Consilience

A couple of very easy, very high yielding changes you can make. 1) Feel into your body as you're in these types of social interactions. Actively relax your muscles, loosen you're joints, relax into a good posture... Get your attention out of your thoughts and into your body. Attraction is coming from the lower chakras. As odd as this may sound, your body, presence, and being are doing the communicating. What you say matters so much less than how you say it and what vibe you're giving off. The vibe and how you communicate comes from being in your body. The objective "what to say" will flow once you're tapping into the sensations of your body. The more relaxed you are, the more fun you'll be. Girls are attracted to fun. 2) Eye contact. Strong eye contact with men, women, while talking, while listening. Eye contact demands attention and can pull people in. There are incredible subtle, micro yet powerful communications happening through eye contact. Learn how to read and how to communicate with the eyes. (Notice this is still using the body and not the mind). 3) Ask questions, lots of questions, talk to everyone. Get to know everyone at the party. Be authentically interested. Learn how to interconnect their replies with either follow up questions or share a bit about yourself. Being vulnerable is powerful, but don't let it devolve into being only about you. But don't forget, the one asking the questions is the one controlling the conversation.

When one studies direct experience long enough, when one trains the mind to have a high level of mindfulness (concentration, sensory clarity, and equanimity) one eventually sees that our mundane sensory sober experience, the most non-mystical experience you can think of, is actually none other than infinity, oneness, and love. These three words all pointing to that which is absolute. It's impossible to describe why and how this present moment direct experience is infinite; this is not even something the mind can "do." However, I can explain why you don't perceive it as such: Our present moment sensory experience for the average individual is constructed out of a plethora of distortions, beliefs, interpretations, and the belief in an identity based on emotion predispositions, a life story, a being moving through space, and events happening across time that weaves and tangles all of the raw sensory data together. This distortion, this deep entanglement of physical perceptions and mental perceptions (many of which are so subtle they're completely unrecognized by conscious surface level awareness) creates a sense of known reality, a sense of "the way things are" when in fact complex matrix of distortion has nothing to do with the way things really are. When we see reality as anything other than pure infinity, emptiness, love, god, the absolute, etc., we are playing into a story we're unconsciously constructing. The way out of this unconscious construction is by rigorous investigation, deconstruction, contemplation, and meditation. So yes right now the mundane sensory field feels very... dull. That's due to an entire matrix of un-cognized, background beliefs and interpretations driving your experience you've yet to sufficiently become aware of through deep mindfulness/observation/investigation. Until a sufficient amount of mindfulness, for example, is brought to see into the heart of what this field is, understanding how reality is love, for example, will be impossible.

Nostalgia moved towards reverence as the emotion is directed towards the present. We can, in a very real sense, feel nostalgic in the present moment without craving or clinging.

I thought you guys might find this interesting. Shinzen's been busy haha. I've heard through the deep grape-vine his lab may be looking at how to combine this bran scan technology with 5-MeO in the future but.... That's very far away; may not happen. For now the focus is on the feasibility of the ultrasound hits. Anyways, cool that meditation is starting to become increasingly mainstream. He made The Guardian!

This was 100% a projection. I literally question Leo all the time. Go read some of the other threads Ive commented on. Wasn’t offended at all brother. Again, “Mu.” - ?

? While we're on the topic -

You realize how FULL of concepts The Book of Not Knowing is right? It's a gigantic book with many elaborate, detailed explanations. The trap you're outlining about Actualized.org is fully present in The Book of Not Knowing. Just playing devil's advocate here. It's an amazing resource, but let's be honest. I've personally found sometimes even contemplation carries with it the possibility of unconscious conceptualization about whatever it is you're contemplating, such that pure "meditative" observation, more vipassana style, would have been in "higher" alignment with whatever is true. This seems to presupposes pure, clear, direct contemplation is THE WAY. What if pure, clear, and direct contemplation was 100% bullshit? What if sitting down and shutting tf up was more pure, clear, and direct towards whatever is true?

The Neo Advaita kryptonite ? Nah that’s just getting who you are. Until you know what you are, that isn’t it. “Mu” - ?

The ox is still eating that special Nibbāna sweet grass ?

I would guess OP is pretty exceptional given he’s interested in actualized.org, psychedelics, understanding reality, etc ?

