WonderSeeker

Was just going to type this - very important nuance to point out. In my last relationship my girl told me a few different times that she loved my vulnerability. One time was in bed. Another was when I cried in front of her. I swear they have a sixth sense - they know if you're being honest. When it's just you two alone in your intimacy, vulnerability is a winner!

@clararockmore I couldn't have said it better!

Practicing scientist here. At the end of the day, science can provide some useful schemes and relative truths that help us to improve our lives; we use it to tell interesting stories to understand relative reality. Comparatively speaking, I like to think of science as a more clever, more evolved form of imagination than religion. Good luck contemplating, @Mesopotamian !

@Preety_India Try this website: https://www.betterworldbooks.com. I believe they ship internationally for free. They mostly sell used books and are a very green company. I buy almost all of my books from them, and the used ones are $4 a pop!

Top 10 this year 1) The Religion of Tomorrow, by: Ken Wilber (Consciousness/philosophy) 2) Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha, by: Daniel Ingram (Consciousness) 3) Loving What Is, by: Byron Katie (Self-help) 4) Spiral Dynamics, by: Don Beck & Christopher Cowan (Systems thinking) 5) Food of the Gods, by: Terrence McKenna (Psychedelics/drug culture) 6) LSD and the Mind of the Universe, by: Christopher Bache (Psychedelics/philosophy) 7) Mastery, by: George Leonard (Self-help) 8) Radical Honesty, by: Brad Blanton (Self-help) 9) Thinking in Systems, by: Donella Meadows (Systems thinking) 10) A Second Kind Of Impossible (Physics/geology)

Only if there's 200ug on the end of that finger

Yesterday a college roommate of mine claimed to have "almost" had an out-of-body experience on mushrooms. Today, I just over-heard him on the phone with a friend talking about how he's "questioning who and what he is" and "is there something beyond the materialism?" and so on. I know this stuff varies from person to person, but what could I say that might spark his interest in doing a meditative/contemplative practice? He seems very curious, but simultaneously scared about it. It's almost like he senses the danger that this could bring on his ego, which is how I felt many months ago. Cheers!

@Loving Radiance LOL! I like that. Will be patient and not force it though.

@UNZARI I like the practicality of starting with something like McKenna - good idea! @Nahm @Rilles Noted. I felt turbulent using that word.

@Brivido Bache's book is a great perspective. But actually going through it must have been a challenge. What was the dose? Fantastic report!

@Yarco Very helpful, thank you!

Dr. Cornell West embodies this stage beautifully! Study him if you're trying to move into Yellow.

As COVID is getting worse in the U.S., approaching is becoming less appealing. The only place I've really tried lately is the grocery store. For example, I had a cute cashier and we got into a good conversation (I was complimenting her in the mix and she was flattered). I didn't "finish," meaning ask for number, because of a belief that women do not want to get asked out at work (and I didn't wanna put her on the spot while she was scanning my groceries). What do you think? Split on this one. Since options are slim because people can't really mingle anywhere (especially now that businesses are getting put on hold again), I am exploring online dating. I made a Tinder a few days ago and instantly got dissatisfied with it (for many reasons). Deleted that shit within the evening. Are there any good dating websites out there that people use who are serious about dating (and not just immature people only looking for casual sex)? I'm having trouble finding a good platform that enough people use. Cheers!

@Vision Same question framed differently: Can there be stage green and above doctors? Try not to think of the profession itself as being a color stage, but rather the person's mindset being applied to the profession. As far as I can tell, all intellectual pursuits can be taken up to at least high yellow. That's what I'm looking to do with geology. P.S. Look up Daniel Ingram. He's an M.D. way above orange.

@Conscious life Are you saying you're experiencing Godhead 24/7? If so that's impressive.

How do you ask good questions? Perhaps even more fundamental: What is a good question? My thoughts: Good questions are "big-picture"-focused, Good questions open new doors; they aim to raise consciousness, Good questions are relative to one's own needs, and Good questions are foundational (like the italicized/bold question above). Of course, what counts as a "good question" is entangled with our socially-constructed world. What this forum considers to be a good question won't be by mainstream culture. Does the ability to ask genuinely good questions rest on awareness itself? Can only "I" or "you" decide for ourselves what is or isn't a good question? I have no fucking idea yet, but this is a start. Please share your thoughts~

I hope to have one and only one in my future. There's just something beautiful about reproduction - it's literally a miracle. Also, I love the curiosity and playful joy that kids have: something about that sparks joy in me. Being a parent is something I've always fantasized about, and NOT because society wants me to have kids. But if you're asking why I'd conceive over adopting, that I cannot answer

I think to actually understand Godhead you'd have to experience that for yourself. It one of those ineffable states, if you will. Like @lmfao said, Wilber's work may be good to check out, because it expands on spiral dynamics (also the term "Godhead" is used to describe a meditative state). Again, best advice is for you to go to the higher stages and experience them for yourself. (Then tell us what you did to get there when you get back! )

@fridjonk Ever try cacao nibs? They make an amazing topping for smoothie bowls!

I think the worksheet is meant to guide beginners using the method. Once you've done the worksheet a few times, you can start to apply Katie's principles in all situations. Just memorize the questions. Every time you feel your ego creeping up (i.e., you having a negative thought), be aware of that and just start asking the questions to yourself on the spot. Three hours is too much time to spend on this. I recommend doing the work in ordinary life instead, using real examples on the fly. Good luck!

If you don't want to go the psychedelic route, Daniel Ingram's MCTB book gives the Dark Knight a solid treatment. He gives you some resolutions and practical advice for navigating the territory. Just another option.

@Rasheed Huge props to you for taking life seriously. I respect your drive. In my own experience, a guiding principle I learned early is patience. Like you, I want to be a creator. But it will take time. Your love is for basketball and Law of Attraction; mine is geology and epistemology/consciousness. In my case, I'm using all of my free time (which is very little as a graduate student) to read, research, and plan. Reading, writing, drawing, reading, writing, drawing,...and contemplating! If you block out say 1-2 hours each day of reading/writing for the next 4 years, you'll go a long way. Cheers!

I'm a full-time graduate student, so don't have much time to plan during weekdays. On a weekend day, I'll take a chunk of time (1pm to 5pm) and go to a spot in nature with nothing more than my notebook and colored pens and begin writing down my "future visions." Find a comfortable environment that you enjoy, whether its remote nature, the park, your living room; perhaps somewhere other than where you read and research. Whatever helps you think creatively! I think it's necessary to have spacing between planning days though. Personally I can't do it every day. Just my take.

A few thoughts: Any ideas on the source of the ego backlash? Why do you think you need to focus on materialistic values? Do you study meditation theory? It sure makes a difference. Perhaps do some serious questioning before making any firm decisions yet. Cheers!

This is a BIG step! I wonder if other states will begin to follow suit in the coming years.