MuadDib

All Understanding Is Metaphoric - Part 2 https://www.actualized.org/insights/all-understanding-is-metaphoric-part-2 Variability of Mystical Experiences Across Religions: Mystical experiences are subjective and vary according to individuals' religious backgrounds. Critics often dismiss these experiences due to their differing natures, but this criticism misunderstands the essential role of language and symbols in shaping our understanding of reality. Regardless of whether the explanatory framework is religious or scientific, the mind relies on symbolic language to make sense of experiences. The Importance of Mental Models for Survival: Humans construct mental models to interpret reality and predict consequences, which is crucial for survival. This process occurs irrespective of cultural or scientific beliefs. The models we form help us to navigate and function effectively in various life domains, from social interactions to evaluating potential risks. Metaphorical Nature of Understanding: All human understanding involves symbolic representations that are metaphorical, not literal. People often mistake their interpretations of reality as factually literal, failing to recognize that understanding is essentially an interconnected web of symbols, none of which actually hold the true essence of what they signify. Network of Symbols in Creating Meaning: Symbols do not possess intrinsic meaning; they only gain significance through their interrelation with other symbols in a vast network. This structure is similar to the interconnected entries of a Wikipedia section or a dictionary, where each element points to another, creating a web of meaning. The Circular Nature of Definitions and Explanations: Explanations are not independent; they only hold explanatory power within the context of a larger network of interconnected concepts and definitions. This network is especially evident in scientific endeavors where terms such as 'gravity', 'force', and 'mass' are defined through their relationships with other concepts, leading to a complex system resembling a dictionary that defines words using other words. Abstraction and Approximation in Human Understanding: The elaboration of concepts, whether in science or spirituality, relies on various degrees of abstraction and the use of analogies. True understanding is never entirely achievable due to the infinite complexity of reality; therefore, humans are satisfied with approximate models that are practically useful and meet their individual thresholds for explanation. Psychedelic Experiences and the Search for Symbols: During psychedelic experiences, the mind searches for symbols and metaphors that resonate with existing understanding. These symbols, which can be highly individual and culturally influenced, allow the mind to comprehend profound states of consciousness and insights otherwise inaccessible. Communicating Insights Across Diverse Languages and Paradigms: The nature of truth is absolute and formless, and thus its understanding can be communicated through various cultural lenses. This results in diverse interpretations of mystical experiences, each tempered by individual and social constructs necessary for survival within different cultural contexts. Interpreting Mystical Experiences in a Context of Survival: Individuals interpret their mystical experiences in ways that align with their sociocultural background and personal needs, often to maintain preexisting social structures and relationships. This can hinder the progression to higher levels of understanding, such as moving from traditional religious interpretations to a more nuanced, integral perspective. Educational Foundations for Psychedelic Insights: A solid grounding in metaphysics can facilitate a deeper understanding and retention of insights gained during psychedelic experiences. Education and prior knowledge help contextualize the symbols encountered during such experiences, making them more impactful and transformative. Pursuit of deeper understanding: Many are content with simple explanations like the force of gravity, but the metaphysically inclined seek deeper meanings and continue to ask why things are the way they are, pursuing the ultimate source or awakening. Metaphor and stories in understanding: Our comprehension of reality, including scientific concepts, is expressed through stories and metaphors, not literal truths. These assumptions and the mental images we create inform our view of existential narratives, such as the Big Bang or evolution. Impact of cultural paradigms on interpretation: When individuals from different cultures interpret knowledge, whether scientific or mystical, they do so through the lens of their own cultural paradigms and symbolic networks, affecting the perceived truth and meaning of their experiences. Limitations of preferred paradigms: People often favor the explanatory systems they are raised with, even though these paradigms are arbitrary and figurative. Accepting only one system as superior is flawed; diverse paradigms offer varied insights and have different strengths. Technological progress vs. holistic wellbeing: Scientific advances don't inherently solve deeper human issues related to happiness and consciousness. Technological solutions might exacerbate problems if they neglect the importance of human wellbeing and contribute to crises like opioid overdoses or existential emptiness. Relevance of diverse explanatory paradigms: Explaining reality efficiently requires embracing various