Well this could be true. It would all depend on how hard the second guy hits meditation. If the second guy was going on 2-3 meditation retreats per year with a good teacher, practicing 1-2 hours per day as his own, making a focus out of "life practice" (being mindful while walking in nature, cooking, cleaning, while talking with people, etc.) then I would argue the second guy would be much better off. If, though, the second guy is only doing < 1 hour per day of practice, never going on retreats, not bothering to learn about different techniques and finding what works for him, then yes I agree. It literally all depends on how hard you go. This is where I think people get hung up on meditation. Results can very ENORMOUSLY. Why? Because to see results with meditation usually takes an enormous front end investment, learning of different techniques and systems, and finding what resonates. Most don't have the vision or discipline to do all of this. What most people don't understand about meditation is how quickly results start to take off once they start to take off. It's really a shame. But yeah I mean if you aren't willing to invest the time and energy into serious meditation practice, a couple years of serious psychedelic useage plus other practices will serve you better. But in terms of permanently elevating one's consciousness, ie experiencing God while bopping around through life, meditation all the way. Very true.

That's true. I've had similar experiences healing traumas with psychedelics. They seem much more powerful at facilitating healing than meditation. I consider this a form of meditation yes. You're applying mindfulness so in that sense... It is reinforcing those pathways in the mind. There is something particularly potent about a formal, seated practice. The stillness, silence, and being with whatever arises with equanimity, but certainly other activities are opportunities to "meditate" in the sense that you're mindfully engaging with life and therefore developing "mindfulness muscles." Not sure how you're making that conclusion here. In this dichotomy, it's psychedelics or meditation right? Perhaps for you you'd prefer psychedelics. Okay that's fine. But I can only speak from experience, from talking to many experienced meditators (many of whom who have used psychedelics), and working with multiple enlightened masters, I'd choose meditation over psychedelics any day if I was forced to choose. However, I thankfully do not have to choose. And I currently practice both with reverence, as you said. And I agree, using psychedelics with reverence plus intentionality is an absurdly powerful tool. Doing both practices is a rare opportunity on this planet, to have the neurological genetics to be open to these practices, plus the life circumstances to lead both tools into your life is truly a precious opportunity.

Yes I imagine the sesshins will provide a whole depth of insight, appreciate, and understanding of the role of meditation on the "spiritual path." There is something profoundly powerful about the silence, stillness, boredom, and rigor of a meditation retreat setting. It molds the mind at such a deceptively deep way, especially if followed up with serious daily practice. Doshin seems woke as fuck based on YouTube videos I've watched... His emphasis on shadow works seems particularly powerful as well. That's really awesome as well about getting the opportunity for monastic life. What do you mean about the fear of being pigeonholed? Like you somehow wouldn't be able to leave once you've committed? Honestly he seems to hide it. There are times where it's very obvious shits being transmitted... Or it kind of slips through without him intentionally doing anything. But I think he's extremely conscientious about NOT transmitting anything because he doesn't want his community to fall into needing him. For the second two retreats, the morning meditations began 3:30am PST time and I'm not sure I could have made it through them without him leading the sits... Having his presence there really helped, but again, he does seem to hold back for the most part. However, based on some private exchanges I've had with him in one on one interviews, all I can say is his baseline state of consciousness is wildly higher than what he "gives off." But again I believe this holding back is intentional. Regardless, it does start to slip through, especially as the retreats progressed and momentum with the practice starts to build and especially during his evening talks. The mind starts to become more porous and sensitive to subtler "frequencies" of energy. Sorry I don't have more grounded language to use to describe that.

?

Psychedelics and intensive meditation practice are unfortunately not equivalent. 15-30 minutes per day is nowhere near enough practice to understand what intensive meditation provides. What's interesting is that as you bump up your practice time, there tends to be a non-linear increase with the results you receive. What are you basing this conclusion on? I have not met a single person who practices meditation seriously who has found it to be anything less than profound and life changing. @Leo Gura You've really got to clean up your messaging man. This is wildly inaccurate and goes against not only what the average, serious meditator's experience is, but it goes against what every major sage from every major contemplative tradition has to say about meditation, or equivalent contemplative practice. This type of rhetoric completely misguides noobies into a false sense of understanding how to expand one's consciousness, wisdom and understanding in life. @Adam101 psychedelics alone will do very little for profoundly altering your baseline state of consciousness. Meditation will. It's that simple. The idea that meditation can't give you psychedelic like states is false, it most certainly can and it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of how serious about the practice you are. Sure 15-30 minutes, missing a few days here and there isn't going to be very effective. But 2+ hours per day, going on yearly retreats or more, doing background practice in daily life, that's a whole different story. You will grow tired of having to constantly use a foreign substance to be in these higher consciousness states. Psychedelics absolutely are a profound, powerful, meaningful tool on the path, but if you could only use 1, meditation or psychedelics, meditation would be better every time. It's impossible to understand why or how until you've done serious practice. Of course Leo has a different opinion, but I would encourage you to commit to rigorously practicing meditation, we're talking 1, 2, maybe even 3 hours per day for multiple years, before coming to any definite conclusion. Leo has not done this type of intensive meditation so really isn't a real authority on the matter. Serious monks and yogis are doing 4+ hours a day with regular retreats multiple times per year. What we do in the west is not "intensive" practice. Welcome man. I would actually say it's a pretty meaty question

