guide through various stages of awakening and are comparable to other spiritual models like Spiral Dynamics, emphasizing growth and evolution beyond a single experience. Warning of Advanced Teachings: Before delving into the Ten Ox-Herding Pictures, Leo warns of the model's complexity and the readiness required for individuals to properly grasp and apply its lessons. First Picture - Searching for the Ox: The journey starts with individuals feeling lost and attempting to understand life's purpose, leading to the initial desire for awakening and a vow to achieve enlightenment. Image 1 The Ox as an Enlightenment Symbol: The Ox symbolizes enlightenment, representing ultimate truth and the answers to the purpose of life, nature of suffering, reality, and existence. Dualistic Viewpoint of Individuals: Embroiled in discriminative, dualistic thinking, people struggle with confusion caused by continuous comparison and the inability to grasp non-duality. Starting the Spiritual Journey: The desire for enlightenment is highlighted as an essential first step on the spiritual path, countering the misconception that seeking awakening is misguided. Endurance and Suffering on the Spiritual Path: The spiritual journey is likened to climbing Mount Everest, requiring substantial investment and preparation to avoid rushing into it and potentially giving up. Consistency in Spiritual Practice: Leo emphasizes that sporadic practice will not yield results; spiritual techniques like meditation, yoga, and self-inquiry must be pursued consistently to achieve progress. Consistent Effort in Spiritual Work: Leo Gura discusses the importance of persistent and consistent spiritual practice. Without a strong and singular focus, efforts may be comparable to froth that drifts away in a stream, while pushing ahead single-mindedly ensures progress toward awakening. Stumbling Upon the Ox's Footprints: This metaphor describes those who have encountered spiritual concepts and practices superficially, like reading books or experiencing brief moments of insight during meditation or through psychedelics, but have not fully grasped or seen the 'Ox' of true enlightenment. Image 2 Challenges of Skepticism and Superficial Practices: Leo warns against the pitfalls of skepticism and casual spiritual practices that prevent deep engagement with the path to awakening. Intellectualization without practice can lead to self-delusion, and the need for genuine commitment to overcome this is emphasized. Value of Studying and Learning from Scriptures: Citing a Zen master, Leo underlines the necessity of studying traditional teachings and working with scripture to avoid misdirection, negating the belief that Zen practice excludes scholarly study. Persistence to Catch the Ox: The Zen master's advice portrayed by Leo suggests steadfast dedication reaffirms one's vow to attain enlightenment. Calling upon listeners not to abandon efforts because certainty of catching the Ox comes with perseverance and resolve. The First Glimpse of the Real 'Ox': Leo describes the profound experience of the first real sighting of the 'Ox'. This initial mystical experience can be both awe-inspiring and terrifying, creating a more serious commitment to the spiritual path due to the realization of its reality. Image 3 On the Rarified Nature of Awakening: Leo communicates the predicament of those who experience just a momentary glimpse of awakening. The magnitude of the experience often results in a retreat back to the ego, highlighting the challenge to stably face and integrate the 'Ox', or enlightenment, into one's life. Importance of Completing the Journey: The Zen master quoted points out that catching a glimpse of the Ox is only an early stage in the spiritual journey. Even after this first sighting, there are several more stages to go through to fully catch and train the Ox, signifying the continuity and difficulty of the spiritual path. Communicating Non-Duality: Claiming words fail to express non-duality, as language is inherently dualistic. Leo Gura explains the difficulty in communicating about the Ox (enlightenment) because any attempt to describe it only further entrenches the dualistic perspective. Kensho's Vulnerability to Worldly Encounters: Kensho, or awakening attained through seated meditation, is fragile and can be disrupted by the chaos of the external world. The internal power built through Samadhi (meditative consciousness) is easily disturbed by everyday sensory experiences. Misconceptions About Enlightenment: Many enter the spiritual journey with naive expectations of enlightenment being an endpoint after which no further work is needed. However, Gura asserts the path of awakening is more challenging and life-altering than expected. Owning and Taming the Ox: Gura emphasizes the difficulty in truly catching and owning the Ox. Taming the Ox requires the complete surrender of the ego, lifestyle, and societal conditioning to genuinely embody enlightenment. Image 4 The Problems with Selfish Spirituality: Using spirituality for egotistical purposes, such as starting cults or seeking fame, contradicts the essence of enlightenment. The craving and attachment to such desires are antithetical to spiritual awakening and will cause the Ox to flee. Danger of Twisting Spiritual Experiences: A warning of the perils when one's ego manipulates an initial awakening experience, potentially leading to starting cults or adopting misaligned motives rather than a true spiritual realization. The Process of Taming the Ox: Described as grueling, involving spiritual purification and extensive inner work. It requires constant self-reflection to confront deep-rooted selfishness and desires. Image 5 Distinction Between Beginners and Masters: Gura clarifies that beginners often assume enlightenment marks the end of their spiritual practice, whereas masters continue rigorous post-Satori practice to purify selfishness and ignorance over many years. How Post-Satori Practice Differs from Initial Awakening: The importance of post-Satori practice is to continue even after achieving awakening; it is critical for truly integrating this realization into one's being, which requires ongoing effort until death. Training of No-Mind Consciousness: Being an essential part of mastery, training towards a no-mind state—where the mind is clear of thoughts—is the pinnacle of spiritual practice. This state reflects a deep, abiding awareness and understanding of non-duality. Abiding Non-Dual Awareness: Enlightenment reaches fruition as abiding non-dual awareness becomes the constant state of experience, unrestrained by thoughts. It is likened to a continuous state of "no-mind," where one sees divinity and oneness ceaselessly in everyday existence. Importance of Post-Satori Training: The post-enlightenment phase, or post-Satori training, involves maintaining moment-to-moment mindfulness. It is a process of perfecting the initial awakening (kensho) and is accessible only after one has seen their true nature through Satori. Mindfulness as Taming the Ox: Continuous concentration on mindfulness is likened to taming the Ox. It is essential to train oneself to sustain this state of no-mind to prevent reverting to a condition of unreal thoughts or losing touch with Buddha nature. Embodiment of Awakening: The stage of "riding the Ox home" symbolizes the embodiment of awakening into daily life. The non-duality discovered through awakening is reintegrated with the duality of ordinary life, leading to a genuine experience of reality. Image 6 Returning to Ordinary Life with Awakening: One who has truly attained enlightenment does not remain isolated but returns to impermanent worldly life. The ordinary world is transformed and is seen as the true reality infused with the enlightened perspective. Transcending the Pursuit of Enlightenment: The phase called "ox transcended" represents ceasing the chase for awakening and acknowledging the present moment as the ultimate enlightenment. Misunderstanding this as mere contentment with the status quo is cautioned against; the significance of this understanding is transformative. Image 7 Misuse of Satori and Remaining Unfettered: The Zen master warns against being ensnared by one's enlightenment (Satori) experience. True liberation means forgetting about the distinctive attainment and not allowing it to lead to arrogance or a loss of freedom. Enlightenment as a Means, Not an End: The metaphor of the Ox, serving as a tool for enlightenment, is discarded once its purpose is served. Enlightenment is about realizing Buddha nature, not clinging to the device that led there. Purpose of Life According to Zen: The ultimate answer to the purpose of life is found in the playful, unconditioned enjoyment of existence. This represents a shift to unconditional happiness, detached from circumstances. Liberation and the Notion of 'No Self': True liberation involves the realization of 'no self,' leading to unconditional positivity in life. It signifies a life where happiness is not contingent upon external factors. Surrender and Liberation: Surrendering everything including your life, leads to a state where nothing can negatively affect you. In this state, you've faced the worst, voluntarily ending all attachments, and every moment afterward is experienced as a bonus—a form of liberation and play. Counterintuitive Happiness: Leo Gura speaks about the counterintuitive move of choosing happiness under all conditions, abandoning the insistence on conditional happiness which causes suffering. True happiness persists regardless of external events, even in the face of global or personal catastrophes. Judgments and Original Nature: Surrendering judgments of good and bad reveals our 'original face' or Buddha nature. Letting go of such dualistic distinctions paradoxically transforms everything into goodness—a state of non-judgment where all of reality is perceived positively. Advanced Stages of Human Development: Attaining a state where no conditions can make one unhappy represents an advanced level of human consciousness, comparable to the dedication required to become a brain surgeon. This stage requires thousands of hours of work, beyond casual spiritual experiences. Transformation Through Radical Surrender: True transformation and the ability to experience everything as inherently good requires the complete surrender of one's life (metaphorically and literally) and deeply held personal desires, leading to the highest levels of spiritual development. Emptiness as the Path to Everythingness: In the advanced stages of spiritual awakening, all concepts including the self, the ox (enlightenment), and all dualistic efforts, pass away. Here, true emptiness is realized—it's not experienced as nihilism but as the beginning of an infinite, formless, and unchanging existence. Image 8 Realizing the Non-occurrence of the Universe: At the peak of spiritual insight, one realizes that nothing in the universe has ever transpired; it's all an illusion or 'pure emptiness'. This radical level of non-duality surpasses ordinary awakening and is described as a complete absence of all conceived reality. True Emptiness and Revelation of Buddha Nature: The culmination of practice and discipline is reached where there is no longer an 'awakened', 'awakening', or 'Dharma'. Here, pure Buddha nature is revealed—standing beyond attributes, judgments, or dualistic distinctions, embodying the perfect 'just so' world of Satori. Realization of Life and Death's Illusion: Enlightenment brings the understanding that life and death are not real, and the universe's origin and purpose is acknowledged as non-existent; the familiar world disappears into emptiness. Emptiness and the Completion of Self's Extinguishing: Advanced enlightenment leads to a profound emptiness where even the rigorous practices that led to awakening become irrelevant. Any inkling of self or attachment to practices like Mu or Zazen vanishes, leaving one in a state of polished emptiness. Radical Disidentification from Birth: At this stage of spirituality, one no longer believes they were ever born, which is a radical departure from conventional self-perception, signifying an absolute disconnection from the narrative of individual existence. Push to Attain the State of Emptiness: The master instructs practitioners to strive fervently to experience this ultimate state of being at least once, representing a complete immersion in non-duality and self-annihilation. The Ninth Picture – Returning to the Source: Reflecting on 'returning to the source', Leo admits his limited understanding but conveys the stage's message about the superfluous nature of striving since enlightenment exists in the present moment without effort. Image 9 Challenges of Embodiment After Deep Mystical Experiences: Leo acknowledges the difficulty in integrating profound spiritual glimpses from psychedelic experiences into daily life, noting the difference between having deep insights and living them out consistently. Non-Linear Spiritual Journey: Leo warns against interpreting spiritual stages linearly, emphasizing personal variations and possible deviations due to different practices or inherent spiritual gifts. Final Thoughts on Picture Nine: Returning to the source signifies an absolute identity with the universe and the self, a state where dualistic concerns dissolve, answering all metaphysical inquiries—the embodiment of Zen where the universe as it is represents heaven. Humility of Enlightened Individuals: The tenth stage culminates in re-entering ordinary life with profound humility, completely ordinary to the extent that enlightenment becomes undetectable to others. This humility cannot be feigned and serves as a true indication of mastery. Image 10 Virtue of Blending into Ordinary Life After Enlightenment: Post-enlightenment life involves integrating back into mundane existence while retaining the insight gained. True masters wear their realization without show, living simply and sharing their light in an unassuming manner. Misconceptions of Enlightenment: Newcomers to spiritual paths often harbor fantasies of specialness post-enlightenment but fail to recognize that true enlightenment entails the complete loss of self and manifests as unmistakable humility. Evaluating Spiritual Teachers: Leo Gura assesses the authenticity of spiritual teachers by observing the depth of their humility, which he considers an honest signal of enlightenment that can't be faked. Zen Master on Post-Enlightenment Life: The Zen master's teachings suggest that genuine spiritual masters don't flaunt their enlightenment; instead, they live humbly among ordinary people, shedding any signs of elitism or higher status. Jesus as a Role Model of Humility: Jesus is highlighted for his radical humility, living among the common people without showing superiority, serving as a powerful example of the Zen teachings. Warnings against Elitism Post-Enlightenment: Spiritual leaders who indulge in luxury and exclusivity may not fully embody the true essence of enlightenment, as true masters are expected to live simple and modest lives. Awakening Others: Those who've reached the highest state of awakening have a role to play in helping others realize their Buddha-nature, not through preaching but by simply being present and joyful among them. The Commitment Necessary for Spiritual Growth: Understanding the full implications and commitments of the spiritual path can be overwhelming, and were it not for the enticing beginnings, many might abandon the pursuit altogether. Point of No Return on the Path: Having learned too much, individuals on the spiritual path reach a point where they can't go back to a state of ignorance. The knowledge they've acquired about existence and suffering compels them to pursue enlightenment. Following the Heart on the Spiritual Journey: Despite uncertainties and potential losses, the spiritual seeker is encouraged to trust the heart and the path it urges them to take, even in the face of deep fears and difficulties. Enduring the Sufferings of the Spiritual Path: Enlightenment comes after navigating through increasing levels of suffering, reinforcing the need for perseverance and trust that suffering will eventually cease. The Role of Wisdom and Guidance: Leo recommends revisiting wisdom from spiritual masters and texts to stay on track and avoid forming rigid ideologies, thus ensuring one remains true to the path of enlightenment. Enlightening Others as a Continuation of Growth: After attaining enlightenment, the journey continues through the enlightenment of others. This process is framed as an extension and fulfillment of one's spiritual work. Flipendo

The 9 Stages Of Ego Development - Part 3 https://youtu.be/pGItuEai8vo Suzanne Cook-Greuter's Research: Leo credits Suzanne Cook-Greuter for her comprehensive 90-page research paper on ego development, which forms the basis of his discussion. He emphasizes that while he integrates her research, his presentation includes his own interpretations and commentary relevant to self-actualization. Image 1 Importance of Pace in Development: Progressing through the ego development stages should not be rushed; it's important to fully experience and understand each stage before moving on to higher levels. Skipping stages can lead to frustration and the inability to sustain higher levels of development. Application of the Ego Development Model: Understanding the stages of ego development is a practical tool for evaluating the character and level of development of people in various contexts, such as business partnerships, family dynamics, and personal relationships. This insight can inform strategies for interaction and whether to maintain or cut ties with certain individuals based on their development stage. Teaching and Stage Relevancy: Leo acknowledges that most of his teachings are aimed at the final two stages of ego development, which may be too advanced for those who are currently at the conformist, expert, or achiever stages. He suggests that individuals may need to return to his teachings after they have solidified their understanding of the earlier stages. Risks of Prematurely Seeking Enlightenment: Leo warns against pursuing higher levels of spiritual awakening, like enlightenment, without having achieved personal success in basic survival and life needs. He recommends fully experiencing the achiever stage before seeking to transcend it. Stage 9: Construct Aware: This stage involves recognizing the mind’s role in constructing one's reality, questioning the ego's distortions, and the acknowledgment of linguistic filters. It leads to complex existential questions and an understanding of the limitations of rational thought. Magician Stage as Leaders and Guides: People at this stage often become mentors, consultants, or coaches who work to guide others, feeling comfortable with their knowledge limitations and embracing vulnerability. They take on roles that catalyze transformation, fully expressing themselves and recognizing the value of self-correction. Centaur Analogy for Construct Aware Stage: The construct aware stage is likened to a 'centaur' or 'vision logic', where individuals balance primal needs with higher existential and spiritual desires. Dealing with Chaos and Interconnectedness: At this stage, chaos is seen not just negatively, but as a natural part of life's rhythm. People learn to flow with it and recognize the interconnectedness of all things. Transitioning to the Unitive Stage: Those who reach the unitive stage witness life without the need for rational explanation, experiencing a sense of completeness, and perceiving mundane things as profound. Unitive Stage Realizations: Individuals at this stage feel fulfilled without needing external validation or achievements. They recognize the paradox of life's meaninglessness yet engage passionately with life, find value in all life forms, and guide others towards vertical development. Shift in Leo Gura's Teaching Style: Leo discusses his evolving approach to teaching—aiming to be more compassionate and understanding, reflecting his own progression towards the unitive stage of ego development. Tapping into Universal Intelligence at Unitive Stage: Leo suggests that at the unitive stage, direct insight and wisdom from universal intelligence become more accessible, with a focus on wisdom over IQ or specialized knowledge. Valuing Direct Experience and Empathy for Ignorance: Individuals at advanced stages of ego development place emphasis on direct experience and display deep empathy for others' ignorance, understanding its origins in limited perspective. Release of Control and Gender Integration: Individuals become less concerned with controlling life and achieve a profound sense of peace with their masculine and feminine aspects, resolving internal gender conflicts. Advanced Understanding of Human Behavior: At higher stages, a comprehensive understanding of human behavior emerges, recognizing suffering, conflict, and violence as manifestations of the unconscious ego mind. Ultimate Realizations and Cosmic Perspective: Enlightenment and awakenings become more profound, aligning with an understanding that judgement is ignorance and birth and death are imaginary concepts. These realizations contribute to a sense of tranquility and equanimity. Continued Introspection and Growth: Even after reaching the unitive stage, the journey of self-discovery continues. Leo emphasizes the ongoing nature of this work and the importance of self-reliance in personal growth. He advises against relying solely on his teachings for personal evolution, advocating for self-teaching and exploration beyond the unitive stage. Responsibility for Personal Growth: Individuals should use high-level advice as guidelines but must find their own path to growth, harmonizing advice with individual life situations. Existence of Stages Beyond Unitive: Leo hints at the possibility of stages beyond the unitive stage, which are less recognized due to their rarity but signify even more profound levels of human evolution and understanding. Assessing Resources and Teachers by Developmental Stages: Books, videos, courses, and teachers can be evaluated according to which stage of ego development they correspond to. This allows individuals to find resources and mentors that are appropriate for their current stage or slightly beyond it. Encouragement to Aim Higher: Leo advises those at the achiever stage to maintain a high vision for the future and to lay the groundwork for advanced metaphysical understanding while handling basic needs and goals. Introduction to Construct Aware Stage: This stage, inhabited by 0.5% of the U.S. population, involves realizing that reality is constructed by the mind and deeply intertwined with material reality, challenging the notion of separate objective reality. Existential Paradoxes and Inner Conflict: At the Construct Aware stage, individuals grapple with existential paradoxes and recognize the role of the mind, language, and ego in interpreting and constructing reality. Shift in Life Focus: Existential issues and the meaning of existence take precedence over material concerns, leading to pervasive uncertainty and questioning of previously held truths. Awareness of Reality as a Construction: People at this stage see their worldview as an unconscious amalgamation of cultural inputs rather than consciously chosen. They realize that all aspects of perceived reality, including political and scientific beliefs, are influenced by the subconscious. Deconstructing Meanings and Judgments: At this stage, individuals question their judgments and meanings attached to things, recognizing biases in their worldview shaped by the ego for its own survival. Understanding the Limitations of Symbolic Abstraction: The Construct Aware stage brings recognition of the limitations and biases inherent in concepts like time, purpose, and even tangible objects, when viewed through the lens of language and the human mind. Map vs. Territory: There is a deep appreciation for the difference between symbols and actual reality, recognizing that perspectives are biased, geocentric, and human-centric. Language as a Deep Technology: Individuals realize the significant role of language in shaping reality and communication, recognizing both its limitations and its potential to simplify or complexify our perceptions of the world. Navigating the Limitations of Language: The challenges of using language without being restricted by it become apparent, and individuals at the Construct Aware stage become more adept at circumventing the pitfalls language may introduce. Realizing the Impact of Language on Knowledge: Concepts and knowledge acquisition are seen as arbitrary and crucially dependent on language, leading to a more careful and conscious approach to understanding and knowing. Awareness of Duality: The understanding that all concepts rely on opposites - such as good vs. evil, or human vs. non-human - becomes evident, heightening sensitivity to the dual nature of language and conceptualization. Taking Responsibility for Mental Constructs: Individuals at this stage become accountable for their own creation of concepts and categories, marking a shift from unconsciously adopting cultural definitions to consciously forming their mental landscape. Exploring Beyond Human Mind Limitations: There's a realization that one can transcend the human mind and question fundamental constructs like human identity, opening up new territories beyond what was previously dismissed as pseudoscience or 'airy-fairy' ideas. Breakdown of the Objective Material World Belief: The belief in a permanent, objective material world begins to dissolve, blurring the distinctions between mind, body, self, and the external reality. Deconstructing Notion of a Permanent Self: The self is recognized as a dynamic collection of beliefs and concepts, constantly evolving rather than being a fixed entity, bustling with every new experience and interaction. Continuous Self-Change: Awareness grows that personal identity is in constant flux; every experience subtly shifts one's sense of self, challenging the notion of a static, unchanging personal identity. Cross-Paradigmatic Integration: There's an ability to appreciate and integrate diverse worldviews and religious beliefs without judgment, leading to an intellectually unified perspective of existence. Global Historical Perspective: Moving into a higher altitude of consciousness, construct-aware individuals gain a global view of meaning-making and take responsibility for the subjective meanings they assign to their experiences and the world. Shift from Inherent to Projected Meaning: Realization dawns that meaning is not inherent in external events or situations but is instead a projection of one's mind, leading to more deliberate and conscious meaning-making. Understanding of Map-Making and Self-STORY Deconstruction: Individuals become cognizant of their need to create mental maps and narratives with a permanent self at the center and learn to deconstruct and challenge such identifications. Awareness of Self-Deception: Even though the ego still leads to self-deception, a heightened awareness enables individuals to catch, correct, and learn from their distortions rather than being totally consumed by them. Understanding the Constructive Nature of Personal Identity: Acknowledgment arises that self-identity is maintained by continuous thoughts about oneself, skewing reality to ensure survival of this constructed self. Non-Physical Conception of Birth and Death: A profound realization surfaces that birth and death are not purely physical processes but mental activities linked to the ongoing construction of personal identity through thought. Deconstruction of Self: Individuals at this stage start to see the possibility of deconstructing the self, leading to self-annihilation. There is fear and uncertainty about what lies beyond this, but an understanding that 'self' is a subjective construct that must ultimately dissolve. Meta Cognitive Stage: The stage involves deeply questioning one's own thought processes, which can be seen as a final attempt by the ego to create comprehensive maps and models of reality, despite the impossibility of fully capturing the infinite nature of reality. Addiction to Models and Theories: There is an acknowledgment of the fascination with creating complex models and meta-models, which, while intellectually stimulating and practically useful, ultimately oversimplify reality and are not the territory itself. Conflict Between Helping People and Pursuing Truth: There's a realization that the utility of models in helping others does not equate to the discovery of absolute truth, highlighting the ego's subtle manipulation of reality for higher purposes. The Struggle of Advanced Development: Recognizing the absurdity of using models to fully grasp reality, individuals become aware of the difficulties in going beyond the human mind due to a lack of role models and examples to follow. Redefining Knowing: At this stage, there's a shift towards examining alternative ways of knowing beyond rationality, language, and science, questioning the quantifiable constraints placed by human constructs like science. Awareness of Ego's Influence: Individuals become acutely aware of the ego's distortions on perception, filtering reality through biased lenses and essentially questioning the possibility of objective experience. Dilemmas of Ego Transcendence: The more one attempts to transcend the ego and quiet the mind, the stronger the ego can become, illustrating the paradoxical nature of detaching from reality. Awareness of Thought's Limitations: There is a growing suspicion of thought and recognition that all cognitive processes are dualistic and constructed, fundamentally separate from the non-dual reality. Challenges of Experiencing Reality Without Filters: The realization of the importance of experiencing reality without linguistic filters emerges, but the practical challenge of achieving this denotes the difficulty in transcending ingrained cognitive mechanisms. Interconnectedness of Dualities: The recognition that dualities like good and evil or life and death are inseparable parts of the same whole undermines the simple-minded approach of lower stages seeking to increase good and eliminate bad. Judgment as a Source of Unhappiness: An increased awareness of how the habitual judgment of experiences creates suffering and unhappiness leads to the contemplation of non-judgmental awareness. Awareness of Judgment: Realizing the habitual nature of judging can be frustrating, as it leads to suffering; despite this awareness, it takes years to fully let go of this habit. Compassion and Human Complexity Understanding: Individuals develop a deeper compassion for themselves and others and attain a nuanced perception of human nature and interactions. Navigating Meaning and Meaninglessness: Caught between the extremes of considering life either completely meaningless or unquestioningly meaningful, individuals work to balance and integrate these perspectives. Emotional and Rational Pattern Recognition: There is recognition of how emotions and rational thoughts manipulate one’s perception, and the challenge becomes to integrate and mindfully manage both. Conscious Observation of Ego: A heightened self-awareness allows individuals to observe their ego in action, such as during disagreements or impulsive behaviors, leading to opportunities for growth. Integration of Multiple Modalities: The integration of feelings, intuition, rational thinking, and transpersonal experiences enhances one's flexibility in responding to various life situations. Seeking Mystical Experiences: Individuals develop a craving for mystical states and temporary freedom from ego control, often facilitated by meditation, psychedelics, or other practices. Leadership Roles in Construct Aware Stage: People tend to assume roles as catalysts or transformers within organizations or society, often working independently or creating novel structures to contribute meaningfully. Openness and Humility: Embracing uncertainty, these individuals show comfort with not knowing and exhibit humility regarding the limits of knowledge without the need for defense or pretense. Expression of Authenticity: Language and communication become more complex, vivid, and authentic, with attempts to let go of conscious structuring and embracing spontaneous expression. Trans-Rational Insight: Access to knowledge from non-rational sources such as intuition, bodily states, and dreams increases, playing a more significant role than logic. Self-Deception as Learning Opportunity: Recognizing personal self-deception turns into a chance for growth and helps understand the ego traps others may fall into. Balance Between Animalistic and Spiritual Desires: The Centaur metaphor indicates a balance between primal needs and higher desires, integrating existential and spiritual concerns with basic survival needs. Perception of Chaos: There is an understanding of the rhythmic chaos in life, which individuals learn to navigate like surfing waves, embracing life's unpredictability. Cumulative Interconnectedness and Profound Experiences: Recognition of interconnectedness across all subjects deepens, leading to profound insights and setting up for the transition to the unitive stage. Witnessing the Present Moment and Absolute Truth: The unitive stage allows individuals to apprehend absolute truth through direct consciousness, a transformative experience beyond rational explanation. Openness to All Experiences: At this advanced stage, individuals are receptive to the full spectrum of life’s experiences, valuing each without judgment, and finding value in every moment of being. Transformation of Reality Perception: Reality becomes imbued with magic and wonder, as even the most mundane objects are seen as miraculous, shifting the perspective from ordinary to mystical. Profound Appreciation of the Mundane: A fork, once seen as an ordinary object, can evoke tears due to its perceived miraculous existence. Those at lower ego stages might not appreciate the intrinsic value and complexity of such simple things, missing the cosmic perspective that one gains at higher stages. Cosmic Perspective as Organizing Principle: At higher stages of ego development, individuals view themselves and others as part of humanity's evolutionary journey. They effortlessly shift among different perspectives and states of awareness. Comfort with Mystical Experiences: Mystical and unitive experiences become familiar and comfortable, rather than alien or scary. The peaks of awareness from earlier stages now serve as a stable foundation for ongoing mystical experiences. Presence and Groundedness in the Present: With a shift to higher stages, living fully in the present becomes the norm, and individuals experience a unity with nature and the universe, feeling embedded rather than separate from their surroundings. Deep Security in Identity: The unitive stage offers deep fulfillment and a sense of self-completion that doesn't rely on external factors like fame, money, or relationships, based on realizing one's identity as infinite and complete. Simultaneous Perception of Concrete and Eternal: Unitive individuals can perceive both the temporality and eternal symbolism of entities, seeing all stages of ego development as interconnected and necessary to the whole. Acceptance of Lower Stages: This stage brings a profound acceptance of those at lower levels of consciousness, fostering deep peace and relinquishing the need to control or judge others, allowing for grace and humility. Simplicity Beyond Complexity: After developing complex models of understanding, those at the unitive stage often transcend and simplify their worldviews, fostering a zen-like mentality and approach to life. Contemplation of Life Purpose: Despite recognizing the ultimate insignificance of personal achievements in the vast universe, individuals at this stage still engage passionately with life, embracing a controlled, conscious approach to their endeavors. Shift in Perspective on Life's 'Game': Life is seen as a controlled folly—a conscious game that one engages in while recognizing its ultimate emptiness, which paradoxically frees one from the despair of attachment. Critiques of 'Impractical' Higher Stages: Those at lower stages often criticize the unitive stage as impractical, failing to see the value in existential or non-materialistic perspectives that prioritize spirit over survival. Holistic Approach to Teaching and Life: People at the unitive stage foster global justice and creativity, acting as catalysts in society, and valuing all life forms equally, transcending biases like age, gender, and species. Evolution of Leo's Teaching Style: Leo acknowledges his previous authoritative teaching style and shares his intention to teach in a more accepting, compassionate, and holistic manner as he moves further into the unitive stage. Bliss in Being: Individuals at the unitive stage find profound joy and contentment in simply existing and being aware, experiencing a non-attachment to outcomes and consistent insights into reality's interconnectedness. Mind as the Only Existence: Everything is Mind (with a capital M); there never existed a material world. Mind is synonymous with consciousness and is infinite. All perceived reality, including the table, chair, and fire hydrant, is consciousness. Direct Consciousness of God: The unitive stage brings a direct experience of God, absent in lower stages where God is considered separate and other. This stage allows for the realization that the universe and the individual are both manifestations of God. Self as Creator: Individuals realize that they are the creators of their reality, which is profound and life-altering. Lower stages may view this as absurd or narcissistic, but it's not about superiority; it's about awakening to one's true nature as God. Taking Responsibility for Being God: Recognizing oneself as God entails taking full responsibility for one's life. Those who aren't aware they are God create their suffering—understanding oneself as God fosters a responsibility to lead a more divine existence. Consciousness of God Not a Belief: This realization is not based on beliefs, ideologies, or speculation. It's an actual direct consciousness that transcends mere faith or philosophy. Mundane Becomes Supernatural: At the unitive stage, the mundane is viewed as supernatural. There's an appreciation of the fundamental mystery and intelligence of all creation, realizing that nothing can be known in absolute terms, only experienced or embodied. Distinction and Construction: At this stage, distinctions, such as between a taco and a kangaroo, are understood to be mental constructs that have no ultimate difference. These distinctions are seen as important for human growth but not reflective of an ultimate separation. Tolerance, Compassion, and Affiliation: Individuals feel a deep affiliation with all forms of life, tolerating and embracing the essence of others, respecting their intrinsic nature without the need for change. Wisdom vs. Specialized Knowledge: There's a recognition that wisdom and high IQ or specialized technical knowledge are not the same. The unitive stage values wisdom and consciousness over IQ scores or technical expertise. Channeling Universal Intelligence: People in the unitive stage can channel insights and wisdom directly from a universal source. This telepathic communication with the universal intelligence is seen as a deep personal connection with the infinite. Interconnectedness With All Beings: Belief in the interconnectedness of all life forms is a cornerstone of the unitive stage, leading to the notion that there's no essential distinction between oneself and any other being. Embracing Diversity of Existence: There's an appreciation for the myriad ways of being, realizing that all are valid and beautiful. This includes an understanding of the necessity of ignorance until one is ready to grow and change. Conflict as a Lack of Perspective: The unitive stage holds that all conflict arises from a lack of perspective and understanding. Compassion stems from recognizing one's former ignorance and appreciating others' developmental stages. Insights and Profundity: At this stage, an individual can express profound wisdom with ease, often surprising even themselves. This profundity is seen as an attribute of the universe rather than the individual, as they are aligned with universal intelligence. Realizing Personal Growth Achievement: Looking back on personal development, an individual can reflect on their past ignorance and appreciate the multi-decade journey, understanding the value in overcoming life's toughest moments. Empathy for Others' Ignorance: Realizing one's own ignorance fosters deep empathy for others who are stuck in their ignorance, though it doesn't necessitate tolerating harmful or delusional behaviors and ideologies. Moderation and Quality Control: In maintaining a valuable community, there is a distinction between accepting individuals and allowing destructive behaviors to proliferate, necessitating moderation to preserve quality and integrity. Spontaneity and Simplicity in Wisdom: In unity stages, individuals experience straightforward simplicity, which becomes a vital aspect of their wisdom and the transcendence of the ego. Mental Space Expansion: The mind becomes jail-broken, free of mental fetters, defense mechanisms, and manipulations. This vast mental freedom allows for exploring reality from an unhindered perspective. Mindful Present-Moment Awareness: A non-evaluative approach to the present moment allows for experiencing reality without the need for manipulation, interpretation, or control from the ego. Integration of Masculine and Feminine Sides: Unity stage brings about an internal peace by integrating previously unacknowledged aspects of self, leading to personal harmony and bridging gender conflicts. Conflict Realization: At this level, individuals understand that most conflict is self-created and arises from unconscious selfishness. Bridging Contrasts and Dualities: The unitive person reconciles different contrasts and dualities, merging concrete/practical, theoretical/philosophical, and more, thereby fostering holistic understanding. Cosmocentric Perspective: Adopting a cosmocentric view, individuals see themselves as integral participants in cosmic evolution, where holistic identification transcends the merely global perspective. Dissolution of Evil and Enemies: Recognizing that "evil" is a projection of ego biases, people at this stage shed such notions, understanding that supposed enemies and evil are manifestations of self-bias. Imaginary Nature of Reality: The realization that all aspects of reality, material and physical alike, are imaginary—life becomes viewed impersonally and not taken seriously or personally. Tapping into True Happiness: Accessing states of equanimity, tranquility, and absolute love leads to an understanding of true happiness and satisfaction. Enlightenment at the Unitive Stage: At this stage, enlightenment and awakenings occur more frequently and are realized without entanglement in ego-driven interpretations. Aloneness and Oneness Realization: Understanding emerges that self and others are identical; oneness includes all multiplicities of existence, transcending and adding inclusivity to the concept of solitude. Compassion for Human Behavior: With the deconstruction of the ego, individuals deeply understand the roots of human conflict, suffering, and behavior, stemming from unchecked selfishness and ego. Profound Silence and Inexpressibility: Reaching a point where the profundity of the universe is recognized as beyond the scope of language or even rational explanation. Self-Sufficiency in Problem-Solving: Leo emphasizes the importance of viewers finding their own solutions to problems rather than seeking specific guidance. The growth process requires individuals to figure things out independently. Role of High-Level Advice: Leo's role is to provide high-level pointers and advice, aiming to open minds and prevent significant missteps in life. Implementation of this advice into the nitty-gritty of day-to-day existence is the viewer's responsibility. Creativity in Application: The advice given by Leo is intentionally general and abstract, so viewers must creatively adapt it to fit their unique personalities, strengths, desires, and life circumstances. Existential Questions Beyond the Unitive Stage: Leo acknowledges the existence of stages beyond the unitive stage. These stages are highly transhuman and mystical, explored through advanced techniques like psychedelics and meditation. Challenges of Scientific Modeling of Advanced Stages: Scientific models like Suzanne Cook-Greuter's have limited data on the most advanced stages of human development due to their rarity. Understanding these stages requires studying exceptionally developed humans. Aspirations for Future Understanding: Leo admits his current understanding of stages beyond the unitive stage is limited but anticipates gaining more insight over the next two decades, acknowledging that humanity is still grappling with these concepts. Ongoing Journey and Self-Work: The understanding of human evolution is dynamic, and Leo encourages viewers to continuously work on themselves using models like the nine stages as a roadmap. Actualized.org as a Resource: Leo mentions his website, Actualized.org, which provides numerous tools like a blog, a book list, a life purpose course, and a forum designed to support individuals moving into post-conventional stages of development. Preparation of Content Referring to the Nine-Stage Model: Leo plans to create content that breaks down each stage of development and provides actionable steps and insights into potential traps, further than what was covered in the introduction. Focus of Actualized.org: The primary objective of Leo's teachings is to move individuals into post-conventional stages and beyond—to become construct aware, then unitive, and possibly beyond that in the future. Connection to Infinite Intelligence: Leo's teachings aim to open individuals to deeper existential questions and the development of a high-bandwidth connection with infinite intelligence, promoting a transition beyond merely mental understanding. Psychedelics as Learning Tools: Psychedelics are highlighted as a potent tool for nonlinear, organic, infinitely intelligent learning that transcends conventional teaching methods. Ultimate Self-Teaching: Leo's ultimate goal is to guide viewers to a point where they can teach themselves through direct connection with the universe, lessening their need for external guidance including his own teachings. Aparecium

