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  1. I wouldn't advise to tell anybody unless you feel they will understand what you are talking about. It will only make you feel even more alone. I didn't tell anybody. Actually I tried to tell my Dad but he basically ignored me. Nobody will believe anything you say about it until they see the positive results for themselves (after you complete the journey and they see your transformation). I knew that the people around me could only understand from what they themselves had already learned. I knew telling them would cause them suffering because they could not help me. They would see me as ill, and that would only cause them to suffer. Even many spiritual people call Kundalini nonsense because they know nothing of it. So the average person will surely consider you crazy. It's not their fault. I know it's hard but you have to take responsibility and walk this path alone. You will feel very alone, but you are not <3
  2. When we can carry the red thread of the present moment for a whole day and not drop it. Then eventually, days at a time and finally get to the point of never dropping it. I vaguely remember Fourth Way text about the 'fake it till you make it' practice. After posting this, I'll go search,,, I thought this applicable from a Christian perspective. A lesson from an online Course during Lent a couple of years ago, about the pendulum of emotions. The yo yo of Being. Session 6: Growing Your Being "As we are raised in Being, so is meaning transformed. As we fall back, the old meanings return." — Psychological Commentaries on the Teaching of G.I.Gurdjieff and P.D. Ouspensky by Maurice Nicoll, Volume 5 Commentary by Cynthia Bourgeault This arresting comment by Maurice Nicoll, one of the early British students of the Gurdjieff Work, provides some useful insights into how one might engage practically with the task of "perfecting oneself in the sense of Being," the goal of the second Obligolnian striving. First off, what does it mean to "be raised in Being?" Setting aside for the moment the question of "who" or "what" does the raising, let's start with the obvious — namely, that if we can be raised in being, Being must have levels. This is not hard to verify internally. With a flick of your imagination you can picture yourself in a relatively higher state of being. Maybe it's sitting on your meditation cushion, relaxing in nature, or almost anywhere you feel yourself in a greater spaciousness, equanimity, and inner alertness. Another flick of your imagination and you can (all too) easily recall those low-being states: when you're caught in negativity or reactivity, or as well when your attention is totally scrambled and dissipated, like noodling on the internet or wandering through a task on autopilot. During the day we travel up and down on the yo-yo of Being. Some days yo-yo feels like an understatement; it's more like bungy-jumping! Now what does this "meaning is transformed" part mean? Again, you can easily check this out in practical experience. When you're in a higher state of Being — spacious, grounded, present — it's easier to stay in touch with those loftier and more generous impulses: things like compassion, trust, forgiveness. It's easier to ponder the great questions like "What am I here for?" — or even to see, beneath the fragmented surface of things, a deeper order and presence. When you're in a lower state — negative or distracted — your perception of reality tends to get co-opted by mental scenarios, projections, cynicism, self-importance, urgency: all the small-self agendas. Ever notice how often perceptions based in negativity inevitably turn out to be skewed? In a lower state, it gets harder to hold onto large ideas like compassion, trust, non-reactivity. Even Being itself can sound like just another concept! From a Gurdjieff Work perspective, falling to a lower level of Being inevitably entails moving to a less energized state. This may not seem obvious to you at first, because negative states can sometimes feel highly energy-charged. But in the Work, the tip-off is not the state of your emotions but the state of your attention. A state in which you're collected, gathered, focused, present, is a higher energy state. This means that it is running at a more powerful magnitude of Being; it supports the "upward" transformation of meaning. A lower-level state plunges you back below the critical threshold needed for maintaining lively contact with that deeper aliveness of "Real I." Inevitably, once your reservoir of Being starts to get drawn down you fall back into identification with your smaller self, which in turn draws your reservoir of being down still further. It's a complete vicious circle. Unfortunately, it's not easy to spot when we move to a lower state. Just as most people can't see the moment they fall asleep at night, so they also can't and don't notice when Being starts to sink. And when you think about it, that actually makes sense: you can't go consciously unconscious! But with training and sincerity you can begin to