paradigms, as each has unique potentials to describe different aspects of existence. Academic or scientific perspectives might not cover spiritual satisfaction or emotional mastery, which are central to human experience. Necessity of integral understanding: Advancing human civilization requires more than technological progress; it entails fostering human happiness and consciousness. The wellbeing and stability of the entire human race depend on addressing fundamental issues of happiness and connection that cannot be solved by science alone. Symbolic networks and meaning: Interpretations of religious or psychedelic experiences rely on one's own network of symbols. The universe conveys truths through symbols compatible with individual understanding, which can be deeply personal and vary from one person to another. Symbolic grasping in psychedelics: During a psychedelic trip, individuals encounter experiences that challenge their existing models of reality. The mind, striving to make sense of these novel sensations, searches for familiar symbols or images that can help interpret the experience. Communication through cultural symbolism: The universe communicates insights using symbolic language individuals understand, whether it's through cultural, religious, or personal metaphors. An individual's understanding of these deep experiences will be framed by the symbolic language they're familiar with. Personal relevance of metaphors: Profound metaphysical insights are often communicated through personal metaphors during mystical experiences or psychedelics. These images are relevant and understandable only within the context of one's accumulated experiences and existing symbolic framework. Formless truth and cultural paradigms: The absolute truth is formless and can manifest in any form within human understanding, often aligning with an individual's cultural background. This results in diverse interpretations of mystical experiences that resonate with personal and societal contexts, rather than a singular, ultimate form. Practical application of abstract truths: There is a need to translate formless, abstract truths into practical concepts that can be applied in everyday life. This translation is influenced by personal cultural context and survival needs, leading to a variety of religious and mystical teachings and practices. Survival demands and truth interpretation: The way individuals interpret mystical experiences is frequently influenced by their need for social and physical survival, leading to interpretations that support their current lifestyle and societal roles rather than disrupting them. Cultural Interpretation of Mystical Experiences: People who have mystical experiences often interpret them to fit the belief systems and life circumstances they are accustomed to, which helps maintain their social and physical survival but may prevent them from reaching higher levels of understanding. Challenges of Spiritual Development: It is a mistake to become chauvinistic about one's own mystical experience, thinking it validates one's tradition as the only truth, as well as to dismiss all mystical experiences as mere brain chemistry, disregarding their significance. Pursuit of Non-Dual Understanding: Striving for non-dual understanding involves recognizing the formless and infinite nature of the Absolute and moving beyond language, symbols, and images to reach a state of constant awakening or Sahaja Samadhi. Flexibility Across Symbolic Paradigms: Successful understanding requires the ability to navigate different symbolic paradigms without becoming overly attached to any one system, understanding that each one has its strengths and weaknesses. Integration of Diverse Perspectives: The integration of various cultural teachings and perspectives can lead to a richer understanding of spirituality, science, and psychology, which can only be achieved by adopting an integral approach that is open to different views and able to circumvent potential traps that single paradigms may present. Preparation for Psychedelic Insights: To gain meaningful insights from psychedelic experiences, individuals should have a solid metaphysical foundation. Without it, they might not understand the symbols presented during the experience and fail to retain any profound wisdom or knowledge. Personal Verification of Understanding: Rather than simply accepting explanations, individuals are encouraged to personally verify and explore how understanding works by, for example, documenting their own psychedelic experiences and reflecting upon the nature of symbols and understanding in their own lives. Geminio

Metaphysics vs Epistemology https://www.actualized.org/insights/metaphysics-vs-epistemology Direct consciousness as a method of philosophical inquiry: Leo emphasizes that the usual philosophical pursuit of metaphysics and epistemology, focusing on existence and knowledge, is transformed by the concept of direct consciousness. This approach bypasses the limitations of senses and reasoning, often used in Western philosophy, and offers a distinct path to understanding. Inquiry into metaphysics and epistemology: Philosophical questioning of what constitutes reality (metaphysics) and how we can know anything with certainty (epistemology) inevitably leads to doubts that can undermine conclusions, posing a problem for philosophers seeking certainty in their findings. Metaphysics as the primary philosophical inquiry: By exploring the relationship between metaphysics and epistemology, Leo