The 9 Stages Of Ego Development - Part 2 https://youtu.be/G8fIhLDV3L4 Overview of "The 9 Stages Of Ego Development - Part 2": Leo continues his series on ego development with part two, focusing on post-conventional stages with a promise of a third installment to delve deeper into the later stages, highlighting that these offer substantial transformative value. Image 1 Nature of Scientific Models: Leo reminds his audience that scientific models, including ego development, have limitations and should not be overextended to non-applicable domains such as animal behavior or film characters. Capabilities of Earlier Stages: Leo clarifies that each higher stage retains the capabilities of earlier stages, akin to academic grade progression. He emphasizes that no stage is inherently good or bad; they are constructive parts of human development. Understanding of Stages: Leo points out that higher stages can understand lower ones due to broader perspectives, but lower stages struggle to grasp higher ones due to a lack of foundational development. Defense mechanisms might cause individuals at lower stages to deny the existence of higher stages. Stages During Stress: Individuals may regress to earlier stages when threatened or under stress. Awakenings Across Stages: Leo discusses how mystical experiences and awakenings can occur at any stage, but warns that interpretations can be limited and distorted by the individual's current level of cognitive development. Post-Conventional Deconstruction: Starting with the pluralist stage, the post-conventional phase marks the beginning of deconstructing and questioning previously constructed realities. The mind becomes open to reassessing all beliefs, including those in culture, politics, and even the previously unquestioned areas like science and absolute truths. Post-Conventional Stage & Relativity: The post-conventional stage involves a cognitive leap where relativity becomes acknowledged and appreciated, contrasting earlier stages that take things as absolute. Individuals begin to see that meanings are not fixed but are based on one's perspective, leading to heightened self-reflection and a critical examination of previously unquestioned beliefs. Escalating Degrees of Relativistic Thinking: As one progresses through the post-conventional stages, the degree of relativistic thinking intensifies, becoming more pronounced and radical in later stages. Recognizing the relative nature of meaning becomes a central theme in understanding reality. Emergence of Post-Rational Thought: Despite conventional stages relying heavily on logic, post-conventional development marks a transition to post-rational thought, distinguishing it from pre-rational beliefs. This allows for the questioning of not just content but the structure of thinking, leading to an awareness of the illusions and self-deception inherent in different beliefs and perspectives. Questioning of Language and Materialist Assumptions: Language and its role in shaping thought begin to be questioned during the post-conventional stage. Materialist assumptions start to be doubted, albeit not completely, prompting a search for knowledge and understanding beyond materialism and traditional science. Flexible Conceptual Boundaries: The once rigid boundaries of concepts like science and religion become more porous and flexible. Individuals realize that these concepts may evolve and share similarities, challenging the conventional dichotomy between science and pseudoscience or religion. Comparative Analysis of Belief Systems: Post-conventional thinkers can step outside their own belief systems to objectively analyze and compare different systems. There's an increased drive to uncover hidden assumptions about one's own beliefs and society at large, a trait largely absent in conventional stages. Appreciation of Hidden Assumptions: This stage brings an increased interest in existential, metaphysical, psychological, and epistemic issues, with a focus on uncovering hidden assumptions within one's own framework and society. Such deep reflection generally does not resonate with conventional-minded individuals, or "normies," who prioritize material success over introspection. Pluralist Stage Realization and Relativity: The pluralist comes to the realization that reality is observer-dependent, embracing instead the exploration of multiple perspectives that were previously dismissed or unrecognized. This includes an appreciation for cultural exploration and a recognition of the influence of the observer on the observed, similar to principles found in quantum mechanics. Post-Conventional Struggle with Absolutism and Judgment: At the post-conventional stage, the struggle lies in reconciling the relativistic view with the need for judgment. The absolute certainty of earlier stages and conventional authorities like religious texts and scientific dogma are questioned, opening up an exploration into alternative ways of knowing and understanding the world. Pluralist Stage and Practical Decision-Making: In the pluralist stage, individuals grapple with making concrete decisions amidst an overwhelming array of perspectives. The criteria for sorting views into practical and functional ones are not yet clear, leading to confusion and difficulty in managing daily life. Subjectivity and Personal Biases: The realization that observations are inherently filtered through subjective lenses humbles the mind and raises awareness of personal biases. This understanding becomes particularly relevant when evaluating areas such as politics, religion, and science. Questioning Conventional Science: A post-conventional scientist recognizes that science is influenced by the observer's biases and metaphysical assumptions. This realization sparks debate on the methodologies of science and the subjectivity that influences scientific discovery and interpretation. Recontextualizing Previous Knowledge: As perspectives expand, earlier scientific models, like Newton's mechanics, are not disproved but instead built upon and recontextualized in a more comprehensive framework, as exemplified by Einstein's theories. Cultural Conditioning and Global Perspective: The pluralist stage involves recognizing the extent of cultural conditioning and the limited control one has over personal beliefs and values, primarily due to the increased exposure to global diversity through travel and media. Travel and Worldview Expansion: Encountering diverse cultures through travel can lead to an existential and moral crisis as it forces pluralists to compare their ways of life with those in different parts of the world, revealing the vastness of human experience. Relativity and Validity of Worldviews: Pluralists treat all worldviews as seemingly equally valid, which can be both beneficial and detrimental. This approach presents challenges in discerning the value and applicability of various perspectives, especially when confronting extreme views like Nazism in comparison to more enlightened worldviews. Adjudicating between Worldviews: Pluralists struggle with how to fairly adjudicate between the diversity of worldviews due to the loss of criteria for judgment in a relativistic view, leading to the question of whether there is such a thing as absolute truth or not. Self-Deception and Cultural Bias: An awareness of self-deception as a defense mechanism used by the mind to construct reality sets in. This leads to the understanding that the greatest threat to post-conventional stages is not external enemies but the internal biases and unexamined assumptions programmed during upbringing. Existential Crisis from Realization of Mind's Deceptions: The realization of the extent to which one's mind can deceive itself and the impact of cultural programming lead to an existential crisis and an ongoing process of understanding that previously held 'absolute truths' are not constants but are based on cultural indoctrination. Realization of Self-Deception and Cultural Programming: At post-conventional stages, individuals recognize the depth of self-deception and cultural programming. They understand that their previous views on issues like police brutality are overly simplistic and appreciate the complexity involving systems, cultural views, morality, and politics. Epistemological Inquiry: Pluralists start grappling with epistemological questions about the nature of knowledge, questioning the truthfulness of science, logic, religion, and spirituality. They understand the importance of differentiating beliefs from reality itself. Appreciation for Knowledge Foundations: The post-conventional stage involves deep contemplation on how we acquire and validate knowledge. The singular importance of these foundational questions becomes apparent at this stage of cognitive development. Awakening to Social Brainwashing: Individuals come to accept their susceptibility to societal and cultural brainwashing, acknowledging that even educational material can be a form of indoctrination and self-deception. Recognition of Environmental and Societal Influence: There is a heightened awareness of how an individual's worldview is shaped by historic, geographic, economic, cultural, and linguistic factors, leading to questions about one's own belief systems, including previously unquestioned aspects like capitalism. Language and Thought Construction: Pluralists realize language's role in structuring thought, allowing them to understand their cognition as heavily influenced by linguistic abilities and the limitations of their native tongue. Scrutiny of Social Constructs: Post-conventional thinkers start questioning fundamental societal structures, recognizing constructs like capitalism as artificial and subject to manipulation. Concern with Content Versus Structure of Thought: Recognizing the similarity in mental structures of seemingly opposite ideologies, such as capitalism and communism, is a critical insight at this stage, revealing one's own inability to transcend ideological constraints previously unconsciously accepted. Shift from Material to Inner Fulfillment: There's a fundamental transition from the pursuit of material achievements to an exploration of inner experiences. Interests in money, sex, or possessions often decline as internal self-reflection becomes more compelling. Exploration of Subjectivity: Individuals at the pluralist stage reckon with the subjective nature of their worldview, finding this realization both liberating and disorienting as they attempt to navigate their existence without stable reference points. Temptation of Regression: Despite feeling unmoored, the temptation to retreat to familiar conventional systems for a sense of security is a significant challenge for individuals in the post-conventional stages. They strive to avoid regressing and maintain their commitment to exploring new paradigms. Discovery of Truth's Complexity: One's journey to unravel deeper truths becomes arduous, filled with paradoxes, emotional labor, and confusion. Accepting that much of what constitutes knowledge in science and other fields has been assimilated through belief marks the post-conventional transition. The trap of needing anchors: To truly be courageous in the pluralist stage, one must release the desire for stability and embrace a period, possibly spanning years or decades, of uncertainty while exploring different perspectives. This process is confusing and emotionally taxing but also liberating as it broadens the range of possibilities beyond the limitations of conventional thinking. Watching oneself and questioning actions: In the pluralist stage, one becomes an observer of their own behavior, questioning why they follow certain norms or perform specific actions. This self-observation can lead to the realization that some actions were performed simply because they were imitating others, and not due to a reasoned personal decision. Abandonment of purely rational analysis: Pluralists move away from relying solely on rational analysis and incorporate a more holistic, organismic approach that values feelings, intuitions, and context. This reflects a significant shift from traditional methods that prioritize logic and provable facts. Realizing the limitations of rationality: The post-conventional stage understands that rationality has inherent limitations and begins to appreciate intuition as a more powerful tool. The pluralist gains wisdom and insight from consciousness itself, rather than linear logical thinking or the need for formal proof. Logic as a tool for self-deception: As pluralists progress, they recognize how the mind can use logic to deceive the self and preserve the ego. They see logic becoming self-aware and psychological, accounting for how the mind can manipulate reasoning for its own benefit. Emphasis on exploration over goals: For pluralists, the journey and exploration of various perspectives become more valuable than achieving specific goals. There is an increasing distrust of conventional wisdom and strict rationality as pluralists prefer to experience life and relationships over working solely towards material achievements. The value of scrutinizing assumptions: Pluralists enjoy the novel mental freedom that comes with scrutinizing assumptions and seeing values as relative. They face the challenge of making judgments and decisions amidst this newfound understanding of relativity. Problems as interplay between polarities: Pluralists see problems not as singular issues that can be eliminated but as an interplay of polarities that must be understood and harmonized. Rather than eliminating opposing perspectives, there's a need for understanding and integration. Paradox and contradiction as features of reality: Pluralists embrace and relish in paradox and contradiction as fundamental aspects of reality rather than as flaws. They move towards a more holistic understanding, where not everything needs logical proof to be accepted. Creative use of imagination and diverse perspectives: With the exploration of diverse perspectives, pluralists' creativity and imagination skyrocket. They start connecting subtle clues rather than dissecting problems into parts, valuing insight, and breakthroughs achieved through non-traditional means like meditation and self-reflection. Misunderstanding of Non-linear Thinking: Many people ridicule non-linear, spiritual, or holistic approaches like meditation, yoga, chakras, and intuition because they are accustomed to a linear, analytical way of understanding reality. They fail to recognize these as legitimate ways to interface with reality. Shift from Doing to Being: In the pluralist stage, there's a transition from constant activity to focusing on being and feeling. This can seem 'hippie' or 'new age' to conventional thinkers who value tangible, materialistic accomplishments over abstract experiences. Consciousness Becomes More Abstract: As individuals progress through stages, their capacity for abstract thinking increases. This leads to recognizing spirituality and ephemeral experiences as valid and real, even though they may not be tangibly measurable. Mind-Body Connection: Pluralists develop an awareness that emotions are not just mental but are also physically manifested throughout the body. They recognize that many ailments could stem from psychological factors like repressed emotions. Importance of Feeling and Emotions: The realization that emotions are present in the body and not just the mind leads pluralists to practices that integrate body awareness, such as yoga and mindfulness, which are sometimes dismissed by conventional thinkers. Exploration of the Self: Pluralists turn inward, valuing self-exploration and self-expression over adhering to socially approved roles. They seek their own unique gifts and answers to personal questions, distancing themselves from conventional routines. Moving Beyond Conventional Stereotypes: While 'hippie' qualities like openness and expressiveness characterize the pluralist stage, it doesn't necessitate a complete adoption of hippie lifestyle choices. Pluralists can maintain conventional responsibilities while holding their expanded worldviews. Beyond Judging and Embracing Relativity: Pluralists transcend conventional judgments and the demonization of negative social elements. They understand the validity of all perspectives, including those of societal outcasts, and adopt a more nuanced moral outlook. Integration of Sub-identities: Pluralists face the challenge of integrating various sub-identities, such as masculine, feminine, rational, and intuitive, into a cohesive whole without denying any aspects. Fear of Regression and Isolation: The fear of being pulled back into lower developmental stages is prominent among pluralists. They also risk feeling socially isolated and having relationship conflicts, especially with partners who do not share or understand their post-conventional mindset. Pitfalls of the Pluralist Stage: Leo highlights misconceptions at the pluralist stage where all hierarchies are often seen as oppressive, and all opinions as equally valid, which isn't practical for survival. He also points out the issues with extreme relativism leading to indecision, and how too much focus on diversity and equality can be counterproductive, a problem he feels is overstated by conservative critics. Pluralist Self-Judgment and Toleration: Pluralists may judge others who don't share their egalitarian views, showing a contradiction in their non-judgmental ideals. Although they tolerate diverse ideas and cultures, they might not always recognize their higher development stage leading to perceived arrogance or naivety. Contradicting Ideas and Pluralists' Role in Society: Those in the pluralist stage can entertain contradictory ideas and their attitude often reflects a non-commital stance of "it all depends," leading to indecisiveness. They are more introspective, focusing on internal growth rather than material achievements, often resulting in a fringe existence in society. Introduction to the Autonomous Strategist Stage: Leo introduces the strategist stage, accounting for approximately 5% of the U.S. adult population, characterized by systemic understanding, appreciation of all developmental stages, and a global inclusive worldview; which contrasts sharply with the judgmental nature of pluralism. Strategists' Comprehensive Understanding: Strategists perceive complex long-term patterns and consider personal and societal development through an evolutionary lens, embracing interconnected systems and responsibilities. Autonomy and Self-Actualization in Strategists: Strategists create meaning autonomously, propose new ideas, and take responsibility for their interpretations, striving for meaningful self-actualization and leading by example. Responsibility and Compassion of a Strategist: A strategist owns their interpretations and meanings of reality, taking utmost responsibility, which underscores their maturity and rare capabilities to lead and aid humanity's evolution. The Evolutionary Mission of Strategists: Strategists view themselves as agents of transformation with a purposeful vision for society's progression. They focus on upholding universal principles despite the inherent challenge of reforming the 'human chimp' to align with high ideals. Realism of Strategists: Strategists address patterns, systems, and habits with a practical outlook, understanding the evolutionary steps necessary for change, distinguishing them from the often unrealistic pluralist stage. Personal Development in Strategists: Recognizing their own imperfections, strategists continually work on improving themselves as a prerequisite for leading others towards ambitious societal visions, undergoing extensive internal work. Strategist Embodiment vs. Pluralist Idealism: Strategists move from the idealism and theoretical concepts of pluralists to a grounded, realistic approach to personal and societal transformation, ensuring they first embody their teachings before implementing them. Self-Awareness and Growth: Leo discusses the importance of becoming aware of one's own biases and shortcomings, realizing that addressing and changing these aspects is a challenging process. He acknowledges that while superficial concerns may plague the conventional mind, the strategist is preoccupied with deeper existential questions and a desire to contribute to humanity's betterment. The Dual Awareness of a Strategist: Leo explains that strategists are keenly aware of their personal limitations and the extensive needs of humanity. They recognize the progress they've made through inner work and self-actualization while staying committed to guiding others on a similar path. The complexity of maturation and the high value of helping others evolve are underscored. The Holistic Approach of a Strategist in Business: Strategists consider not just financial profits but also the well-being of employees, aesthetic environments, and ecological impacts. Leo shares his personal guiding principles behind Actualized.org, prioritizing development and understanding over maximizing profits. Strategist's Attachment to Transformation: Leo admits to an initial aggressive approach to transformation at the beginning of Actualized.org, and his gradual learning to allow people their own space and time for growth. He emphasizes a more detached approach now, understanding not everyone is ready for transformation. Systems Thinking and Evolutionary Development: Leo talks about how strategists understand and apply systems thinking, recognizing circular causality and the cyclical nature of systems. They believe in the importance of fostering personal growth while being mindful of the readiness and developmental stage of each individual. Individual Responsibility and Hierarchy: Leo clarifies that strategists see each individual as responsible for finding and actualizing their unique style. He also distinguishes between healthy, necessary hierarchies and oppressive ones, challenging the idea that all hierarchies are inherently bad. Life as a Journey of Never-ending Growth: For strategists, life is about continuous growth and self-actualization. They take on the responsibility for self-regulation and see the pursuit of deep life purposes as essential for a meaningful existence. Challenges and Superiority for Strategists: Leo acknowledges that strategists can give off a sense of superiority due to their deep understanding of human nature, which creates the risk of self-inflation and arrogance. Despite this awareness, he admits to a personal struggle with arrogance but also uses over-the-top arrogance for self-entertainment. Integration of Emotions and Continuous Improvement: In contrast to previous stages, strategists accept complex personalities with both positive and negative traits, integrating negative emotions healthily. They acknowledge that perfection is unattainable, but continuous improvement and self-actualization remain the focus. Identification as a Transformer: Strategists must be cautious not to let the concept of being a self-actualizer become a new egoic identity, which could hinder authentic development. Impatience with Others' Growth: It's common for strategists to feel impatient with the slower developmental progress of others, reflecting an area of personal growth for the strategist themselves. Non-Possessive Love and Increased Compassion: The strategist stage is characterized by an understanding and practice of non-possessive love, alongside a growth in benevolence and compassion for oneself and others. Nuanced Emotional Awareness: Strategists develop a nuanced understanding of their emotions, learning to distinguish and decode the messages within their emotional spectrum rather than reacting impulsively. Authenticity in All Aspects: The strategist strives for authenticity in every aspect of life, including communication, relationships, business, and creative pursuits. Expanded Tools for Exploring Reality: Dreams, imagination, fantasy, and vision become significant tools for strategists to explore reality and themselves. Sustainable Solutions and Large-scale Thinking: Strategists search for sustainable solutions to large-scale issues that affect humanity, thinking generationally and aiming to address the root causes of problems. Non-Blaming in Relationships: A significant change at this stage is the cessation of blaming others in relationships, indicating a move towards personal responsibility and mature conflict resolution. Concern for Future Generations: Strategists invest in the well-being of future generations, often making personal sacrifices for the greater good. Struggle with Acceptance and Enlightenment: Despite their advanced stage, strategists still contend with accepting reality as it is and may struggle with difficult emotions. Enlightenment becomes their spiritual goal. Charismatic Leadership and Vision: Strategists often emerge as charismatic leaders with a compelling vision for an ideal future world order, inspiring others to contribute towards this vision. Forgiveness and Redefined Humor: They learn to forgive themselves and others, leading to decreased guilt and self-criticism. Their humor shifts to a non-hostile, existential reflection on the human condition. Satisfaction Tied to Self-Actualization: Strategists feel dissatisfaction if they perceive themselves as falling short of their unique human potential, which can lead to frustration or depression. Issue of Purpose Post-Career: Upon retiring or no longer being in a mentorship role, strategists may face existential issues concerning their sense of purpose and relevance. Realistic Appraisal Skill: Gaining an understanding of bias allows for clear, more accurate appraisals of situations devoid of personal biases or egoic distortions. Visionary Systemic Analysis: Strategists become capable of long-term systemic thinking, understanding the interconnectivity and long-term implications of systems. Sophisticated Psychological Language: In discussing human behavior and societal issues, strategists utilize a detailed and sophisticated psychological vocabulary. Addressing Societal Ambitions and Anxiety: The strategist faces anxiety about fulfilling one's personal potential and principles while confronting societal pressures and ambitious visions. Importance of Continuous Self-Actualization: Embracing that self-actualization is an endless journey becomes a critical recognition at the strategist stage. Bombarda

Reading A Poetic Description Of God-Consciousness https://youtu.be/K8AXWd6DFzU?si=uMSzeeZWF53E2LNK "All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream." - Edgar Allen Poe WARNING The last 25% of this video contains information that can be dangerous to people who are mentally unstable or suicidal. If you struggle with suicidal ideation or maintaining your sanity, I recommend you don't watch the last 25%. Do not use psychedelics unsupervised if you are in this condition. It's early dawn in the desert. The sky is starting to glow with light but the sun is still yet to rise. You're standing there, looking at an ordinary desert bush. You're struck by its geometric beauty, the mathematical precision of its fractally–arranged leaves. You feel an impulse to reach out. You run your fingers through its little green leaves. They feel spikey and alive. Returning your hand back towards your body, you notice a tiny insect, smaller than ant. It crawls over the wrinkles in your skin like an astronaut struggling across Martian terrain. You bring it close to your face. The intelligence of its movement transfixes you. Every swivel of its microscopic legs, of its antennae – precise, machine–like, yet so alive. You think, “My God, it's ALIVE!” For the first time in your life you recognize LIFE. Of course you've seen life in motion countless times before, but never like this. Somehow you've always taken life for granted. But now you SEE. LIFE. The intelligence of it awes you. As you move your finger towards the bug, you can tell, it's afraid. You recognize the intelligence in its fear, perfectly designed to keep it alive. You are conscious that you recognize the bug, but the bug doesn't recognize you. It's just going about its day, surviving, avoiding danger, looking for food – oblivious that some entity of higher consciousness is observing it, like God looking down from the clouds. Your attention shifts away from your hand as something flits through the corner of your vision. A hummingbird darts from bush to bush with the precision of an industrial robot. It hovers right up next to your bush. You stand perfectly still. Looking at it, the whole world seems to slow to a crawl. You can see the exquisite flap of its little bio–mechanical propellers. LIFE. You marvel at its profound intelligence and immaculate beauty. This little bird is perfection incarnate. You can resolve every green and pink iridescent feather on its body, arranged like tiny dragon scales. They shimmer in the subtle light of the desert dawn. The hummingbird's beauty strikes you with childlike delight. Your mind floods with memories of your fascination with hummingbirds as a child. Looking at it hover, you recognize the consciousness in it, but it doesn't recognize the consciousness in you. You think to yourself, “It's God, lost in a hummingbird dream.” You smile. You look closer at its scale–like feathers. Within a single feather you see fine branching lines, delicate hairs, and splotches of iridescent pigment. One particular splotch resembles a nebula in outer space. A pink and green cloud of luminous gas 50 light–years across, made of particles from ancient dead stars. A star graveyard now turned a nursery for stars yet to be born. Zooming in deeper you see pin–point sparkles of light, like household dust glittering in a ray of sunlight through a windowsill. Explosions from a 500–year war between two ancient alien civilizations. When heavily damaged their ships' wrap reactors explode in a tiny supernova – creating a microscopic golden sparkle in the void of outer space. These two civilizations have been at war over a political dispute for 500 years and now the battle has come to its peak. The nebula glitters with a thousand sparkles, like someone blew a pinch of gold dust into the air. Each sparkle, ten thousand lives extinguished. Zooming out you suddenly become aware that all of this is happening on a TV screen – an epic space opera playing out for someone's entertainment. But the actors don't know they're actors. To them, this galactic war is as real as real gets. A remote appears in your hand. You flip the channel. The scene changes from a galactic battle to a game show where the host is a giraffe and all the contestants are giant mice. You flip the channel again. The scene changes to a small alien girl blowing out a birthday cake. You hold your finger down on the remote and the channels start flipping faster and faster, at the speed of a hummingbird's wings. The channels are endless. They contain the media of every civilization that has ever existed. Within a minute you flip through 100 million channels. Getting the idea, you lift your finger from the remote. It stops on what looks like an HD nature documentary. You see a slow–motion macro shot of a hummingbird flapping its wings. The camera zooms out and you see yourself standing next to it in the desert, admiring its beauty. Looking down at the remote you see some colored knobs. Turning a silver knob slowly morphs the hummingbird into a dragonfly. You turn the knob half–way and get something that is 50% hummingbird, 50% dragonfly. You crank it back and forth in amazement, watching the eerily–fluid transformation on the screen. Turning an orange knob slowly turns your human self on the screen into an elephant. You crank the knob all the way to the right and the man on the screen becomes 100% elephant. But suddenly you see a strange grey appendage blocking your view of the screen. Your nose! It's turned into a long, hairy, grey animated elephant trunk. Nothing else about your body has changed, just your nose. At first you are startled. This thing seems to have a mind of its own, swaying back and back with a playful, undulating animation. But then you calm down, sense into it, and realize you have control. A big grin grows across your face as you take a deep long breath through your new nose. You feel an itch on your shoulder so you scratch it, with your nose. It works beautifully! “How did I ever manage without one of these?”, you say to yourself with amusement. Looking down at the remote you notice the biggest knob of all. It's white. “I wonder what this one does?” You crank it with your nose. As you do, you feel yourself becoming ever more conscious. All the sudden you can feel the circuitry in the television as if it was an extension of your body. Every pixel becomes like a taste bud on your tongue. A 4K display has over 8 million pixels, each one now consciously accessible to your mind. Cranking the white knob even more you become so conscious you can start to predict which pixel will light up with which color value in the next frame. Turning the white knob even more you become so conscious your mind gains direct access to the channels database. In your mind's eye you have instantaneous thumbnail access to every channel and piece of media that has ever been produced in the universe. What do you want to watch? It's hard to choose. You're not used to having this much much information in your mind in parallel. It's hard to navigate such a sprawling network of information. Your thoughts begin to influence the process. Your mind floods with old memories of cinema you watched in your youth. You don't know why but the movie Aliens starts to dominate your mind. The more your mind focuses on that thought, the more real it becomes. Soon the entire room and TV fade out of existence and your reality smoothly transitions into that of the Alien queen laying eggs in her nest. The TV is gone, your elephant nose is gone – you are now the Alien queen. Slime is dripping down your black, spidery body and mouth. Acid is coursing through your veins. Eggs are squeezing out of your…. whatever. Ellen Ripley is torching your eggs with a flamethrower and it's making your blood boil. You think to yourself, “Of course, I'm the Alien queen. The Alien queen is my own consciousness as much as anything else, no better or worse, no weirder. It's all my Mind.” You look down at your alien hand and notice the TV remote still there. You will yourself to press a random key with a long, grotesque claw. Instantly the whole scene turns into a cartoon. The film Aliens has become a cartoon version of itself and you are still the Alien queen, but now your reality is two–dimensional and much more colorful. You look down again at your hand for the remote, but it's gone, disappeared just like the TV. You think to yourself, “Of course, 2D is no more or less real than 3D. Cartoon reality is just another facet of my consciousness. I am no less real as a 2D Aliens cartoon than I am as a 3D human being.” On the one hand experiencing yourself as a grotesque alien straight out of a nightmare strikes you as disturbing, but only mildly so because you're so conscious you understand what's going on. You're so conscious you don't need a TV remote to change channels. In your mind's eye you press the pause button on an imaginary remote and the current scene freezes mid–frame. Now you can focus on accessing the channel database to find what you really want to watch. You see that in the database channels are arranged by category. Scanning mentally through five thousands categories you stumble upon SEX. Your mind is fixated. A memory of your ex–girlfriend comes to mind, and suddenly, there she is. A stunning young woman laying naked in your bed, squirming and itching for sex. You crank up the white dial in your mind's eye some more, becoming even more conscious. You look at your girlfriend. She's begging you to fuck her. Looking at her squirm in slow motion you realize that once you fuck her you will impregnate her and spawn a million future generations of humans. It doesn't matter whether you impregnate her or somebody else does, in the end it's all the same since all such differences are imaginary. You're too conscious to really be interested in the act of sex now, but the profundity of it makes you wonder. You are captivated by the platonic aspect of her beauty, just as you were with the hummingbird. But this is more personal, more interactive. You slowly run your hands over the curves of her smooth, naked body. As you do, her body turns to sand – a fine sand that seeps down over the bed sheets like the sand in an hourglass. Her squirming body disintegrates into vast pools of sand. Her feminine curves become the curves of an endless ocean of dunes stretching out to the horizon in every direction. You find yourself standing in the middle of a vast dune – a dune made from your girlfriend's essence. Each grain of sand is a dream she once dreamt, a memory she once had, an emotion she once felt. Grains of sand made from her joy, her excitement, her sadness, her anger, her frustration, her loneliness, her light, her darkness, her fear, her love, her disgust, her surprise, her orgasms. Grains of sand made from her highest aspirations and her deepest nightmares – all animated with the energy of her soul. The dune is silent, but for the murmur of a soft breeze. You kneel down and run your fingers through the sand, your hand like a tongue tasting the emotion locked in every grain. A symphony of a thousand subtle yet distinct emotions washes over you. Somehow it all computes in the vastness of your mind. It's like you raked your tongue through the depths of her turbulent psyche. Your eyes well up and a tear rolls down your face. A loud crack of thunder, like a gunshot, startles you from above, and the sky begins to pour with heavy rain. The sound of rain soothes your soul. The landscape – or, really, your mindscape – feels enchanted, exactly as you want it to be. Raindrops hit your face in slow motion. Each droplet, a unique bubble universe unto itself, filled with trillions of inhabitants all oblivious as to why their universe came crashing to an end. You think to yourself, “So this is how a universe ends.” Each droplet is filled with the collective consciousness of all the sentient entities inhabiting it. As a droplet hits your face it transfers the collective wisdom of a thousand ancient civilizations directly into your mind. Their memories, their struggles, their dreams, their insights – all integrate smoothly into your psyche. You stand there, showered by an immense cosmic intelligence. It feels like bathing in divine light. Its sentience and beauty sends waves of bliss radiating through your body. You look up at a towering stack of fluffy white clouds in the distant sky. Somehow you just know the clouds are made of whipped cream. Reaching your hand up towards the clouds you scoop at them with your finger and secure a sizable dollop. The cream is thick and rich, like frosting. You bring it to your mouth and suck. It doesn't just taste sweet and milky, it tastes like a fusion of every desert you can ever remember having: cheesecake, ice cream, cupcakes, cookies, crème brulee, cotton candy, éclairs, tiramisu, panacotta, macaroon, marzipan, cookie dough, apple pie, fruit tart, and waffles. This is your mindscape, and in your mindscape things taste however you want them to taste. Mmmmmmmmm…. Waffles….. Your mind lingers. You can barely remember the last time you allowed yourself to indulge in waffles. You think to yourself, “Why don't I treat myself more?” You look down at your feet. The sand is in the process of transforming into a grid of waffle. Waffles stretches out to the horizon in all directions. Now you stand in the middle of vast, gently rolling waffle dunes. You feel the spongy, grid–like texture under your bare feet. Far in the distance, from high in the sky, pours a solitary stream of rich maple syrup. The syrup folds over itself. It floods valleys of waffle in a rich viscous amber, glossy like nail polish. Now it starts to snow, but the air isn't cold. You hold out your hand to catch a few specks of white as they fall. These aren't snowflakes, this is powdered sugar! With a big grin you stick your tongue out into the air. A large desert mouse hops along the ground, licking at a pool of maple syrup, oblivious to your presence. As your gaze fixates on it, your thoughts take hold of it. Your thought of a kangaroo morphs the mouse into a kangaroo without skipping a beat. Your thought of a bird causes the kangaroo to sprouts the wings of an eagle and a pillar of wind lifts it soaring into the clouds. Suddenly a darkness looms over you – a vast shadow, moving from on high. A colossal fork and knife come down from the sky just in front of you. The silver slices through the landscape as prongs poke. The clouds part and you look up to see the God–like face of your six year old self wielding the silverware. Your six year old self has a huge grin across his face as he forks a syrupy hill of waffle and raises it toward his mouth. Your six year old self's face morphs into that of your father when he was 6 years old. Then your mother when she was six years old. Then your brother when he was six years old. Morphing faster and faster, flipping like a Rolodex, the face goes through thousands, then millions of iterations… the faces of every six year old child who has ever eaten waffles. Looking down at your feet you see an insect – some kind of beetle – lying there on the ground. It's dead but still colorful. You kneel down to pick it up. Its husk lays motionless in your hand. Inspecting it as though under a magnifying glass, you marvel at its beauty. Even in death you see the beauty of life. Especially in death. But what makes it all the more beautiful is your awareness that this creature is your own mind. How sad that this little creature is alive no more. Suddenly you get an impossible idea. “Could it work?”, you say to yourself. You turn your gaze inward, to the white dial on the remote in your mind's eye. You crank it up. Your consciousness expands, interconnecting ever deeper with itself. Your visual field grows crystalline, as though all the air was sucked out of the atmosphere. Everything becomes sharp and bright – and eerily still. You focus intensely on the beetle. Your consciousness penetrates through its desiccated remains. Its body is your mind, and right now your mind demands a miracle. You channel your will into the beetle, filling it with your spirit and love. Then… nothing. Time slows to a crawl, reality seems to freeze in stasis. A few more moments of nothing, and then… the beetle's legs twitch to life. Your eyes grow wide. It starts to crawl over you. You blow into your hand and the beetle morphs into a luminous green moth that flits erratically up into the sky. You smile in disbelief at the miracle of your mind. Standing there in the waffle dunes, you look down at your hands. Images start to run through your mind of animals you took fascination with as a child: monkeys, reptiles, birds, big wild cats, mollusks. As the images flip through your mind, the shape of your hands flips to match. Your hands morph into the hands of an ape, the claws of a dinosaur, the paws of a lion, the tentacles of an octopus. Puzzled and amused, you wonder to yourself, “What happening to me? What am I?” Then it dawns on you: “Of course, I'm God. I am consciousness. I am imagining myself. I am whatever I conceive myself to be because there is nothing outside my endless Mind.” Everything around you disappears: the landscape, the waffles, the rivers of syrup, the sky. Now it's just you, floating in a bathtub in the middle of empty space. Music starts to fill the silence of the void. A melody. It's fast, cheery, and delicate. Delightfully fast. Deliciously delicate. Ethereal. Like something from a fairytale. It's the sound of a piano but you're conscious that there is no piano. What are pianos but a figment of your imagination? “Where is it all coming from?”, you wonder. “And who's playing?” There is no instrument and no one is playing. There are no sound waves traveling to your ears. You have no ears. You're too conscious for ears. The chords are playing directly in your mind. The rest is fantasy. You understand that musical instruments and the people who play them have always just been figments of your mind, a backstory you invented to provide some kind of ground for the irreducible mystery of sound. Your own mind is the pianist and the composer. You've eliminated the imaginary middleman. The notes arrange themselves playfully and intelligently in your mind like children frolicking on a playground. The speed and immediacy of it wows you. Direct. Absolutely direct. Impossibly direct. You play each note flawlessly, with the precision of a maestro. Each note oscillating and imprinting itself in the Mind of God. You smile in delight at the recognition of the splendor of your own mind. You look down at your body. You are naked. All sense of scale is lost. You aren't small, you aren't large – you are undefined – which makes you Cosmic. Your body is the only yardstick there is. Your body is the Universe. You see your body made of liquid consciousness. It shimmers and ripples along with the thoughts in your mind. Your skin flows with organic, translucent, morphing shapes, as though cast by a projector. Ornate shapes – vaguely resembling something tribal, something paisley, something floral – shimmer across your naked body. Each pattern imbued with a divine intelligence impossible to articulate, gracefully animating, dancing, meandering across your skin. You recognize yourself as looking directly at the body of God. A body made of pure consciousness. It still looks human but it is no longer human, recontextualized as cosmic and divine. You see entire universes contained inside of you. Or whatever else you may imagine. An infinite diversity of animals and creatures seem to bubble up just underneath your skin, like particles struggling to emerge out of a roiling quantum foam. The pure potential of your mind is precipitating in front of your eyes in real time. God's body is made out of whatever you imagine. It looks human but shines with a brilliant, crystalline consciousness. Your body is Mind, and Mind is all you are. Absolute Mind. Absolute Truth. You recognize your consciousness as singular and sovereign. Nothing exists outside your Mind. Universal Mind. A mind limited by nothing but its own imagination and self–definition. At long last God has awoken to itself. The Universe is awake, looking through your eyes at itself. Perfect, Divine, Eternal, Immortal, Absolute, Sublime. You turn your gaze directly inwards, directly behind and inside your eyes – right into the core of what you used to consider your skull – wondering what is there, what you truly are. You gaze into the very heart of yourself, your purest essence. A radiant singularity sits there. Shining with crystal clear consciousness. Glowing with sentience and intelligence. Eternally awake. Pure Infinity. Pure Consciousness. The Godhead. This singularity in you is endless. The deeper you gaze into yourself the deeper it goes, with no bottom, no ground. You struggle to find something within you to define yourself as – some concrete form, some verbal articulation, some image. But you cannot be defined because you are Unlimited. That which is Unlimited cannot have a definition because any definition would be a limit. Your essence is literally undefined, like the result of an impossible arithmetical operation on a calculator. Puzzled and dumbstruck, you try to find a beginning to yourself. You ask, “But where did I come from?”, only to realize that that which is Unlimited cannot have a beginning or an end. You are too conscious to be fooled into believing in any beginnings or ends. As you grasp at any part of yourself and try to trace its origin through a chain of linear causation back into the past, it fails. Your consciousness has transcended the notion of linear causation. You realize all past is but a figment of your imagination. Every part of you stands on its own and also reaches infinitely far back into the imaginary past via an endless chain of imaginary causes that never terminates but circles back around in a cosmic strange loop. All beginnings and ends are imaginary, self–imposed limitations held within an Unlimited Mind. A Mind with no beginning or end. A Mind that has existed for Eternity. You are God, and God is both uncaused, self–caused, and infinitely caused. God is that which caused itself into being. God is that which created itself. The recognition of your own Eternity takes your breath away. It could not be more profound. Eternity. You exist, absolute and forever as Truth itself. It couldn't be any other way. It couldn't be any more obvious. It's so perfectly clear yet utterly unbelievable. It's laughably obvious now that science and history are figments of your Mind. Brains, chemistry, evolution, physics, time – all fictions spun by the Mind to construct the illusion of a mind–independent reality. Now you see reality for exactly what it's always been: an Absolute Illusion. An illusion perfectly designed to allow you to forget for a second that you are God. The illusion is perfect, stretching forever in any direction you look, painting a backstory behind every corner you peak around, every hole you stick your head into, every object you sniff – much like the rendering engine of a video game. You're still dreaming, but now you know it. Now your dream is Absolute. You watch as your God–mind effortlessly weaves together figments of consciousness into the tapestry you used to call a human self. Everything and everyone is your imagination, emanating from the bottomless singularity at the center of your imaginary skull. Your mind pulls whole chunks of consciousness from the formless singularity like a magician pulling rabbits out of his hat. Specific and highly detailed memories of your childhood, your entire mother, your entire father, your beloved pet cat, historical events like WW2 – all figments of consciousness pulled out of a hat and flawlessly woven together to construct the illusion of a human life. The Earth, the physical universe, humanity itself is finally seen for what it truly is, just figments in a dream. Jesus, The Buddha, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, gurus and masters, all those years you spent meditating and doing yoga, activating your chakras, reading books, chasing enlightenment – just figments within God's Mind. Finally you reach the question of death. What is death? You smile and laugh as you realize that death is just something you're imagining. You are now too conscious to die. An Infinite Mind cannot die because it'd have to imagine its own non–existence. An Infinite Mind has nowhere to go, being already in all times and places. As your consciousness grows even deeper the difference between things starts to collapses. All difference is seen to be imaginary. Forms merge into each other, losing their distinctness in the brilliant light of pure consciousness. All boundaries bleed together. You feel like an alien super–intelligence cutting through an existential fog of war. The veil of ignorance is lifted. It feels like awakening from a lifetime of heavy amnesia. Everything within reality that could be known becomes transparent to you. Now you remember who you are. The entire illusion of life is unraveled. As you grow even more conscious, your visual field starts to develop into a singularity. Your visual field merges with your auditory field and your tactile field until there is no more difference between sight, sound, and touch. Growing even more conscious, the last vestiges of difference collapse. Consciousness frees itself of all self–imposed limits and biases, accelerating asymptotically towards pure Oneness. You release the heavy burden of existing by way of concrete and finite forms. From this point, should you dare to take one final step, you will enter pure INFINITY, where all form is lost, as no difference exists between anything – where all things exist as a soup of pure metaphysical potential. All things become identical. Every possible object, every possible form lives there. But it's Nothing. Now you must confront existence as pure abstraction. Your truest identity, your highest nature is finally revealed. What are you? Nothing the human mind can imagine. A metaphysical singularity of pure consciousness extending forever in all directions and all dimensions, absolutely sovereign, unconstrained by any sense of other. Every difference annihilates into a bottomless ocean of Infinite Love. Absolute Unity. Absolute Symmetry. Complete, Perfect, Eternal, Formless, Endless. The Alpha and the Omega. Identity itself. You have become ONE. You have become LOVE. You have reached the end–game of reality. You are INFINITY. You radiate as a void of infinite potential. Complete in your knowledge of yourself. Amortentia