notice more promptly when you've gotten hooked, and at least not feed the downward slide! Sometimes, as the Psalms say, you simply have to "wait in the darkness crying for the Lord." The ability to see a deteriorating state does not immediately mean that you can do anything about it. You have to endure for a while (sometimes a long while!) in the gap between your power to see and your power to do. It's one of the most uncomfortable tight spots in the whole spiritual journey. But simply noticing is a far more important act than you might at first expect: Because as you sit there in that unaccustomed helplessness and exposure, you gradually begin to see that there really is a "something" or "someone" who calls you back to your deeper spiritual intention. And it's not your own personal efforts but your growing trust in this deeper relational field working on your behalf that will eventually get you there. For the time being, your job is simply to notice as promptly as you can, always with a small thanks offered to that unknown "something" that always seems to notice, even when we don't, and to intervene on our behalf, as the ombudsmen of our real yearning for Being. To Practice What I've just given you here is actually a very condensed introductory course on what the Gurdjieff Work calls "self-observation." This is the capacity to notice, without judgment or self-criticism, what's physically going on inside you from an objective, "third-person" point of view. Today I invite you to further explore any or all of today's teaching in the laboratory of your own more being. Here are some practical suggestions: 1. Begin each day with at least twenty minutes of meditation, if that is not already your usual practice. (It is best to start this exploration into self-observation by "tanking up" your reservoir of Being.) 2. As much as possible, notice as your state of being shifts, particularly when you "fall asleep" (Work terminology for falling to a lower state of being). 3. What effect (if any) does simply noticing have on your state? 4. Can you begin to spot the hooks that drag your level being down? This should keep you more than busy! As you're so moved, please record your work-in-progress in your journal. "Becoming Truly Human: Gurdjieff's Obligolnian Strivings" is a joint project of Cynthia Bourgeault and Spirituality & Practice. Content copyright 2017 by Cynthia Bourgeault. Photo credit: Steve Nathans-Kelly and Wisdom Way of Knowing. Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault is the Principal Teacher and Advisor for The Contemplative Society (www.contemplative.org), an inclusive nonprofit association that encourages a deepening of contemplative prayer based in the Christian Wisdom tradition while also welcoming and being supportive of other meditation traditions. Spirituality & Practice (www.SpiritualityandPractice.com) is a multifaith website presenting resources for people on spiritual journeys. The organization is helping to build a worldwide community of people vitally engaged with the wisdom of the spiritual traditions and serving the world through spiritual practice. from https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/ Im not sure if they're still offering this,,,?
  3. @Truth Addict For a deeply enlightened Emotional mastery means simply absence of emotions no matter what in all circumstances. For other enlightened with lesser degree of transformation realisations insights emotions still appear and some react to that and some don't but at least enlightenment basic least enlightenment means not geting attached to emotions they are like passing clouds they don't touch them on the surface it will appear to others like that. Emotions are just appearences projections it appears to be appealing as real. The thought I hate Ralston consciously is an appearance projection which again is believed as real and the person truth addict is passing his judgements based on that. That's how ordinarily people believe judge act this is good that Is bad.This is the best that is the best etc isn't it ? I hate Ralston consciously knowingly I hate love Ralston consciously unconsciously knowingly unknowingly isn't it ? Even for the enlightened the communication has to be done to others and they best try to communicate in all possible means by the thoughts that are appearing to them in what ever language words they know knowing perfectly the life birth circumstances knowledge they have are not theirs nor their creations.It is just happening. (--- Note it is Truth Addict who imparted the wisdom to me now you are getting attached to the idea of detachment.) That's how judgemental reactive likes dislikes are transcended isn't it ? You are neither the experiencer experiences nor the doer creator.They are happening in the body mind that's not me and not my concern. I am not interested in the unreal - Nisargadatta Maharaj. What ever said are just intellectual understandings I am yet to realise experience the truth ???? @Nahm