It's called Monastic Academy Center for Mindful Learning. That would be great. As I understand it, you'd also get to participate free of charge. If you have the time why not? Nah just normal retreat schedule but all on zoom. It was honestly awesome getting to go so hard at practice while being in my personal space. It felt like it helped with the integration compared to when I went to Texas, for example. The home practice program does seem great though. I really appreciate how engaged he is with his community. My experience learning from Shinzen has been phenomenal. He is a serious, grounded, embodied meditation master and it shows with the way he gives talks, answers questions, and just his presence. Before going on the first retreat, I was honestly very confused about how to integrate many of the ideas presented in The Mind Illuminated, The Book of Not Knowing... Shamatha, jhanas, self inquiry, do nothing, vipassana, and then all of the Neo Advaita messages about stop seeking. Like wtf man so many competing messages But after coming out of that first retreat everything just clicked and in no small part because of Shinzen. His noting/labeling technique is extremely intelligent and effective. For me at least. My goal is a couple per year too, but at minimum 1. What about you man? How was the 3 day and intensive?

Samurai Champloo is an extremely spiritual anime, although subtlety so until the end. The ending is just a masterpiece on the meaning of life, in my view. Plus the fight scenes are beautifully choreographed and just badass in general. Music is on another level as well.

Total for me: 4 Retreat #1 Sept/Oct 2018: 14 days consciousness workshops facilitated by Brendan Lea Retreat #2 Sept/Oct 2020: 9 day online vipassana retreat lead by Shinzen Young Retreat #3 Dec/Jan 2020/2021: 11 day online vipassana retreat lead by Shinzen Young Retreat #4 April 2021: 8 day online vipassana retreat lead by Shinzen Young. Upcoming Retreat #5 Oct: 2021: 14 day Contemplation Intensive facilitated by Brendan Lea. Also trying to join a residential monastery program from Nov 2021 - April 2022 where I can still work my remote job while living in a more relaxed but still strict monastery setting. It would have retreats thrown in. Still attempting to work those details out. After all of these retreats Ive realized trying to do manual practice without ever attending retreats is severely lacking. The back to back meditation retreats were absurdly powerful. I remember Leo saying in one of his old blog videos (one on YouTube not actualized.org) that we should be doing these type of retreats quarterly and if that our life circumstances wouldn’t allow for that, to figure it out so we could. Still “figuring it out” haha but damn he was spot on. 2020 was one of the most healing, “consciousness expanding” years of my life because of those retreats.

Pointless? Yes. Never leads anywhere? Nope.

Hard to say because psychedelic states are weird in general, but it just seemed like the climate crisis was some kind of massive issue we know is an issue, but are refusing to address. Idk how to describe it other than it was like the sum total of human consciousness knows in the depths how bad things can get but is actively ignoring it. So there’s this collective dread/fear shaping in the background of our species-mind, if such a mind could be said to exist. One of the qualities of the mind Ive learned from meditation and psychedelics is that A LOT is going on underneath the surface level of our awareness. It felt like the mushrooms dropped this veil and let more of the “background” into the surface view and what I saw was this dread. There’s still time but we are quickly running out and somewhere, our deeper intelligence knows this. Well, it felt that way. It’s important not to take these types of states too literally.

PNW, Oregon USA here. Ended up eating mushrooms and basking in the heat today on my back porch (shaded). Felt like I tapped into an existential dread hiding in the collective unconscious. Kinda like when a student is procrastinating studying for finals by playing video games. Even as they’re gaming, the background dread of the final lingers, and the longer they dont start studying, the worse the dread gets and the more they ignore it. A negative feedback loop... It felt like that was what our collective consciousness was going through. The majority of us are in utter denial about the severity of the situation, the potential for calamity looming right around the corner.

Absolutely. Daily consistency matters more than time of day. I'd recommend at least 10 mins per day as a daily minimum; your sense of well being will thank you.

Lmafo

It is an egoic projection to see these events as anything other than love. To truly have insight into how these events are love requires a heart wrenchingly powerful awakening into the nature of reality. Notice how the universe has zero problems with these events taking place. The universe is in a state of complete harmony and equanimity with these events merely by the fact of their existence. The equanimity of the universe, of wholeness, is a tautology of wholeness. Wholeness is exactly what it is because of it being what it is; this is infinitely direct. Once we realize we are not a "thing" within this wholeness, but are in fact this very wholeness, we see that there was never anything other than a radical, unconditional self-acceptance of the world's atrocities. And when the mindfuck integrates with the heart, all that's left is love and compassion for all beings. Reality is love; love is a brutal thing. Reality being love is hearsay until it's not.