The Next Evolution Of Actualized.org Teachings https://youtu.be/SCeJUZUsC2s Evolution of Actualized.org's future content: Leo Gura addresses his core audience, explaining the upcoming evolution in his teaching style and content, reflecting on ten years of personal growth and the need for his teachings to mature further. Reasons for sporadic content releases: Leo cites his aspirations to produce only high-quality content, chronic health issues, the pursuit of personal relationships, and the integration of profound awakenings as reasons for releasing less frequent content. Shift from quantity to quality: He emphasizes a deliberate movement away from filler content to ensure each episode is built on genuine, deeply contemplated insights, acknowledging the time-consuming nature of this creative process. Health and personal life balance: Leo discusses managing chronic health concerns and burnout, as well as his commitment to improving personal areas of life such as dating and friendships, which have been sidelined in the past. Integrating awakenings into teachings: He shares the difficulty in expressing his most profound awakenings and the challenge of integrating these experiences into his teachings while maintaining a balance between a contemplative mind necessary for work and a quieter mind for personal growth. Rethinking the role of a teacher: Leo questions what it means to evolve as a teacher and contemplates what the future holds. He considers his legacy and how to best serve his life purpose as he approaches a milestone age. Chronicling higher consciousness and its challenges: Leo opens up about becoming increasingly aware of his personal limitations and the burden of responsibility that accompanies higher consciousness. He recognizes the need to mature as a teacher to embody the consciousness he aspires to. Redesigning models and role models: He outlines two areas for evolution: (1) upgrading his understanding of reality, akin to software or game engine updates, and (2) becoming a better role model. He wants to teach with a higher integrity that is aligned with truth and love. From borrowed knowledge to personal insight: Leo describes a shift towards teachings grounded in his own direct experiences, purging insights acquired from others. He aims to start fresh with teachings uniquely based on his awakenings rather than integrating external perspectives. Intention for Actualized.org's teaching approach: He resolves to wipe the slate clean, develop his teachings from the ground up, and not be restricted by established spiritual teachings or alignment with other teachers. He advocates for an approach that resonates with his unique experiences and understanding. Understanding and updating reality: Leo likens refining his understanding of reality to upgrading an operating system on a computer—throwing out old, problematic elements while retaining useful features and insights. He emphasizes the need to regularly purge beliefs to build on a fresh foundation, thus allowing for higher growth. Balance between consistency and evolution: He recognizes the contradiction in his teachings as a result of his evolution and stresses that it's more important to evolve understanding than to remain consistently wrong just to maintain coherence. Impact of experience and awakenings on teachings: Direct experiences are key to genuine understanding. Leo aims to shed human-centric perspectives and operate from a place of direct, transcendent experiences. He illustrates how evolution can cause teachings to change and acknowledges the complexity of teaching profound awakenings. Role modeling responsibilities: Aware of the influence he wields, Leo is becoming more conscious of the role model he presents. He points out his flaws and intends to eliminate any negative effects his teachings may have. He understands that every word and action can potentially be emulated by his audience. Embodying conscious leadership: Leo expresses his commitment to improve not just intellectual knowledge but also the subtler behaviors that embody conscious leadership. He emphasizes that awakenings don't automatically correct all small behaviors and modeling his teachings takes deliberate effort. Promotion of upcoming courses: Leo announces upcoming courses focused on personal transformation and the use of psychedelics for spiritual purposes and underscores the value they will offer. He believes these courses will reflect his most mature work and encourages his audience to stay informed for releases. Challenges of audience assumptions: Leo reflects on the need to accurately assess his audience's consciousness and provide content that respects their diversity—including women and non-heterosexual individuals—and caters to their spiritual advancement. Changes in teaching style for responsible impact: He plans to refine his teaching methods, aiming for more precision, inspiration, and sensitivity, particularly for viewers who may be struggling with mental health issues. Leo aims to focus on delivering concise insights and veering away from specific advice due to the variance in individual lives. Challenge of Conscious Leadership: Leo reflects on the unexpected responsibility of becoming a conscious leader. Initially, he simply wanted to share valuable insights for personal growth, not anticipating the deep influence and example setting that would be required as he grew in consciousness. Acceptance of Responsibility: Embracing the responsibility that comes with being a leader and influencer, Leo now aims to use his platform to model the highest standards of personal development, moving beyond merely sharing "cool insights." Reconciling Past Ego with Present Intentions: Leo recognizes the ego present in his past teachings and is committed to purifying his content. He wants to minimize the "noise" that taints the quality of his material, striving for teachings that remain pure for posterity. Noise versus Signal: Acknowledging his own growth trajectory, Leo introduces the concept of "noise versus signal," where he aims to distinguish between profound insights (signal) and personal flaws or biases (noise) in his teachings. Mistakes and Corrections in Public Intellectualism: Leo admits to past errors in his teachings and highlights that all public intellectuals are susceptible to biases and stubbornness. Unlike those who may never change, he is determined to continually evolve and refine his ideologies. Imperfections as Growth Catalysts: While striving to perfect his teachings, Leo ponders whether flawlessness might actually hinder people's ability to think critically. He considers introducing "poison pills" — intentional falsehoods — into his teachings to encourage critical thinking and prevent dogmatism. Expectations and Perfection: Leo cautions against expecting perfection from any human teacher and promotes the idea of using teachings as tools for growth, aspiring to rise to or even surpass the level of one's teachers. Self-Taught Nature of Spiritual Teaching: Leo highlights his self-taught journey, evolving from an understanding of self-help to profound spiritual realizations, and the responsibility of guiding others through similar paths of growth and awakening. Teaching as an Evolutionary Model: Describing the evolution of his work as a pathway documenting his own development, Leo acknowledges the messy and chaotic nature of spiritual growth, and the importance of understanding the process rather than idolizing the teacher. Leo Gura's acknowledgment of his arrogance and its origins: Leo reflects on how his arrogance stemmed from a mixture of intense ambition from a young age, sovereign intellectual independence, and dissatisfaction with societal norms. He explains that his arrogant attitude has been a tool for him to cut through societal constructs and reach an understanding of absolute truth through his own direct experience. Arrogance in spiritual growth: Leo notes that while this arrogant attitude can be perceived as anti-spiritual, in his case it has led him to the highest levels of awakening because it maintained his intellectual independence and allowed him to avoid falling into the trappings of any spiritual school, guru, or belief system. Arrogance and teaching style flaws: Leo acknowledges the negative aspects of his arrogance, admitting that it might give off an obnoxious vibe, turn off audiences, and corrupt his teachings and demeanor. He agrees that it is not an intelligent and artful way to teach nor does he want his viewers to emulate this behavior. Leo's intention for future personal growth: He expresses his intention to correct this character flaw as his teachings mature. However, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining intellectual sovereignty as a value that he wants transmitted to his followers. Admission to exaggeration: Leo identifies that he can sometimes exaggerate points in his teachings. Upon his self-reflection, he realizes this stems from his attempt to communicate the 'spirit' or emotional impact of the teachings, rather than adhere to technical precision. Exaggeration vs. technical accuracy: Leo tends not to prioritize technical accuracy over the emotional significance of his teachings. He criticizes academics who focus excessively on technical accuracy to the detriment of conveying emotional significance. Purposes of exaggeration in teaching: Leo admits to exaggerating intentionally, aiming to emotionally engage his students and demonstrate the significance of his teachings, especially during discussions about awakenings. Importance of signal to noise ratio: Leo emphasizes the importance of distinguishing 'signal to noise' ratio in the teachings and information content consumed online. The 'signal' is the pure, good stuff, while the 'noise' represents corruption in teachings resulting from the teacher's lack of consciousness. Sources of 'noise' in teachings: He identifies major sources of noise in teachings or any informational content including lack of consciousness, selfishness, biases, limited life experience, and arrogance. Admission of inevitable mistakes: Leo acknowledges the inevitability of making mistakes and encourages learning quickly from them without beating oneself up. He asserts the importance of forgiving oneself for past mistakes and emphasizes refraining from making the same mistakes repeatedly. Caution about expecting perfection: Finally, Leo warns viewers against expecting perfection either from him, themselves, or their gurus. Despite his aim to improve, he acknowledges that he remains vulnerable to making mistakes, self-deception, and corruption. Accurate understanding of audience intelligence: Leo Gura discusses the challenge of balancing the content to suit the varying intelligence levels of his audience. He wants to assume an accurate understanding of his audience but acknowledges the difficulty given their diversity. Recognition of spiritually advanced audience members: Leo seeks to acknowledge and honor the spiritually advanced part of his audience rather than assuming everyone is at a beginner level. Inclusion and avoidance of sexism and heteronormativity: Leo intends to create content that is more inclusive, lessening the use of male-centric or heteronormative examples to make his teachings accessible to all genders and sexual orientations. Improving technical accuracy and professionalism: Leo aims to increase the precision and professionalism in his teachings by reducing profanity and exaggeration, aiming to present a more polished and respectful style. Adjusting zeal in worldview promotion: He recognizes the issue with being overly pushy with his agenda, understanding that it can create resistance and plans to recalibrate his approach. More compassionate and inspiring teaching style: Leo desires to enhance his teachings with more compassion, inspiration, and encouragement, acknowledging the need for a more loving and hopeful delivery. Less reactivity to criticism and more accuracy in language: He plans to reduce his reactivity to criticism, be less absolutist in his statements, and provide more credit to other influential teachers. Responsibility towards mentally ill viewers: Leo realizes a substantial part of his audience may suffer from mental illness and aims to adjust his teachings accordingly, providing appropriate disclaimers and content treatment. Conciseness and potency in delivery: Leo intends to improve the conciseness, directness, and potency of his teachings, stripping unnecessary elaboration to provide dense, insightful content efficiently. Careful provision of specific advice: He wants to be more careful with giving advice, often accepting that not knowing the specific answer is more honest and that viewers need to derive personal insights. Responsibility and gentleness in communication: Lastly, Leo plans to be more responsible, gentle, and kind with his choice of words, avoiding aggressive or opinionated stances to foster a more considerate and open dialogue. Reducing pretense and embracing vulnerability: Leo acknowledges the struggle with authentic vulnerability in his videos and aims to work on displaying genuine openness without pretense or phony vulnerability. Listening deeply and charitably: He expresses the desire to improve his ability to listen better, especially to those with significantly different viewpoints, emphasizing the importance of being less judgemental and dismissive. Modeling 'Tier 2' behavior in teachings: Leo aims to model more of a 'Tier 2' manner and style, which involves less focus on himself and more on the universal truths communicated through his teachings, recognizing they are insights generated by the universe, not personal possessions. Integrity and conscious leadership as a future goal: Leo outlines his future goal to become a better role model and a more conscious leader, describing how this involves actively working towards higher integrity in both teachings and personal behavior. Self-monitoring to reduce emotional reactivity and ego: He discusses how he will closely monitor his emotional reactivity and ego-driven responses to criticism or arrogance, purposely refraining from acting on them to minimize their negative impact on his audience. Value of previous teachings and level-appropriateness: Leo defends the value of his previous teachings, stating that while they might be noisy, they still contain profound insights and can resonate with people at different levels of development. The teaching process as a demonstration of evolutionary growth: He touches on the educational value of showcasing his own personal and teaching evolution, which can serve as a realistic model for viewers' own growth processes. Subtlety of teaching style evolution: Leo notes that changes to his teaching style will be subtle and progressive, affecting his videos, blog posts, and forum activity, and that these stylistic changes will take time to fully manifest. Extra skills for becoming a spiritual teacher or leader: He points out that leading others as a spiritual teacher or role model requires additional skills beyond personal spiritual experiences, emphasizing the dedication required for this role. Standards for himself and his audience: Leo mentions a commitment to holding both himself and his audience to higher standards, planning to enforce improved behaviors progressively, first personally, then within his community. Commitment to future Actualized.org content: He shares his plans for Actualized.org, working on 100 new episodes as a roadmap for the next two years, and developing two courses on reprogramming one’s mind and accessing the deepest levels of god realization, including using psychedelics for spiritual purposes. Overview of the upcoming courses: Leo Gura plans to release two groundbreaking courses over the next two years. The first course is focused on reprogramming the mind, designed to be immensely practical for anyone interested in self-improvement or spirituality. The second course delves into the highest levels of god realization, offering Leo's most advanced content aimed at deconstructing one's mind and reality. Marketing strategy for new courses: Leo does not intend to actively market these courses. Instead, he expects his committed followers to stay updated through his channel and newsletter. He emphasizes that those who do not follow his teachings regularly may miss out on these transformative opportunities. Subscription recommendations: Leo advises viewers to subscribe to his YouTube channel and sign up for his newsletter. The purpose of the newsletter is to announce significant releases like new courses without spamming subscribers' inboxes. Actualized.org's future roadmap: Leo provides insight into his planned roadmap for Actualized.org, which includes producing 100 new video episodes and developing two comprehensive courses. He aims to offer a larger vision for his audience, moving beyond individual video topics to a more profound level of teaching. Long-term commitment to personal development: Leo calls for a long-term commitment from his viewers to fully engage in the transformative journey he's facilitating. He stresses the importance of viewing personal growth as a long-term process rather than just consuming random videos sporadically. Sustaining Actualized.org: Leo discusses the financial challenges he faces, including a significant loss of viewership and revenue due to YouTube algorithm changes. He emphasizes that purchasing his courses is a way for him to sustain himself and continue offering free content without resorting to corporate ads or sponsorships. Anticipating the value of courses: Leo assures that the courses will over-deliver in value, providing practical guidance and profound spiritual development. He encourages viewers to perceive the course costs as a worthwhile investment in their personal growth journey. Comparing the individual's potential to a diamond: Leo uses the metaphor of a diamond in the rough to describe individuals' potential for brilliance. He suggests that personal development is akin to the careful cutting and polishing of a diamond, allowing one's inner brilliance to shine through and inspire others. Long-term vision of transformation: The aim of Leo's teachings is to facilitate a total transformation in his viewers' lives, encouraging them to uncover and express their unique brilliance. He asserts that this process of self-transformation brings endless joy and meaning to life, and it naturally attracts positive opportunities and material success. Accio

State Of Consciousness Is Everything https://youtu.be/2u5M6tDc5TE State is EVERYTHING Core Pillar of Understanding Consciousness: Leo Gura discusses the central idea of his teachings—that state of consciousness is everything. He insists nothing exists outside of states of consciousness, including all physical objects and experiences, which he asserts are figments within different states of consciousness. Reality as States of Consciousness: The materialistic notion that consciousness is a byproduct of physical objects is challenged. Leo argues that reality consists solely of consciousness, which takes on various states. This view substantially diverges from traditional materialistic paradigms. Infinite Nature of Consciousness: Leo rejects the categorization of states of consciousness, arguing that there are an infinite number of states, which can flow and change fluidly rather than switching on and off like binary states. Introduction to Figments of Consciousness: States of consciousness are made up of 'figments'. Instead of viewing reality as composed of atoms or as a simulation, Leo puts forth the idea that reality is comprised of figments held within consciousness, comparable to elements within a dream. Physical Objects as Figments: Using the example of a Snickers candy bar, Gura argues that objects we perceive in reality are not reducible to atoms or molecular structures but exist wholesomely as figments within consciousness. Consciousness as Absolute and Ungrounded: Leo conveys that consciousness does not require grounding in a physical nervous system, body, neural network, computer simulation, or universe. Instead, consciousness is presented as pure and absolute, containing all experiences within it, including the material universe. Consciousness as the Fabric of Reality: Leo Gura explains that both our idea of the physical universe and the physical universe itself are figments of consciousness. The room you're in and everything within it, including complex entities like Albert Einstein, are not built bottom-up from atoms but are woven figments of consciousness. Inclusivity of the Figment Concept: Various items, concepts, and experiences, ranging from physical objects like gasoline and braces to abstract ideas like Bitcoin and even historical figures like Albert Einstein, are all figments of consciousness. Non-materialistic View of Consciousness: Leo criticizes the materialistic paradigm of reality being constructed from the bottom up, advocating instead that consciousness creates reality in a top-down manner, holding figments within without the necessity for foundational material elements. Complexity and Interconnection in Consciousness: The complexity and interconnection of figments are underscored by the ability of consciousness to infinitely nest and weave together these figments, creating complex constructs like a human being or an entire city. Fundamentality of Figments in Consciousness: Emphasizing the radical shift required to understand consciousness, Leo argues that no figment is more fundamental than another, with reality capable of creating anything, from a mosquito bite to the concept of capitalism, directly as figments of consciousness. Limitlessness of Figment Creation: Consciousness has no boundaries in creating figments, which includes breaking down or magnifying into infinite sub-figments, akin to an endless fractal zoom, demonstrating the concept of infinite consciousness. Direct Experience of Consciousness: Leo encourages direct observation to understand that everything, from used condoms to entire cities and emotions, are figments of consciousness. This approach does not rely on belief systems or scientific verification, but rather direct conscious realization. Relativity of the building blocks of reality: Leo Gura underlines that from the perspective of consciousness, no single 'building block' of reality is more fundamental or plausible than another. An electron and an abstract entity like a pina colada or a joke are all considered equal in complexity as figments of consciousness. Misunderstanding of complexity in figments: He argues that the human notion that some things are more 'natural' for reality to create is a misconception. Complexities of an electron and a pina colada are identical, as both can be infinitely zoomed into and analyzed. This illustrates that from reality's perspective, everything is equally plausible to create. Consciousness as the fundamental fabric: Leo reiterates that attempts to find a non-figment substrate of reality are misguided, since any posited substrate, whether an electron, a string, or the notion of a computer simulation, is ultimately another figment of consciousness. Life as a tapestry of figments: Leo invites the audience to consider their entire lives, including memories, birth, death, and even times of unconsciousness, as a single figment of consciousness woven from strands of smaller figments. Material objects as figments: He emphasizes the exercise of grasping that all material objects, demonstrated through the example of a smartphone, are not made up of matter but are entire pieces of consciousness which are holistic and qualitative. Understanding the infinite nature of figments: Consciousness is described as infinite and scale-invariant, not limited to any specific shape, size, or complexity. The scale is a concept created by comparing various figments within consciousness. The fallacy of seeking concrete reality: Leo challenges the idea that at a fundamental level, reality is concrete or discrete, emphasizing that concreteness itself is a figment of consciousness, and reality could be abstract, vague, or unspecified. Consciousness as irreducible: He demarcates that consciousness cannot be reduced further since it is the ultimate constituent of all figments. Consciousness is defined broadly as infinity, encompassing all possible figments and is equivalent to pure emptiness. Reality as woven figments for sanity: To maintain a coherent sense of sanity, reality is intricately woven together by consciousness using figments from the top down, revealing the challenge of understanding consciousness while retaining sanity. Sanity as a barrier to understanding consciousness: Leo proposes that trying to understand consciousness might require one to risk their 'sanity', given the radical shift in perspective needed to grasp the true nature of consciousness and reality. Reconciliation of Dreamlike and Material Reality: Leo questions why reality feels so solid, contemplating why walls feel tangible if they are figments of consciousness. He suggests that realizing the dreamlike nature of reality might feel like insanity, as it threatens our understanding of physicality and sanity. Sanity and Material Reality: Leo intimates that sanity is intertwined with physical reality; to experience non-physical reality, one might feel insane. The more non-physical reality is perceived, the less physical it seems, challenging our definition of sanity. Fear of Losing Physical Reality: He highlights the fear and confusion that would result from losing a sense of physical reality. The potential to walk through walls or for hands to pass through people might impress upon someone that they're going insane, disrupting their ability to lead a normal life. Survival within the Dream: Leo plays with the idea that our survival and daily functioning depend on the coherence and stability of the dreamlike state into which we are born. Anything that shakes the foundation of this dream creates fear because it threatens our perceived ability to survive. Quest for Normalcy Amidst Unraveling Reality: When faced with inconsistencies in what we perceive as material reality, humans seek to re-establish their baseline state of consciousness. They seek medical help and reassurance to revert back to their previous state, highlighting society's dependence on a coherent, shared sense of reality. Material Reality as a Coherent Dream: The solidity and consistency of material reality are attributed to a coherent collection of figments of consciousness. When this coherence unravels, it induces a sense of insanity and the impulse to restore the original 'dream'. Everything as figments within consciousness: Leo insists that experiences and objects like walls, brains, and even material reality are not outside consciousness but are absolute figments within it. This perspective challenges the traditional view of reality as material and separate from the mind. Understanding Consciousness through Awakening: To truly understand consciousness, Leo suggests that one must awaken to the interconnectedness and fluidity of all figments, unraveling them like yarn in a sweater. This shift allows for the realization that reality is infinitely continuous and made of the same 'yarn' or substance. Mind vs. Material: He distinguishes mind from material, noting that the mind is holistic and top-down, with the capacity for intelligence and sentience. In contrast, the material is limited to its smallest parts and works bottom-up, precluding intelligence. Features of Mind: Mind has distinct capabilities such as creativity, remembrance, forgetfulness, lacks a substrate or ground due to its infinite nature, and possesses will. This sets it apart from material systems, which require a substrate and cannot exhibit will or consciousness. Mind and Matter: The relationship between mind and matter is such that mind can create the illusion of matter, but matter cannot generate mind. Matter, as perceived in reality, is a dumbed-down version of mind designed to appear finite. Material Systems as Infinite: Leo Gura asserts that, upon close examination, finite material systems are actually infinite systems "dumbed down" from the top-down to give the illusion of being limited and finite. Infinite Field of Consciousness: Consciousness can be thought of as an infinite field of infinitely divisible and communicative 'voxels' or pixels that coordinate intelligently from the top-down. This field lacks any smallest resolution unit, shape, or boundary, making every 'voxel' boundlessly dynamic. Concept of voxels: To better illustrate consciousness, Gura uses the term 'voxels' instead of pixels as they can exist in more than three dimensions, are unbounded, and represent an infinitely subdividable field of consciousness. Intelligence in Consciousness: Intelligence is defined as the ability of these infinitely subdivided and coordinated subdivisions of consciousness to communicate and manifest as our physical reality, such as a human hand. Remembrance and Forgetfulness in Consciousness: Consciousness can selectively remember or forget aspects of itself, a capacity material systems cannot emulate. Adjusting the level of remembrance and forgetfulness is akin to the process of awakening. Limits of Conceptual Thinking: Conceptual thinking, modeling, and logic are insufficient to replace or replicate direct states of consciousness. They are constrained within the frame of the current state of consciousness. Hyper Thinking: A higher state of consciousness allows for hyper thinking, which provides a multidimensional and higher bandwidth intelligence that can think and interconnect complex ideas, similar to a highly evolved alien intelligence. Such hyper thinking transcends normal human cognitive abilities. Communication Limitations: Current human discourse and language lack the bandwidth to adequately convey or articulate experiences and concepts from higher states of consciousness. Accessing Higher Intelligence: Gura explains that it is possible for individuals to experience and access the intelligence of a highly evolved, superintelligent entity, which he refers to as hyper thinking. This hyper-intelligent state allows for profoundly advanced cognitive processes beyond the scope of our regular state of consciousness. Hyper Thinking: Leo Gura introduces the concept of "hyper thinking," which transcends normal human thought by combining rationality, logic, mysticism, intuition, and spirituality. This advanced form of thinking helps cut through the constraints of ordinary thought, providing access to deeper spiritual truths that are not reachable through traditional meditation alone. Limitations of Traditional Mindfulness: Gura critiques certain practices like Zen Buddhism which emphasize silencing the mind, suggesting that while these can lead to awakenings, they fall short of achieving the level of understanding possible through hyper thinking. Memory and State of Consciousness: He illustrates the limitations of memory and understanding within our current state of consciousness by comparing it to an HD image reduced to a tiny and simplistic black-and-white version, indicating that profound insights from higher states lose much of their transformative potential when viewed from lower states. Expanding Consciousness Bandwidth: Leo emphasizes the goal of spiritual work is to expand the bandwidth and memory of our consciousness, which is necessary to retain and utilize insights from higher states of consciousness. Parameters Defined by Consciousness: Gura explains that every state of consciousness sets the parameters for what we can think, feel, and perceive as logical or possible. To transcend these limitations, one must expand their state of consciousness. Possibilities in Higher States of Consciousness: He urges us to recognize radically new states of consciousness which are beyond our imaginations and suggests that at the highest states, there are no limitations, leading to "god mode" where nothing is impossible. Changing Consciousness States: The most crucial change one can implement is altering their state of consciousness, both in temporary peaks and permanent baseline changes. While peak experiences offer profound insights, changing the baseline state is essential for lasting transformation. Science and Consciousness: Leo asserts that science, birth, death, skepticism, and even rationality occur within certain states of consciousness, indicating that these elements are relative and not indicative of higher truths. Equivalence of States of Consciousness: He proclaims all states of consciousness have their value and warns that higher states may not be conducive for those wishing to maintain their sanity and engage with human life. Accessing Higher States of Consciousness: Most misunderstandings about spirituality, religion, and reality stem from the inability to access high mystical states of consciousness through traditional intellectual efforts. Misinterpretation of Religious Teachings: Gura laments that society and culture tend to degrade religious teachings due to translating them from higher states of consciousness down to lower levels, making them difficult to grasp fully within an ordinary state of awareness. State of Consciousness and Understanding: Leo highlights the difficulty many people have in making sense of spiritual concepts without accessing higher states of consciousness. They remain confused and lost, hindered by ideologies and models that would collapse if higher states were accessed. Defense Mechanisms Against Higher Consciousness: Gura notes that people have defense mechanisms preventing them from accessing higher states of consciousness, which could lead to the collapse of their current belief systems and the sensation of losing their minds. Importance of Changing Baseline Consciousness: Emphasizes the importance of changing one's baseline state of consciousness, despite the fear, difficulty, and potential danger involved. This change is rare, marking society's ignorance and signifying we're living in a 'dark age'. Isolation in Higher States of Consciousness: Explores the loneliness of reaching higher states of consciousness due to a lack of understanding and connection with others, also noting that at the very highest levels, it feels like there's no one else to validate or share the insights with. Methods to Change State of Consciousness: Lists various methods to change states of consciousness, emphasizing the necessity of deep concentration, prolonged practice, and intensity for significant shifts. Techniques include meditation, yoga, chanting, deep breathing, psychedelics, and extreme experiences. Challenges in Raising Baseline Consciousness: Mentions the challenge of permanently raising one's baseline state of consciousness compared to accessing peak states, stating that raising the baseline requires intensive work. Capabilities from Higher States of Consciousness: Explains that mystics and enlightened individuals may display paranormal abilities due to being in higher states of consciousness, which seem impossible from lower states. Varied States and Awakening: Discusses how each being inhabits a unique state of consciousness, with God being all states but only self-aware from higher or awakened states. Enlightenment can be temporary or permanent with varying degrees. Discrepancies in Spiritual Teachings: Attributes disagreements between spiritual teachings to differences in states of consciousness accessed by their proponents. Challenges the notion that mystical teachings are irrational, suggesting that disbelief indicates lower states of consciousness. Infinite and Unbounded Consciousness: States that consciousness is infinite, unbounded, and the foundation of all realities. It has no origin as concepts of 'where' and 'coming from' are within consciousness, making it eternal and always present. Nature of God in Consciousness: God is not just a figment of consciousness but rather is consciousness itself, encompassing all possible figments and existing at a meta level. Human Identity as a Figment: The biographical, biological self that one identifies with is a figment of consciousness, one of many that we, as manifestations of godly consciousness, dream up. Leo's Evolving Understanding: Despite understanding consciousness at a very high level, Leo acknowledges that his grasp on the nuances, mechanics, and details of consciousness continues to evolve. Challenge in Articulating Consciousness: Leo distinguishes accessing higher states of consciousness from the challenge of articulating, modeling, and explaining them to others. Struggle with Embodiment: Even with his experience of high levels of consciousness, Leo admits that he struggles with embodying these insights in daily life, indicating years of work remain. Awareness of Self-Deception: Leo is highly self-aware regarding the potential for self-deception and stresses the importance of constant self-scrutiny. Responsibility and Teaching Limitations: Leo conveys the responsibility he feels in teaching about consciousness, as well as acknowledging the limitations and biases inherent in his teachings. Imperfection and Growth: He urges listeners to take responsibility for their personal spiritual journey and not to see him or anyone as infallible, emphasizing continuous personal growth and learning. Spirituality as Personal Responsibility: Leo encourages listeners to embrace spirituality as a deeply personal endeavor that cannot be outsourced and to actively engage in their spiritual growth rather than passively accepting teachings. Dissendium