  4. An excerpt from an excerpt from an article. " Sustained encounters with objectless-awareness are in fact meaningfully relevant to ongoing transformation," Here, Samadhi consciousness exists as the peak form of non-dual attainment. That being said, it administers a very serious ultimatum. If one does not come down from absorption into the formless, then an inability to function in the causal world may result. Due to the notorious hardships of Samadhi subjects who endure this precarious experience, Ramakrishna believed that the subsequent “fall from grace” back into phenomenal reality could beneficially actualize an intermediary consciousness. Surmising that sustained encounters with objectless-awareness are in fact meaningfully relevant to ongoing transformation, he suggested Samadhi’s function, after having been summoned back to ordinary consciousness, was to gradually integrate the experience into Bhavamukha. This zone of liminal reception allows for a transformed multiplicity to join in with absolute One-ness, resulting in a sophisticated mode of non-dual perceiving. Through bhavamukha, personhood remains in-tune with the phenomenal world, as Ramakrishna himself, their life spared from complete absorption into One-ness for the continuing enlightenment of all beings. https://wisdomwayofknowing.org/resource-directory/on-the-imaginal-by-joshua-tysinger/
  5. You guys are amazing! @Nahm thank you so very much for your inspiration, loving and authentic advice which is positively constructive. The problem actually is hormonal-imbalance which I’ll get corrected ASAP. I’ll just leave you guys an awesome quote from a real hero. If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself. If you want to eliminate all the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is dark and negative in yourself. Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation. - Lao Tzu
  6. recently i discovered a method in a book that explains a simple method on how to get a lot of things done by a method called D.R.A.T what means discipline, relaxation, attention, transformation. watching the last video i found out why the letting go of fear method doesn`t work for me. as i am in denial/avoidance of blue structures, what means i try to avoid structures that are stiff, normative, rigid, bureaucratic, over regulating and dogmatic. so in a sense i am in denial and avoidance of fear as these structures work or are installed to regulate basic fears. so in a sense i can`t work with the fear method what has some parallels to that method in how it works, let`s call it F.R.A.T fear, relaxation, attention, transformation because i`m in avoidance of blue discipline. somehow i wonder if it is a fear of using fear to solve problems as i`m not in fear of the basic survival stuff, so i`m more in lack of fear than having too much of it. so i was wondering if there are other methods to attain discipline instead of fear to then work with F.R.A.T on discipline. it`s really a little bit upside down. life purpose is not enough to overcome it, creativity is not fast enough to overcome it, fear seems to be a good regulator for discipline. also working with applying fear to what i am in denial about doesn`t really work because the avoidance/fear of discipline is bigger than the avoidance/fear of the survival issue. in that sense what to do if we already have let go of fear, through relaxation about it without being more attentive about it when the A in F.R.A.T becomes avoidance instead of attention? just realized, it`s a R.R.A.T problem or maybe an A.R.A.T problem (attention, relaxation, avoidance, transformation) even C.R.A.T (confrontation, relaxation, attention, transformation) is not enough to get to the root of the problem.
  7. @Scholar Sexual energy is used in magic in many magical traditions across the world. It is used in Tantra, Tibetan Buddhist sorcery, Thai magic, etc, etc. The reason why is, if controlled, can generate massive amounts of psychic energy that can than be used and directed to workings based on your intention. It can add huge amounts of power to magick. This magick can be used for inner transformation, enlightenment/awakening or manifesting one's will in the physical realm. Sex, in this context, is considered sacred and holy. Jason Miller wrote a great book on Sex and Sorcery that is mostly based on Tantra and Tibetan Buddhist sorcery. The term "occult" includes any methods to influence possible realities according to one's intention so doesnt necessarily just refer to Western practices.
  8. I wouldn't mind at all. Just now going offline though, but I'll pick this back up tomorrow. Hopefully I can offer something that's useful. Almaas's Theory of Holes and his teaching about 'sitting with it', whatever it is, until it transforms is one I may l touch on some more. 'Sitting with' triggers the alchemical transformation,,,. More later on.?‍♂️ Reminder to self. Three Centered Prayer and leaping out of one's grave.
  9. Been struggling with this for a while. I'm a tall and skinny guy. Also I dont have much motivation to workout and do a full body transformation. Any advise? Any book recommendations?