concludes that metaphysics, or simply being, comes before epistemology, or thinking about being. He illustrates this through the notion that the universe existed long before the emergence of thought, implying that being precedes thinking. Existence and the emergence of thought: Leo highlights a speculative but profound moment in history when the first thought appeared in the universe-long after numerous complex processes unfolded-suggesting that the ability to think and know (epistemology) emerged from pre-existing beings (metaphysics). Unifying metaphysics and epistemology at high levels of consciousness: At advanced levels of consciousness, the apparent distinction between metaphysics and epistemology collapses, revealing that they are not dualistic but rather different aspects of the same underlying reality-consciousness. Direct exploration of consciousness: Consciousness cannot be comprehended through logical, rational, or symbolic means, as any definition or symbol is already a manifestation within consciousness itself. To truly understand consciousness, one must engage directly with the raw fact of being conscious, focusing on pure, undifferentiated awareness. Inherent qualities of consciousness: Consciousness is a groundless substance, empty of all characteristics and defying all dualistic qualifications. It cannot be accurately defined or described because any attempt to do so inherently qualifies what is fundamentally quality-less. Distinction and nondistinction in consciousness: Consciousness embodies a paradox where being distinct and indistinct coexist simultaneously, depending on perspective. This relativity collapses in non-dual consciousness, where the act of knowing and the state of being are unified, and all that remains is the substance of consciousness itself. Collapse of subject-object duality: In the state of non-dual awareness, the conceptual boundary between the observing subject and the observed object dissolves, revealing that perceptions and experiences are simply occurrences within the singular field of consciousness. This realization challenges the validity of conventional Western philosophical constructs. Non-dual consciousness as direct knowledge: Non-dual consciousness allows for the direct realization of absolute truth without reliance on intellectual processes. Doubt and skepticism stem from remaining within the mind's paradigm; true recognition of non-duality reveals that one is the embodiment of truth, beyond the possibility of doubt. Critique of Western philosophy's limitations: Leo argues that Western philosophy's failure to resolve existential questions lies in its intellectual approach which is constrained to finite methods. By never transcending the mind, philosophers missed the infinite nature of reality. The lack of practices to raise consciousness beyond intellectual thought hindered their understanding. The error of finite methods in infinite inquiries: Western philosophy, although containing brilliant insights, primarily operated under the assumption that truth could be reached using the mind. This central error led to the misconception that ultimate questions about existence and knowledge could be answered symbolically, overlooking the true infinite nature of these inquiries. Academic challenges embracing non-duality: Academics and scientists entrenched in the materialist and mental paradigms find it difficult to embrace non-duality due to institutional pressure and career concerns. Escaping these paradigms is unlikely as academia requires adherence to conventional intellectual models to secure positions, tenure, and funding. Openly acknowledging non-duality could jeopardize careers, leading to intellectual persecution akin to historical figures like Galileo or Giordano Bruno. University evolution and future prospects: Future academic institutions must evolve substantially to accommodate non-duality and mystical teachings in higher education. Currently, academics interested in these areas may have to practice privately and discreetly to avoid conflict with established norms. Progress is anticipated in a few hundred years when universities may be more receptive and integrate enlightened perspectives into their systems. Western philosophy's significance and legacy: Despite its failure to answer ultimate questions, Western philosophy profoundly influenced the development of Western and thus global culture. Its contributions span moral, legal, economic theories, and scientific advancements. Western philosophy's ideas about civil liberties, secularism, empiricism, and the rise of science have shaped modern society. Philosophy as the root of science and intellectual traditions: Many pioneering figures in science and mathematics were fundamentally philosophers who delved into deep metaphysical and epistemological questions. Today, a disconnect between philosophy and hard sciences undermines the depth of understanding in scientific fields, leading to what Leo views as 'hack science' lacking in substance. Kurt Gödel's metaphysical quest and critique of modern logic: Kurt Gödel, while known for his mathematical theorems, was deeply invested in metaphysical inquiry, driven by intuition about the nature of reality and truth. He was critical of the separation between philosophy and logic/mathematics, emphasizing the need for philosophical depth in these disciplines. Pragmatism's detrimental effects on science: The current scientific practice prioritizes pragmatic results over deeper metaphysical understanding, leading