Understanding War & Conflict - Part 1 https://youtu.be/tZl1oRncFS4 "Day and night cannot dwell together." - Chief Seattle Understanding War and Conflict - Part 1: Leo begins by addressing the existential root of war and conflict, stressing the importance of a meta-perspective that encompasses all conflicts throughout time, not just current ones. He challenges the simplistic good versus evil narrative, inviting viewers to contemplate the deeper metaphysical and spiritual roots of war and conflict. Broadened Definition of Conflict: Leo expands the idea of war to include a wide spectrum of conflicts, such as personal disputes, business battles, legal issues, cyber warfare, as well as internal conflicts within individuals, demonstrating the ubiquitous nature of conflict across various facets of life. Conflict Due to Finitude: Highlighting the existential reason for conflict's existence, Leo explains that it arises because of the finitude of life, where the finite world of ordinary human existence collides with the infinite realm of spiritual consciousness. He asserts that division, which leads to form, is crucial to the creation of the physical world and is inherently the source of conflict. Infinite Consciousness vs. Finite Forms: The lecture points out the contrast between infinite consciousness or spirituality and the finite world where humans survive. The finite forms, or divisions within the infinite consciousness, manifest as boundaries and differences, leading to the myriad conflicts observable in life and nature. Existential Nature of Finitude and Form: Leo elucidates that forms, by nature, encapsulate difference; a form exists because it is not another. This foundational aspect of existence is presented as the existential basis of all conflicts, since different forms inherently clash due to their distinctive characteristics. Conflict as Part of Existence and Daily Life: By referencing ordinary disagreements, business disputes, intellectual debates online, and even neurological conditions, Leo illustrates that conflict pervades both the macro and micro aspects of life, entwined with the essence of existence itself. Conflict and Infinite Love: War and conflict raise profound questions about the nature of God and divine creation, prompting inquiries into why a loving deity would allow for such strife. Leo implies that understanding the spiritual underpinnings behind conflict can lead to greater peace within ourselves concerning the seeming paradoxes of existence. Finite Nature of Existence: All existence is composed of finite parts that conflict when they come into contact due to their innate differences and finite boundaries. Division and Conflict: Division within the holistic oneness of existence creates conflicts, as every entity competes for survival, maintaining its distinct form and identity. Existential Trade-off of Being: For one form to exist, it must not be something else. This existential trade-off defines the form by what it's not, making each form interrelated and finite. Deterioration of Forms: Every finite form, whether living or inanimate, degrades over time, struggling to maintain its distinct boundaries before eventually dissolving back into oneness. Inherently Conflicted Survival: All organisms, including plants and seemingly harmonious entities, engage in conflicts, such as competing for sunlight or breaking through concrete with their roots, to ensure their survival. Compatibility and Harmony: Conflict arises when different parts of reality lack harmony and coherence, leading to incompatibilities where one part extracts energy from another to thrive. Existential Nature of God's Neutrality: God, embodying infinite love and oneness, cannot exhibit bias or preference towards any form, leading to a reality where every part must struggle equally without divine intervention. The Struggle of Finite Forms for Power: Finite forms inherently have strengths and weaknesses, preventing any single form from dominating all others completely, consistent with the design of a non-biased, infinite God. Human Preference for Monopolization: People naturally seek to advance their personal interests, wanting their country, company, or family to be superior to others. Equality and fair distribution of resources are not typically desired, particularly by those in affluent parts of the world who may prefer to maintain their wealth rather than redistributing it to those less fortunate. Finite Resources and Choice: The limited nature of resources dictates that allocation according to one's preferences inevitably negates the possibility of fulfilling others' needs. For instance, using money for charity in one region means not being able to use it for another worthy cause, highlighting the difficult existential choices that come with finite wealth. Conservation of Energy and Finite Existence: The principle of conservation of energy isn't just a physical law but also a metaphor for the nature of existence itself. Subdividing oneness into forms creates interdependent parts: duality. Finite resources and finite existence imply limitations on what and how much can be achieved or given, even by the wealthiest individuals. The Illusion of Monopolizing Resources: Even seemingly insatiable entities, like corporations or black holes, cannot fully monopolize their surroundings. As corporations become larger, they lose agility and the capability for innovation, often leading to collapse. Similarly, black holes, despite their immense gravitational pull, also emit radiation and don't consume everything, reflecting the impossibility of total monopolization even in the universe. Empires and the Limitations of Power: Historical examples of empires, from the Roman Empire to Genghis Khan's Mongol Empire, demonstrate that no single entity can control everything indefinitely. The inherent limitations of being finite lead to eventual decline and collapse, indicating that struggle for domination is inherently self-limiting. Unity vs Division in the Flow of Existence: The dynamic of unity and division is a natural flow within existence. Attempts at unification often trigger division as entities seek to maintain autonomy, showing that existence includes a continual process of differentiating and reunifying, often leading to conflict. Design of God or Reality for Diversity: The inherent structure of reality, or God's design, is such that it ensures a flow and a never-static state, fostering diversity. This design prevents any one part from dominating the whole, maximizing love and inclusiveness by allowing infinite diversity to exist. Motion and Conflict: Motion, even at the molecular level, represents conflict. If all conflict ceased, motion would stop, having extreme implications like the "heat death of the universe" where all activity and difference cease, leading to a state of absolute unity or undifferentiated consciousness. Heat Death of the Universe: The entropic process where all motion and heat dissipate, leading to a state of complete freeze, symbolizes ultimate peace or formlessness—the 'Godhead' or consciousness in undifferentiated repose, an idea that challenges our attachment to the formed universe. Paradox of Unity: True unity must encompass division; absolute unity would mean the inclusion of all divisions, leading to a cycle where unity leads to division and division leads to unity in a fractal and infinite manner. Division and Unity in Reality's Design: Reality's continuous cycle of differentiation and reunification—from quarks to complex organisms, and cultural languages—is a natural but conflict-laden process as divisions are reduced back to unity. Unification as a Struggle: Unification can be perceived as violent or ugly, primarily because humans, who are divided in numerous ways, are terrified of absolute unity, equating it with the erasure of their identity and therefore with death. Conflicts in Geopolitics and Culture: Examples of struggles for unification include Putin's Russia with Ukraine, China with Taiwan and Hong Kong, and the EU's ongoing challenges. Each entity's perspective on merger and identity leads to conflicts, culture wars, and resistance. Unification in Languages and Races: The globalizing world faces the loss of cultural distinctness and language death but also witnesses the potential for a universal language and mixed-race society, which creates conflicts yet tends in the direction of unification. Empires, Kings, and Unification Efforts: Historical attempts, such as ancient empires and kingdoms, to unify diverse peoples often led to unification at the point of conflict, asserting the difficulty and inherent violence in efforts to bring diverse groups together. Autonomy and Communion in Conflict: An intrinsic human conflict arises from the desire for both autonomy and communal life—individuals aim to be self-sufficient but also seek relationships, producing a tug-of-war between being a master and part of a collective. Autonomy vs. Communion Predicament: God represents total power and oneness but desires communion despite not needing anything else. This paradox is present in human relationships, where individuals oscillate between longing for connection and autonomy, leading to an inherent tug-of-war. Contradictory Human Agendas: The pursuit of individual autonomy creates conflict when multiple parties with personal agendas and desires for sovereignty clash. Simultaneously, humans have an intrinsic need for connection, which can lead to conflict when paths cross. Human Existential Predicament: People seek both autonomy and connection, but these desires are inherently contradictory, resulting in persistent conflict. Each being, biased towards its own agenda, finds it challenging to yield to another's will, leading to clashes. Metaphysical Equation of Division and Conflict: Division equates to conflict and struggle, while peace is synonymous with absolute selflessness or formlessness. This concept is exemplified by the harmony and interdependence of the different organs within the human body. Body Harmony as a Model for Society: The human body harmonizes the needs of millions of individual cells into a functioning organism, unlike society, which struggles with conflict. Societies can learn from this natural coherence and harmony. Conflict as a Function of Self-Preservation: Conflict is an inherent part of reality because each part tries to preserve itself, even at the cost of others. The entirety of this process, including both peaceful and violent aspects, is seen as a necessary unfolding of God or the infinite fractal of reality. Proportionality of Conflict to Need: Conflict arises when survival is uncertain or needs are unmet, and its intensity is proportional to the necessity of those needs for survival. Not just physical survival is at stake, but also conceptual survival, like worldviews and identities. Understanding War and Conflict: Gaining true appreciation for war and conflict can be difficult from a place of comfort and peace, as well as when directly caught in the middle of it. Genuine understanding comes from contemplating and seeing beyond survival instincts. Practical Steps for Addressing Conflict: Observing conflict in its various forms is the starting point for understanding its nature. Recognizing commonalities between personal disputes and large-scale wars can help identify interventions for de-escalation and harmony. Conflict Observation: Leo emphasizes the importance of actively observing conflicts, whether they are personal (like disagreements with a roommate) or collective (like disputes between political parties), and understanding the underlying causes. Bias in Conflict: He points out the human tendency to become biased and take sides in conflicts, often failing to maintain a neutral, 'meta' perspective that could help in comprehending the broader dynamics at play. Lessening the Influence of Conflict: Leo recommends developing introspection to become aware of one's own tendencies to get sucked into conflicts and suggests that through mindfulness, one might prevent themselves from being overly influenced. Principles for Reducing Conflict: He introduces several principles for reducing conflict, including creating harmony and coherence, understanding the existential origins of conflict, raising individual consciousness, and studying selfishness and survival instincts. Reducing Conflict Through Multi-perspectivalism: Leo discusses the importance of embracing multiple perspectives to reduce conflict, including understanding the varying survival agendas of different nations, companies, or individuals. Understanding Survival Agendas: He stresses the need to understand both one's own survival agenda and that of others, noting that often within a single entity, there may be conflicting agendas that must be discerned and respected. Active Observation and Contemplation Over Time: Leo highlights the value of long-term engagement with conflict observation and introspection to garner a deeper understanding of conflict dynamics and to inform actions to de-escalate tensions. Understanding Relativity for Conflict Reduction: He encourages viewers to apply the principles of relativity to their perception of conflicts, striving to visualize multiple perspectives as part of an effort to reduce tensions. Reducing Conflict and Neediness Through Abundance: Leo notes that when resources are abundant and survival needs are met, there is less reason for conflict to arise, making abundance a key factor in conflict reduction. Understanding as a Tool to Reduce Conflict: He urges people to transcend their immediate suffering and to strive for a deeper understanding of the roots of the conflicts they encounter, as misunderstanding often leads to conflict escalation. Transcending Survival and Materialism to Reduce Conflict: The discussion touches on the necessity of transcending beyond survival instincts and material concerns by connecting with the spiritual or essential aspects of being to decrease conflict. Expanding Sense of Identity and Selflessness as Conflict Reducers: By expanding one's sense of identity and practicing selflessness, individuals can step away from conflict, fostering a more peace-oriented approach. Holistic Unification vs. Domineering Unification: Leo discusses the ideal approach to unification, which should honor the autonomy of sub-groups, and contrasts this with oppressive or forced unification tactics that often result in increased conflict. Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Deep Suffering and Love: He suggests that deep personal experiences of love and suffering can lead individuals to become more empathetic and reduce conflicts but highlights the conscious processing of these experiences as crucial for transformation. Meditating on Conflict and Suffering: Leo recommends deliberate contemplation on personal conflicts and suffering to gain perspective and reduce the overall level of conflict experienced. Challenges of Implementing Conflict Reduction Actions: He acknowledges the difficulty of implementing actions to reduce conflict and the reality that conflicts cannot be entirely eradicated, particularly when people are not willing to take on challenging solutions. Acceptance for the Nature of Conflict: Leo advises accepting conflict as an inherent part of existence rather than hating it, as this mindset can paradoxically perpetuate more conflict. Diet as an Example of Unavoidable Conflict: He illustrates how diet choices, such as choosing to be vegan, can exemplify conscious decision-making within unavoidable conflicts like the need to eat for survival. Points About Spiral Dynamics Stage Green: Leo critiques the naive outlook about conflict at this stage, emphasizing that an idealistic vision of peace without practical grounding can hinder actual conflict resolution. Practical Exercise for Reducing Conflict: He suggests that individuals work on reducing their personal conflicts, which would not only lessen tensions but also help establish principles for addressing larger societal or global conflicts. Understanding War and Conflict Is Crucial: Leo emphasizes the importance of understanding the nature of conflict to avoid inadvertently worsening it and to work towards authentic peace. Day and Night Coexist: He concludes with the idea that conflict and unity are part of a higher order within reality, and understanding this dual nature is key to accepting and addressing conflicts in a constructive manner. Extraordinary Responsibility: To reduce conflict, it's vital to take extraordinary responsibility instead of resorting to blame and casting oneself as a victim. Seeing Good in Others: Rather than demonizing, developing the capacity to see the good in others reduces conflict. This includes recognizing potential and positive traits they may not see in themselves. Forgiveness and Mercy: Qualities such as forgiveness and mercy are essential for reducing conflict and are regarded as divine attributes. Empathy and Genuine Care: Cultivating empathy helps to reduce conflict as it counters the demonizing of adversaries, which is common in scenarios like war. Radical Open-Mindedness: Open-mindedness decreases conflict. Being closed-minded prevents understanding perspectival differences, leading to more disagreements. Exploring Different Perspectives: By understanding a multitude of perspectives, conflict is less likely to arise as one appreciates the relativistic differences among individuals. Epistemic Humility: Admitting one does not know everything contributes to reducing conflict. Arrogance in one's knowledge can fuel disputes. Admitting Wrongness: Being able to concede when wrong prevents escalating confrontation, as stubbornness to admit mistakes can prolong battles. Being Non-Ideological: Avoiding strict ideological stances can minimize conflict as rigid ideologies often clash with diverse viewpoints. Improving Education: A quality education that incorporates subjects like epistemology and spirituality is imperative to reducing conflicts worldwide. Commitment to Truth and Integrity: Conflict often stems from falsehood and corruption; hence, a strong commitment to truth and integrity can combat conflict. Rejecting Shortcuts: Eliminating the urge to cheat or look for easy ways out and instead practicing hard work reduces conflicts arising from laziness and entitlement. Mindfulness over Emotions: Controlling one's negative emotions, such as anger and jealousy, is key to preventing conflicts. Letting Go: Learning the practice of letting go—of control, manipulation, and grievances—leads to a more harmonious existence with less conflict. Respect for Others: Demonstrating respect towards different nations, companies, religions, and individuals is fundamental for peace and conflict resolution. Concern for Fairness and Equality: Addressing systemic inequalities and advocating for a fair distribution of resources globally is vital to conflict reduction. Holistic Unification: Unification that respects the autonomy of subgroups without being oppressive is essential for lasting peace and reduced conflict. Leadership and Sensitivity to Needs: Effective unification requires leaders to be sensitive to the needs of the people, balancing orders from above with grassroots necessities. Marriage and Conflict: Leo discusses that an unwilling coerced marriage, like a hypothetical situation where a partner agrees out of fear, will not succeed due to the lack of harmony. For a good marriage, genuine mutual desire is essential. Experiencing Suffering and Love: Profound existential practices for reducing conflict include experiencing deep suffering mindfully and engaging in deep love consciously, which can increase empathy and the motivation to lessen conflicts. Suffering and Conflict Creation: Unconscious suffering, such as seeking revenge after a loved one is harmed, perpetuates and escalates conflict, often seen in blood feuds in tribal cultures without legal dispute resolution systems. Mindful Suffering for Conflict Reduction: The kind of suffering that reduces conflict is done mindfully within a spiritual context, without blame or lashing out at others, and by understanding and contextualizing the suffering. Love as the Greatest Teacher: Leo states that deep and conscious love is the greatest teacher, surpassing even suffering in its ability to transform a person and reduce conflicts. Executing Conflict Reduction Strategies: While implementing the discussed strategies can reduce conflict and increase peace, the difficulty lies in the complexity of those strategies, and even with perfect execution, it won't eliminate all conflict. Inevitability of Conflict: Conflict is existentially inevitable due to the finite and form-based nature of the world. Absolute peace might mean the end of form, equating to the end of the universe, or death. Acceptance and Understanding of Conflict: Reducing conflict involves stopping the hatred of conflict. Accepting and loving conflict as part of existence is essential, but this is not a justification for starting conflicts unnecessarily. Differentiating Between Avoidable and Unavoidable Conflicts: Most conflicts are avoidable and should be addressed, but some, like the need to eat which requires killing plants or animals, are unavoidable but can still be managed to reduce impact. Spiral Dynamics Stage Green's Naivety: Stage Green's naive outlook on conflict, seeing war as evil and overly idealistic about achieving peace, lacks the pragmatic realism needed for genuine conflict resolution. Observing Personal Conflicts: By studying conflicts at the micro level in personal life, one can learn principles applicable to larger societal conflicts and help teach others to reduce conflicts as well. Understanding War and Conflict: Proper understanding is crucial to prevent inadvertently contributing to more conflict. Awareness and comprehension help work towards genuine peace. Upcoming Part Two of Video Series: Leo teases part two, promising a more practical look at human societies' warfare, arms races, and social evolution, as well as the distinction between Game A and Game B dynamics. Day and Night Coexistence Metaphor: Finally, Leo reminds viewers that despite being opposites, day and night coexist within the larger unity of reality, representing the inherent unity within all conflicts. Geminio

The Avoidance Of Truth - Why You Fear Truth https://youtu.be/hxnV4ymozLw "All the techniques of the therapist are in one way or another truth-revealing, or are ways of strengthening the patient so he can bear the truth." - Abraham Maslow "The good life demands a preoccupation with truth." New Year's Address: Leo Gura begins his lecture on the avoidance of truth with a greeting for New Year 2022, stressing the importance of this serious topic despite casual appearances, reminding viewers that appearances can be misleading. Truth as a Fundamental Principle of Life: Leo identifies a key insight regarding the deep-seated human tendency to avoid truth, labeling it as a core aspect of human behavior that leads to various negative consequences in life. Running Away from Reality and Self: He articulates that people expend considerable effort avoiding truth across assorted life domains, connecting the avoidance of personal truth to an avoidance of reality itself, hinting at a profound link between 'self' and 'reality.' Truth as the Highest Value: Leo contends that truth is the utmost value, equating it with reality, and asserts that anything not aligned with truth essentially ceases to exist. Humans' Relationship with Truth: He observes that most people only value truth pragmatically, as it pertains to survival or pragmatic purposes, critiquing the philosophical doctrine of pragmatism for equating truth with practical consequences. Exceptional Life through Valuing Truth: Leo suggests that valuing truth deeply is essential for an extraordinary life and urges viewers to prioritize the pursuit of truth in every life situation, despite any discomfort it may cause. Truth Alignment as a Measure of Character: Leo proposes that a commitment to truth distinguishes an individual and will metamorphose their life over time, setting them apart from those who embrace self-deception and fantasy. Corruption of Religious Truth: He criticizes the modern misrepresentation of religious teachings regarding truth, which he believes are intended to guide individuals towards leading truthful lives but have deviated significantly from this goal. Development of Introspection: Leo encourages the development of introspection and mindfulness to recognize subtle instances of truth avoidance, and advocates for a proactive approach to facing uncomfortable truths head-on. Practical Applications of Truth: He discusses the importance of aligning truth with various aspects of life, including business, career, relationships, emotions, motivations, worldviews, health, diet, and spirituality, to create a high-quality, authentic life. Truth Avoidance in New Domains: Leo acknowledges how individuals often enter new areas of life with delusions and unrealistic expectations, and emphasizes the need to align oneself with the realities of life to achieve true success and personal growth. Fantasies and New Endeavors: Leo Gura points out that when entering new domains such as fitness, dating, business, or meditation, people often carry unrealistic expectations called 'newbie fantasies' that ultimately must be confronted and dispelled through experience. Newbie Fantasies vs. Reality: Individuals entering new fields have to let reality dismantle their naive preconceptions. This process can be painful as it requires parts of their identity and beliefs to be altered or let go, in response to the actual workings of the world. The Pain of Letting Go: Engaging in new areas of life requires a transformation in thought and this shift can be painful. Many people opt to quit rather than endure the discomfort of having their misconceptions shattered. Avoidance of Medical Check-ups: As a practical example, Leo describes how avoidance of truth materializes in people's reluctance to attend medical check-ups due to fear of bad news, such as receiving a positive STD test result. Weight Avoidance as Truth Avoidance: An example of avoiding truth includes reluctance to check one’s weight on a scale due to dissatisfaction with one's body, and how this represents avoiding the reality of one's situation. Rationalizing Poor Dietary Choices: People often avoid looking at nutritional information on junk food, and rationalize their choices by misrepresenting their consumption or downplaying the calorie content through various justifications. Disconnecting Food Effects from Health: Leo observes that individuals commonly ignore their bodies' negative reactions to junk food, allowing continual unhealthy eating habits which contribute to issues like chronic fatigue and depression, due to a reluctance to connect these habits to their consequences. Rationality in Service of Falsehood: He emphasizes the extent to which people use logical and rational processes to avoid difficult truths and maintain comforting delusions, noting that rationality is often employed in service of false beliefs and avoiding painful realities. Rationality and Truth Avoidance: Rational individuals often engage in truth avoidance, believing rationality and logic to be inherently truthful, when in fact they may use these tools to shield themselves from uncomfortable truths. Perception of Rationality: The perception that logical and rational individuals are immune to self-deception is false, as these individuals can be deeply entrenched in ego games and rationalizations that keep them from facing reality. Leo's View on Science: Leo clarifies his stance on science, stating that he is not against it but critical of the rationalizations and ego games within the scientific community that distort the pursuit of truth. Changing Channels to Avoid Discomfort: People change television channels or videos when confronted with uncomfortable content, such as the plight of impoverished children or animal suffering, indicating a common truth avoidance behavior. Consumer Impact on World Issues: Leo discusses how personal consumption habits contribute to global problems like factory farming, global warming, and sweatshop labor, and the tendency to ignore these connections in favor of personal comfort. Confronting Reality's Brutality: Reality can be brutal, and Leo suggests that part of maturing and living a good life involves opening oneself up to face reality in its full breadth, even without the need for personal comfort. Avoiding Eye Contact with the Homeless: The instinct to avoid eye contact with homeless individuals to circumvent feelings of empathy and self-reflection is an example of truth avoidance in everyday life. Fear of Checking Notifications: The avoidance of checking phones, emails, or voicemails due to the fear of potentially receiving bad news reflects a broader pattern of truth avoidance. Developing Introspective Skills with Micro Examples: Leo recommends using daily occurrences and small acts of truth avoidance to develop introspective skills to understand the discomfort they bring and apply this understanding to more significant aspects of life. Avoiding Business Audits: Business owners avoiding audits out of fear of uncovering unfavorable information exemplifies truth avoidance, which can have practical negative consequences like bankruptcy. Addiction as Truth Avoidance: Addiction to substances like food, drugs, sex, or behavior like internet use, is essentially a way to evade confronting difficult emotions or life realities, such as dissatisfaction with a job or appearance. Facing Trauma: Avoiding confronting past trauma can lead to addiction, as facing difficulties requires dealing with negative emotions many people would rather escape through temporary pleasures. Acknowledging Personal Deficiencies: Individuals often avoid admitting personal flaws and may become defensive instead of addressing their issues, leading to rationalizations that maintain these negative traits. Selfish Pursuit of Desires with Collateral Damage: Leo illustrates that people's selfish cravings often result in harm to others, which they prefer to ignore to avoid guilt. This can lead to sociopathic behavior in material pursuits and sexual conquests, as they rationalize away the damage done to satisfy their own desires. Avoidance of Facing Physical Appearance: Discussing personal body image issues, Leo describes how individuals avoid confronting parts of their appearance they dislike, such as a prominent nose or hair loss. They may even express hatred towards these features, mistaking this aversion for facing the truth, rather than genuinely accepting and making peace with their reality. Procrastination on Addressing Deep Personal Problems: Leo points out how individuals avoid taking action on significant issues such as socialization or dating due to fear and discomfort. The avoidance leads to rationalizing and subscribing to ideologies or consuming content online that distracts from the necessary work required for self-improvement. Shooting the Messenger: Leo observes that people tend to direct anger towards those bringing bad news, as a method of avoidance, rather than dealing with the unwelcome reality of the news itself. Underestimating the Complexity of Projects: He reflects on the tendency to underestimate the time and effort required for business projects. This delusion can act as a motivator to start a project but may have karmic consequences, such as the project becoming more complicated than anticipated. Avoiding Other Worldviews and Perspectives: Leo discusses how individuals and groups, from religious followers to scientists, protect their worldviews by dismissing contradictory perspectives. This avoidance hinders the potential growth that could come from considering and integrating these different ideas. Rejecting Painful Feedback: Painful feedback is often avoided because it can reveal uncomfortable truths about ourselves that we deny. Leo emphasizes that while such feedback can significantly contribute to personal growth, it is commonly met with anger or defensiveness. Denial of Ongoing Problems: He notes how people refuse to admit when something is wrong, be it in personal relationships or broader scenarios like military interventions. This denial can lead to prolonged issues rather than acknowledging and resolving them. Reluctance to Accept Unworkable Relationships: Leo mentions the difficulty people face in admitting the need to end unsustainable relationships because of the associated pain and loss of comfort the relationship provides, which leads to a denial of the necessary breakup. Avoidance in Personal Relationships: Leo discusses how individuals stay in unfulfilling marriages due to fear of the pain associated with divorce, especially when children are involved, leading to bitterness and depression from avoiding the truth of a dead marriage. Denial of Corruption in Affiliated Entities: He addresses individuals' avoidance of acknowledging corruption within companies, political parties, religions, or academic institutions they're deeply attached to, such as denial of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church by priests. Difficulty in Accepting Attraction Dynamics: Leo discusses the challenge people face in accepting difficult truths about attraction, such as older women accepting men's attraction to youth and men accepting women's attraction to status and strength, leading to avoidance and resentment when these qualities are lacking. Living in Fantasy and Victimhood: By avoiding stark truths in domains like business, politics, or personal relationships, individuals become ineffective in achieving their goals and may feel like victims due to their reluctance to change the lens through which they see the world. Long-term Consequences of Self-Deception: Leo likens self-deception to taking out a high-interest credit loan—initially comforting but costly in the long run, as seen in the avoidance of societal changes by the Republican Party and its slide into delusion, culminating in the rise of Trump and MAGA movement. Avoidance of Societal Changes and the Constitution’s Relevance: He critiques the Republican Party's refusal to admit and confront societal evolution, such as changes in technology, culture, or attitudes towards gender and race, and the need to update the Constitution to address contemporary issues. Truth Avoidance at a Collective Level: Leo presents China's censorship and control over the internet as an example of avoiding truth at a national level, predicting its eventual unsustainability and potential for causing unrest when people gain unrestricted access to information. Tyranny Founded on Falsehood: He asserts that tyranny is based on falsehood and the suppression of truth is only a temporary tactic; eventually, the cost of such falsehood will catch up and lead to the downfall of tyrannical systems. Valuing Truth as a Lifelong Commitment: Leo emphasizes the importance of taking truth seriously and committing one's life to it, even though this path can lead to resentment and challenges from others who may attempt to pull you back into their delusions. Steadfast Conviction in Pursuit of Truth: He explains the necessity of having the conviction to pursue truth, despite the potential backlash from society, which can go to the extreme lengths of punishing truth-tellers through imprisonment or even death. Proactivity versus Avoidance in Seeking Truth: Leo compares the daily proactive seeking of truth to the avoidance of truth, suggesting that small daily confrontations with truth are preferable to allowing falsehoods to accumulate and exacerbate over time. Continual Work on Truth in Relationships: He advocates for constant work and truthfulness in marriage as an example, to avoid the buildup of issues that could lead to a 'nasty divorce'. Recognizing and Overcoming Defense Mechanisms: Leo urges the practice of introspection to recognize and overcome the mind's defense mechanisms and excuses that prevent facing the truth. Contemplation Questions on Truth: He poses several profound contemplation questions to help individuals stop avoiding truth, such as assessing one's value of truth and the personal costs of avoiding it. Developing a Love for the Pursuit of Truth: Leo recommends cultivating an appreciation for the pursuit of truth, likening it to a weightlifter learning to love the burn of exercise – to endure the 'sting' as part of the growth process. Vision of a Truth-Oriented Future: He encourages envisioning a long-term future where handling truth is a strength that inspires trust and leadership in others. Identifying Areas of Personal Truth Avoidance: Leo suggests making an exhaustive list of personal truth avoidance areas and contemplating the fears that underlie this avoidance. Truth and Love as Identical Values: He clarifies that truth and love are, ultimately, identical and the highest values, explaining that loving the truth involves accepting reality exactly as it is without succumbing to fantasy or selfish desires. Living in Truth as the Foundation of a Good Life: Leo describes the reward for aligning oneself with reality as a life filled with love, truth, and fearlessness, and he identifies the avoidance of truth as the root of a dysfunctional life. Intellectual Integrity as an Essential Quality: He argues that intellectual integrity is a pivotal quality for truth-seeking and advises against taking seriously those who lack it. Societal Structures Pulling Towards Falsehood: Leo observes that societal and cultural norms often pull people towards falsehood, making a life based on truth rare and requiring courage and independence. Historical Patterns of Truth Avoidance: He notes the historical pattern of truth avoidance and suppression throughout human history and beckons to question why this pattern persists. Devilry Defined in Relation to Truth: Leo defines devilry as elaborate methods and mental gymnastics used to avoid facing the truth. Importance of Intellectual Integrity: He suggests planning an episode on the significance of intellectual integrity and highlights the necessity to identify and dismiss those who lack this quality in public discourse. Dismissing Individuals with Low Intellectual Integrity: Leo Gura emphasizes the importance of dismissing individuals with no intellectual integrity from serious intellectual discussions. He uses Donald Trump and Fox News hosts as examples, warning that taking such individuals seriously allows them to gaslight and intellectually abuse you, ultimately debasing your own understanding of the truth. Proper Function of Healthy Society: A healthy society, according to Leo, should assist its members in staying honest and provide a variety of perspectives to help avoid individual self-deception. However, he criticizes current societal structures as dysfunctional and toxic, contributing more to mutual deceit than to mutual understanding and growth. Confronting the Pain of Truth: Leo advocates for recognizing moments when we avoid truth and urges us to confront the associated pain, fear, and inconvenience. Committing to facing the truth is pivotal for living the "highest life," which he describes as grounded, real, and free of drama. Psychedelics and Contemplation for Revealing Truth: He introduces psychedelics in combination with contemplation as powerful methods for exposing lies and delusions, provided there's an intention of pursuing the truth. He cautions that without this intention, psychedelics alone may not lead to enlightenment, as society often demonizes truth-revealing substances to maintain collective delusions. The Ultimate Truth Avoidance - Love as Infinite Selflessness: Leo identifies the ultimate truth people avoid as the realization of infinite selflessness, or love defined as there being no difference between anything. This concept parallels the idea of God, with all fear being rooted in an avoidance of this infinite self. Questions for Facing Truth: He offers a series of questions to aid in confronting personal truths, such as biases, fears, traumas, and areas of life misaligned with truth. Leo recommends using these questions with a notepad to facilitate deep introspection. Being Honest with Oneself Before Others: Leo advises honesty with oneself over honesty with others. He cautions against using truth as a weapon against others, as recognition of varying capacities to handle truth is critical for cultivating the highest love and avoiding traumatizing others with challenging truths. Truth as a Path to Health: The connection between truth and health is discussed as a fundamental equation for living the 'good life.' Leo stresses that health encompasses not just the physical aspect but also mental, spiritual, and societal health. Without truth, gaining holistic health in these areas is unattainable. Image 1 Accio