  10. I've been reinventing myself lately. Starting new projects and following through. It's amazing what finishing a goal that seemed impossible does with the mind. The first time is the hardest, next time is going to ten times easier. For me that project was "Ambitions", an epic cinematic EP inspired by the inner drive to reach a goal. The challenges, journey and transformation a person must take in order to truly embrace and land in the newly created spot in life. I hope you like it! Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7FTaLG51n8&list=PLJHKS6bTFEp8KDG9kx5FZG5B_Ub-nEZfC Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/79OE5ilwsonbVI2KWo4TJg?si=zh6jWGxDTUSMS9Nx0GNNHA Apple Music: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/album/ambitions-ep/1473974965
  11. I used to frown upon or even look down on the idea of “coping” but I’ve come to realize how inevitably necessary it is to experience when I think about what it actually means to cope or grieve after the loss of a loved one, I feel it is the allowing for a transformation of negative energy-pain,suffering,sadness, grief, loss,heartbreak- into Love, or perhaps the art if letting go It’s all love in disguise, loss = remembrance, acceptance = gratitude, cycle of life = love My favorite ways to cope have been listening to sad music, movies, writing letters to loved ones, and being alone, sometimes in nature
  12. After almost doing 50 trips of 5-meo and DPT. Like 40-10 ratio, I have come to follow with a lot more heart the tantric yoga and tantric Tibetan Buddhism. All these psychedelics trips have shown me from ***Personal experience*** that enlightenment is the goal but I will not achieve through psychedelics as they are not permanent. I would suggest my good friends here to research *Kalachakra* from Tibetan Buddhism. This book " Chakras energy centers of transformation by Harish Johari " is a great book on showing you visualization on each chakra. I am going to take it easier on very powerful psychedelics but forever thankful for the opportunity on having such mystical experiences that made me more hungry for actual enlightenment like Tilopa and Naropa and Padmasambhava and Jesus and Buddha and many others. Many Tibetan masters have gotten enlighten through the practice of Kalachakra which comes directly from the Buddha when he was giving lectures on *Vulture Peak*. I have also come to learn part of the *Dream Yoga* which is 1 of the 6 Yogas from Naropa. Everyday learning more and more. This is not the end of the trail my friends. I have yet to know of anyone that got fully enlighten like the Awaken above mention. He who seeks should find.
  13. @Inliytened1 Leo is right when he says the forum has given lot of freedom to the people to express their opinions much much much tolerant compared to the spiritual communities Indian ashrams zen monastries. People think masters monks will be very compassionate. They dont encourage asking questions at all.They crush the ego often. They hit you test your patience intimidate you crticize you rebuke demean tell you fool they test your attachment detachment likes dislikes give wrong guidance to see if one have the discrimination to call the bluff they will test how determined one is after truth how attached to money family opposite sex name fame lust and seeker ego and spiritual ego how disciplined one is how truthful how sincere dedicated ??? The prerequisites of Truth integrity listening with empty mind calmness equanimity tolerance to suffering dispassion to sense pleasures dedication compassion to all (but not attachment) and very very strong quest for Truth -Qualifications required for a seeker ??? The important qualifications are cutting the interest of seeking knowledge - but choose the path and practice - silence (no talking unnecessarily) no debates no intellual arguements. Seekers are not supposed to guide tell their experiences to fellow seekers. Speak only the Truth - Truth what they mean here what ones own experience.Not opinions not borrowed knowledge. Thoughts Speech Action should be the same. The path is not just sitting in meditation for half an hour but continously putting garbage in to the mind rest of the day Full concentration mindfulness of ones action every moment when in action work. ??? Actual spiritual life of monks can be learnt only if we have chance not just to interact but see how they live and spend time with them for couple of months. Indiscipline disobediance disrespectful words (bad words ) one will be thrown out. Daily routine. They dont emphasize or advice fast quick enlightenment. The emphasize is on purification-transformation of mind not just transcending the mind naturally. (Which is where differences come - dont get caught in purification trap - choose a middle path top down approach-bottom up aporoach etc) but neverthless I am ashamed of myself of where I am and where they are as a person and disciplined purified mind ????
  14. Haha jokes aside, Leo was a very important person in my transformation, and the friends I met here are so important for me, too good not to share. Thanks Leo for building bridges so I could meet those incredible beings That’s me and Justin watching the sunset today in Malibu, we meet from time to time to talk about the god bufo alvarius and self actualization stuff. It’s so amazing to have other people to share this crazy and beautiful path with has someone else met in person? Would love to see more pics ?
