Leo's Blog Discussion Mega-Thread

[Leo Gura]

1 hour ago, Daniel Balan said:

My question is, how to do independent thinking and contemplation, in a way that doesn't result in toxic ideology like it resulted in my case? How to ensure that you are not self deceiving yourself even further by practicing independent thinking and contemplation? 

That's right, independent thinking is no guarantee of proper sense-making or truth. It's just the bare minimum to even stand a chance. Independent thinking easily turns into corruption or distortion.

1) In your case you can clearly see through a bit of self-reflection that your worldview is strongly colored by hurtful traumatic events. This kind of emotionality creates bias and distorts sense-making. So a simple answer to your question is to not ever make an worldview based on hurt, bitterness, or suffering, since such a worldview will be distorted and dysfunctional. Basically, don't construct worldviews based on negative emotional states.

So in this case, proper independent thinking should have led you to see that your worldview was constructed from a place of trauma, which is not a sound way for constructing a worldview. Imagine if I constructed the entire Actualized.org worldview based on my mother abusing me as a child. Would that be an accurate worldview? Clearly not. I would first need to heal that trauma before I could construct a proper worldview.

2) There cannot be any formula for avoiding self-deception. The only solution is live consciousness and active intelligence. This intelligence must be active at all times and self-reflecting. It cannot be a one-and-done thing. You must keep being intelligent as long as you live.

3) Practically, in your case, therapy would be a good way to gain more clarity over your worldview. Psychedelics as well of course.

4) If you have deep Awakenings or realization of Infinity/Love/God, then you will realize that self/other is an imaginary duality which must collapse. From this understanding you can know that your bitterness and hatred of mankind cannot be truthful, because mankind is just an aspect of God/Infinity/Love/Self. The truth is that the same people who killed your dog are metaphysically identical to your dog and yourself, since there is no difference between self and other at the highest level of reality. So in order to heal yourself from this tragedy would require connecting with that disowned, shadow aspect of yourself. The thing you hate the most -- the people who killed your dog -- is the thing that you will ultimately need to realize as identical to yourself. That would be the conclusion which results in the healing. But that is a tall order. I'm not tell you to necessarily just do it right now. You probably need much more time to pass before you are ready to face such radical integration.

I'm sorry, this is difficult to tell you, but the following applies here:

https://www.actualized.org/insights/actualized-quotes-090

The entire challenge of spirituality is to integrate that.

To integrate that basically requires complete Awakening beyond what a human mind can imagine. It would be an Awakening so deep that you would basically die and return from the grave. In that moment of death, death itself would heal you. (I am not talking about suicide.)

When the self dies, God's love cleanses your psyche of corruption by melting you into pure Infinity. An ocean of love where your dog, yourself, and your enemy are One. This Oneness is Absolute Truth. From this Truth all sense-making must derive, otherwise it will be corrupt.

Edited Thursday at 01:57 AM by Leo Gura

[JTL]

1 hour ago, Leo Gura said:

To integrate that basically requires complete Awakening beyond what a human mind can imagine. It would be an Awakening so deep that you would basically die and return from the grave. In that moment of death, death itself would heal you. (I am not talking about suicide.)

When the self dies, God's love cleanses your psyche of corruption by melting you into pure Infinity. An ocean of love where your dog, yourself, and your enemy are One. This Oneness is Absolute Truth. From this Truth all sense-making must derive, otherwise it will be corrupt.

You write beautifully, Leo. Like a rational minded Rumi 😂😁

[EternalForest]

The Understanding Solitude post was one of your best, Leo. Great work.

[Daniel Balan]

6 hours ago, Leo Gura said:

That's right, independent thinking is no guarantee of proper sense-making or truth. It's just the bare minimum to even stand a chance. Independent thinking easily turns into corruption or distortion.

1) In your case you can clearly see through a bit of self-reflection that your worldview is strongly colored by hurtful traumatic events. This kind of emotionality creates bias and distorts sense-making. So a simple answer to your question is to not ever make an worldview based on hurt, bitterness, or suffering, since such a worldview will be distorted and dysfunctional. Basically, don't construct worldviews based on negative emotional states.

So in this case, proper independent thinking should have led you to see that your worldview was constructed from a place of trauma, which is not a sound way for constructing a worldview. Imagine if I constructed the entire Actualized.org worldview based on my mother abusing me as a child. Would that be an accurate worldview? Clearly not. I would first need to heal that trauma before I could construct a proper worldview.

2) There cannot be any formula for avoiding self-deception. The only solution is live consciousness and active intelligence. This intelligence must be active at all times and self-reflecting. It cannot be a one-and-done thing. You must keep being intelligent as long as you live.

3) Practically, in your case, therapy would be a good way to gain more clarity over your worldview. Psychedelics as well of course.