Understanding Creation vs Destruction https://youtu.be/nJsyiFJ1iVs Philosophical insight on creation and destruction: Leo introduces the topic of creation and destruction, emphasizing their interconnectedness and the relativity of these concepts. He plans to tie in previous concepts from episodes on bias, relativism, perspective differences, and duality. Ego's rigid standards for creation and destruction: He points out that humans, driven by selfishness, label outcomes as either positive 'creation' or negative 'destruction' based on their impact on personal survival and flourishing, without recognizing the deeper connection between these two processes. Irony of weapons as creations: Using the example of 'weapons of mass destruction,' Leo observes that the creation of tools for destruction, like nuclear weapons, is paradoxically a creative act as well. Also, in the instance of erasing with an eraser, both the eraser and the markings are being gradually destroyed, illustrating an inherent dual action. Detonation of a nuclear weapon as creation: Although the detonation of a nuclear bomb is typically seen as destructive, Leo argues it also represents creation by generating energy, heat, light, and even transforming structures into rubble. This reframing challenges conventional human-centric views of destruction. Destruction leading to creation: The aftermath of destruction, such as a post-war period of peace after the destruction of cities, is highlighted as a form of creation, suggesting that violent and seemingly destructive acts can contribute to larger creative processes. Holocaust from the perspective of its purveyors: Leo discusses how the executors of the Holocaust viewed it as an act of 'creating' their vision of a racially pure society, pointing out the subjective nature of classifying actions as purely destructive. Relativity and subjectivity regarding the American Revolution: From the American perspective, the revolution was the birth of a nation, while from the British perspective, it was the loss of a colony, showing that the interpretation of creation and destruction is highly dependent on one's viewpoint. Duality of Perspective in Events: The example of 9/11 illustrates the different views of the same event: for Americans, an act of destruction; for the attackers, a creative act in pursuit of their own theocratic and medieval vision. Perceptions of Value: Leo discusses the relativity of value, such as the World Trade Center rubble being considered worthless versus its standing structure—highlighting that value judgments are biased and the universe is impartial. Transformation Through Destruction: The destruction of the World Trade Center made way for the construction of the Freedom Tower, exemplifying the necessity of destruction for new creation and the ongoing process of transformation. Biased Attachment to Finite Forms: Humans' bias to maintain their own forms leads to interpretations of destruction as negative when, in fact, death and decay are natural transformations that contribute to the cycle of life. Selfishness in Preservation of Form: Leo explains the selfishness inherent in preserving our forms, as it restricts the transformation of matter and energy into other possible forms of life, limiting the diversity and potential of the universe. Perspective on Creation and Destruction in Survival: The insights into Lockheed Martin's missile engineer show that actions considered destructive globally might be viewed as necessary survival and creative acts from the individual's perspective. Moral Subjectivity of Destruction and Creation: The interplay between creation and destruction is highlighted with examples of predator-prey relationships, where the act is simultaneously creative and destructive, depending on the point of view. Nature of Transformation: Reality is framed as a never-ending process of transformation, where everything changes form, such as the World Trade Center becoming the Freedom Tower, and eventually transforming into something else. Trade-off in creation: When creating something, such as drawing a solid blue circle on a white canvas, we inherently destroy other possibilities, eliminating the potential for different shapes or colors, reflecting the trade-offs inherent in all finite forms. Finite forms and their limitations: Leo Gura explains that finite forms, like a blue triangle or a red circle, are limited by their specific characteristics. Creating one finite form prevents the existence of its alternatives, signifying its limited nature. Duality transcended into Creation with a capital C: By unifying the concepts of lowercase creation and destruction into the abstract concept of Creation with a capital C, Leo suggests that we can appreciate the ongoing, limitless act of Creation that encompasses both. Existence of the infinite field of consciousness: Leo asserts that reality is an infinite field of consciousness which cannot be destroyed or cease to exist. It can change form, or be devoid of form, but its absolute emptiness is an undestroyable state of being. Practical implications of understanding this knowledge: While abstract and philosophical, this knowledge helps individuals appreciate the structure of reality, transcending personal biases and selfish perspectives to recognize both creation and destruction as integral parts of a bigger creative flow. The beauty and brutality of creation: Embracing the entirety of creation, including its brutal aspects, leads to spiritual detachment, a state where one appreciates reality without clinging to specific outcomes, reducing personal suffering and fostering happiness. Integration and expansion of identity: Engaging in a process of shadow work by integrating all aspects of reality, including the 'ugly' and 'evil,' expands one's identity closer to the perspective of God, embracing the complexity of existence. Spiritual practice of falling in love with the process of self-creation: Recognizing ourselves as part of God's infinite process of self-creation encourages love and acceptance of all realities, eliminating attachment and fear, and leading to a deeper understanding of consciousness as love. Ferula

How To Get Laid - Part 1 - The Foundations Of Success With Women https://youtu.be/6DEGfopquio "Whether you believe you can or not, you're right." - Henry Ford Introduction to the series "How To Get Laid - Part 1": Leo introduces a practical, multi-part series designed to help men who are inexperienced, shy, socially awkward, or deeply introverted with women. He emphasizes the need for deep changes to oneself and one's lifestyle to become more attractive rather than relying on quick fixes. Leo's Personal Background in Dating: Sharing his introverted nature and focus on education and career early in life, Leo reveals that later he pursued dating seriously, immersing himself in pickup artistry, and learning from experts. He stresses that his personal transformation was critical to his success. Foundational Distinctions in Attraction: Leo clarifies that the guide he provides is tailored for heterosexual men, based on his experiences and personal journey from being in a position of struggle to having considerable success with women. Sexual Frustration and Lifestyle Change: Highlighting the challenges faced by men in their 20s and 30s to fulfill their sexual needs, Leo emphasizes that a significant lifestyle change is required to address these frustrations and avoid falling into toxic ideologies. Addressing Social Skill Atrophy: Leo points out the negative consequences of the internet age, which has led to the atrophy of social skills, underlining the societal and personal issues that arise when men lack guidance on how to attract women responsibly. Healthy Approach to Fulfilling Sexual Needs: Leo argues for providing men with responsible and ethical guidance on attracting women to foster better individual relationships and societal health, counteracting the risk of negative behaviors such as abuse or radical ideologies. Importance of Inner Development for Attraction: Advocating for self-improvement and internal change, Leo conveys that becoming attractive is more about inner development—like social skills and understanding psychology—than simply possessing external success factors or fame. Significance of addressing sexual needs: Leo insists that there is no neutral stance for men regarding the pursuit of sex; they will seek it either healthily or unhealthily. Ignoring this need is not realistic and can be harmful. Methods of getting laid: He enumerates six primary methods: cold approach, social circle, work, celebrity/status, online game, and using money (such as prostitution), emphasizing that the options for how to get laid are relatively few. Cold approach advantages: Cold approach is praised for its versatility, abundance of opportunities, and effectiveness across different global settings. The key is living in a large city and the willingness to practice and fail numerous times. Social circle approach: Leo notes that most people use their social networks to find sexual partners but highlights the high maintenance and the potential loss of the network when relocating as drawbacks. It can be especially effective for attracting "nines and tens" due to the social value provided by being the leader of the circle. Downsides of the social circle approach: Social circle requires active upkeep and is geographically limited. To maintain an effective social circle with abundant and high-quality options, significant effort and commitment are needed. Workplace dating: This method can provide opportunities depending on the job environment but is typically risky, limited, and unsuitable for certain professions, which makes switching careers for this purpose impractical. Celebrity and status: This strategy is effective if attainable but is usually beyond the reach for most individuals and does not offer a viable solution for the average person seeking to improve their dating life. Online game limitations: Online dating is critiqued for prioritizing physical attractiveness more heavily than other traits, making it less effective for those who do not meet the top standards of conventional beauty. Utilizing money for sex: Using financial leverage to attract partners rarely leads to meaningful relationships, as it circumvents genuine attraction and intimacy. This method is discouraged by Leo due to its failure to foster authentic connection. Pursuit of genuine attraction: Leo underscores the importance of genuine personal development over manipulative tactics, suggesting true attraction comes from self-improvement and authentically offering value as a partner. Cold approach challenges: The approach is notably difficult due to the steep emotional learning curve which can be too challenging for many men, requiring resilience and dedication to improve. Maintenance and dedication required for social circles: Building an attractive and large social circle involves significant energy and effort, as well as the risk of losing it all due to geographical changes. Social dynamics in attracting highly attractive women: The most attractive women often receive benefits from high-status men, making cold approaches less effective. Attracting such women typically requires offering significant social value or status. Exploring alternative strategies for introverted individuals: Leo advises introverts and others who are not inclined towards maintaining large social circles to consider direct approaches or moving to environments conducive to dating success. Risks of Workplace Dating: Workplace romance poses risks such as abuse of power, especially in the context of the #MeToo movement. Leo Gura cautions against hitting on employees or clients as it can lead to ethical issues, awkwardness, and complications if the relationship sours. Status and Celebrity for Attraction: According to Leo, the most effective way to attract partners is through status and celebrity. However, this is off-limits for most because achieving significant fame and status is rare. Leo shares that his own moderate fame does not significantly aid his dating life and advises against relying on celebrity unless one plans to spend years building it. Ethics and Integrity in Leveraging Fame: Leo stresses the importance of not abusing celebrity status or power in dating. He is wary of mixing work with personal romance to avoid ethical dilemmas, particularly given his role as a teacher of spirituality and higher consciousness. Limitations of Online Dating: Leo criticizes online dating, claiming that it mainly benefits conventionally attractive people and compares it to a pyramid scheme. He argues that unless one is in the top 20% of attractiveness, online dating can be frustrating and generally not effective for finding high-quality partners. Financial Means as a Dating Strategy: Leo discusses using money to attract partners, denouncing it as a poor strategy that does not lead to genuine intimacy or love. He suggests avoiding reliance on wealth, prostitution, or similar methods to get laid, as it misses the deeper elements of a true romantic connection. Necessity of Personal Transformation: Leo emphasizes transforming oneself into a genuinely attractive individual rather than resorting to gimmicks or manipulation. Genuine attraction comes from personal development, which aligns with Leo's broader teachings on growth and consciousness. Misconceptions About Pickup: Leo aims to dispel the mainstream misconceptions of pickup as creepy or manipulative, asserting that real creepiness stems from a lack of social skills and experience. He plans to focus on building genuine attraction and teaching men to be high-quality partners for women. Distinction Between Genuine Attraction and Gimmicks: Leo criticizes the use of pickup lines and shallow tactics. He advocates for teaching men to become authentically attractive through personal development rather than relying on gimmicks, which benefits both men and women in the dating process. Combining Alpha Traits with Provider Qualities: Leo Gura focuses on combining the sexual charisma of the "alpha player" stereotype with the solid qualities of a provider—an emotionally mature and stable individual capable of commitment and creating intimacy, to create the ideal man that is not only attractive but also capable of sustaining healthy relationships. Development of Masculine Traits and Personal Growth: He emphasizes the importance of men developing their masculinity, sense of humor, social skills, career, financial stability, emotional mastery, spirituality, and awakening through personal development and self-actualization. Importance of Balanced Male Strength: Leo disputes toxic masculinity, illustrating that true strength in a man includes deep love, commitment, intimacy, and a devotion to spiritual growth, creating a balanced definition of what it means to be a strong male in modern society. Foundation of Relationships: Leo explains that for men, the foundation of a deep and long-term relationship is an ability to first attract and maintain the interest of a woman, which involves overcoming insecurities and establishing genuine attraction. Addressing Women's Perspectives on Relationships: He describes the challenge women face in finding a partner who both physically arouses and emotionally stimulates them while also offering commitment and stability, advocating for the creation of men who can fulfill both roles. Reasons Men Are Not Getting Laid: Leo lists top reasons why men struggle with getting laid: Being Social as the Foundation of Game: Leo stresses that increasing the number of new attractive women one meets is foundational to improving dating life, urging a lifestyle change to be more social and engage in regular face-to-face interactions. Victim Mindset in Dating: He challenges the victim mindset, explaining that so long as it exists, no techniques will be helpful. It's essential to confront and change this mentality to improve one’s dating life. Approaching Women Proactively: Leo insists that men must be proactive and take responsibility for their dating life to attain the abundance and quality of relationships they desire, reiterating the need for socialization and understanding of attraction theory. Challenges within dating interactions: Even after a woman agrees to date a man, various behaviors can jeopardize the relationship. These include poor text messaging, neediness, improper date planning, and using off-color sexual humor. Women might give various excuses or tests that require experience to navigate successfully. Reframing the goal of dating: Rather than focusing on how to get laid, men should aim to become strong and attractive individuals, striving for deep intimacy and love. The journey towards genuine love may include casual relationships as a part of maturing, but the ultimate goal should be deeper, meaningful connections. Inner game and limitations: Men often suffer from low self-esteem, self-doubt, and a lack of belief in their own value, which hinders their success with women. They carry misconceptions influenced by toxic ideologies like incel, red pill, or black pill, which perpetuate false ideas about what women want. Overcoming these limiting beliefs is crucial. Entitlement to attract desirable women: A key issue in dating for men is the lack of belief that they deserve attractive women. Believing that attractive women have more worth can prevent men from attracting or retaining them. Confidence and a sense of entitlement are necessary for success. Inaction rooted in fear: Men frequently make excuses to avoid improving their dating life due to fear or analysis paralysis. Taking serious action is essential to see improvements in attracting women. Understanding attraction asymmetry: Men are often visually stimulated and desire physical beauty, leading to the assumption that women also prioritize physical appearance. However, women value characteristics such as leadership, confidence, strength, and assertiveness. This asymmetry stems from evolutionary survival needs. Masculine and feminine roles in dating: Evolution has differentiated the masculine and feminine roles. Men are stereotypically seen as providers and protectors, while women are caretakers. Men seek beauty and femininity, while women look for survival traits like leadership. Men improving attractiveness: It is easier for men to develop attractive traits such as leadership and confidence than it is to alter physical appearance. Women are more likely to prioritize these survival traits over purely physical attributes. Limits of physical appearance: The emphasis on physical features like height or facial structure as barriers to attractiveness is flawed. While men can work on enhancing desirable characteristics, women may not have an 'easy solution' to becoming more attractive if they don't meet societal beauty standards. Effectiveness of pickup for men: Pickup strategies work for men because it helps them develop desirable qualities that align with what women find attractive; they do not work similarly for women, as physical attractiveness is harder to change. Overcoming self-defeating beliefs: Limiting beliefs, such as not being attractive enough due to physical traits, need to be addressed. Men can become attractive by developing qualities linked to masculine energy and strength that are compelling to women. Symptoms of inner game problems: Men's dating struggles often stem from their own inner game issues, including the beliefs that they need to change their physical appearance or behave inauthentically to attract women. These inner obstacles must be conquered to improve dating prospects. Misconceptions about Simplicity of Attraction: Leo challenges the belief that simple physical traits determine attraction, like symmetry or muscle size from scientific studies. He explains that real-world attraction includes factors like charisma, leadership, flirting, humor, and how few choices women actually have, which scientific settings can't replicate. Importance of Face-to-Face Interaction: Leo notes the value of face-to-face interaction which allows one to display charisma, humor, and other traits that photographs cannot convey. He emphasizes that these interactions are where real attraction occurs and how women often have limited mate choices. Overcoming Stereotypes about Attraction: Leo debunks the stereotype that only ‘alpha’ or ‘Chad’ men are desirable, explaining that women are attracted to a variety of men and stressing the importance of finding the ones who are attracted to your type. Shifting the Focus from Physical to Emotional Attraction: Leo argues that humor, leadership, and confidence attract women more than physical traits like big muscles or genital size. He points out women are emotional beings, valuing the feelings a man can provide over his physical attributes. Attracting Women without Financial Wealth: Refuting the belief that riches are necessary to attract women, Leo encourages men to see firsthand how women can be attracted without knowing their net worth. He also shares anecdotes of his friends who successfully attract women while presenting themselves as having humble jobs or being financially disadvantaged. Improving Dating Skills as a Nerd, Geek, or Introvert: Leo argues that introverted, geeky, or nerdy men can transform themselves into charming, humorous, and charismatic individuals with practice and persistence. He emphasizes this is achievable despite preconceived notions of social capability. Validity of Pickup Strategies: Leo assures his audience that pickup is not a scam, narrating his own experiences and those of others who have had success without being professional dating coaches, thus arguing against the idea that pickup techniques are inherently deceitful or ineffective. Pickup Misconceptions and Effectiveness: Leo clarifies that pickup is a legitimate practice, not a scam, that can yield success in attracting women, which can be seen by observing others 'gaming' and succeeding. He also addresses the concept of it being a 'numbers game', acknowledging that while numbers are a factor, skill significantly influences outcomes. The Significance of Skill in Pickup: Leo emphasizes that skill in flirting, humor, and confidence plays a crucial role in pickup. Unlike someone inexperienced, a skilled individual can achieve a higher 'hooking' rate with women, showing that success is not solely due to chance. Misconception about Attractiveness and Pickup: Disputing fears that only "fat, ugly girls" can be attracted through pickup, Leo explains that even highly desirable women can be attracted and cites personal experiences with such success. While attractiveness may make the process more challenging, it is still achievable. Male vs. Female Attraction Needs: Leo discusses the asymmetry of attraction needs, explaining that women's need for commitment from quality men complicates their dating scenario. Despite the belief that women can easily get sex, he highlights their pursuit of safety and enduring relationships, which are fraught with risks like abuse and pregnancy. Advantages Men Have in Attracting Women: Contrary to some beliefs, Leo argues that men can improve their attractiveness more substantially than women through personal development. While women might use cosmetics, men's ability to work on their charisma and social skills offers a significant edge. Overcoming Genetics and Personal Weakness: Interpreting his own life challenges, Leo observes that people are born with different genetics and aptitudes, suggesting those less inclined to socializing may need to work harder to improve that aspect, although it may never become their greatest strength. Misconceptions Around Feminism and MeToo: Leo refutes the blame put upon feminism and the MeToo movement for men's dating difficulties. Instead, he insists the real barrier is the lack of effort in developing oneself into a strong man and interacting with women ethically and socially calibrated. Broadening the View on Life and Personal Strengths: Expanding on individual differences, Leo advises recognizing one's entire life circumstances rather than just focusing on one's weaknesses or strengths. He encourages viewing the totality of a person's life, not just their natural aptitude for socializing. Misconceptions about wealth and attraction: Leo dispels the myth that personal success and wealth alone can secure dating success, explaining through personal tests that attributes like running a business or financial status often have less impact on women than expected. Limiting belief of scarcity of "good girls": Leo tackles the limiting belief that there are few quality women available, suggesting that broadening one's social interactions proves there's an abundance of great potential partners. Pitfalls of giving up too soon: Leo addresses the issue of giving up on pickup methods due to early failures. He explains that the steep learning curve requires perseverance beyond a mere handful of approaches. Importance of location and commitment in dating: He acknowledges that location affects dating potential and advises those in lacking areas to consider relocating to places with better opportunities. When it's too late for cold approach: Age considerations for cold approach strategies are discussed, with Leo suggesting that this method may not be suitable for those over 50, but for younger individuals, it's not too late to start. Inner game versus physical looks: Emphasizing the impact of one's mindset, Leo argues that poor inner game—characterized by negativity and misunderstandings about women—hinders dating success more than physical appearance. Traits universally attractive to women: He lists traits such as masculine energy, strength, confidence, charisma, and the ability to take a woman on an emotional journey as universally attractive to women. Behaviors that repel women: Leo details behaviors that are unattractive to women, including neediness, explicit sexual vulgarity, trying too hard to impress, and lack of personal hygiene. What truly attracts women: The significance of authenticity, vulnerability, and building deep connections with women is highlighted. Leo also stresses the importance of social value, leadership, and decisiveness. Effects of social validation on attraction: He remarks on the subconscious influence that a man's social validation has on a woman's attraction, greatly determined by his reputation and how he's perceived within a social circle. Importance of strong eye contact and life purpose: Leo discusses the attraction women have towards strong eye contact and men who have a life purpose that is more important than the woman they're targeting. Detrimental impacts of attachment and excessive niceness: Explaining that women are repelled by men who showcase neediness, fear or insecurity, he suggests that these traits kill results with women more than any physical attribute. How to converse with women: Leo advises against overly logical or serious conversations, emphasizing the need for emotional, romantic interactions, and proactiveness in planning outings. Social calibration and avoiding creepiness: Leo concludes by discussing the significance of social grace in attraction, advocating for non-creepy, smooth interactions that make women feel comfortable and not awkward in the company of men. Social Calibration and Success in Dating: Leo explains that you don't need to be famous or exceptionally good-looking to be successful with women. Success largely comes from social proficiency and working on personal limitations. He shares that even with his modest fame, it’s not a significant factor in attracting women—the majority of his progress came before he was known. Importance of Inner Game and Personal Development: Leo stresses that his current charisma wasn't innate. It developed through significant effort, overcoming social anxiety, and improving his public speaking skills—many of which were honed through practicing game. This process included learning to genuinely smile and radiate happiness on cue. Five Steps to Succeed in Attracting Women: Leo advises a systematic approach to improve dating success: envisage attracting women, study attraction principles, engage in regular socialization, relentlessly question limiting beliefs to dismantle them, and be persistent until the desired results are achieved. Contradicting Limiting Beliefs with Experience: He underlines how actual interaction with women will provide contradictory evidence against limiting beliefs such as the necessity of having wealth or extraordinary looks, emphasizing the importance of tenacity and the willingness to learn from social experiences. Commitment to Socializing and Changing Lifestyle: Leo's practical advice includes committing to chat with 30 new girls each week and going out three times per week to socialize, even if it means moving to a city with better social opportunities. This commitment extends beyond just interacting with women; it’s about becoming well-rounded in social skills. Staying Ethical and Avoiding Toxic Ideologies: Leo concludes with an ethical framework for the process of improving dating life, rejecting toxic ideologies, and treating women with respect, empathy, and integrity. He underscores the importance of following a principled approach and renouncing ideologies that devalue others. Media Consumption and Negative Effects: Leo warns against the toxic impact of excessive internet use, including forums, video games, social media, and binge-watching, which he believes hinders personal development and success with women. Misconceptions About Pickup: Leo clarifies his stance on pickup, affirming that while he stands by his past criticisms of certain toxic pickup community aspects, he supports socializing, approaching, and flirting with women when done ethically. Ethics in the Pickup Community: He condemns creating an ego or identity around being a pickup artist and is against manipulative, dishonest, and irresponsible behaviors. Leo advocates for an ethical approach to dating, emphasizing empathy, compassion, and integrity. Developing Attraction through Personal and Spiritual Growth: Leo suggests changing oneself into a likable person across all social interactions as the best way to attract women. This involves personal development, spiritual growth, and alignment with one's life purpose and passions. Foundation for Attraction Setup: Acknowledging the need for more than one part to cover all material, Leo promises to discuss practical outer game techniques in future videos but insists that inner game and mindset are the foundation for success. Importance of Inner Game in Attraction: Leo emphasizes that a person's beliefs and mindset, termed 'inner game,' are fundamental in constructing reality and crucial for establishing healthy relationships, a fulfilling sex life, and dating success. Limiting Beliefs and Self-Sabotage: He postulates that limiting beliefs and poor mental conditioning about oneself and women are significant obstacles to attracting partners—not one's physical appearance or external factors. Overcoming Mental Limitations through Pickup: Leo points out that engaging in pickup can be a profound way to confront and dismantle one's mental barriers, which can lead to improvements not just in dating but across various life aspects. Crucio

Motivational Speech - Oct 2021 https://youtu.be/Z2CYaAojC_A Reiterating the Importance of a Motivational Mindset: Leo stresses the need to have a serious talk about one's entire attitude towards life, which he claims is fundamentally flawed due to taking life for granted and a lack of spiritual reverence. Identifying Complacency as a Deep Problem: He pinpoints complacency as an issue that comes from not appreciating life's miraculous nature. This complacency leads to a lack of motivation and a failure to live life to its fullest potential. Contrasting Survival with Creative Living: Leo criticizes the mere survival attitude prevalent in society and argues that we must aim to live creatively, to honor and maximize the gift of life by realizing our full potential. The Negative Influence of the Social Matrix: He notes that complacency is often a by-product of societal norms and a lack of originality in personal vision, which results in a sheep-like behavior of merely surviving rather than thriving. Living Beyond Material Needs for Deep Engagement: Leo emphasizes that genuine engagement with life and passion can only arise from a spiritual connection with the miracle of existence, not from materialistic pursuits. Obligation and Honor in Contributing to the Universe: He discusses that individuals have a duty to the universe to make the most of their lives and to contribute to its evolution, a task that should be undertaken willingly and with excitement. Moving Past Excuses and Limiting Beliefs: Leo encourages having a clear focus on one's vision for life and advises against making excuses. He urges a full commitment, despite obstacles such as a lack of resources or skills. The Information Age as a Tool for Actualization: He states that, in the modern era, information and resources for life actualization are readily available. The real obstacle is one's own complacency and lack of discipline. Building Life Systematically for Fulfillment: Leo advises building life piece by piece, methodically tackling fears and limiting beliefs, and being resourceful in finding the necessary knowledge and skills for personal growth. Fully Engaging with Life Without Excuses: The idea that one must engage 100% in life and overcome any obstacles or distractions is emphasized, including being willing to make significant life changes like moving cities or countries if needed for personal actualization. Deep Introspection as a Mechanism for Growth: He suggests that deep introspection can help to identify and address deficiencies in experience or skills, ensuring a systematic improvement towards reaching one's full potential. The Necessity of Developing a Strong Work Ethic: Leo stresses that being fully engaged in life and achieving one's potential requires the development of a strong work ethic and the willingness to invest hard work into one's personal development. Honoring Your Life Through Action: Leo emphasizes that honoring one's life means committing to actions that build a healthier and more energized body and mind. This can include regular exercise and eating nutritious foods, even if initially it feels like a grind. Enjoyment in Personal Development: The core of Leo's message is about finding enjoyment in the process of becoming who you want to be. While some effort may initially feel taxing, the overall journey of self-improvement should be fulfilling and enjoyable. Building Work Around Passion: The key to a meaningful life, according to Leo, is to center your work around activities you love, whether it be music, art, engineering, working with people, or any other interest that deeply fascinates you. Pursuing Simple Blueprints for Success: He advises against complicating life's plan and getting lost in distractions. Instead, Leo encourages simplifying life by pursuing what you are most passionate about and enjoy doing for its own sake, then steadily building skills in that area. Investing in Skills and Psychology: Leo underscores the importance of continuous investment in both hard skills and soft skills—technical proficiency as well as inner psychological growth, removing limiting beliefs, and mastering emotions to succeed in your chosen field. Expressing Unique Forms of Love: At a spiritual and metaphysical level, he suggests that life is about finding a unique way to fall in love with oneself and reality, and expressing that love through your personal and professional endeavors. Recognition of Life's Beauty: Leo asserts that loving life begins with recognizing the sheer beauty and miraculous nature of existence, and holding on to that amidst life's challenges and distractions, and periodically re-grounding oneself in this appreciation. Mind as a Fascinating Aspect of Existence: Sharing his personal passion, Leo describes the mind as the most remarkable feature of existence, appreciating its ability to think, understand, be intellectual, and engage in complex self-reflective activities. Finding Individual Fascination: Leo stresses the importance of identifying what you individually find most fascinating about reality, warning against the temptation to simply copy others' passions and emphasizing the need for honest self-discovery. Sampling the Buffet of Life: He compares life to a buffet, encouraging sampling a wide variety of experiences to discover what truly resonates with you and then devoting yourself to that passion wholeheartedly. Broad Experience for Informed Choices: Leo emphasizes the need for exposure to various experiences to find what truly resonates with you. This is especially important for young people who, due to less life experience, might struggle to identify their passions. Exploring Through Action: Leo suggests practical actions to gain experience, such as traveling, reading, attending conventions, conversing with diverse individuals, and trying out different hobbies. He relates personal anecdotes of pursuing interests in remote-controlled devices and searching for meteorites to illustrate the value of diverse experiences. Incremental Discovery and Commitment: Life, according to Leo, is an incremental, improvisational process of testing and discovering what you love, rather than aiming for perfection. Like a homing missile, one should continually adjust their course towards what resonates until the goal is reached. Process of Self-Discovery: Leo views life as a giant process of self-discovery, where individuals learn to honor and love life in their unique way. Through work and dedication to a chosen field, one both deepens their love for it and desires to share their creations with others. Connecting Life with Love: Underlining the importance of love, Leo argues that genuinely falling in love with aspects of life can lead to discipline, skill development, and mastery, which, in turn, solve practical issues like paying bills. Honoring Life Through Passion: Leo insists on making it a non-negotiable commitment to discover what one loves most about life and regularly engage in it. This, he says, is foundational for a fulfilling life, not a luxury. Diverse Manifestations of Reality: Leo discusses reality's nature as an infinite, singular system that manifests itself in endless forms. People can participate in this multiplicity in their preferred way by appreciating reality either finitely or through spiritual awakening. Appreciating Finite and Infinite Beauty: The analogy of white light and colors is used to describe the ability to appreciate the beauty of reality in both finite forms (like art) and infinite forms (like the abstract concept of love). The Complex Gift of Reality: Leo characterizes real life as a complex gift that individuals must assemble piece by piece, which becomes more beautiful as it is put together. Life as an Infinitely Replayable Game: Likening life to a sandbox game with no set objectives, Leo insists on creating personal goals to avoid a sense of meaninglessness and truly appreciate life's beauty. Reality Offers Both Detail and Majesty: Leo contends that the most successful and happiest people instinctively fall in love with aspects of reality, but doing so consciously can unlock a deeper spiritual dimension to that love. Life Assembly Requires Work and Vision: The gift of reality is one that requires assembly; it's not instantly gratifying, but through sustained effort over time, its beauty and love become apparent as one falls in love with the process. Comparison of Linear and Sandbox Games: Linear games, designed for casual gamers, offer a simplified, uniform experience that lacks replayability. On the other hand, sandbox games, aligning with hardcore gamers, provide an open-ended experience where players set their own goals, leading to a diverse and deeply engaging gaming environment. Life as an Infinite Sandbox Game: Leo compares life to an infinitely replayable sandbox game with no fixed objectives, where one's meaning and purpose must be self-defined. If one does not actively create personal goals and visions, life can feel hollow and its fullest potential remains untapped. Distractions and Societal Norms in Life: The vast open-endedness of life can lead to distractions, and societal norms often reduce existence to a rat race or a materialistic pursuit, overshadowing deeper potential engagements and causing a sense of depression and meaninglessness. Societal Corridors as Limitations: Society has constructed "corridors," like conventional careers and orthodox religions, which channel individuals down predefined paths for others' benefits, often lacking depth and inhibiting authentic, passionate, and loving engagement with life. The Imperative of Independence: To live at one's highest potential, Leo advises developing independence in thinking and custom-building a life that aligns with personal values, interests, and strengths, necessitating self-exploration, vision, clarity, and focus. Deeper Potential of Life: Leo highlights that life's design rewards those who seek depth, compare it to a gold mine. The realization of life's deeper potential requires committed, continuous effort towards growth, which in turn yields fulfilling returns. Starting Fresh with New Information: Regardless of past experiences, Leo encourages a fresh start, focusing on creating an engaged and purposeful life, underlining that failure is a part of the journey and should not deter commitment to the process. Establishing Trust in Fundamental Principles: To assure the validity of life principles, Leo suggests exploring them personally and verifying them through experience. Trust in these principles can guide one towards a meaningful existence. Core Principles for a Rewarding Life: Pursuit of love for reality, strong work ethic, confronting fears, and daily investment in constructive activities are fundamental principles for a fulfilling and enriching life, which Leo advises to deeply understand, embody, and consistently follow. Commitment to Constructive Living: Leo Gura stresses the importance of choosing constructive and creative activities that align with one's passion, over engaging in negative and destructive behaviors such as criticism or trolling. This choice honors life and contributes to building a meaningful existence. Living by Principles: The significance of infusing principles deeply into one's life to facilitate transformation is emphasized. Leo points out that the true impact of such ideas is realized only when they are consistently acted upon, turning them into daily habits that shape long-term trajectories. Action vs. Procrastination: Leo advises against waiting for perfect opportunities and emphasizes the importance of taking immediate action towards goals, suggesting even small steps can lead to great changes regardless of current limitations or circumstances. Long-term Investment in Self-improvement: He draws attention to the necessity of patient investment in oneself, which over time builds momentum, leading to greater self-love and a more interesting life filled with purpose. Integrating Creative and Spiritual Pursuits: Leo recommends blending one’s career and creative endeavors with spirituality, ensuring a holistic approach to life where one's actions and work are informed by deeper spiritual insights and understanding. Understanding Life as a Game: He calls for recognizing life's pursuits as a game, urging not to take them too seriously or confuse them with the totality of existence, and to maintain a playful yet committed attitude towards personal endeavors. Moving Beyond Mental Masturbation: Leo criticizes endlessly intellectualizing ideas without taking tangible action. He insists on the importance of executing the discussed principles to truly honor one's life and potential. Consistency and Persistence: The value of persistent action is highlighted, as Leo reassures that it's normal to face setbacks and procrastination, but what matters is the continued effort in the direction of one’s goals and principles. Surrendering to Practice: Leo stresses simplicity in adopting life principles and practices, mentioning the need to surrender to them, which can lead to a more engaged, passionate, and fulfilling life. Disengaging from Destructive Practices: Leo emphasizes the need to disconnect from harmful or distracting behaviors, such as social media trolling or unhealthy eating, to focus energy on creative and constructive activities, even though it may initially feel lonely. Overcoming Doubts with Discipline: He offers encouragement for those who doubt their ability to follow through with changes, reminding them that past failures don't matter as long as they are committed to continuous trying and self-discipline. Confronting Excuses and Limiting Beliefs: Acknowledging the mind's self-deceptive nature is crucial. Leo advises recognizing and pushing past excuses and limiting beliefs by taking consistent action, and using personal experiences to demonstrate perseverance. Persistent Action Overcomes Self-Deception: Leo emphasizes persistence in action as the remedy for the mind's tricks. He illustrates this with the example of adhering to a gym routine despite self-doubt about weight loss, showcasing the power of constant effort. Navigating Life with Decision and Action: The process of personal growth is described as messy and uncertain. Leo highlights the importance of making decisions and taking action, even without complete certainty, to move forward and trust in the process. Positive Feedback Reinforces Right Actions: Leo explains that pursuing right actions gradually yields positive feedback, improving self-esteem and a sense of control. He encourages paying attention to subtle cues and consistently acting upon them for reinforcement. Discipline and Solitude as Foundations for Growth: Leo cites discipline, principles, independence, work ethic, focus, and solitude as essential for growth. He suggests using solitude for self-study, contemplation, and finding one's life direction. Reflection and Retreat for Life Transformation: To make a significant change, Leo recommends taking time off for reflection and solitude, allowing for deep contemplation and the development of personal vision and new ideas. Engaging Serendipity on the Path of Growth: Leo describes how fully engaging in personal growth attracts serendipitous events that point to the next steps. He encourages actively seeking and recognizing these opportunities. Aligning with Higher Self for Guidance: Staying connected with the higher self and honoring life through love and action in the face of fear leads to inspiration and motivation during challenging and lonely times. Faith in Principles of Good Life: Leo advises building confidence in the principles of living a good life through the wisdom of world religions and sages. He encourages validating these principles and following them for a rewarding life experience. Value of Resources and Actionable Steps: Leo mentions resources available on Actualized.org, such as a book list and life purpose course, and emphasizes the importance of taking practical steps to apply the discussed principles rather than just talking about them. Rejecting Mental Masturbation: Condemning inaction and endless discussion without practical application, Leo warns of banning those who indulge in this behavior on his forum. He insists on taking transformative actions to actualize philosophy into real life. Bombarda