  15. Goes like: Truth (Pure consciousness, completely detached, completely being, no need of freewill, end of all suffering/no suffering) --> Everythingness (anything automatically coming out of it, all realms-each behaving in certain ways, some have more power of choice, some less, some closer to the Source-Truth) --> singularity (flow, transformation, black/white hole, Riding the Ox Backwards) --> ego (embodiment into your body, to love realm, as well as embodiment into the universe) _____ I was commenting on no freewill in this thread.
  16. @Leo Gura Perhaps a green version of Trump isn't the best way to describe it. I meant it more in the sense that Trump has taken over and is revolutionizing the republican party. I think Bernie could do the same in a Green version. For example, republicans are afraid to speak against Trump in fear of being shamed, primaried etc. Yet this is done with toxic motivations. I think if Bernie got the same level of public Green energy as Trump has red/blue energy, he could use that energy to transform the party up to Green - much the same as Trump has transformed republicans back down to red/blue. Yet Bernie is a healthy version of it. We are already seeing this transformation. After a few years of Bernie, Democratic politicians may be afraid to speak out against Bernie and his follows - in fear of feeling The Bern.
  17. Letting go quotes from the glossary. 2 of 12 from https://www.diamondapproach.org/glossary/refinery_phrases/letting-go The Personality Can't Let Go; It Just Stops Pushing If the personality stops pushing, it ceases to exist, because the very existence of the personality is a contraction, a pushing. So, when you follow this process, the part of the personality which is holding a particular tension will disappear when you see no more reason to push. When you realize that the pushing is useless, you stop doing it. This is still not exactly what is called surrender; it is what is sometimes called letting go. We sometimes think of it as the personality letting go, but even this is not accurate. The personality can't let go. It just stops pushing. And when it stops pushing, it disappears. There is no person which is letting go of something. There is no entity letting go of another object. When Ego Ceases Its Defensive Posture Completely then Being Acts This interdependence between ego and Being can also be seen in the process of inner metabolism. Ego on its own cannot complete the metabolism of experience and hence cannot bring about complete human development; Being is needed for this process to take place. On the other hand, Being cannot accomplish on its own the whole process of metabolism; it cannot dislodge ego when ego is defensive. From the perspective of the mind, Being can be resisted easily with a slight movement of ego; thus ego must first cooperate by relinquishing its defensive posture. It is up to ego to cease resisting. When it ceases its defensive posture completely, then Being acts. This is an important understanding for methods of inner realization. The work on purifying or understanding ego will not lead, by itself, to transformation. Being by itself cannot do it either. The work must be done from both directions—the letting go of ego defenses and the development of Essence.
  18. @ValiantSalvatore All kind of acts of violence - Murder,rape,terrorism,violence,abuse,cheating which harm others physically,mentally is termed as sin. Regarding lust - It is attachment to sensual pleasure it is a necessary mechanism for pro-creation.So by itself it is neither good or bad.Only if one is attached addicted to lust - sex as a means of pleasure seeking like all other temporary sensual pleasure then it is considered a bondage.Seeing the opposite sex as object of pleasure is not expected from a Guru. From the standpoint of a Guru who is supposed to see everything as one - god if is still entangled in petty lust identifies himself as body and and abuses his position as a master and indulges in sexual activity with the faithful innocent disciples then it is pure cheating.Doing great dis-service,harm. How can such person who is deluded with lust,greed can consider himself qualified to impart Truth,selflessness,purity to the upliftment of fellow humans from bondage-suffering ? Regarding enlightenment - There are no stages.Either one is enlightened or not enlightened. There are only stages in transformation of mind. With true wisdom it is said comes true humility,love,peace,compassion,un selfishness,patience,tolerance and compassion to uplift the humanity. So how responsible the Guru should be in terms of living as an example his actions and teaching.Such high standards are mentioned expected as pre-requisites for a Guru. But if an enlightened decides not to take that responsibility and chooses to remain free - mostly they dont interact with world and remain secluded.They dont disclose their wisdom nor claim themselves to be Guru. Traditionally monks remain as brahmacharies for 12 years and only after careful observation Sanyas is offered only if their mind is pure.
  19. @ben_pte There are so many diverse approaches to magick. First I would start with the philosophies about occult enlightenment and self transformation. There is some real power there. Become something that can be a tool for the divine and things can get very interesting. I like Damon Echols. He has a book called high magick that I got started on. He also does a great interview on Buddha at the Gas Pump where he dives deep in the spiritual ascent aspect.