to a neglect of truth, consciousness, and spirituality. Leo predicts that future science will renounce this limited pragmatism, acknowledge its mistakes, and move toward a more holistic understanding of reality as an organic, conscious system. Potential transformation of culture and academia: Leo anticipates that future historians and philosophers will recognize the narrow-mindedness of 20th and 21st-century scientists and academics for not integrating the truths of mystical traditions into scientific understanding. Leo criticizes the current materialistic and reductionist paradigms dominating Western culture, identifying them as obstacles to collective awakening and personal development. Postmodernism misconceptions: Postmodernism is considered an esoteric philosophy, not as widely influential as some critics claim. Leo discusses its complexity and its minimal impact on general culture, contrary to the exaggerated portrayal by figures like Jordan Peterson. Influence of universities on cultural paradigms: Universities not only impart knowledge but shape cultural paradigms. Leo objects to the perpetuation of a materialistic paradigm in academia, emphasizing the need for intellectuals to embrace non-duality to facilitate significant cultural shifts. Shifting paradigms and mainstreaming non-duality: Leo urges the need for widespread cultural understanding of non-duality as distinct from religion and for the acceptance of practices like psychedelics as pathways to accessing non-dual and absolute truth. Future integration of non-duality into science and education: Leo envisions a future intellectual renaissance where the division between dualistic and non-dual paradigms is transcended, allowing science to integrate non-duality and mystical insights. Future generations would learn early on about the non-material, infinite nature of reality, leading to profound changes across society and the development of deeply conscious individuals. Finite Incantatem

Why Get Rich Quick Schemes Don't Work https://www.actualized.org/insights/why-get-rich-quick-schemes-dont-work The misconception of business and wealth creation: Many people misunderstand business, believing it revolves solely around earning money, when in fact, it's about creating value disparity in the marketplace. The fallacy of universal business formulas: Genuine business success can't be systematized into simple steps for everyone to follow, as true wealth requires creating unique value and having a leverage of power over others. Business as value generation: To rise above wage slavery and achieve independence, one must become a massive value provider by introducing innovative and original offerings to the marketplace. Challenge of innovation: The vast majority lack the skills and resources to create new, valuable contributions to society, an essential element to stand out in business. Crafting a unique business approach: Creating an exceptional product or service requires deep industry knowledge, creativity, and the ability to execute and market effectively, pointing out the impossibility of a pre-defined formula for success. The essence of creation: Creation is not limited to business or individual projects; it encompasses the continual emergence of newness throughout the universe. Creativity and new ideas: True creativity and the generation of new ideas exist on the edge of chaos and order; originality in business comes from the ability to walk this fine line, moving beyond copying what others have done to adding fresh, significant value to the market. Complexity of innovation: The process of innovation is intricate and costly, requiring deep knowledge and experience in a specific field, as well as substantial investment in research, development, and testing before a new solution can be brought to market. Intelligence and problem-solving: Being truly successful in business demands a type of intelligence that is not merely high IQ; it involves the ability to creatively solve problems and improve humanity, which must be deliberately cultivated and specialized within a chosen field. Time investment for success: Success in business generally requires a significant time investment-often several years-to build a solid foundation. Get-rich-quick schemes and pyramid schemes exploit the desire for quick success but are unsustainable and often illegal. Inherent nature of business competition: Business competition precludes the possibility of a universal success formula. True innovation isn't formulaic and can't be sold because it relies on one's unique contributions. Copying other models typically leads to failure because it brings nothing new to the market. The role of branding: A strong brand, like Apple's, can enable a company to successfully diversify into new markets based on its established reputation alone, whereas startups without brand recognition must rely on novel and highly creative ideas to compete. Significance of differentiation: Success hinges on distinguishing oneself from others by being innovative and addressing unmet needs in the marketplace. Simply copying existing business models without offering anything distinct is unlikely to be successful. Innovation as key to startup success: Startups, especially in Silicon Valley, achieve success by spearheading innovation with new, clever twists on old ideas. Agility and the willingness to take calculated risks allow them to edge out bigger companies, which may have more inertia and resources but are slower to innovate. Agility