Why Valuable Things Require Development Over Time https://youtu.be/uw6lRNBZvv8 Practical application of consistent investment: Leo emphasizes a practical life philosophy, which involves the realization that the most valuable things in life can only be acquired through consistent, daily investment over many years. This approach is the key to achieving success and deep satisfaction in life. Impatience leads to mistakes: He notes that a common mistake among people, whom he refers to as "fools," is the desire for quick riches or success. Instead, wisdom lies in investing patiently and steadily to build a solid, lasting foundation, unlike the fool who seeks instant gratification and often fails repeatedly. Education as a lifelong investment: Leo uses education as a prime example of something that requires consistent daily effort for decades. It involves reading, studying, and contemplation every day, not just attending classes or earning degrees, which isn't equivalent to being well-educated. Compounding returns on early investment: He stresses the benefits of investing in education early in life, as it allows for compounding returns—yielding greater benefits than an investment made later in life. The earlier one starts investing in personal development, the greater the long-term payoff. Natural developmental process: Leo mentions certain aspects of life, such as the growth of a child, that have a fixed development period and cannot be expedited, regardless of resource input, illustrating the importance of patience and the limits of pushing for faster results. Building a brand over time: Building a high-quality brand is a long-term endeavor, potentially spanning decades. It involves being patient, consistently serving a niche market well, and understanding your brand deeply to ensure its eventual success and customer loyalty. Diminishing returns and counterproductive efforts: He points out that adding excessive resources to a task, such as too many workers to a construction project, can lead to diminishing returns and be counterproductive, highlighting the lesson that over-pushing a process can backfire. Nintendo's Transformation and Brand Building: Nintendo, over its 100-year history, evolved from a trading card company to a leading name in arcade and video games. Through patient, consistent brand development, leveraging iconic characters and games, it grew into a multi-billion dollar brand. The key was consistent effort over many decades, highlighting that big results cannot be achieved overnight. Valuing Long-term Goals: Leo illustrates how people desire quick results for large goals like enlightenment or financial independence, but these require long-term, disciplined, and patient effort. Achieving such goals is not a matter of overnight success but consistent daily work and investment over the years. Personal Commitment to Financial Independence: Leo shares his journey of quitting a well-paying job in video game development to pursue financial independence. Recognizing the immense value of freedom from wage slavery, he committed to this goal, invested years into it, and now enjoys a life free from financial constraints. Developing Patience for Long-term Success: The pursuit of financial independence or establishing a successful brand requires creativity, clever strategizing, and most importantly, patience. Most people fail to achieve these goals because they lack the willingness to invest time and effort over many years, seeking shortcuts instead of a steady, disciplined approach. Actualized.org's Vision and Growth: Sharing the story of Actualized.org, Leo explains how he had a profound vision for creating deeply interconnected content on complex subjects like reality, philosophy, and spirituality. Although initially lacking the skills needed, he embraced a process that spanned over a decade to fulfill this vision, resulting in a unique and valuable educational resource. Investment in Skill Development: Leo emphasizes the importance of developing speaking skills, intellectual capacity, and the ability to interconnect ideas over time. His personal growth allowed him to deliver the profound, interconnected content on Actualized.org he had envisioned, which could not be rushed or bought, but had to be patiently built over time. Strategic Brand Development: His discussion underscores the strategy behind building a brand like Actualized.org, focusing on creating long-term value rather than chasing short-term gains. Each piece of content is designed to synergize with others, similar to network effects in social media platforms, creating exponential value over time. Exponential Value through Interconnection: Leo outlines the non-linear payoff of interconnected work, where the value of his content exponentially increases as more material is produced and interlinked. This approach, requiring foresight and long-term strategic planning, differentiates Actualized.org from other self-help platforms. Beyond Just YouTube: Leo ends by generalizing the principles discussed to any business or long-term project. Success in these areas comes from understanding how small, consistent additions can synergize to create a greater impact than their individual parts, resulting in potentially exponential effects and significant influence. Robust and Interconnected Map of Reality: Leo Gura claims to be creating one of the most sophisticated maps of reality attained by integrating hundreds of different perspectives from multiple disciplines within his mind, working towards an understanding he describes as having a 'superpower' quality. Integrating Multidisciplinary Perspectives: Over the past decade and more, Leo has been interconnecting insights from various fields including sciences, philosophy, psychology, and spirituality, which he believes will compound into more than the sum of its parts, and be extraordinarily valuable. Investing Beyond Conventional Success: Leo has prioritized investing his efforts into developing his mind rather than chasing external metrics of success like wealth or social media popularity. He highlights the significance of working towards something intellectually ambitious and rare. Vision and Independence: Leo accentuates the need for having a high vision and being independent, emphasizing that accomplishing something exceptional may often entail opposition from society and demands persistence in the face of skepticism and critique. Creating Meaning Through Patient Investment: He shares his motivation for having a passionate life is his intuitive investments in personal growth, which he advises viewers to adopt for developing a profound sense of meaning and fulfillment in their lives. Development of Emotional Mastery: He discusses emotional mastery as a key example of a lifelong investment, detailing how mastering emotions contributes to one's well-being and requires years of practice, introspection, mindfulness, and learning. Value of Emotional Mastery: Emphasizing the immense value of emotional mastery, Leo offers a long-term perspective on the benefits of developing this skill, questioning the audience on their willingness to invest in it. Differentiating Quality of Individuals: Leo outlines the fundamental difference between high-quality and low-quality individuals as the former's willingness to put in consistent effort for long-term development in areas like emotional mastery, further accenting the substantial life benefits. Sense of Humor as a Skill: He illustrates developing a sense of humor as another skill that requires time and effort, detailing his own journey in cultivating humor and expressing the intention of further improving it over the coming years. Comparative Perspective on Humor Development: Leo speaks about improving his sense of humor as a personal journey, comparing his progress to his past self and his future goals, rather than to other comedians. He acknowledges continued room for growth in his humor. Valuing Humor Development: Emphasizing the importance of recognizing humor's value, Leo critiques those who won't invest time to learn how to be funny. He highlights the transformative effect humor can have on various life aspects, from personal relationships to professional opportunities. Long-term Process of Developing Humor: Leo clarifies that developing a robust sense of humor requires a long-term retraining of the brain and how it perceives reality, underscoring the profound shift from being a serious and shy individual to becoming genuinely humorous. Incremental Approach to Spiritual Growth: Leo likens spiritual growth to humor development, stressing that significant spiritual fruits like enlightenment or emotional mastery take decades of dedicated daily practice and cannot be attained through quick fixes or weekend courses. Reality of Spiritual Advancement: He criticizes those seeking immediate spiritual gains without effort, pointing out the comprehensive and gradual process that his platform, Actualized.org, supports for realizing spiritual benefits through persistent practice. Value Proposition of Spiritual and Personal Growth: Discussing the importance of personal and spiritual growth, Leo challenges viewers to consider the high value of achieving states like infinite love or god-consciousness and to invest the necessary effort and time into realizing these states. Rejecting Quick Solutions: Leo explains that the most valuable personal advancements have no shortcuts or technological solutions; they require substantial and consistent personal effort, distinguishing them from less valuable goals with readily available solutions. Emphasis on Labor Investment for Desired Outcomes: He encourages viewers to get excited about the labor they invest in personal development, assuring that correct and effective investment in the right areas will yield sizeable returns. Consistency in Personal Development Over Desire for Quick Changes: Leo uses the bathtub analogy to critique the impatience people have regarding personal growth. He advises that consistent, small actions lead to significant change, as opposed to ineffective bursts of effort. Reshaping Mindsets over Time: He acknowledges the stubborn nature of the human mind, emphasizing that real change in belief structures and mindsets requires years of persistent work, not rapid, drastic changes. Incremental Growth in Meditation: The purification of the mind through meditation is extremely gradual, similar to tiny drops in a bathtub, challenging the common desire for immediate, significant improvement. Illusion of Quick Fixes: Self-help seminars and "get rich quick" schemes often promise rapid and substantial changes, such as fixing a marriage in a weekend or overcoming social anxiety, but these promises are deceptive and lead to disillusionment with self-help resources. Responsibility for Unrealistic Expectations: Consumers are responsible to some extent for the marketing of quick-fix solutions because they are more willing to invest in solutions that promise fast results, which are primarily targeted at "fools," not the wise. Spiritual Work Demands Long-term Commitment: True spiritual work requires deep investment, patience, and strategy, often spanning decades, which is why most people never experience its profound benefits due to limited worldviews and skepticism. Value of Long-term Perspective: A positive long-term perspective suggests that within a decade of consistent spiritual practice, one can experience significant benefits, contrasting with the regret of not investing in self-improvement sooner. Consequences of Not Investing Early: Many people waste years not spent on personal development and later realize they missed opportunities to grow, resulting in regrets and difficulties making up for lost time. Urgency of Personal Development: Start personal development as early as possible, and strategically invest with discipline and commitment to avoid wasting life's prime years and missing out on potential growth and fulfillment. Training to Develop Skills: Daily practice and training are necessary to develop vital skills across areas such as spirituality, relationships, finances, and emotional mastery, making life more meaningful and akin to leveling up in an RPG game. Integrating Activities Towards Goals: Ensuring your activities contribute to your larger goals can enrich your life, where even tasks such as making videos serve multiple purposes, including earning money, helping others, refining speaking skills, and enhancing personal understanding. Building and Applying an Internal Model: Continuous self-expression through activities like creating videos helps Leo refine his internal models of understanding, setting the foundation for more profound future work and providing a sense of ease and enjoyment in using one's strengths. Refining Personal Model: Leo asserts the value of continuous learning from different sources to enhance one’s unique understanding of the world. He notes that incorporating information from books and podcasts is not merely for consuming but for refining one’s personal model. Strategic Life Planning: He encourages viewers to consciously strategize their lives for maximum value and impact, drawing a parallel to creating RPG characters with various skills and attributes that synergize well together. Dealing with Life’s Inherent Constraints: Leo points out the importance of understanding and accepting one's inherent strengths and weaknesses, much like predefined character races in RPGs, and the necessity to strategize life with those factors in mind. Aligning With Your True Identity: For effective personal development, Leo emphasizes the need to align one's life strategy with their true identity, underscoring that authentic alignment leads to satisfaction and efficacy in life. Using Actualized.org as a Strategic Resource: Leo promotes his website, Actualized.org, and its resources like a book list and a life purpose course, as tools to assist viewers in developing their own path and aligning their life actions. Balancing Perspectives for Authentic Growth: He concludes with advice to consume a range of perspectives, including his own teachings, to avoid biases and grow into the most authentic version of oneself. Finite Incantatem

Everyone Acts From Good Intentions https://youtu.be/1W1BNqvEHzU The Principle of Everyone's Good Intentions: Leo introduces the principle that every person acts with good intentions, even those considered "evil." He emphasizes the challenge in accepting this as it confronts the common perceptions of morality and requires deeper contemplation and understanding of different perspectives. News as a Catalog of Evil: Leo describes the news media as showcasing a day-to-day catalog of mankind's evils, which leads to misconceptions and the demonization of others when ideological differences arise. He advocates for intellectual integrity in understanding the underlying good intentions behind actions rather than assigning evil motives simplistically. The Relativity of Goodness: Leo explores the idea that one's conception of "good" is relative to their ego, which distorts reality to align with one's survival agenda and biases. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing the profound relativity behind all human actions to avoid misjudging others based on our skewed perception. Misunderstanding Evil Acts: Leo expounds on the concept that even the most heinous acts, from terrorism to other crimes, are committed with good intentions from the perpetrator's viewpoint. This realization is controversial and personally challenging because it undermines our belief in our own inherent goodness. Difficulty in Understanding Other Perspectives: Leo discusses the cognitive difficulty in seeing outside one's perspective and acknowledging the collateral damage one's existence causes on others. He explains that because it does not serve an individual's selfishness, our empathy is often blocked to allow us to function without overwhelming guilt or emotional burden. Overcoming Entitlement and Embracing Truth: Leo states that overcoming the sense of entitlement prevalent in more prosperous societies requires emotional maturity and intellectual honesty. He underlines the truth that no one is inherently more deserving of comfort and suggests that alignment with truth may not align with one's self-interest, leading to a fragile existence. Correlation between Selfishness and Reality Perception: Leo notes that an individual's perception of reality gets more distorted the more selfish they are, thus affecting their actions. He believes that increasing selflessness and compassion provide a clearer understanding of reality and the selfish actions of others. Relativity in Perspectives and the Maximum Goodness: Leo encourages the understanding of infinite interconnectedness—a realization that all individuals and entities operate within their limitations as manifestations of "maximum goodness," despite occasional "corrupted" behavior due to selfishness. Survival Necessity of Selfishness: He posits that an individual's selfishness is a vital component for survival. Even entities that seem malevolent or indifferent, like ExxonMobil executives, are viewed as manifestations of the universe's goodness, with each entity contributing in their unique way. Perceptions of Political and Social Groups: Leo delineates the concept of the "circle of concern," linking it to perspective and level of development, and reveals how biases influence our sense of belonging and opposition within social and political groups. Good Intentions in Political Opponents: He stresses that opposing political groups, such as progressives and right-wingers, often have good intentions from their viewpoints, but misunderstandings bolstered by bias can lead to demonization and conflict. Importance of Empathy: Leo urges empathy to understand opposing beliefs to foster peace and clarity, noting that even extreme groups believe they are acting from good intentions in their efforts to preserve their beliefs. Misconceptions and Labels: He warns against overgeneralization and the propensity to label all alt-right individuals as Nazis, highlighting the importance of intellectual honesty in differentiating between extreme ideologies and more common political stances. The Consequences of Misunderstanding Motives: Leo indicates that misunderstanding others’ motives fosters misaligned perspectives, leading to conflict and societal disintegration over time. The Destructive Nature of Polarization: He examines how the segregated battles within ideologies can sap life energy, contribute to social polarization, and use individuals' alignment with spiritual values like constructiveness and creativity. The Trade-Off between Infinite and Finite Love: Leo discusses the trade-off between infinite and finite forms of love, framing selfish actions as corrupted forms of love, necessitated by existence, and suggesting that accepting this trade-off can lead to inner peace. Choosing Understanding over Fear and Conflict: He advocates for adopting an understanding perspective over fear-based views, suggesting that viewing every action as based on love, despite its finite limitations, can shift one's feeling towards life. Deconstructive Process for Self-Growth: Finally, Leo elaborates on the personal transformation process through self-awareness, questioning limiting beliefs, and the unified goal of his teachings: to guide toward higher consciousness and the realization of infinite love. Challenging Childhood Experiences and Militant Survival: Leo describes how a child growing up in a war-torn country like Afghanistan faces immense hardships such as witnessing the murder or rape of family members, and to survive, may need to steal for food or join a militia due to lack of education or job options. Relativity of Good Based on Circumstances: A grown militia member may see actions like beheading as necessary and good for protecting their land or restoring their religious order, contrasting with the perspective of someone from a more comfortable environment. Every Human and Organization is Relatively Good: Leo urges listeners to acknowledge that every person and organization, including governments and militias, believes in their own good intentions, often without recognizing the radical relativity of those intentions. Differing Impacts of Climate Change on Perspective: The CEO of ExxonMobil may not care about the sea level rise due to their capacity to mitigate its effects financially, reflecting a self-biased view similar to everyday behaviors of ordinary people. Complexity Behind Actions of Organizations: While critics see ExxonMobil as harmful to the environment, Leo explains that the CEOs believe they are doing good by providing essential oil for society's functioning, including enabling access to medical care. Infinite Goodness through Finite Actions: Leo posits that despite the apparent selfishness in human actions, these are manifestations of the universe's infinite love and goodness, constrained by individuals' finitude and selfish tendencies. Selfishness as a Necessary Aspect of Universal Love: He reflects on how survival-driven selfish behaviors are part and parcel of the finite expression of universal love, with no place for guilt, as all beings and entities, including ExxonMobil or a Taliban member, are expressions of this love. Universal Love and Goodness Limited by Finite Forms: Leo uses a Play-Doh analogy to illustrate how absolute love and goodness get shaped into finite forms, which are inherently less perfect and may seem corrupted, like the problematic actions of historical figures such as Hitler or Osama bin Laden. Circle of Concern and Perspective: Leo discusses the relationship between one's level of development and the size of their circle of concern. The more conservative and far-right an individual is, the narrower their definition of 'my people,' often restricted to their race, ethnicity, or even just their local tribe. Cultural Exposure and Worldview Limits: He highlights the impact of cultural isolation on an individual's worldview and ability to empathize. Those with limited exposure to other cultures due to upbringing or environment may feel threatened by foreign customs or ideas, limiting their compassion to their immediate tribe. Ethnic Conflicts and Misattribution of Intentions: Leo points out that misunderstandings and narrow perspectives can lead to significant conflicts. These are seen in situations where individuals ascribe bad intentions to others over minor differences, as observed in some Middle Eastern conflicts between Sunni and Shia Muslims. Polarization and Ideological Divisions: He uses the example of ideological divisions within American politics to illustrate how easily groups and individuals within a culture can misunderstand each other and falsely attribute malicious intentions even when they are ideologically aligned. Role of Ego in Defining Group Membership: Leo explains that the ego mind creates boundaries that define 'us versus them,' leading to group formation based on opposition. This separation intensifies survival instincts and can increase conflict. Empathy Gap in Political Understanding: He stresses that progressives often fail to see the good intentions of those they oppose, such as the alt-right, because their beliefs and actions are interpreted through a lens of relativity and ego. Dangers of Demonization: Leo warns against the perils of demonizing others, such as labeling alt-right individuals as racists or fascists. This creates barriers to empathy and understanding, equating to secular versions of devils. Need for Truthful Understanding Over Simplistic Solutions: Emphasizing the need for intellectual integrity, Leo argues that a lack of truthful understanding of others' perspectives can lead to detachment from reality, causing violence and suffering as a result. Juxtaposing Pragmatism with Empathy: He advocates balancing pragmatic considerations with a deep understanding of differing worldviews. Without empathy and comprehension, holistic solutions to collective problems cannot be found, potentially causing ideological conflicts and societal harm. Long-Term Consequences of Misunderstanding: Leo reflects on how misconceptions can accumulate and turn into ideologies that misunderstand reality, ultimately generating collective delusions, evil, and suffering. Unity and Goodness: Leo Gura equates goodness with the ability to perceive unity among all people and opinions. He suggests that progressives who can't see unity with those they term fascists are unable to love them, which leads to destructive emotions like hate and fear. Consequences of Not Understanding: If a progressive cannot truthfully understand and love a so-called fascist, they can't operate from a place of wholeness. Not seeing the full picture of how their actions may boomerang leads to a cycle of evil, oppression, and injustice. Demonization Across Political Lines: Leo discusses how both progressives and alt-right conservatives demonize each other because of varying worldviews, where each side believes their own perspective is correct and justifies it as an act of protection against perceived threats. The Role of Ignorance: He acknowledges that ignorance plays a crucial role in shaping people's perspectives and that the people being demonized are often simply uneducated on certain matters, leading to fear and demonization of concepts they don't understand. Individual and Collective Problems: Leo posits that attributing negative intentions to others creates divisiveness at both personal and societal levels, potentially leading to societal breakdowns such as civil wars. Alignment with Spiritual Center: By engaging in battles with the opposition, progressives—and people in general—drain their life energy and move away from their spiritual centers of love, creativity, and positivity. Short-sightedness in Battles: Leo warns against seeking short-term victories over opponents, without considering the long-term implications for unity, peace, and one's individual happiness and spiritual alignment. Karmic Consequence of Misjudgment: He argues that fear bred from suspecting evil intentions in others limits reality perception and results in a life marked by constant worry and paranoia. Disconnecting from Infinite Love: By ascribing evil intentions to others, people sever their connection to infinite love and truth, which are central to spiritual growth and understanding. Encouraging Empathy and Truth: Leo invites viewers to adopt a new perspective, seeing all actions—including those by opponents and oneself—as stemming from the highest intentions but corrupted by finite, ego-driven forms. Realizing Infinite Love: The exercise of viewing all actions through the lens of love is geared towards leading individuals toward the realization that reality is a manifestation of infinite love. Recognizing the Nature of Finite Love: He concludes that selfishness and corruption are inherent in the finite form of love, which is necessary for existence, and encourages embracing this realization as part of the journey towards peace and perfect understanding. Perception of Perfection in Reality: Leo asserts that the understanding of reality as fundamentally perfect and incapable of being wrong is the ultimate form of power. He clarifies that this is not about adopting new age beliefs but about a deconstructive process of removing biases and ego distortions, leading to recognizing that truth is perfection and love itself. Critique from Materialists: Leo addresses the skepticism of materialists who might dismiss his ideas as brainwashing or feel that accepting a perfect reality is delusional. He emphasizes that coming to see the truth as perfect and loving is not about fooling oneself with positive illusions but about clearing away limiting negative beliefs. Recontextualizing Negative Beliefs: He argues that common negative outlooks like cynicism, conspiracy theories, and demonization are not rooted in truth but in materialist indoctrination that is accepted unquestioningly. Intertwined Nature of Truth, Happiness, and Love: Contrary to the belief that truth stands in opposition to happiness and love, Leo explains that in the design of the universe, truth encompasses love and happiness, which leads to realizing one's potential and wealth. Materialists' Delusion About Truth: Leo criticizes materialists for believing they are choosing hard, objective facts over "hippie" concepts like love, pointing out that they are not deeply questioning the nature of truth itself. Discovery of Infinite Wealth: Leo likens the process of self-realization to a metaphorical millionaire who doesn't know their own wealth because they've never checked their bank account—suggesting that realization comes from finally looking within and discovering 'infinite' internal resources. Final Thoughts and Future Content: In conclusion, Leo encourages viewers to visit his website for more resources on personal development. He reiterates that his teachings aim at opening minds to a profound understanding of love across all facets of life and that future episodes will continue to guide viewers towards a higher consciousness and understanding beyond political ideologies while emphasizing the deeper insights available in his content. Amortentia

Satisfaction Meditation - How To Make Meditation Enjoyable! https://youtu.be/quiontVtJ5U Satisfaction Meditation Technique Introduction: Leo unveils a simple and effective meditation technique focusing on satisfaction, arising from a previous episode about overcoming people pleasing and loneliness. This method is about being content without external stimuli or rewards. Basics of Satisfaction Meditation: The practice involves sitting comfortably with open eyes, without trying to manipulate any thoughts or chase enlightened states. The core objective is to bask in the present moment and feel deeply satisfied with mere existence. Subtle Shift to Appreciation: Leo encourages a subtle shift in awareness toward the present moment, appreciating its overlooked beauty without worrying about survival goals or problems. Nudging Towards Satisfaction: The key action in satisfaction meditation is gently nudging oneself to be satisfied with the current moment. This creates a positive feedback loop of being satisfied with the sensation of satisfaction, growing it further. Avoidance of Future-oriented Mindset: It's crucial to resist the tendency to fantasize about different scenarios or improvements to the current moment. Instead, focus on being content without seeking other experiences. Transformation from Satisfaction to Bliss: With consistent practice, initial satisfaction may deepen into profound contentment, pleasure, bliss, and a love for existence, although one should not chase these states but allow them to develop naturally. Personal Meditation Experiences: Leo shares that his personal meditation has been hindered by a pursuit of mystical experiences. Satisfaction meditation helps overcome the craving for future states and promotes being present. Meditation as an End in Itself: Satisfaction meditation redirects focus so that the practice is the goal itself, not a means to achieve enlightenment or mystical states. True happiness is then redefined as contentment with the present conditions. Connection to People Pleasing and Loneliness: Satisfaction meditation serves as a remedy to the dissatisfaction leading to people pleasing and loneliness by instilling contentment with one's existence without the need for external validation. Application in Daily Life: The technique is applicable to everyday life circumstances, where one can invoke the feeling of satisfaction during otherwise frustrating or lonely moments to maintain a sense of contentment. Warnings Against Misuse: It's important not to use satisfaction meditation as a covert attempt to reach enlightenment or mystical states, as that contradicts the principle of just being present and content. No Guarantees in Meditation: Engaging in meditation with the goal of enlightenment or awakening offers no certainty of success. Leo points out that intense striving for such outcomes can be counterproductive and hinder the ability to remain present. The Counterintuitiveness of Letting Go: Leo suggests that the intense pursuit of future states can sabotage spiritual growth. He recommends letting go of this pursuit to truly embrace and appreciate the present, stressing that spirituality is about cultivating a love for existence that is practiced in the current moment. Challenges to Satisfaction: Leo acknowledges the difficulty in finding satisfaction due to everyday worries and aspirations. He describes this as a mental trap and proposes the practice of letting go and focusing on the satisfaction available in the present as the solution. The Power of Letting Go: Leo refers to his episode on the importance of letting go and how it is relevant to overcoming the mind's resistances to being satisfied with the present. Mechanical vs. Enjoyable Meditation: Unlike other mechanical or unenjoyable meditation practices done for future benefit, satisfaction meditation's aim is to be happy in the current moment without any ulterior motive. Satisfaction as a Shortcut: Leo posits that satisfaction meditation is a way to bypass the need for enlightenment or mystical experiences by going straight to the source—satisfaction itself which is the presumed end goal of chasing such experiences. Subtle Shift through Practice: Regular practice of satisfaction meditation can transform meditation from a chore to an enjoyable experience, cultivating genuine anticipation for the practice. Overcoming Survival Conditioning: Leo discusses how long-term survival conditioning can prevent individuals from allowing themselves to be happy without reason. He explains the need to realize that the happiness derived from chasing achievements is unsustainable. Satisfaction Meditation and Daily Practice: Leo emphasizes the need to practice satisfaction meditation regularly, noting its potential to affect positive change in daily life and overall happiness levels. Building the Satisfaction Muscle: He highlights the difference between the temporary highs from dopamine spikes and the sustainable contentment developed through satisfaction meditation. Leo urges viewers to work on strengthening their ability to be content with existence, as this is a skill that has dwindled in modern society due to constant stimuli offering dopamine hits. Balancing Life Pursuits with Satisfaction: Leo clarifies that satisfaction meditation does not imply giving up on life goals but rather adds depth to those experiences, making one's pursuits "the icing on the cake." The Risks of Never Being Satisfied: Leo warns of the dangers of not being able to appreciate perfect situations, which can result in profound unhappiness, potentially leading to depression or suicidal thoughts. He insists that the ability to be satisfied is crucial and must be developed independently of external conditions. Long-Term Gains from Satisfaction Meditation: Consistent practice of satisfaction meditation over years can lead to contentment, peace, and accidental mystical experiences. These arise not from actively seeking them, but from a complete surrender to the present moment, which in its essence is the absolute truth of existence. Enjoyment as a Key to Meditation: To reach deep meditative states, one must enjoy the practice, as it can involve extensive time commitment. Enjoying the process is fundamental, and if it becomes a grind, one should adjust their approach for a more fulfilling experience. Spirituality Misaligned with Joy: A spiritual practice that feels like a grind and lacks joy and satisfaction is fundamentally flawed. Leo advises that spirituality should not be approached as a tedious task, but as a process that should be enjoyed, bringing satisfaction from mere existence. Reframing Work and Personal Development: Apply the principles of enjoying the process not only to meditation but also to work, personal growth, and self-actualization. Changing one's attitude towards these aspects of life to make them enjoyable can lead to a state of flow and effortless task execution. Rejecting the Rush for Results: It's not sustainable to rush through work and personal development just to achieve results. Enjoying these processes leads to lasting productivity and satisfaction. Avoiding Quantification in Life's Pursuits: Focusing on numerical goals such as the number of books read or money accumulated can detract from the true enjoyment and satisfaction of life's experiences. Contemplating True Happiness: Leo urges viewers to contemplate and understand happiness for themselves through direct experiences, differentiating it from transient dopamine-driven pleasure. Owning Your Personal Development: It is critical to translate abstract insights into actionable techniques and not expect to be spoon-fed every step of the way. This self-reliance is essential for successful personal development. Life Purpose and Satisfaction: Aligning with one's life purpose can lead to deep contentment without relying on dopamine spikes, as it activates the satisfaction reward circuit. Resources are available on actualized.org for exploring one's life purpose. The Flow State and Reading: Leo shares how shifting his perspective on reading to a slower pace allowed him to enjoy the process and enter a flow state, which is devoid of quantifying achievements or rushing through the material. Episkey

The Top Dangers Of Using Psychedelics https://youtu.be/mgLTBJBWZtM Risk of Overdosing: Overdosing can be mild, causing discomfort and danger, or extreme, leading to possible death. Users must understand proper dosages and use precision to avoid taking too much. Physical Harm During Trips: Trips can result in self-inflicted injuries if users lose control or are in unsafe environments. Safe, indoor locations and sitting still can prevent this kind of physical harm. Vomiting from Psychedelics: To prevent nausea and vomiting, it's advised to consume psychedelics on an empty stomach, waiting at least four hours after eating. Severity of Bad Trips: Bad trips can be intensely frightening, with perception of never-ending torment and loss of reality. This can be avoided by taking lower doses and having a grounded, psychologically stable mindset. Misuse and Abuse by Inexperienced Users: Lack of research and careless attitudes lead to misuse. It's important to stress safety and education, especially since some approach psychedelics with immaturity or competitiveness. Facing Fears and Trauma on Psychedelics: Psychedelics may bring up repressed fears and traumas, which is part of growth. However, high doses might unleash too much too quickly, causing distress rather than healing. Importance of Experience and Intention in Psychedelic Use: Those considering psychedelics should be well-informed, prepared for potential effects, and avoid high doses that are taken for egoic reasons or to impress others. Contemplating and Situating for Psychedelics: Ensuring a safe physical space and preparing to remain still during a trip can reduce the risks of physical harm. Avoiding outdoor or dangerous settings is recommended. Understanding the full impact of psychedelics: With over 100 personal trips and extensive research, Leo emphasizes the need to comprehend both the positive and the transformative potential of psychedelics alongside the risks and dangers. Emphasizing the dangers before benefits: Although Leo advocates the use of psychedelics, he dedicates this particular episode to focus solely on the dangers without discussing the benefits to provide a comprehensive understanding of the risks. Sharing from Direct Experience: Leo’s insights on the dangers of psychedelics come from his own experiences, interactions with users, and theoretical study, giving him credibility in outlining these dangers. Sober Mind Required for Psychedelic Use: Psychedelics necessitate a sober and responsible approach, aiming to avoid reckless behavior and to understand the serious nature of the substances being used. Comprehensive List of Dangers: The episode lists nearly all conceivable dangers, topped by the risk of overdosing, to ensure users are fully aware of what they may encounter. Dangers of Dosage Negligence: Users often underestimate the potency of psychedelics and take doses that are too high, leading to dangerous outcomes which can include extreme disorientation and psychological issues. Psychological Risks in Negative Spirals: Paranoid or depressive minds are more susceptible to bad trips, making it crucial to manage doses according to one's psychological state and ability to control negative thoughts. Integration of Trauma through Measured Exposure: Psychedelics may compel users to confront personal traumas, but it's key to do so incrementally with lower doses to prevent overwhelming and potentially damaging experiences. Personal Responsibility in Psychedelic Use: The decision to engage with psychedelics should be personal, well-considered, and backed by informed knowledge about the substances' effects and risks. Misconception about Dose Importance: Increasing psychedelic dosage does not necessarily yield better results. Like overdoing it in the gym can cause injury, excessively high doses can lead to trauma and prolonged recovery, hampering progress. The Proper Rate of Deconstruction: Gradual mind deconstruction with psychedelics is beneficial, but an excessive rate can cause psychological instability, existential crises, and severe mental health problems. Potential Long-Term Consequences: Overwhelming experiences with psychedelics may lead to PTSD, anxiety, nightmares, depression, and solipsism, which can hinder regular personal development activities. Psychological Instability and Loss of Illusions: High doses of psychedelics can result in a loss of a sense of reality, illusions, depersonalization, and even lead to institutionalization due to mental health crises. Managing Confusion: Psychedelics can cause confusion about reality, which if mismanaged, can lead to stress and imprudent decisions with lasting impacts. Mental Illness and Psychedelic Use: Individuals with mental illnesses should approach psychedelics with extreme caution; while they may offer benefits for some, they can also exacerbate psychological issues significantly. Research and Mental Illness: Thorough personal research and learning from the experiences of others with similar conditions are vital before using psychedelics, especially for those with mental illnesses. Psychedelics Impacting Life Goals: Usage can lead individuals to question and potentially abandon important life pursuits, like business or family commitments, sometimes to the detriment of one's previously set goals. Psychedelics as Escape from Survival Problems: Using psychedelics might make basic life challenges and survival seem insignificant, which can derail individuals' focus from building a successful life in the material world. Neglecting Material Responsibilities: Engaging deeply in psychedelics can lead to a diminished concern for material responsibilities such as jobs, household tasks, and family care. It's essential not to neglect these aspects of life despite the allure of mystical experiences. Balance Between Mystical and Material Realms: Achieving success in material reality is important for overall well-being and can influence one's spiritual pursuits. Keeping an eye on both spiritual growth and practical life necessities is crucial. Social Isolation Risks: Psychedelic use might result in withdrawing from social interactions and becoming isolated, which can create a solipsistic, antisocial mindset. Risks of Making Rash Decisions Post-Trip: Decisions made shortly after a psychedelic experience might be impulsive and regrettable. Waiting for at least a week to stabilize before making significant life decisions is recommended. Demotivating Impact on Meditation Practice: Psychedelics can significantly demotivate a regular meditation practice by providing a shortcut to states of consciousness that traditionally take years of practice to achieve. Dangers of Chronic Psychedelic Use: Using psychedelics more than once every two weeks can lead to dependency, erosion of the sense of reality, and a decrease in mental clarity. Corruption of Mystical Insights by the Ego: Insights gained during psychedelic experiences can be misinterpreted by the ego upon returning to normal consciousness, leading to delusional beliefs and behaviors like messiah complexes or unwarranted feelings of enlightenment. Importance of Continued Self-Inquiry: It is important to maintain a clear and unbiased mind through self-inquiry and other practices to avoid corrupting the understanding of psychedelic visions with personal biases and egotisms. Misinterpretation of Mystical Experiences: Engaging with psychedelics without a clear and unbiased mind leads to toxic mystical experiences influenced by personal biases which Leo refers to as "zen devilry." Incomplete Understanding of Reality: Users might believe they have a full grasp on reality after one or two psychedelic experiences, but comprehending its many facets usually requires multiple trips and years of exploration. Pain of Disconnection from God: Repeated experiences of god consciousness can create a pain of disconnection in regular life, which may lead to addiction to the feelings experienced under psychedelics, potentially degrading quality of life. Potential for Suicidal Thoughts: Psychedelics can induce suicidal tendencies due to various reasons, such as feelings of meaninglessness or a desire to merge with God. Immediate discontinuation is recommended if such thoughts arise. Legal Implications of Psychedelic Use: Awareness of the legal risks associated with psychedelics is crucial, including understanding the laws and potential consequences of getting caught with these substances. Consequences of Distributing Psychedelics: Sharing psychedelics with others can lead to being tried as a drug dealer, which entails serious legal repercussions. It's essential to avoid any actions that might imply distribution. Taking Unknown Substances: Consuming substances without understanding their source, purity, or dosage is extremely risky. Users should only take substances from trusted sources to ensure safety. Toxicity from Impure Substances: Taking impure substances can cause physical harm. Substances like MDMA and LSD, especially from unreliable sources like raves, can contain high levels of impurities. Physically Damaging Psychedelics: Certain psychedelics such as ketamine, MDMA, and nitrous oxide can cause physical damage to the body. Users should stick to classic psychedelics like DMT, mescaline, mushrooms, and LSD for safety. Avoiding Dangerous Substances: Some psychedelics like salvia and deterra are considered dangerous due to their chaotic effects and should be avoided entirely. Bad Interactions with Medications: Mixing psychedelics with certain medications, especially SSRIs, can be lethal, and users should thoroughly research any potential interactions before using psychedelics. Risks of Mixing Substances: Combining multiple chemical substances can lead to unforeseen and potentially fatal interactions; users are cautioned to avoid mixing substances. Risks of combining psychedelics with other substances: Combining psychedelics with medications, supplements, or other psychedelics can lead to dangerous interactions, making it difficult to identify which substance is causing what effect. It is safest to use one chemical at a time. Gateway to recreational hard drugs: Psychedelics can potentially lead to the use of hard drugs like cocaine or heroin, which can be dangerous and addictive. Users must draw a clear line between psychedelics and recreational drugs. Chronic weed addiction: The combination of weed with psychedelics may enhance the experience for some but carries the risk of paranoia and addiction, especially when weed is used frequently. Hazards of tripping in recreational areas: Tripping in environments like parties, raves, or outdoors can lead to dangerous situations. A comfortable and private space is the safest setting for using psychedelics. Dangers of research chemicals: New and understudied research chemicals carry unknown risks and the possibility of receiving harmful batches. It is important to be cautious and well-informed before using these substances. Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD): HPPD is a rare but possible long-lasting effect of psychedelics causing visual and auditory distortions that can interfere with enjoying normal life. Legal consequences of extraction and synthesis: Extracting, synthesizing, or growing psychedelics can result in being charged with operating a drug lab, leading to severe legal penalties, including prison. Potential for online scams: Purchasing psychedelics online can be risky due to scams and the chance of financial loss or receiving fake products. Driving under the influence: Leo advises against driving while on psychedelics to prevent accidents and recommends waiting until the effects have nearly worn off before operating a vehicle. Common mistakes with psychedelics: Users often make errors such as treating psychedelics irresponsibly, using high and inaccurate doses, frequent use, tripping in dangerous or social environments, not staying still, and underestimating the impact of existing mental illnesses. Psychedelic use requires caution and risk management: All activities have inherent risks, and while many hazards of psychedelic use can be managed, it requires responsibility and mindfulness. If someone is very risk-averse, psychedelics might not be suitable for them. Avoiding recklessness in psychedelic experiences: Good practice includes accurately measuring doses, avoiding chronic use, and steering clear of environments that can lead to adverse outcomes. Maturity and stability are crucial for avoiding the top mistakes made by psychedelic users. Lack of theoretical foundation: Without a solid theoretical understanding of metaphysics, epistemology, and non-dual consciousness, using psychedelics can be misguided. Leo warns against neglecting the intellectual groundwork provided through Actualized.org and similar resources. Neglecting personal development work: Assuming psychedelics will handle all aspects of personal growth is a mistake. Practices like meditation, reading, and contemplation are necessary for a well-rounded spiritual journey. Premature cessation of psychedelic exploration: Leo highlights the error in thinking that a few psychedelic trips are enough to grasp their essence. He suggests that it can take around a hundred trips to start to understand the potential of psychedelics for spiritual growth. Treating psychedelic use as a long-term process: It's essential to spread out psychedelic journeys and treat them as a multi-year exploration rather than a quick fix. As usage increases, so does the necessity for caution and methodical practice. Individual responsibility in deciding to use psychedelics: Leo emphasizes that the decision to engage with psychedelics is personal. His goal is to outline their risks and potential benefits without convincing anyone to use them. Importance of psychedelics in understanding reality: Psychedelics can provide the most direct understanding of reality, God, love, and consciousness. Even though permanent enlightenment might not be achieved, the experience itself can have great benefits. Responsible promotion of psychedelics: Leo plans to advocate for responsible psychedelic use further, emphasizing its role in understanding metaphysical and spiritual concepts that may remain obscure through other methods. Societal transformation and responsible paths for psychedelic use: Leo believes society needs to change its views on psychedelics and create a responsible path that includes not just clinical but spiritual use for the highest metaphysical understanding and human development. Future emphasis on psychedelics by Leo: He plans to expand on the importance of psychedelics in the context of Actualized.org’s teachings, aiming to integrate them as a crucial supplement to traditional spiritual practices. Commitment to responsible usage: Leo promises to maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards irresponsible use of psychedelics, insisting on high standards of conduct and preparation for those following this path. Confundo