  20. It is said that motion is an illusion constructed by our brains just as time is. Plants, fungus, or cells are not aware of what time is and therefore are not conscious in that sense. They might as well be just your conscious brain imagining things living on their own. It's nonsense to think that they are communicating with concepts and perceive motion just the same we do because we know that isn't the case. There are different levels of evolution. Ultimately, real world doesn't care about what we want to believe. Walls are still walls and we're still humans experiencing the physical realm. If you want to believe that there are unicorns flying and we're not human, then science is not for you. And death is transformation but not in the sense we think it is. The brain, together with all materiality - the universe itself - is contained within consciousness. Once we're dead, our senses and our conscious brain will be gone and there will be nothing like "me" or "you" left behind.
  21. Hey. Sounds rough. I don't think I've had the same degree of social issues, but I've had some so I'll share what I've experienced and learned. I've had, for the better part of my life I think, had trouble feeling connected and like I belonged. I felt I never really had social security and was always an outsider. After graduating and since then I've had long periods of isolation with not many people around me. If I did have people they were some family and a couple of other people. Even if I physically had some people I kept in contact with I would still feel isolated, stressed, and disconnected from them. I'm at a point now where I've been focusing on allowing feelings and behaviors to come through and have associated my social block with an intense pressure in my chest which, in previous years, had gone unnoticed. I've had moments recently where I was able to "turn it off", like a light switch using mindfulness, labeling, love, and contemplation. I'd be able to focus on the sensation, label it "allow" or "love" or "let go" or "feel" (or anything of that sort) and could release the sensation for a while. After this I'd be totally open and communicative with others and would actually enjoy being around them. I also noticed, which is new, that the feeling seems to be me rejecting others (perhaps from fear or of being hurt). Reiki, mindfulness and labeling, giving oneself love, sentence completion exercises, accepting the emotions, and self-inquiry I think have been major contributors to my successes. And psychedelics.... and compassion. It was actually through self-compassion that I experienced my most significant shift out of the social block. Connection, for me, is very important. I used to focus solely on enlightenment but I could never manage to live by myself without falling apart. I'm at a point where I realize that developing social connections is very important for my health and well-being and that it opens the doors to so much in life. Perhaps one day i'll be mature and developed enough to do the ol' "live in a cave alone" thing and focus on spirituality. Till then I think (for me) that human connection is a very important aspect of life and growth. Also, I think it's important to have a balanced and long-term view of healing/growth. I used to want to get it done with in an instant. I think that pressure was counter-productive. One's attitudes, thoughts, beliefs, and strategies towards healing and suffering can be almost as beneficial as the actual healing itself. Love and acceptance is probably a good place to start . Starting from a place of love makes transformation more smooth and sustainable. What attitudes, views, or beliefs in regards to your issues are a hindrance? What attitudes, views, or beliefs in regards to your issues are helping? Why do you want to change? Where haven't you investigated (in terms of therapies, aspects of yourself (somatic, emotional, memories, perhaps past lives or perinatal traumas)? What can you do to grow socially without being too far outside your comfort zone (no growth due to too much stress) or too far inside your comfort zone (no growth due to no change)? Can you notice if your issues are survival strategies? If so, what are you trying to survive? (I'd recommend Leo's Survival series if this question doesn't make sense) What do you want? Were there times when these issues weren't apparent? If so, what was different about those times? What's worked and why? What hasn't worked and why?
  22. Not trying to judge you my dude. Just offering you another perspective. Of course that article will say it's not conscious. Science will define what is aware and isn't aware of self based on consciousness being electricity inside a nervous system. This is kind of like using the word to define the meaning of the word. I'm making an assumption here, that means that you don't think plants, fungus, or cells, etc without a centralized nervous system are conscious? A radical interpretation of consciousness that I lean more towards everyday, is if it moves, it is conscious. Reality is ultimately groundless, so I could say it's all conscious to some degree. I believe the universe loves the game of hide and seek. I believe death is a transformation. While I may or may not be intelligent or conscious, I'll be something else: everything. I'll return to what I originally and always have been, still the universe. ? In the west, we demonize the hell out of death. But I've heard a couple good quotes. No one has ever done it and lived to tell us about it. And dying is perfectly safe. ?