of small startups: Due to their small size, startups can quickly adapt and innovate compared to large corporations, which move more slowly due to their size and established processes. This agility can lead to successful disruptions in various industries, requiring large companies to acquire these startups to stay competitive. Importance of original thought in entrepreneurship: For sustainable success, focusing energy on creativity and innovation is crucial. Entrepreneurs should guard against outsourcing their originality, thereby reducing themselves to middlemen without true value. Personal creativity is where individual value lies. Finding personal success formulas: While many seek shortcuts to riches, lasting success comes from coming up with one's own original methods through creativity, research, and ingenuity. Leo's own quick success was possible because they found a unique formula tailored to their situation and capacities. The cutting edge of business and evolution: Being at the forefront of one's field, where the line between possible and impossible is blurred, is essential for pioneering businesses. This mirrors natural evolution, where species that develop creative adaptations to new environments gain a monopolistic advantage. Adaptability above 'best-in-class': Success in the business world, like in nature, is less about being the absolute best and more about fitting well within specific environments. Adaptability and a deep understanding of societal weak points are crucial for creating relevant and impactful businesses. Navigating creativity and risk in business: Entrepreneurs must be willing to explore uncharted paths and trust their instincts, taking the initiative where others are hesitant. This exploration involves risks, akin to being the first organism to move from sea to land, but it also opens up vast new opportunities. Differentiating to avoid wage slavery: To rise above the common fate of wage slavery, individuals must engage in unique, innovative activities that set them apart from the mass majority. This may involve venturing into the untested and unknown, embracing leadership, and stepping away from the comfort and safety of the conventional path. Developing the explorer's mindset: To succeed in business, one must develop the skills and psychological attitude akin to an explorer: fearlessness, self-confidence, intuition, and the ability to mitigate risk without taking on so much that it leads to ruin. The risks of premature commitment: New entrepreneurs often prematurely quit their jobs to pursue a business idea, underestimating the dangers and challenges ahead. This can result in significant personal and financial setbacks, especially if they haven't validated the feasibility of their business concept first. Consistency of wage employment: Wage employment offers the comfort of a consistent paycheck, which many find preferable to the risks and uncertainties of entrepreneurship. This comfort can inhibit the drive needed to push through the challenges of starting and maintaining a successful independent business. Balancing entrepreneurship with employment: Aspiring entrepreneurs should not hastily abandon their day jobs. Instead, they should work on their business ventures during personal time, gradually transitioning as their enterprise proves viable, thus avoiding the excessive risk of losing their primary source of income. Life purpose over merely making money: Aligning your business with your life purpose can lead to not only financial but also personal fulfillment. This contrasts with many business courses, which focus solely on financial success rather than meaningful work. Psychological strength for entrepreneurship: Success in business requires not just functional expertise but the psychological fortitude to confront fears and doubts. The life purpose course is recommended to those interested in finding clarity, direction, and cultivating the mental toughness needed for entrepreneurship. Cave Inimicum

Inside The Mind Of Trump https://www.actualized.org/insights/inside-the-mind-of-trump Evaluation of Trump's ego: The analysis of Trump is not intended to be political but aims to understand the workings of the ego mind through Trump's example. The video highlights the importance of separating personal development discussions from politics to focus on the psychological and existential aspects of human behavior. Learning from political figures: Leo stresses that politicians like Trump provide valuable insights into the ego mind's operation. Observing such public figures can teach us about narcissism, self-centeredness, and reality manipulation, thereby offering lessons that transcend their immediate political context. Trump as a historical figure: Trump's behavior is seen as an emblematic case of extreme egocentrism, which will likely be the subject of in-depth psychological and spiritual analysis for centuries to come. His rise and fall are not just political events but also reflect deep-rooted human dynamics. Objective analysis of political behavior: Leo cautions against shallow analysis of Trump's actions and instead advocates for a deeper, multi-perspective approach. He identifies Trump's behavior as stemming from a mix of red and orange stages in the spiral dynamics model - characterized by pronounced egocentrism and unethical behavior. Value of truth to Trump: Trump's relationship with truth is characterized by a complete disregard for both existential and conventional truths. His actions suggest that he