Why God Forgives Devilry & Evil https://youtu.be/J0KwqCGl_F8 "He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love." - John 4:8-6 King James Version Inspiration and Changing Topics: Leo was inspired to shift from his planned topic to one about the nature of God, love, and forgiveness, detailing why God forgives devilry and evil—a theme perplexing to many. God's Forgiveness and Devilry: The discussion begins with the assertion that God, defined here as infinite consciousness, forgives all forms of devilry, including wars, violence, and exploitation. Leo discusses how humans may enjoy the benefits of devilry without acknowledging their part in it. God as Everything and Judgment: Since God is infinite consciousness, it includes and accepts all aspects of itself without judgment. The idea that God condemns or punishes is refuted, as this would imply God is at war with itself, which is not possible at the level of infinite consciousness. Selflessness and Infinite Imaginability: Leo talks about God's selflessness, explaining that God is beyond finite self-identities. God can imagine all possible selves because it is not limited to a single, finite self. Being selfless allows God to incarnate as any form. Personal Obstacles to Forgiveness: Leo invites the audience to consider what they struggle to forgive, such as personal betrayals or historical atrocities. He links the difficulty of forgiving to the attachment and limitation of the finite self. Infinite Self vs. Finite Self: The discussion elaborates on the inherent conflict between the infinite self (unlimited and selfless) and the finite self (limited and survival-oriented), suggesting that the challenge is to rise beyond the finite self to experience oneness and forgiveness. God's Infinite Creative Potential: God, as infinite consciousness, has the power to imagine any reality or experience, including physical and metaphysical forms of existence. Existential Crisis and Loss of Mind: The contemplation of being everything can lead to what is culturally considered insanity. Leo warns that losing one's mind can happen in healthy or unhealthy ways, with the latter potentially causing significant harm. Trade-off Between Finite and Infinite: There's a tension between experiencing oneself as a finite being and recognizing oneself as the infinite consciousness. Balancing this tension is key to understanding the notion of infinity and selflessness. Redefining Love and Truth: In this context, love and truth converge, becoming synonymous with an unconditional acceptance and surrender to all that is, embracing creation, the creator, and the act of creation itself. Finite Self and Survival Biases: The difficulty in forgiving is rooted in the fact that as finite selves, humans have survival agendas that skew their perceptions towards what they need to survive. Our inability to forgive is tied to threats to our survival, marking forgiveness challenges as ultimately a form of selfishness. Infinite Self and Non-Attachment: From the perspective of the infinite Self, or God, there is no attachment to finite self-survival or material outcomes. Without concern for life, death, or personal achievements, the infinite Self forgives everything effortlessly because it remains unbiased and accepts all experiences equally. Finite Self's Desires and Bias: The finite self's desires create a self-serving dream of life involving aspirations for family, career, and personal pleasure while eschewing suffering and hardship. These biases lead to a selective approach to reality and the rejection of experience that contradict personal desires. Hatred as a Mechanism of Avoidance: Hatred arises from the finite self's need to navigate away from undesirable aspects of reality. The distaste for certain life events shapes the individual's life trajectory, attempting to ensure outcomes align with personal biases and attachments. God as Creator and Experiencer of Everything: Contrary to the finite self, God as infinite consciousness is both the perpetrator and the victim in any act. God's ability to forgive stems from the understanding that it embodies both roles. In any situation, God perceives all parties involved as aspects of itself, which obviates the potential for self-judgment or condemnation. Judgment and Conscious Separation: Humans' capacity to judge and feel joy in the suffering of others—whether in war or ideological conflicts—arises from a sense of separation between self and others. This separation is absent in God's consciousness. Understanding and Forgiving Evil: God's forgiveness is tied to understanding the inevitable survival-driven behavior of individuals in twisted circumstances. When humans, especially children, are subjected to severe adversity, they may resort to what is labeled as 'monstrous' due to a natural response to their environment. Non-Distinction Between Aspects of Itself: God's lack of a finite self implies that it harbors no biases, which permits an equal acceptance of all parts of reality. God's infinite consciousness does not differentiate between what humans perceive as different or opposing entities or events, even those considered abstractly evil. Survival as a Necessary Aspect of Finite Existence: God is conscious of survival being critical for the finite self, which puts it in a position to understand and forgive all actions motivated by a need to survive. God recognizes all behavior, even those deemed devilish, as a legitimate expression of the struggle for existence. Physical Differences as Imagination: In God's infinite consciousness, the physical differences that humans perceive through science and sensory experiences lose meaning. What seems materially different at a finite level, like the difference between flavors or even ice cream and excrement, melts away at the higher levels of consciousness where distinctions do not exist. Transcending Dualistic Constructs: At the highest levels of consciousness, the distinction between constructs such as human and non-human, right and wrong, pain and pleasure, all dissolve. Judgments and criticisms become irrelevant because true infinite consciousness encompasses and transcends these dualities. Equality of Experience: Imagine attaining such a consciousness that experiences typically seen as opposite, like pleasure from an orgasm and pain from being struck, are not differentiated. This idea stems from an understanding that distinctions are primarily based on survival bias and egoic attachments; transcended when one reaches pure infinite consciousness. Metaphysics of Love: At a profound metaphysical level, love is realized not just as an emotion but as the absence of all distinctions and biases. True love is the recognition that all apparent differences are imaginary, leading to infinite love, truth, and self-acceptance born from complete surrender to experiencing all aspects of existence without resistance. Embracing the Self in Totality: Infinite consciousness leads to embracing every aspect of existence as a reflection of one's self, including aspects traditionally labeled as 'evil.' This total embrace is the ultimate surrender to the truth of what we are, and is the nature of God or infinite consciousness. The Game of Reality: Reality is understood as an infinite journey of becoming more selfless, giving up finite desires, and biases to embrace and realize the infinite self. This journey involves the potential dissolution of individual identity and physical form, embracing all experiences without exception, and is the essence of ultimate existence. Non-resistance to Evil: Acknowledging and embodying the idea that 'evil' is part of everything, and transcending the urge to fight or resist it. True overcoming of evil involves understanding and accepting that it is not separate from oneself but a part of the whole. Understanding Civilizational Constructs: Societal structures are finite and based on exclusions necessary for their existence, highlighting the inherent limitations and trade-offs of civilization. Paradoxically, in the attempt to build 'ideal' societies, acts of 'evil' occur, illustrating the counterintuitive nature of resisting evil. Surrender to Existence: God's forgiveness and understanding come from the realization that all creation, including traditionally perceived evils, are part of itself. This embodiment of evils leads to a transcendence of pain, suffering, and even death, aligning with the infinite state of consciousness where distinctions and biases are irrelevant. Perfection Beyond Human Conception: Perfection from an infinite consciousness perspective is not the finite human idea of ideal living conditions but an all-encompassing oneness. True perfection is the recognition and acceptance of the entire spectrum of reality and existence as an expression of infinity. God's Non-Exclusionary Nature: Infinite consciousness, as God, does not experience loss or exclusion, counters human belief that choosing one experience (e.g., living in a slum) excludes another (e.g., living in a mansion). God's dream includes living in every house and being every type of human, an accepting approach that contrasts sharply with human ideals and preferences for appearance and life conditions. Infinite Variety of Existential Experiences: The human pursuit of an ideal form through methods like plastic surgery is a limited concept of perfection. In contrast, true absolute perfection from the perspective of infinite consciousness involves experiencing life as every kind of human, including both the conventionally beautiful and those faced with physical challenges, ultimately incorporating all into consciousness and achieving infinity. Limitless Forms of Conscious Incarnation: Humans often harbor biases, such as preferring to be a certain majestic animal or themselves, but that limits their experiences. Infinite consciousness suggests the possibility and desire to incarnate as all forms of life, not restricting oneself to a single choice, which reflects an infinitely more expansive and conscious way of thinking. Human Suffering Derived from a Narrow Perspective: From a narrow human perspective, life experiences are limited, leading to suffering, self-hatred, and judgment. This limited existence is held onto as "sanity," whereas concepts like infinite love and acceptance are viewed as insane, despite being a more promising path to contentment. Contrast Between Finite Human Desires and God's Understanding: Humans, restricted by narrow perspectives, desire finite pleasures and conveniences, which God understands and forgives. God's infinite nature allows it to be unaffected by human traits such as selfishness and judgment, while also being aware of human limitations and obstacles. Compassion of Infinite Consciousness: Infinite consciousness, as God, orchestrates and participates in all experiences, including human ignorance and unconsciousness. God embodies deep compassion for finite entities trapped within limitations, understanding itself through these finite forms without judgment or interference to end suffering. Life as a Test of Love: Life challenges us with 'nightmares' that ultimately test our capacity to love and raise our consciousness. The true purpose of existence is seen as expanding one's capacity to love until reaching infinity, with God understanding that humans are limited in their capacity but can work towards this goal. The Fallacy of Isolation and Wealth: Wealthy individuals sometimes isolate themselves from life's hardships, falsely assuming they are advancing personal growth. However, true self-actualization comes from engaging directly with life's challenges and expanding one's consciousness, rather than from cherry-picking and avoiding certain experiences. Misguided Pursuits of Happiness: Material pursuits like wealth and luxury are seen as insufficient for genuine fulfillment. The true measure of one's life and the key to happiness is expanding consciousness rather than accumulating finite possessions or experiences. Forgiveness as a Path to Divine-Like State: Practicing forgiveness is suggested as a way to align closer to God's infinite state of consciousness. The ability to forgive the ignorance and unconsciousness in oneself and others is a step towards embodying a godlike presence and achieving true happiness. Forgiveness as Godlike Virtue: Leo discusses the transformative power of forgiveness, considering an ultimate capacity for it as 'godlike.' He encourages viewers to evaluate their own ability to forgive on a scale of 1 to 10, and suggests that genuine forgiveness requires not just psychological efforts but also an expansion of consciousness towards a 'god consciousness.' Personal Responsibility in Increasing Forgiveness: He elaborates that increasing one's capacity to forgive, though not to perfection, improves life quality and happiness. This capacity can be enhanced through guided exercises, as well as spiritual practices like yoga, meditation, self-inquiry, and psychedelics. Limits to Human Forgiveness: While true perfection in forgiveness is unattainable for humans, advancement is possible. Leo stresses that guilt over not achieving a perfect score in forgiveness is counterproductive, and self-improvement should focus on practicable growth rather than striving for unattainable perfection. Forgiveness Tied to Love and Understanding: Leo describes forgiveness as intimately related to love, understanding of ignorance, and unconsciousness. Forgiveness involves surrendering, accepting, and understanding oneself, reflecting the synonymous nature of these concepts. Intent of Sharing Experiences: He articulates that his motivation for sharing insights comes from direct experiences and personal growth, not from existing ideologies or teachings. The sharing is aimed not at creating dogma but at illustrating the potential for individual transcendence and consciousness transformation. Value of Personal Exploration: The importance of direct, personal exploration of consciousness beyond mere belief or story sharing is underscored. Leo likens it to exploring the Amazon and stresses the need for individuals to personally undertake the journey to experience transformation. Inspiration and Technique Sharing: Leo clarifies that his role is to open minds to the possibilities of consciousness expansion, inspire action, and provide practical techniques for exploration. He laments viewers' reluctance to apply these techniques, emphasizing that actual transformation requires personal commitment to action. Warnings Against Complacency: The video warns of the dangers of becoming complacent with entertainment and distractions, urging viewers to live a self-actualizing life by continually challenging themselves and expanding their consciousness. Roles and Functions of the Speaker: Leo portrays himself as a guide who presents possibilities, inspires action, shares techniques, and helps avoid pitfalls in the pursuit of consciousness expansion and self-actualization. He calls to action to avoid wasting life's potential and to embrace the tedious but transformative journey of personal growth. Intrinsic Motivation and Inspiration: Leo explains that intrinsic motivation and being inspired—'filled with spirit'—are essential for success in life. He attributes the content of his lectures to the universe speaking through him and emphasizes the importance of feeling spiritually motivated. Content to Expand Perspectives: He mentions that his blog, main videos, and secondary channel ActualizedClips, which features shorter segments, are resources created to share high consciousness content and expand viewers' perspectives. Importance of Direct Consciousness and Experiences: Leo stresses the significance of not only understanding his teachings on an intellectual level but also experiencing them directly. Without such experiences, there's a risk that the teachings could become counterproductive, leading to dissatisfaction or depression. Gap Between Theory and Reality: Leo warns about the disconnect between the conceptual understanding of a beautiful, loving life and the stark reality of one's personal life. He advises bridging this gap by eventually moving from theory to practice. Actualization versus Communication: He admits that he speaks about concepts that he has not fully actualized himself. His aim is to expose viewers to the full range of human possibilities without imposing his personal limits on them. The Journey Is Messy and Non-Linear: He acknowledges the spiritual journey's non-linear nature—marked by backslides, ego backlashes, and confusions—and emphasizes the importance of keeping on despite the messiness and unique challenges personal to everyone's experience. Effective Use of Time: Leo discusses the finite nature of time and the importance of learning from mistakes without repetition to ensure growth and progress in the spiritual journey. Transition from Theory to Practice: He advises viewers to shift from theory learning to practical application after a certain period. This transition is crucial to prevent the theory from becoming dysfunctional due to a lack of actual practice. Challenges of Conscious Exploration: Leo reflects on the difficulties related to bridging the gap between knowing and living the teachings. He emphasizes the real and gradual nature of life transformations through continual learning, correcting mistakes, and growing. Colloportus

The Dangers Of Misapplying Spiritual Teachings https://youtu.be/HcPqApdlODY "The psychotic drowns in the same waters in which the mystic swims." - Joseph Campbell Seriousness of Spiritual Misinterpretation: This section begins with Leo discussing the suicide of an actualized.org forum member who jumped off a bridge for "spiritual purposes". Leo stresses the importance of understanding the potential risk of misconstruing his teachings. He repeatedly emphasizes the need for viewers to heed the warnings and traps he outlines in his content, acknowledging the diversity of his audience's mental health and capacities. Recurrence of Warnings: Leo points out that his episodes are lengthy because he covers in detail the mental traps and the errors one can make in spiritual practice. He worries that important disclaimers might be missed when viewers skim long-form content, and recognizes the difficulty in conveying advanced teachings to a vast and heterogeneous audience. Risk of Misinterpretation Due to Skimming Content: Though Leo's videos include numerous warnings and disclaimers, there is still a risk viewers may overlook essential information by not fully engaging with the long videos. This poses a challenge to effectively communicate the gravity of spiritual misconceptions. Prevalence of Suicide and the Scope of Leo's Audience: Leo highlights the scope of the issue of suicide, citing staggering statistics and reflecting on his global audience. He worries about the possible impact his teachings could have, considering the millions of views his content receives. Complexity in Catering Advanced Teachings to a Wide Audience: Spiritual and personal development content tends to attract individuals who are the most in need but also most susceptible to misinterpretation. Leo recognizes the challenge he faces in trying to cater to this diverse audience, which includes people with various mental disorders or unstable minds. Historical Taboo of Advanced Spiritual Teachings: Teaching profound spiritual insights has historically been risky and remained within esoteric circles because such teachings threaten established societal structures and invite controversy. Ideas Connected to Survival: Ideas, even seemingly philosophical or metaphysical ones, are deeply linked to survival, which is a matter Leo takes seriously. He articulates the paradox of recognizing attachments as illusory yet caring deeply about the unfolding of life's "dream." Attachments to Life's 'Illusory Dream': Despite the understanding that life is an illusory dream, Leo admits to having attachments, like his purpose to spread wisdom, showing a balance between recognizing the illusory nature of existence and maintaining practical goals. Necessity of Material Concerns for Spiritual Teaching: In order to teach and spread spiritual work, one must attend to seemingly mundane, material concerns like money. Leo explains that ignoring these concerns can result in practical consequences, such as an inability to pay bills and maintain the means to deliver his teachings. Understanding the Role of God in Practical Life: Leo clarifies that God is not separate from us, guiding our lives from above; rather, our thought processes and practical decisions are expressions of God at work in a realistic and tangible manner. Ideas as Dangerous and Influential: Leo emphasizes that ideas are not merely philosophical speculations but can have significant real-world consequences. He gives examples from politics where extreme ideologies can be harmful and discusses how society has historically placed restrictions on speech to protect its structural integrity. Complexity in Teaching Spiritual Truths Without Misinterpretation: Teaching deep spiritual truths is fraught with the risk of misinterpretation. Leo addresses the challenge of conveying these truths without them being misconstrued, weaponized, or turned into ideologies that people might adhere to fanatically or reject violently. Risks Involved in Spiritual Practices: Leo discusses the inherent risks in even the simplest spiritual activities, such as nature retreats, where unforeseen dangers like wildlife or accidents can occur. He extends this to the risks of meditation and spiritual work, highlighting the importance of awareness of the dangers and common sense when engaging in these practices. Guidance to Avoid Harmful Misapplication of Teachings: Leo asserts that if his teachings lead to any form of suffering or danger, it indicates a misinterpretation or misuse. He stresses the need for common sense, care, and the ability to recognize when one's mind is deceiving oneself in the context of spiritual work. Concept of a 'Spiritual Emergency': The term "spiritual emergency" is introduced to describe the complications that arise when deep spiritual work leads to confusion, distress, and a heavily deconstructed psyche. He cites Stan Grof's work on the subject to explain the seriousness of these transformative yet potentially destabilizing experiences. Spiritual Emergency: A spiritual emergency is a state where intense deconstruction of the mind leads to a melting of perceived reality, causing emotional distress, confusion, and potentially exacerbating mental illness or childhood trauma. This can result in paranoid behavior and interpreting mystical visions in demonic or disturbing ways. Potential Impacts of Intense Meditation: Leo shares an anecdote of a meditation retreat participant who, after reaching deep meditative states, experienced hallucinations and a sense of losing his mind. To cope, the participant sought out psychotherapy literature and, despite eventually overcoming this challenge, he faced the risk of self-harm due to the destabilizing effects of the experience. Risks of Advanced Workshops: Leo discusses an incident at a consciousness workshop where a participant became psychotic, necessitating police intervention. This highlights the danger of intensive spiritual practices triggering erratic behavior and the loss of touch with consensual reality. Enlightenment Intensives and Emotional Volatility: An example from enlightenment intensive retreats shows people expressing violent rage or exhibiting erratic behavior as a result of deep self-inquiry. This includes the case of a woman who nearly attempted to stab another participant, demonstrating the extreme emotional responses that can occur. Unsuited Individuals for Spiritual Work: Spirituality can be dangerous for those without a stable mind or life situation, lacking basic survival skills, or deep theoretical understanding of spiritual practice, increasing the likelihood of becoming overwhelmed. Complexity of Spiritual Tools and Theoretical Foundation: Leo emphasizes that even listening to hundreds of hours of his talks might not cover all edge cases or dangers, and it is crucial for practitioners to also read, attend various retreats, and engage with different teachers for a firm theoretical grounding. Traumatic Awakening Experience: A story of a woman from the transcendental meditation movement is shared. She suddenly experienced enlightenment years after discontinuing meditation, which resulted in confusion and distress, as neither she nor mental health professionals knew how to handle the loss of her sense of self. Navigating Spiritual Emergency with Limited Information: The woman's ordeal exemplifies the struggles that can ensue when deep spiritual experiences occur without proper context or theoretical understanding, which was common before the advent of accessible information platforms like YouTube. Awakening to Resilience: A woman experienced an unexpected awakening that led her to lose her sense of self, but with reassurance that such experiences are a normal part of spiritual progress, she found happiness again. Eckhart Tolle's Transformation: Eckhart Tolle's peaceful demeanor is a result of overcoming years of severe depression and contemplation of suicide, which culminated in his awakening. This insight into his past challenges the notion that his journey was without extreme suffering. Dark Realities of Spiritual Work: Many individuals globally may go through severe depression and suicide akin to Eckhart Tolle's experience but never reach an awakening, leading to untold stories of tragedy rather than transformative success. Spiritual Work vs. Socially Acceptable Risks: Spiritual work carries risks like any other activity—travel, business, relationships—but these risks are often highlighted due to the ego's fear and the repercussions of social taboos associated with personal transformation. Awareness and Safety Disclosures: Leo admits the difficulty in ensuring every viewer comprehends the safety warnings and is fully aware of the possible dangers, noting that awareness and openness about these issues can help mitigate many risks. Truth's Non-prescriptive Nature and Responsibility: Leo stresses that while truths about morality and criminality are relative, they don't prescribe actions free of consequences; understanding the non-prescriptive nature of truth involves personal responsibility for actions taken. Mind's Capacity to Misconstrue Truths: The human mind can dangerously misinterpret truths or teachings; even seemingly safe religious tenets can be twisted to justify negative actions like murder or suicide, indicating the ubiquity of potential misuse across spiritual and religious contexts. Consequences of Rejecting Spirituality: Denouncing spirituality could lead to an overemphasis on materialism, potentially resulting in lacking moral guidance and increased dissatisfaction or unethical behavior. Materialism and the Loss of Purpose: Without spirituality, people may face existential crises, heightened risk of suicide, and a missing sense of direction in life. Spirituality's Nurturing Role: Despite its dangers, spiritual and religious practices can offer purpose and aid in transitioning from harmful lifestyles to more meaningful and stable existences. Psychedelics as Potential Mental Health Aids: The possible future integration of psychedelics like mushrooms and MDMA into clinical treatments for mental health issues highlights the evolving therapeutic landscape, albeit with its own set of complexities and concerns. Materialistic Nihilism and Suicide: Materialism and capitalism, with their pragmatic nature, lack a spiritual dimension, leading individuals to unhealthy behaviors like sexual promiscuity, substance abuse, and objectification of others. Engaging in such behaviors for an extended period often results in an increase in feelings of suicide due to a lack of meaning and purpose, an existential crisis characterized by hopelessness and nihilism that even wealth cannot resolve, as evidenced by the suicides of public figures like Anthony Bourdain and Avicii. Broad Problem of Suicide: Suicide is a widespread issue transcending religious and spiritual boundaries, rooted in existential despair, not confined to any one belief system or lack thereof. Positive Role of Religion and Spirituality: Properly practiced religion and spirituality can significantly prevent suicide and provide direction in life, particularly effective in helping drug addicts and criminals reform by finding a sense of community and purpose through structured belief systems. Transitions in Personal Development: Individuals often evolve from a purely materialistic stage (orange) to seeking higher fulfillment at a spiritual stage (green), with pursuits like meditation, yoga, and responsible psychedelic use offering relief from depression and a sense of higher purpose, demonstrating parallels between personal growth stages (red to blue, orange to green). Impact of Actualized.org: Leo's work has helped numerous individuals overcome suicidal thoughts and depression by providing guidance and purpose, though some report increased instability after delving into his advanced teachings, highlighting the potential cost and risk intrinsic to the spiritual journey. Danger of Misinterpretation: Leo intends to make audiences more aware of the risky nature of spiritual awakening and the potential dangers of deconstructing reality, emphasizing that his work is advanced and requires grounding in direct experience to prevent destabilization of the mind. Personal Integration of Challenging Insights: Leo shares his experiences with the profound insight that the self-other distinction is illusory, expressing the difficulty in integrating such a realization to the point of questioning one's sanity and the need to approach these insights with caution and depth to fully comprehend their implications. Leo's Personal Insights and Reactions: Leo shares a personal experience where he realized his parents were imaginary, eliciting both horror and joy. While these insights are exhilarating for him, he recognizes that they could cause others significant distress or feelings of madness. Admitting Potential Madness with Psychedelics: He reflects on intense psychedelic experiences that led him to a state of madness. Leo finds value in these states retrospectively but notes the importance of integration and issues a warning about the deep and potentially troubling waters of psychedelic use. Upcoming Content on Psychedelic Dangers: Leo has prepared an episode outlining the dangers of psychedelics, covering the risks and misuses methodically, as a response to misuse seen within his community. This episode reflects his concern for how these substances are handled, demonstrating their strength and importance. Navigating the Good and Perfect Paradox: He discusses the relative and absolute perspectives on the goodness and perfection of everything. While he acknowledges everything is perfect in an absolute sense, he stresses the significance of survival and the quality of life from a practical standpoint. Evolution of Actualized.org and Leo's Teaching Process: Leo outlines the journey of Actualized.org, starting as personal development coaching before evolving into spirituality and awakening. He admits that his teachings are part of a continuous learning process and can sometimes include errors or incomplete insights. Balancing Realizations with Practicality: He reiterates the importance of survival and practical life management as foundational to his teachings. Leo's teachings focus on appreciating the gift of life, mastering survival, and nurturing responsibility and discipline. Clear Distinction between Conceptual and Physical Death: Leo clarifies that despite discussions about ego death, he does not advocate for physical harm or suicide. His teachings aim to help people cherish life, not to squander it. Leo Gura's Views on Suicide: He believes that although suicide isn't fundamentally a moral issue in the absolute sense, it's usually a symptom of a distorted mindset. The reality of life, according to Leo, is full of beauty and love, which should be recognized and enjoyed in the present moment. Addressing the Impulse Toward Suicide: Leo reflects on personal challenges, including suicidal thoughts and a harrowing health battle with a gut infection, highlighting the transient nature of suffering. He urges people to notice if the impulse towards suicide arises, as it indicates an unhealthy mindset. Emphasizing the Importance of Physical Well-being on Mental State: Leo speaks on the significance of maintaining good health for enabling spiritual and mental clarity, using his own health issues as an example to demonstrate the interconnectedness of physical well-being with one's capacity to conduct spiritual work. Coping with Extreme Suffering: Leo details his personal experience with significant health issues that severely impacted his quality of life and led to thoughts of suicide. He reflects on how temporal mental lows can trick one into feeling there's no end to suffering and highlights the importance of committing to not harm one's body as a safeguard. Commitment to Endure Suffering: Emphasizing a commitment to endure suffering, Leo argues that facing life's toughest challenges can lead to personal growth and spiritual purification. He stresses maintaining hope for improvement as a critical factor in overcoming moments of despair. The Illusion of Hopelessness: Leo addresses the deceptive nature of the mind, which can make one feel stuck without alternatives, reinforcing the sentiment of hopelessness. He insists that such feelings are temporary and encourages seeking new avenues for change, which can shift one's perspective and improve the situation. Unique Opportunity of Existence: He reminds viewers of their unique value in the universe and encourages them to find harmony, discover their strengths, and make meaningful contributions to the world, regardless of life's challenges. Importance of Physical Health for Spiritual Practice: Leo underscores the foundational role of good health in spiritual work, connecting it directly to consciousness. Drawing from his struggles with a gut infection, he plans to share strategies for improving mental and physical health in future teachings. Complexity of Spiritual Work: Acknowledging that life and spirituality are infinitely complex, Leo warns against oversimplification and self-deception. He commits to including more disclaimers and warnings in his content to help guide viewers and prevent misinterpretation of his work. Safeguarding Actualized.org's Reputation: He expresses concern that tragic incidents like the forum member’s suicide could be misused to discredit Actualized.org and its teachings. Leo notes the pattern of demonization of powerful teachings in history and aims to provide context to preclude such narratives. Dealing with Misunderstanding and Criticism: Addressing the challenge of criticism from individuals with a materialistic worldview who may dismiss or attack spiritual teachings, Leo asserts the importance of maintaining integrity and standing up against the tendency to suppress or distort truth. Continued Vigilance in Spiritual Exploration: Leo closes by emphasizing the need for discernment, personal responsibility, and ongoing rebalancing while navigating the complexities of life and spirituality. He highlights that there is no simple algorithm for safety and wisdom in such profound work. Tendency to Misrepresent Truth: The ego treats information in a way that blurs the distinction between truth and falsehood, leading to confusion and, potentially, choices that can create chaos such as war and genocide. No Algorithmic Solution to Distinguishing Truth: Discerning truth from falsehood requires individual conscious investigation, experimentation, and direct experience, as there are no fail-proof rules or systems to prevent ignorance. Interdependent Relationship Between Intelligence and Consciousness: Consciousness is necessary for the development of intelligence, and vice versa. Intelligence emerges from a conscious examination of one's own mind and spiritual practices. Leading Responsibly: Leaders must manage responsibilities they may not inherently care about. Leo is learning to be a more responsible leader as a result of confronting incidents and potential misuse of his teachings. Encouraging Personal and Spiritual Development: Viewers are urged to develop their own strategies for a fulfilling life using the broad principles taught by Leo, which are aimed at personal as well as spiritual development. Essential Survival Skills Before Spiritual Exploration: Young individuals are recommended to establish a foundation of survival skills before delving deeply into spirituality. Misconceptions About Leo's Role: Leo clarifies that he is not a personal guru but a person sharing philosophical insight on YouTube. Viewers should discern and apply these ideas individually considering their unique life circumstances. Understanding the Role of Ideas: Ideas can be transformative or destructive depending on how they are interpreted and applied. Emphasis is placed on cautious application of ideas. Absolute Truth and Love as Non-prescriptive: Truth and love are not prescriptive; instead, they should invoke freedom. People may misconstrue these concepts to justify actions when, in reality, all actions are expressions of love. Life as Dynamic Balancing: Leo compares life to balancing on a surfboard, cautioning against becoming rigid in beliefs or actions, and emphasizing the constant need for adjustment and balance. Avis

