Focus Shift

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Everything posted by Focus Shift

  1. "Some pretend our consciousness is just an illusion, but that doesn't explain it because illusion is a mode of consciousness."
  2. While editing this, I thought of Leo's recent videos on Holistic thinking. Is there a clear and distinct boundary between science and religion? Are religious and scientific truth mutually exclusive? “The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will turn you into an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you.” - Werner Heisenberg
  3. I've been reading a few books on marketing to help with my YouTube channel and set up a website as well. Currently I do freelance video editing but would like to create products like courses in the future, but I don't feel I have the audience or brand to do that most effectively yet. I've noticed the power marketing has even within spiritual/high consciousness businesses. I've read dotcom secrets, this is marketing, hidden persuasion (though, that's more advertising thank marketing techniques) and I'm currently on Perennial Seller by Ryan Holiday. Most of the books about this subject I find to be kind of basic, so I was wondering if there were any really good resources for marketing out there for content creators or small businesses.
  4. In Waking Up, Harris argues that it is difficult to see the relation between consciousness and matter. Thus, a more precise way of examining consciousness is with meditation. To this view, the practice can be taken up without the formalities of organized religion. Religion has its dogma and lack of scientific rigor in comparison to the scientific worldview of today. What do you make of taking up spiritual practices from a rational point of view?
  5. @Globalcollective Right on, will definitely do more tests to get that consistency.
  6. @Leo Gura Right on, I'll check it out. And thank you, I made most of the scenes in Blender 3D
  7. What other examples of strangeloops can be found in "reality"? By that I mean, outside of abstraction and something more tangible to our senses.
  8. @Sid X I would say take your favorite books, make notes, get a decent camera/audio/lighting gear, and then make some videos examining the topics you find to be of use. What are some insights you've found on your personal development journey that reduce suffering, and would be of use for others to know?
  9. @Gesundheit I want to know the exact location of the spiral dynamics stage green, source so I can piss there
  10. From an ultimate standpoint, all of this is just letters, even everything on your screen and perception, just a collection of shapes that we interpret to have meaning. However, in the relative stance in which we find ourselves most of the time, religion and science exists. I think the point Heisenberg is trying to make is that science is useful for understanding reality from a mechanical standpoint, whereas religion is useful for morality and view of the world. However, Heisenberg says that the two should be kept separate. What would be a more holistic view of science and religion?
  11. What appeals to me about the Tantric school of thought is the integration of desire. Of course, we can become stuck in our desires if we view them as ends in themselves. However, if we see our desires in context to service of mankind and the universe, this liberates us from the suffering of karmic cycles. Ideas and excerpts from Tantra Illuminated.
  12. Many of us have experience with meditation/psychedelics. This leads us to the realization that all is one, that reality is a manifestation of consciousness. We are a node in a fractal, holographic, infinite universe. However, does this account for spiritual beings which may also guide us to enlightenment? Do you have a connection to a being that you do prayers or mantras to? Can they help guide us to the mystical experience? Are they just an "archetype"? Or are they real beings that we can have a relationship with? In terms of the feminine, how important is it that men integrate their feminine energy (and vice versa) ?
  13. Greene uses examples from the greatest seducers of history, Errol Flynn, Casanova, etc. I'm not claiming I'm some master seducer, but instead sharing my favorite insights and examples into a half hour. The Art of Seduction shows you not only what to do, but also traps to avoid. But sure, I can show all you like, if you subscribe to my onlyfans
  14. I figured this would be fitting for Valentine's day. How does seduction work? Are people born seductive? Or are there strategies that one can implement to become more attractive? I find it's much more empowering to take ownership of our behavior. Do we need to adopt new strategies for seduction in the digital age? Or are these patterns pretty consistent across time?
  15. This one has a similar theme to Leo's on Self Acceptance. As Ram Dass points out, through the process of socialization we are conditioned to reward and punish ourselves. This is so that we can "behave" and function in society. This comes with a cost though, we identify as being "good" and deny our capacity to be "bad". Through accepting all the aspects of our humanity, we transcend it and access the divine.
  16. @binyamin1 For the inward side, developing a meditation practice (mantras, mindfulness practice, etc.) is critical to dive into that feeling. Sometimes you will get a glimpse of how separation is an illusion, and the unity of all things. It's funny how to wrote suffer and benefit from ego death. It can be the most beautiful experience but it can be a bit isolating. For the practical side, a fitness practice will keep you moving and the blood pumping, with a sense of self discipline and focus. You can also go on yelp or meetup.com to find yoga and meditation places to connect with others. Do a bit of digging and see if there's any communities of like minded people out there, or create your own! Like McKenna said, create your own culture. Lastly, you are not alone in being alone I get frustrated too sometimes but it helps to be solution oriented to resolve any obstacle that comes your way.
  17. Erwin Schrödinger argues that we don't necessarily need to use science as the only way of understanding the world. I find this especially peculiar considering he was one of the founders of Quantum Mechanics. His interest in Vedanta and Eastern Mysticism is also of interest as well. Does Quantum Mechanics scientifically "prove" Eastern Philosophy? Or, do the discoveries of quantum mechanics open us to a worldview that is similar to what the Vedic texts describe?
  18. @Leo Gura That's a fantastic resource on this, might make a montage or animation out of it at some point thanks
  19. In the past four years we've seen an escalation of conflict between stage blue (religious fundamentalists), orange (materialists), and green (post modernists), particularly in the past year or so. From a spiral dynamics point of view, is all the clashing between these groups a necessary part of our evolution, or should the focus be towards de-escalating conflict?
  20. @Husseinisdoingfine This was taken from Religion of Tomorrow. I'm amazed, it's actually a very thick book, quite insightful though.
  21. I've found the 50, 30, 20 rule to be pretty useful. 50% for expenses, 30% for joy, 20% for debt and savings.
  22. @mmKay I like all of Robert Greene's books, Tim Ferriss for sure, Robert Kiyosaki, and perhaps a little Tony Robbins. Mark Manson is great as well.
  23. After meditating for a while, one notices how the mind works. It's occurred to me recently just how brutal the ego can be to myself and others when I really observe my thoughts. When we put aside judgement towards reality, this allows for a space to see reality in a greater context. To tie all this into all the conflict we see today with politics for example, perhaps this state of deep listening could help us become more compassionate to other points of view. How do we bring the meditative state from the 20 mins or so of daily meditation, to when we are with friends, family, and people we disagree with?
  24. Secularists often ask the question "What kind of a God would allow so much cruelty in the world?" This is based on the assumption that a God would create a world that is benevolent only to a small aspect of its creation. Our pain and suffering may be illusory from a cosmic perspective, but it is difficult to detach from it because we are so close to it. Considering the infinite nature of what consciousness can experience, what is the purpose of this "self" inflicted suffering?