values truth only when it serves his ego, exemplifying an approach where truth can be manipulated to ensure ego survival. Ego as a delusion: The video presents the concept of the ego as a delusion that distorts one's perception of reality and self-importance. This distortion creates a bubble where one's perspectives and needs are disproportionally emphasized, fostering an adversarial relationship with truth and reality. Trump's motivations and basic needs: As an opportunistic manipulator, Trump relentlessly pursues ways to satisfy his basic needs, ignoring ethical concerns and long-term consequences. This pursuit is indicative of a lower developmental level and contrasts with individuals focused on fulfilling higher-order needs. Impact of truth manipulation: By continuously manipulating the truth, Trump demonstrates a clear example of an individual who abuses truth for selfish gains. The call to action is for viewers to recognize similar patterns within themselves, no matter how subtly they manifest, and to understand their own participation in reality distortion. Reality distortion field: Leo illustrates the idea of an ego as a gravitational distortion in the fabric of reality. Maintaining this distortion field is a fundamental human tendency, but it also leads to suffering as it obscures a clear understanding of the true nature of reality. Survival strategy and downfall: The pursuit of egocentric goals is associated with survival but is ultimately unsustainable. Trump's apparent successes do not equate to genuine fulfillment, and his continued insatiable desire for more signifies an underlying lack of satisfaction and brewing internal turmoil. Ego's insatiable nature: Despite accumulating wealth and status, Trump's ego remained unfulfilled, leading him to chase the presidency for further validation. This addiction to ego boosts mirrors the behavior of gamblers and substance abusers who chase greater highs, even as they lead to detrimental outcomes. Inherent emptiness of material success: Leo argues that what seems like a fulfillment strategy-gathering possessions and accolades to satisfy one's ego-is fundamentally flawed. Trump's pursuit of the presidency reflects this, as his internal strife and dissatisfaction remain concealed behind the facade of his external successes. Criminality tied to ego-centric perspectives: At extreme levels of ego-centeredness, legality and ethics become irrelevant, with actions assessed purely through self-serving lenses. This mindset, seen in corporate scandals and organized crime, is linked to lower consciousness stages and foreshadows a societal or personal collapse due to unsustainable practices. Corruption's societal impact: Using Russia's systemic corruption as an example, Leo details how pervasive corruption hinders business operations and national development. He likens Trump's business dealings to Russia's corrupt standards, suggesting a compatibility in their respective stage red levels of moral development. Trump's business incompetence and reliance on corrupt financing: Trump's inability to conduct legitimate business in America due to his past failures led him to find support from Russia's corrupt system. This reliance on unethical practices contrasts with the more accountable and less corrupt business environment in the United States. Trump's emulation of Russian practices: Leo suggests that, given his level of consciousness, Trump has tried to import the corrupt business model prevalent in Russia to America. His lack of self-awareness means he doesn't see the fundamental misalignment and unsustainability of this approach in a more evolved American society. Deepening the Reality Distortion Field: Trump surrounds himself with enablers who reinforce his version of reality, selectively presenting information that flatters his ego while demonizing anything that doesn't, a manifestation of his conflict with truth. Denial of Electoral Realities: Despite losing the popular vote, Trump and his base refuse to accept the implications of this loss. Such denial stems from an inability to engage in self-reflection, leading to further reinforcement of an egocentric worldview. Rationalizations by Trump Supporters: As Trump's administration faces more scrutiny and evidence of corruption surfaces, his supporters use mental gymnastics to defend him. Admitting fault would require an open-mindedness they lack, so they cling to rationalizations to maintain their ethnocentric, Trump-centered identity. Conservative Identity and Multiculturalism: Conservatives and Trump supporters embrace ethnocentrism and reject multiculturalism, which they view as a threat to their collective egoic identity. Figures like Jordan Peterson articulate justifications for resisting concepts like postmodernism and multiculturalism, resonating with those at blue/orange stages of consciousness. Evangelicals Supporting Trump: Evangelicals must support Trump regardless of his actions because he provides a bulwark against the perceived threats of progressive, multicultural stage green values that challenge their religious and patriotic identity. Conservative Resistance and Identity Politics: Conservatives are committed to defending traditional identity against evolving societal norms. They react against any action or change that implies imperfection or a need for reform within their cultural and religious beliefs, preferring the comfort of the status quo. Conservatives and identity politics: Conservatives, including Trump supporters, engage in