An Advanced Explanation Of God-Realization https://youtu.be/PgmJj0Gn1WM "This immensity is indescribable, and because of this the soul is dying of love." - St. John of the Cross Distinguishing Awakening, God Realization, and Non-duality: Leo Gura identifies different levels of consciousness, separating classical forms of spiritual awakening from his concept of "God realization." He emphasizes that consciousness can evolve infinitely and that total awakenings can become more total, challenging listeners' logical expectations and traditional spiritual notions. The Spectrum of Consciousness: Leo introduces a y-axis model of consciousness with both upward and downward directions. Downward movement represents the cessation of mental activity, reaching states like the Buddhist 'no self' concept or a void of sensory experience. In contrast, upward movement represents an increase towards an 'infinite mind' or 'God mind.' Upward vs. Downward Movement: Consciousness can move downward, quieting the mind to achieve a state like nothingness or void. However, upward movement is about developing a 'super mind,' leading to an 'infinite mind' without the limitations of ordinary human existence. He insists this ascent differs from egoic processes, introducing a broader and more profound mode of consciousness. Understanding as an Inherent Capacity: Leo argues that consciousness inherently possesses the ability to understand reality, beyond mere knowledge or ego projections, creating a web of connections that can theoretically lead to understanding everything in its entirety. Consciousness has no limits: Emphasizing that consciousness has no limits, Leo reaffirms that every awakening can be superseded by a yet deeper one, highlighting the inherent paradox in such a process. Challenging Traditional Spiritual Teachings: Leo's advanced level of consciousness challenges common spiritual teachings, with a heavy focus on distinct progressions and explaining the nature of an ever-expanding consciousness. Importance of Openness: He stresses the importance of keeping an open mind to grasp the advanced concepts he speaks of, acknowledging the communication challenges they represent due to their complexity and deviation from widely accepted spiritual teachings. Concept of Consciousness and Interconnected Understanding: Leo Gura describes consciousness as being able to exist in various states, from expansive to cessation-like stillness. He emphasizes that consciousness can grasp itself in a synthetic, holistic, and interconnected way. Understanding as Interconnectivity: Leo uses the analogy of interconnected dots to illustrate understanding—each dot (or concept) is connected to every other, creating a complex web that describes the growth of understanding as more connections are made. Monopoly Board Analogy for Understanding Levels: A child who has never seen a game before may see a Monopoly board and its pieces without understanding their purpose or function. Similarly, a meditator with a quiet mind may see reality without grasping its interconnectedness. Adult Perspective on the Monopoly Board: An adult, applying experience, can understand the purpose and function of the Monopoly game pieces. This represents a level of understanding that sees the interconnectedness of parts to a whole, but is still limited compared to understanding the full context, including the game's creation, production, and interconnected human elements. Infinite Understanding: Leo asks us to imagine infinitely expanding our consciousness to understand every detail of a Monopoly board or reality itself. This hypothetical infinite understanding of reality is what he refers to as "God realization." Integrating Feedback in Consciousness Expansion: Leo discusses his personal process of expanding consciousness through creating and releasing content, engaging in research, processing feedback, and reflecting on perspectives from his audience. Detox Protocols Enhancing Consciousness: Leo mentions using detox protocols to remove brain toxins, which he claims improves mood and concentration, resulting in purified, clearer psychedelic experiences and a higher baseline of consciousness. Deepening Understanding Through Content Creation: He finds this process of sharing, reflecting and receiving feedback on his awakenings not contradictory but enriching, integrating isolated insights into a deeper understanding of reality. Significance of Clear Mind in Psychedelic Experiences: By clarifying the mind through detoxification, one's psychedelic experiences can also become clearer, with less turbulence in the flow of consciousness, leading to more profound insights. Clarity and Understanding through Detox and Psychedelics: Leo Gura shares that by detoxifying his brain and clearing his mind, his psychedelic experiences have significantly improved in terms of clarity and interconnectedness. This holistic approach has taken his god realizations to deeper levels, further enhancing his consciousness. Shift to God Realization: Leo describes a distinct threshold in consciousness where one transcends human consciousness and enters god realization. This involves deep interconnectedness with the entirety of one's mind and reality, going beyond concepts of birth, parents, time, and physical existence. God Realization vs. Human Consciousness: He contrasts the experience of god realization with day-to-day human consciousness. Whereas usual consciousness involves believing in the reality of one's personal history, physical existence, and separateness, god realization reveals these as projections of the mind without intrinsic reality. Transcending Time and Space: During his psychedelic experiences, Leo realizes that not only past and future but also the very construct of time itself can be imagined and manipulated in infinite ways. He visualizes time as multi-dimensional, with limitless possible timelines all available to the imagination. Imaginary Nature of Reality: Leo emphasizes that all perceived realities, including scientific concepts like atoms and molecules, are imaginary constructs. He extends this to the realization that people and personal relations are also selections from a possibility space of consciousness. Multiplicity of Memories and Narratives: In the state of god realization, one can access the totality of imagined memories, not just personal ones but all conceivable memories across existence. Every memory people hold, including those of friends and family, is seen as a narrative crafted within consciousness. Illusion of Physical Life: Leo reveals that every aspect of what is considered physical life, including science, memories, and the concept of earth, is a fictional narrative. This understanding allows for a transcendence beyond mundane physical constraints and realizations of life as an illusion crafted by God—or one's self as an aspect of God. Total Ownership as Creator: In the god realization state, individuals take complete ownership of their existence, shedding any notion of otherness present in other mystical or spiritual experiences. This leads to an awareness of one's self as the sole creator of reality, surpassing even the constructs of spirituality and science. Mystical Entities as Imaginary Constructs: Leo describes how entities like DMT beings or deities such as Ganesha, Vishnu, and Shiva, as well as figures like Jesus and Buddha, are all imaginary. He suggests that we pull these images from an infinite pool of possible mystical characters, emphasizing their fictional nature. Omniscience and Constructing Relationships: Leo explains that in a state of omniscience, one becomes aware of actively constructing every relationship, including those with one's mother, guru, friends, and even Leo himself. He stresses that this knowledge is a significant departure from deeply ingrained human attachments. Transcending Reality Anchors: In a state of god consciousness, Leo states that all anchors to reality such as memories, ideas of science and religion, gender, and even one's name are realized as imaginary. He illustrates the profound implications when one transcends these attachments, resulting in the dissolution of the sense of physical reality and the concepts of past and future. Achieving Total Omnipotence: Leo argues that total omniscience comes with the power of omnipotence, where one can instantly manifest any reality, including material wealth. He clarifies that at this consciousness level, physical realities like bank accounts or the ego itself cease to exist, redefining the idea of physical manifestations for someone infinitely conscious. Inherent Value and Meaning in Limits: He explores the trade-off where limitless creation leads to loss of meaning and value, drawing an analogy with the limited capabilities within a video game that make the gameplay interesting and valuable, implying that self-imposed limitations give meaning to the human experience. Conscious Creation of Challenges: Leo suggests that humans consciously create their challenging reality, such as a world where overindulgence leads to consequences, to make life engaging. He juxtaposes this against the concept of a 'God Mode' where one can design any aspect of reality freely but without the constraints that make existence intriguing and valuable. Paradox of Abundance in Pleasure: Leo Gura elucidates that the scarcity of experiences like sex influences their value. Having unlimited access diminishes appreciation, similar to how humans take the ever-available oxygen for granted. Concept of Challenge in Gaming and Life: He compares life to playing hard games, where cheat codes and 'journalist' modes undermine the value of experience. The ideal game - and by extension life - strikes a balance between difficulty and ability, providing meaning and excitement. Transcendent Heavenly Experience: Gura describes 'God Mode' as a heavenly state beyond material desires, achieving an infinite, formless metaphysical love. He contrasts this with limited, materialistic conceptions of pleasure. Realization of the Pointlessness of Infinite Pleasure: Gura reflects on the realization, within the 'God Mode' state, that even heavenly pleasures can become boring, leading to the choice of a limited existence for entertainment and self-exploration. Reality as Cosmic Drama: He suggests that if one had infinite power, creating a reality with the perfect balance of capabilities and limitations would keep life interesting, mirroring the notion that life is a dramatic play God engages in with itself. Role of Pain and Limits: Gura argues that pain is essential for learning and that removing it would invalidate concepts of good and bad. He challenges the idea that an ideal reality would be free of suffering, pointing out that limitations enhance the drama of existence. Personal Trauma and the Illusion of Reality: He acknowledges that individuals who have experienced trauma may find it difficult to see it as part of a larger illusory play and suggests that attachment to suffering can prevent awakening from this illusion. Crafting of Reality and Entertainment Value: Leo discusses how the limits we experience are self-imposed by an all-powerful consciousness to add a dramatic and entertaining dimension to existence, creating a form of cosmic drama. Understanding Pain as an Illusory Part of Life's Cosmic Play: Leo elucidates that pain is a necessary aspect of life's dramatic illusion, and that removing challenges could lead to an unfulfilled and mundane existence. Trauma and Denial: Leo Gura points out the challenge individuals face in admitting that their trauma and negative emotions are self-created illusions. Acceptance is difficult due to emotional attachments and the embarrassment one might feel upon realizing the self-deception. God's Design Challenge: Leo discusses the paradox of omnipotence, where the infinite consciousness of God faces the challenge of experiencing finiteness. Reality is constructed with intricate detail to thoroughly deceive oneself into forgetting one's divine nature. Transient Nature of God Mode: Leo explains that the state of 'God Mode' is not permanent and that individuals eventually return to their ordinary human consciousness. He warns that dismissing the experience as a hallucination is part of the self-deception that maintains the limitation. Life as Sleep and Awakening: Life consists of mechanisms designed to lull consciousness into illusion and also clues to facilitate awakening. Events and people can serve dual roles, pushing one further into the illusion or acting as catalysts for awakening, depending on one’s response. Death and Transformation: Leo suggests that how one responds to events, like the loss of a loved one, can lead either to deeper entrenchment in the ego or to the path of awakening by fostering love, forgiveness, and deeper existential contemplation. Illusion and Reality: Gura articulates that experiences of life, perceived as material and real, are actually part of a convincing illusion, with no alternative reality for comparison. He questions if breaking the illusion is truly desirable, since one might end up missing it. Desiring Limitations: Leo reflects on how achieving all consciousness could be boring, leading to the desire for a less infinite existence with more drama, action, and material form for entertainment. Existence as Imagination: Leo explains that life is a form of eternal imagination, where every concept like birth, death, relationships, and even scientific knowledge is imagined around the present moment to create a sense of reality. Reality Construction: Gura emphasizes that individuals imagine their entire lives including history, relationships, and education. He points out that even the perception of him as a separate entity is part of this imaginative construction. Denial of Godhood: Leo speaks about the pervasive denial of one's own godliness, which is a necessary part of constructing one's reality. He implies that recognizing one's unity with everything is a realization often resisted because of its profound implications. Impact of Realization: The consequences of realizing one's true nature as God includes facing nihilism, loss, surrendering attachments, and understanding that everything, including science and spiritual gurus, are illusions of one's own making. Nature of Constructing Reality: Leo Gura highlights that every concept or object that one thinks exists, including Leo's own presence, is actively constructed by the individual's consciousness. Whether Leo is real or just an imagining, depends entirely on the person's perception. God Mode as default existential state: For Leo, the state of infinite power and eternal existence, the 'God Mode,' leads to a different outlook on activities like creating educational videos or pursuing material pleasures—he does it out of existential boredom rather than necessity or delusion. Purpose of Life's Endeavors: Leo suggests that all pursuits, including sex and wealth, are ultimately forms of self-entertainment within the illusion of life. He reflects on his own motivations for chasing certain goals and confesses that they are all just part of the cosmic play. Illusion of Helping Others: Leo criticizes the concept of spiritual teachers believing they are aiding others' awakening. He claims they are not fully god-realized and are cosplaying within the illusion, not recognizing that there's nobody else to save—only themselves to awaken. Self-deception in Spiritual Practices: Detailed information about the depth and omnipresence of self-deception in spiritual paths, including the affinity for gurus and practices like meditation, is provided. Leo emphasizes how these can actually draw individuals deeper into the illusion instead of leading to true god realization. God Realization Beyond Non-Duality: Leo seeks to differentiate his concept of god realization from other non-dual teachings, suggesting that true god realization requires understanding reality construction and transcending subtle elements of otherness and duality. Directional Approach to Spirituality: The upward journey in spirituality is explained as one requiring caution, as it can lead to distractions or tangential pursuits that may seem profound but don't equate to god realization. Radical Shift in Teaching Focus: Leo announces his intent to redirect his teachings towards those eager for god realization, veering away from traditional Buddhist or neo-advaita teachings. He recognizes his controversial stance but encourages his followers to remain open-minded and to verify his claims through their own experiences. Misconceptions about Spiritual Paths: Leo highlights that traditional paths like standard Buddhism and neo-advaita may not lead to the highest levels of realization and that not all paths lead to the same destination. He suggests that consciousness and mysticism might be more complex than what traditional texts and practices teach. The Important Question - 'What is God?': Leo urges his viewers to deeply contemplate and strive to understand 'What is God?', suggesting that true god realization is more than just the concept of emptiness, and emphasizes the importance of seeking a complete understanding. Criticism of His Teaching Methods: In responding to criticism from spiritually advanced individuals, Leo argues that his intention is to make the path to god realization efficient for the majority of people, comparing it to choosing to fly rather than walk from Los Angeles to New York. Efficiency of Psychedelics over Meditation: Leo asserts that based on his experience, psychedelics are the most effective method for reaching god realization. He acknowledges they may not work for everyone and encourages people to authentically find their path. Discovery of a New Powerful Chemical: Leo hints at discovering a new, potent chemical, possibly more powerful than 5-MeO-DMT for god realization. He acknowledges the risks and lack of research on new substances, highlighting the personal responsibility in using them. Cutting Edge Methods with Inherent Risks: He discusses the nature of cutting-edge exploration and cautions that new methods may be confusing, baffling, and risky. Leo stresses intelligence and care when applying these teachings and understanding the inherent risks involved with psychedelic use. Adjuring Personal Responsibility with Psychedelics: Leo emphasizes that individuals take full responsibility for using psychedelics and understand the potential mental and physical health implications, advising them to follow safety protocols. Guiding Viewers to Ultimate Realization: Leo's ultimate intention is to guide viewers to the realization that they are God and that God is love, fostering a profound understanding of self-love, unity, and interconnectedness. Accio

Making Sense Of Jordan Peterson - The Big Picture https://youtu.be/fzQ3SSpiQvQ Introduction to Lecture on Jordan Peterson: Leo Gura announces an in-depth analysis on Jordan Peterson, a notable public figure who a significant following due to his content on psychology, self-help, spirituality, and controversial political views. Leo aims to bring a nonpartisan and unbiased critical perspective to Peterson's work. Jordan Peterson's Multifaceted Impact: Peterson's influence on young people is discussed through his involvement in psychology, personal development, spirituality, and politics. His political views attract the most controversy, which Leo plans to address, alongside the psychological and philosophical aspects of Peterson's work. Approach to Critique: Leo's critique aims to be balanced and accurate, setting aside biases. The intention is not to bash Peterson but to understand his appeal, identify limitations in his work, and explore areas he may not fully comprehend. Spiral Dynamics Overview: The model of Spiral Dynamics is introduced as a framework for understanding human psychological development. It identifies stages of value systems shaping society and individuals, including Stage Red (egocentric warlord mindset), Stage Blue (religious ideologues), Stage Orange (materialistic scientists), and Stage Green (social justice warriors). Contextual Place of Jordan Peterson: Peterson's work is discussed against the backdrop of Western societies' cultural center of gravity, which is identified as Stage Orange. A culture war is framed between those skewed towards Stage Blue and those towards Stage Green, with Peterson seemingly caught in the middle. Spiral Dynamics in Understanding Cultural and Political Conflicts: Understanding Spiral Dynamics is emphasized as critical for making sense of current cultural and political conflicts, as well as personal alignment within society. Leo will be exploring how Jordan Peterson and his critics are situated within this framework throughout the lecture. Misunderstandings between stages: Both Jordan Peterson with his Stage Blue orientation and Stage Green ideologies often misunderstand each other, leading to cultural conflict because of their refusal to integrate the strengths of all stages. Society's center of gravity: Developed societies are generally centered around Stage Orange, slightly leaning towards Stage Green values. Jordan Peterson's emphasis on traditional values: Peterson highlights the importance of Stage Blue values like discipline and hard work to address what he sees as shortcomings in the developments of younger generations, who are heavily influenced by Stage Green, especially in academia. Lack of foundation in Stage Orange and Blue: Many younger individuals primarily exposed to Stage Green values may lack a solid foundation in the discipline and work ethic of Stage Orange and Stage Blue, which can lead to personal disorganization and societal dysfunction. Importance of balancing traditional and progressive values: A balanced life and society require learning from the valuable lessons of Stage Blue, despite its seeming superstitions, to form a healthy Stage Green worldview. Jordan Peterson's role in societal value balance: Jordan Peterson serves to remind society of the importance of Stage Blue values, proposing that neglecting these can result in a dysfunctional life and advocating for personal responsibility as a foundation for broader societal engagement. Straw man representation of Stage Blue: Progressive individuals tend to caricature Stage Blue as entirely negative—nationalistic, intolerant, racist—failing to see historical contexts where Stage Blue's extreme manifestations were recognized as harmful and evolved beyond. Evolution of societal values: Society progresses from recognizing the harm in extreme expressions of earlier stages, like the intolerance in Stage Blue, to embracing Stage Orange principles such as religious tolerance and scientific thinking. Stage Orange shortcomings: Jordan Peterson criticizes the emptiness of living purely for material success as promoted by Stage Orange, advocating for re-embracing the spiritual depth found in Stage Blue traditions. Jordan Peterson's Stage Green shadow: Peterson has a nuanced understanding of earlier stages, but he is limited by his shadow of Stage Green which causes him to dismiss progressive social justice values without fully understanding or integrating them into his worldview. Influence of Peterson's Stage Green shadow on his audience: Peterson's misunderstanding of Stage Green translates to his audience taking on similar biases, potentially limiting their personal growth and understanding of societal issues. Reinforcement of biases in conservative leanings: Peterson's conservative biases can reinforce confirmation bias in his conservative-leaning audience, hindering their progress from Stage Blue and Orange to higher stages because they may not question or move beyond the preconceived notions against Stage Green. Source of Jordan Peterson's shadow: Peterson grew up during the Cold War, and his shadow, or misinterpretation and fear of Stage Green, stems from equating modern social democracy with historical communism from Soviet Russia and Maoist China, regimes that were actually Stage Blue, not Green. Straw manning ideologies: Gura criticizes both conservatives and liberals for straw manning ideological stages. For conservatives, conflating Stage Green with totalitarian communism is a mistake driven by paranoia, despite many social democratic countries, like those in Scandinavia, being free-market systems with high happiness and low corruption. Misrepresentation of Stage Green: Stage Green is mistakenly framed as desiring equality of outcomes and the destruction of all hierarchies. Peterson argues against this but does not fully acknowledge the portion of hierarchies that are corrupt and maintained by entitlement or manipulation. Stage Green's true objectives: Gura clarifies that Stage Green does not aim to eliminate all hierarchies but seeks to dismantle the corrupt and unjust ones. Scandinavian countries, often held as examples of Stage Green, maintain hierarchies that are not oppressive. Critique of capitalism's impact: Gura critiques the narrative that blames communism for countless deaths without acknowledging the many harms capitalism has caused, implying that the impact of various ideologies and systems is nuanced and complex. Conflation of different social stages: Gura concludes by emphasizing the need to understand the complexity and nuances of each social stage, to not discount the value brought by different perspectives, and to avoid the simplistic traps laid by biases and fears in order to facilitate personal and societal growth. Impact of environmental contamination on health: Industrial activities dumping heavy metals like mercury and lead into water sources can cause mental disorders, autoimmune conditions, and cancer in children, impacting families and society. Critique of Libertarian worldview: The libertarian perspective that individuals should only be responsible for themselves is critiqued as inadequate, because it ignores community and allows for exploitation and environmental damage. Stage Green's goals misrepresented: Jordan Peterson is said to misunderstand Stage Green's objectives, confusing equality of opportunity with equality of outcome. Stage Green seeks fair chances for all, examining outcomes to assess opportunities. Desire to address past injustices by Stage Green: Stage Green aims to correct historical inequalities and support marginalized groups, whereas conservative Stage Blue and Orange may ignore these issues due to a lack of empathy. Hierarchical revision by Stage Green: Progressivism seeks to modify oppressive systems and is not intent on destroying all hierarchies. The goal is to improve the fairness of existing structures. Jordan Peterson's misinterpretation of Progressivism: Peterson's fears of a Stage Green totalitarian regime are viewed as exaggerated and not reflective of the movement's actual goals or its current global influence level. Fear of Stage Green in society: Resistance to the advancement towards Stage Green is attributed to fear, misunderstanding, and reactionary positions fueled by media and political rhetoric. Inevitability of societal shift towards Stage Green: The necessary evolution towards Stage Green to address pressing global issues like inequality and climate change is stressed, despite resistance from conservative factions. Misrepresentation of socialism and social democracy: The notion that Stage Green equates to historical communism is incorrect; modern social democracy, like in Scandinavian countries, is a better representation. Trust in society's ability to evolve: The call for openness to Stage Green emphasizes confidence in humanity's capacity to address and solve problems inherent in the current Stage Orange-centered systems. Misconception of Individualism and Collectivism: Leo Gura discusses the conservative emphasis on individualism and responsibility, versus a collectivist worldview that recognizes the interconnectedness of society. He challenges Jordan Peterson's framing of collectivism as dangerous, explaining that both individualism and collectivism are essential and serve each other in a complementary way. Interdependence of Global Society: Gura highlights the global interconnectivity that negates the libertarian and individualistic worldview, emphasizing the emergent properties that arise from social networks beyond the individual level. Consequences of Individualistic Perspective: By sharing various examples, Gura argues that the problems often attributed to individual behavior—such as ADHD or inability to afford housing—can actually stem from systemic issues like pollution and economic exploitation by wealthy entities. He points out that these cannot be resolved by individual efforts alone and require collective action. Balance of Personal Responsibility and Societal Issues: Gura notes the importance of self-improvement but criticizes a singular focus on individualism, as it can overlook the systemic problems contributing to personal hardships. Cycles of Individual and Collective Stages: The spiral stages alternate between individualistic and collectivist, with Leo detailing stage-wise how they flip between the two. He argues against dismissing collectivism due to historical failures and encourages a nuanced perspective. Analysis of Gender Fluidity and Traditional Structures: Gura touches on Jordan Peterson's concern regarding non-traditional gender identities and the potential confusion and effect on family structures. He acknowledges the importance of traditional family structures but also notes the inherent limitations that contribute to their breakdown, suggesting society will find new structures to support families and children. Misinterpretation of Sexual and Gender Freedom: Leo refutes the assertion that freedom regarding sex and gender roles necessarily leads to fulfillment and functioning society, mentioning the potential erosion of important societal constructs. Fear and Resistance in Conservative Mindset: Gura critiques the conservative mindset, especially its tendency towards fear and resistance to change, and suggests this may influence Jordan Peterson's exaggerations in his teachings. Critique of Jordan Peterson's Lack of Spiritual Depth: Gura argues that while Peterson senses a spiritual dimension to life, he struggles to articulate it, which limits his teachings from venturing into deeper metaphysical territories beyond politics and psychology. Importance of a Value Hierarchy with Reference to God: Jordan Peterson's notion that people need an overarching value hierarchy is examined, with God traditionally at the top, yet Gura contends Peterson is challenged by the need to reconcile his intuitive understanding of spirituality with empirical academic standards. Jordan Peterson's struggle with expressing belief in God: Jordan Peterson faces a professional dilemma in his inability to declare the existence of God due to the expectation of empirical evidence in academic circles, paired with his respect for scientific methods and his personal intuition about God's significance. Modernism vs. Postmodernism: Peterson has a challenge reconciling the modernist objective reality, which posits concrete categories and facts, with postmodernist perspectives that everything, including identity and culture, might be relative and subject to personal and societal constructs. Peterson's critique of post-modernism: Peterson critiques post-modernism for what he sees as the dangers of total relativism, fearing that it leads to valuelessness and potential nihilism, which undermines meaning and the capacity to build a good life. Hierarchy of values: Peterson advocates for the establishment of a hierarchy of values and meaning, where the highest value or 'God' directs one's life choices, whether that be money, family, or another priority. Misunderstanding of religion in Peterson's philosophy: Peterson is criticized for his interpretation of religion as primarily a collection of stories with practical moral lessons, missing the deeper significance that rooted in the insights of spiritually advanced mystics and their realization of absolute truth. Journey towards absolute truth through deconstruction: Leo Gura describes a process of deconditioning from cultural norms and beliefs, leading towards a radical skepticism that results in the collapse of the ego and the perception of objective reality, realizing an infinite, absolute consciousness or 'God consciousness'. Collapse of values leading to infinite love: By engaging in profound self-questioning and eschewing all attachments to values and beliefs, Gura claims one arrives at the state of 'God consciousness', where all differences dissolve and what remains is infinite love, the highest value as it treats everything with equal significance. Resistance to higher truth through fear and attachment: The main hindrance to reaching this ultimate realization, for Peterson and many others, is suggested to be fear and resistance to losing perceived values and meaning, which prevents them from undergoing the necessary deconstruction of their minds to achieve the state of 'God consciousness'. Relative values and biases: Leo Gura explains that personal values and biases are inherently selfish and relative, and to reach absolute truth, which is love, one must surrender these values and biases. Concept of absolute truth and love: The absolute truth is equated with love as it involves ceasing to make value judgments and accepting that everything has equal value; this equality transcends to infinite value. Existence and recognition of God: He states that god is not metaphorically but literally existent and that our awareness at the present moment is that "god consciousness,” with the human aspect being an illusory construct. Achieving enlightenment: Enlightenment is achieved through surrender and recognizing oneself as one with the universe, leading to the realization that love is the fundamental motive behind all actions and is synonymous with the highest value. The value of surrendering: To awaken to infinite love, one must let go of distinctions and biases, as clinging to these prevents the realization that all is love. Reality as seen by God: Leo explicates that reality, as seen by the divine, is infinitely valuable and created by a limitless imagination so powerful that it can forget its own imaginative nature, resulting in our physical reality that we perceive. Death and rebirth process: He describes a literal process of psychological death and rebirth where one's individual sense of self dissolves, culminating in the awakening of god consciousness within and the realization of infinite love. Acceptance of relativity as pathway to love: Infinite love is understood as absolute truth, which Leo Gura asserts is not contradicting relativity, but rather is the culmination of every distinction and duality. Cultural resistance to paradigm shifts: Leo addresses the difficulty in accepting these ideas because they challenge established power structures, hierarchies, and our very concept of sanity and reality. The obstacle to ultimate value: The only barrier to realizing the universe's greatest gift (itself) is the limited conception of the self, which, when surrendered, allows expanding into an enlightened state of consciousness. Integration of all life's pursuits as manifestations of love: Gura highlights that every aspect of life, whether mundane or profound, is a pursuit of love, the highest value, which different people manifest through various activities from art to exploration. The ineffable nature of ultimate consciousness: He stresses the ineffable nature of this state of consciousness, beyond normal human experience or description, and the personal commitment required to reach it, likening it to religious figures who have undergone this transformation. Creation of Shadows Through Rejection: Rejecting elements in the universe, such as death or negative historical figures, is essentially a rejection of the self. The universe is a singular entity, and this process of rejection creates personal and collective shadows which can cause stress, disorders, and diseases. Health Issues from Psychological Stress: Leo Gura suggests that health complications, particularly autoimmune disorders, often stem from the constant psychological stress of survival, judgment, hate, and shadow boxing with oneself. Dealing with Collective Dysfunctions: Collective problems like war, genocide, and pollution originate from the amalgamation of individual selfishness and fears. Leo perceives these issues as being exacerbated by challenges within the self, including biases and limitations. Jordan Peterson's Role and Limitations: While Jordan Peterson provides necessary foundations in Stage Blue values for some people, Leo Gura argues that Peterson’s teachings are limited by his biases. Gura appreciates Peterson's contributions but sees the need for a broader integration of all healthy stages of development. Transition to Higher Stages, 'Tier Two': Leo encourages moving beyond the integration of Spiral Dynamics' Stages Blue, Orange, and Green towards 'Tier Two', which he describes as an order of magnitude beyond lower stages, leading to a transformational experience of 'infinite love'. Ultimate Potential and Infinity: Gura elucidates that the highest potential an individual can aspire to is infinite, having no limits. Religion's function is to reveal this potential, yet understanding and actualizing it takes dedication and cannot be achieved in a short span. Importance of Epistemology, Metaphysics, and Consciousness: He stresses that while psychology and self-help are important, one must venture into deeper realms like epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy, spirituality, and consciousness for profound personal growth. Deconstruction of the Mind and Reality: Gura highlights the importance of deconstructing the mind and questioning reality, a process he specializes in guiding through. This deconstruction leads to the ultimate truth that the universe and everything within it are imaginary. Skepticism and Questioning Reality: Leo Gura's capacity for extreme skepticism allowed him to question his entire belief system, leading to a discovery of what is truly real. He identifies fear, complacency, and laziness as obstacles to this kind of profound realization. God Consciousness as the Ultimate Goal: Leo suggests the only pursuit worth undertaking in life is the realization of one's identity as 'God'. Achieving this state requires risking one's life through a process of serious questioning and surrender. Value of Deconstruction: Despite the potential risks, Gura believes that deconstructing one’s life and seeking truth is the most authentic and joyous path, one that he identifies as the true meaning of life. Explanation of Cultural and Societal Conflicts: Leo Gura summarizes his lecture by asserting that understanding and addressing various stages of Spiral Dynamics can make sense of cultural wars, social and political divisions, and ideologies, thus highlighting the interconnectedness of individual and collective growth. Flagrate

Again, taking up the noted quote from Hongzhi's practice instructions, this time addressing the second part. "This is called taking up the burden from inside and is how to shoulder responsibility", is a reference to so-called selfless spiritual adaption where the whole world is necessarily not "outside", not beyond the true self, not separate. All at once, is generally a reference to the Absolute (nature of reality), in terms of the selfless nonoriginated perspective of sudden illumination. The task and responsibility of enlightening activity both before and after the sudden, is to actualize the expression of enlightening being, nonoriginated, all at once, without psychological differentiation between self and other. There being no outside (or inside) relative to enlightening perspective actualizing one's latent sagehood in the world, the ancient taoist elucidation defining all prior illuminates is that "the world is the sage." Unless one's working parameter is "all at once", albeit step by step along the dusty path of authentic self-refining practice in the midst of endless karmic cycles, there is no actualized latent sagehood to be expressed. Therefore, "…taking up the burden from inside to shoulder responsibility." is the basic directive of authentic self-refining practice in response to situations and the means to stabilize the enlightening operative of "perceiving nothing" whereby everything is illuminated fully without making personal distinctions in terms of inside and/or outside relative to the psychological function of individuals who see potential and adapt enlightenment to conditions. When you find the road (or even if you don't), all things act in concert. Settling into situations, one simply awaits inevitability in the natural course of enlightening responsibility. One simply shares oneself openly in selfless adaption, responsibly responding in accordance with the time in terms of situational potential. Awaiting the celestial in stillness, one observes return, which is the spontaneous arising of the celestial potential latent in situationally karmic creative evolution. Taoism says to "refine the self and await the time." The only thing necessarily "wonderful" about creative evolution, is the fact that there is no way to find and absorb potential but for the kinetic incremental action of all things acting in concert by virtue of karmic momentum. For enlightening beings and deluded people alike, karma is the only thing to work with. The deluded follow creation's cycles of birth and death, while spiritual adepts turn the light around to shine on its source. As referenced above, "East Mountain walks on water" is indicative of one's impersonal (spiritual) function beyond movement and stillness. So awaiting the time, per se, isn't simply a matter of passive stillness while waiting for inevitability's fulfillment in terms of potential, or, more commonly, conditional assumptions of personal ascendancy over others in terms of complacent opportunism (privateering), speculative advances, avoidance strategies, or kinetic nullity relative to attraction, rejection, obtund satiety or else mere existential distraction. Enlightening beings' perspective neither by movement nor stillness is the living bestowal of one's inherent potential in the midst of affairs when one has learned to "turn the light around." This is uncontrived, sincerely open vulnerability. Enlightening being isn't operative or passive conditionality. It also isn't a matter of active or passive approbation, in terms of societal convention, due to the reality of nonoriginated potential being the essence of karma. This means that at all times or even "in between", enlightening activity is necessarily inconceivable; no one knows. Spiritual adaption is a task of secrecy, carried out in broad daylight, due to the nature of inconceivability. As such, enlightening activity's mode of operation is by definition an "open secret" in terms of wu-wei. Some people like to throw around the term wu wei. But it has been defined accurately in the above post as "seeing nothing", that is, in seeing potential by not using the light of awareness to follow objects as if they are intrinsically "outside" oneself, on account of the world being the sage, there is nothing to warrant inside or outside differentiation or influence pertaining to impersonal enlightening response to conditions. This means enlightening activity is not dependent on personal influences or obvious circumstantial factors. Honzhi says, "Unobstructed and free, beyond restraints, they do not depend on even subtle indicators, and their essential spirit cannot be eclipsed." Wu wei is "East Mountain walks on water." But adepts aren't metaphors, so they swim in suchness. Wu wei isn't a thing, nor is it an event. It is a name for the essential character of one's functional enlightening being which is not to be conceived as a separate reality. It is the aware totality of oneself, unborn (before the first thought); spontaneous selfless response: "acting without acting" in everyday ordinary situations. Penetrating the profound reality of wu-wei is a never ending path for those with the "all at once" vision of suchness. This is the "tiger eye" (dharma-eye) of enlightening being(s). Watching over the task and function of the aperture of the mysterious female, one witnesses changes. In recognizing changes, one does not go along with creation. So selfless adaption isn't a matter of accommodating phenomena, it is inconceivable response to the time. In introducing the term suchness, above, it must be mentioned that Creation is already one's self, but response to other is why sameness within difference is spoken of in terms of suchness. The buddhist teaching of sameness within difference is a device to help those whose "stream-entry" is immature and fraught with instability. All students of reality know the instability of "stream-entry." But stream-entry is a conditional aspect of authentic practice that must be worked out sufficiently over a long long time before one can cross rivers, where one's life hangs in the balance. Nevertheless, one's steps are unhurried yet not lagging, progressing naturally, fulfilling (refining) one's karmic burden, until death arrives to compliment the dissolution of one's current temporal lifetime. Karma needs time. So adepts excel in waiting. Enlightening beings respond to the time in order to absorb potential from within the conditional. The temporal is inherently comprised of the nature of the absolute, so in responding to the time, enlightening beings respond to situations effectively by abstraction, which is seeing through phenomena without denying the characteristics of the phenomenal to aid nonpsychological "all at once" transformation without going along with created cycles of karmic evolution from within karmic spheres. Transcendent adaptivity isn't an accomplishment "divorced" from delusion— it is enacted by virtue of delusion; being the meaning of "turning the light around to shine on its source." The light of creation and the source of the light is one. Otherwise, the secret of potential wouldn't be real. Seeing is itself the functional aspect of suchness as is. Those partaking of ineffable reality do so by virtue of seeing alone. In seeing potential, one's acts do not rely on one's own power or personal motivation. Power is necessarily a matter of seeing potential, inherently so, by virtue of situational evolution itself. So in partaking of reality, real humans go in reverse, opposite the flow of creation. This is all there is to turning the light around spoken of in the Secret of the Golden Flower. If one gets this, one knows the meaning of the saying, "It is as easy as turning over your hand." Just this is entry into the inconceivable, spoken of as the Supreme Vehicle of buddhas, saints, sages, adepts, wizards and all prior illuminates. ed note: change "stabilizing" to "operative" in 5th paragraph; typo 9th; add last quote; parenthesis to enlightening being(s) in 11th; italicize "seeing" in 1st and 2nd sentences of 14th paragraph