4) If you have deep Awakenings or realization of Infinity/Love/God, then you will realize that self/other is an imaginary duality which must collapse. From this understanding you can know that your bitterness and hatred of mankind cannot be truthful, because mankind is just an aspect of God/Infinity/Love/Self. The truth is that the same people who killed your dog are metaphysically identical to your dog and yourself, since there is no difference between self and other at the highest level of reality. So in order to heal yourself from this tragedy would require connecting with that disowned, shadow aspect of yourself. The thing you hate the most -- the people who killed your dog -- is the thing that you will ultimately need to realize as identical to yourself. That would be the conclusion which results in the healing. But that is a tall order. I'm not tell you to necessarily just do it right now. You probably need much more time to pass before you are ready to face such radical integration.

I'm sorry, this is difficult to tell you, but the following applies here:

https://www.actualized.org/insights/actualized-quotes-090

The entire challenge of spirituality is to integrate that.

To integrate that basically requires complete Awakening beyond what a human mind can imagine. It would be an Awakening so deep that you would basically die and return from the grave. In that moment of death, death itself would heal you. (I am not talking about suicide.)

When the self dies, God's love cleanses your psyche of corruption by melting you into pure Infinity. An ocean of love where your dog, yourself, and your enemy are One. This Oneness is Absolute Truth. From this Truth all sense-making must derive, otherwise it will be corrupt.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this heart felt answer. I copied and pasted it on my commonplace book. I will need to read it multiple times so that I don't fall back into darkness. God bless you. This answer helps me so much. Thank you. Thank you for existing <3 

[Leo Gura]

@Daniel Balan *hug* brother.

You have a deep heart.

Edited Thursday at 08:42 AM by Leo Gura

[Vibes]

@Leo Gura Are you going to add books to other categories, besides politics in the book list?

[Leo Gura]

1 hour ago, Vibes said:

@Leo Gura Are you going to add books to other categories, besides politics in the book list?

Some yes.

Most of the new books around understanding society and social dynamics. But there is also some psychological stuff, UFOs, neuro-divergence, personality types, etc.

The society stuff is really amazing.

Edited Friday at 12:51 AM by Leo Gura

[Vibes]

1 hour ago, Leo Gura said:

Some yes.

Most of the new books around understanding society and social dynamics. But there is also some psychological stuff, UFOs, neuro-divergence, personality types, etc.

The society stuff is really amazing.

Thanks!

[Yimpa]

 

Me contemplating:

 

[Leo Gura]

Someone call an ambulance for that toilet 

[OBEler]

This new blog quote comes from experience 

My take on it: it depends on perspective. On my imaginary human perspective: yes it's objectively bad in my relative world where I also hold a phantasy of an objective reality in my mind. 

No in the absolute sense.

[Leo Gura]

4 minutes ago, OBEler said:

On my imaginary human perspective: yes it's objectively bad in my relative world

What if the bleeding was the lesser side-effect from a medication you needed which also included risk of heart attack?

[OBEler]

@Leo Gura from my human perspective: every negative experienced side effects can be labeled as bad from my mind if I just look at them in a limited context. In the broader context this can be relativated and can turn even to good (e.g. the medication is finally working). So overall it not only depends on relative vs absolute perspective but also on context.

Update: it depends on everything in the relative world, there are infinite variables at play - from your own sensitivity to cultural education to your actual mood - the list is endless.

Update : it overall depends on your current state of consciousness.

Edited Friday at 09:31 AM by OBEler

[ryoko]

1 hour ago, Kairos said:

What are some good resources to learn and apply it ?

Best way to learn it is to build systems. Could be anything, just have a clear goal in mind, then lock in.

Systems are not just mental models like spiral dynamics. You'll learn more by building systems in real world than by reading a book about systems. Just start.

Edited Friday at 09:51 AM by ryoko

[Davino]

@Leo Gura have you thought in featuring or pinning down the Blog Discussion Mega-Thread? 

It may deserve such spot, it has been both useful and popular.

[OBEler]

@Davino the problem with pinning down is that you overlook it more easily. My eyes never focus on the pinned threads and most users will skip these also. 

[ryoko]

8 minutes ago, Kairos said:

Can you give some example where you might have applied or seen system thinking being applied in achieving goals ?

Depends a lot on what you do. Here's something which inspired me to build my own stuffs.

 

[Davino]

5 hours ago, OBEler said:

the problem with pinning down is that you overlook it more easily. My eyes never focus on the pinned threads and most users will skip these also. 

True, it happens also to me. 

Then maybe Featured is a better option, something that catches the eye and makes it more accessible.

 

Although I think it appears in the feed as usual despite being pinned, correct me if I'm wrong.

[Terell Kirby]

Maybe not for the private health care & insurance companies,  big pharma-it’s an opportunity to make money from a certain subjective lens.

Profits from bleeding buttholes 

Edited Friday at 08:14 PM by Terell Kirby

[Nemra]

On 1/29/2025 at 3:08 AM, Leo Gura said:

Anyone who don't like dinosaurs is going straight to Hell.

What's there to love about dinosaurs?

Edited Saturday at 02:53 PM by Nemra