  23. I think he offered a nice view at the global level regarding international agreements/laws vs. fragmented global nationalism. I think he was off the mark regarding the type of commentary that resonates with the liberal left. He gave John Oliver as an example of how the liberal left enjoys mocking "ordinary people" through comedy lacking substance. I suppose this is true for a portion of the left and it depends on how one defines "liberal". We could make a distinction between liberal and progressive. Yet the strongest resonance with progressives is not late show comedy, although it may provide relief. I would put the "liberal" group Zizek refers to as more upper Orange / lower Green. I'd put progressives at solid Green and they would resonate much stronger with independent news sources like TYT, Rebel HQ, Majority Report etc. At times they may delve into surface level mockery - yet it is with a cutting edge. Someone like Emma Vigeland is a prototypical solid progressive and she is all gravitas. This is where the depth, energy and passion is within the democratic party driving the transformation Zizek mentioned. I'm not sure if he is unaware how strong this segment is or if his point was that there are too many democrats within the "liberal left" that need to shift over to the "progressive left". I can see clear distinctions between corporate democrats and liberal/progressive democrats - yet I don't see clear distinctions between so-called liberal and progressive playing out. Progressives call out and rally against corporate democrats. Regarding his Democratic transformation, we are seeing it play out right now: Biden vs. Sanders/Warren. . . And Biden will not be the nominee, even with the support of mainstream media.
  24. Here is a high level discussion about the potentially disastrous changes that we are going to face over the coming century from climate change. The talk is led by an environmental philosopher called Rupert Read who is campaigner and spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion. His general view is that the world is going to shit, basically, and we need a much deeper transformation of society, politics and ultimately our consciousness in order to prevent complete collapse of human civilisation. I suspect he is right. The discussion is quite morbid and terrifying in many ways. I thought the questions from the audience and the general discussion were very intelligent and thoughtfull, so I highly recommend watching the full video.
  25. I'm not as experienced in psychedelics as many people in this forum. These questions are for experienced users: - How do use the psychedelic insights - experiences to progress and dive deeper in sober meditation? - Do you try to re-connect energetically and emotionally to a memorable psychedelic moment in meditation? Can you describe in detail how this occurred the last time you tried doing it? - Did your sober meditation are easier and more fulfilling after psychedelic usage? Or does it facilitate impatience, boredom and distractions? I've got the sense that both can occur depending on the skill of the meditator. - What is the 'key' experience leading up to awakening in a psychedelic session? What does the body and mind go through prior to awakening? What similarities are there in multiple awakening experiences accessed in psychedelics? Can we imitate them in a sober state? How effective was it in your experience? - And lastly, what is the current status of Leo's 5 MEO-DMT experiment on himself? Does this substance have the potential for permanent transformation with regular usage and sober meditation? It is obvious from a temporary insight 'recognition' point of view, psychedelics are extremely efficient and effective. But from the insight embodiment, daily mindfulness and stable attention point of view, how much benefit one can get from 'only' psychedelics path? Does it interfere with the brain in a way that certain value systems like discipline, diligence and effort go away too early before no-self is realized deeply on a semi-permanent intuitive level? Can this potentially get in the way of sober practice? As a last note, I want to ask about this youtube channel called: Psyched Substance: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn8V3KNSgDr1Dai77_y8JrQ Probably most psychedelic users know about Adam in this channel. He seems quite experienced in many psychedelics but he doesn't appear to have the attitude Leo talks about when approaching psychedelics. He seems to use psychedelics as a party drug, not as a serious investigation towards the truth. (This is my impression of him). This leads me to think that only psychedelic paths can be dangerous without preliminary meditation, cognitive behavior therapy and psychology work. He doesn't seem conscious of many things serious meditators are even though he is using advanced methods like LSD, DMT and many more. I think most people seem to underestimate and undervalue Leo's psychedelic insights. These are not easy to be conscious of even for experienced psychedelic users. It seems to require a certain intent and attitude prior to tripping. The psychedelic path appears to have a mastery curve and should be respected by both non-psychedelic and psychedelic seekers. Anyways, thank you for all your answers.