identity politics with the goal of opposing liberals. Often, they find pleasure in actions that provoke liberal-leaning individuals because it offers emotional satisfaction and a sense of retribution for cultural changes that challenge their identity. Information isolation in conservatism: Conservatives tend to isolate themselves from various information sources, creating an echo chamber that reinforces their worldview. This bubble is maintained by engaging only with media and educational sources that support their existing beliefs, resisting exposure to differing perspectives. Stage blue and resistance to change: Many conservatives operate from a stage blue consciousness, focusing on maintaining the status quo and resisting the transition to the more liberal and open-minded stage orange. This ethnocentric stage is marked by an inability to grasp the values and perspectives of more advanced stages like green. Jordan Peterson's role in cultural resistance: Jordan Peterson is viewed as a key figure providing intellectual defense against stage green values, catering to an audience that finds stage green threatening to their more traditional, stage blue/orange values. Peterson's messaging plays into the ongoing culture wars by framing progressive ideas as detrimental. Reflecting on personal egocentrism: Leo encourages individuals to look at their own lives and recognize the ways they might mirror Trump's ego-centric behaviors. This self-reflection is crucial to understanding the deeper dynamics at play and how one might unconsciously contribute to similar patterns of distortion and manipulation. Beyond postmodernism's limits: Postmodernism's deconstruction is criticized for not going far enough, remaining superficial without challenging the deeper psychological and existential structures. True evolution requires a more profound deconstruction of reality itself. America's developmental stage: America is in a transitional phase, with its cultural center of gravity situated between the orange and green stages of development. This transition involves clashes between progressives and those wanting to maintain the status quo, echoing historical patterns of societal evolution. The limits of capitalism and growth: American society is reaching the limits of the stage orange capitalist paradigm as issues like environmental degradation and income inequality become more pronounced. The realization that unbridled capitalism can self-cannibalize signals the necessity for collective evolution beyond individualistic values. Impact of societal consciousness on individuals: The prevailing societal consciousness acts as a gravitational force, influencing individual development. Advancement to higher levels of consciousness, such as yellow, is challenging within a society dominated by lower stages and can lead to resistance and alienation for those on the leading edge. Influence of Cultural Development Stages: Different cultures pull individuals towards their center of gravity in terms of developmental stages; for example, the Middle East leans towards red/blue, while America has an orange/green inclination. Such cultural forces shape people's worldviews and how they evolve. Challenges in Advancing Consciousness: Progressing to higher consciousness levels like yellow is difficult in a culture centered around orange/green, as one is often discouraged and isolated when going against societally accepted norms. It takes independent thinking and a pioneering spirit to carve out a new path beyond the well-trodden one. Identity Politics across the Spectrum: Both conservatives and liberals engage in identity politics, defending their respective identities and the policies that support their survival. All political actions are essentially aimed at defending the collective identity of a group, with Leo admonishing the pettiness of these games and urging for a move towards integral perspectives. Egocentrism and Societal Evolution: Understanding spiral dynamics and recognizing the egocentric behaviors in others and oneself is vital for personal and societal evolution. It provides clarity on societal workings, minimizes susceptibility to manipulation, and encourages collective growth beyond selfish political games towards more unified consciousness. Avis

All Understanding Is Metaphoric https://www.actualized.org/insights/all-understanding-is-metaphoric Literalism as a cognitive trap: Literalism is a cognitive trap where individuals interpret myths and religious stories as factual events. This occurs at different stages of human development, notably within stage blue orthodoxy, where there is a lack of openness to the metaphorical and symbolic meanings of these narratives. Such literal beliefs are steadfast among Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and other religious groups, leading to defensiveness when these beliefs are challenged by empirical evidence. Defensive mechanisms of literalists: When faced with contradictions to their literal beliefs, such as scientific discoveries that refute aspects of their myths, literalists engage in mental gymnastics and denial to preserve their faith. This is exemplified by creationists who must defend every outdated and anachronistic element in the Bible, as admitting a single error can shake their entire belief system and their identity as adherents of their faith. Literalism in science: A similar pattern of literalism is observed in the scientific community (stage orange), where scientists dismiss religious myths as false but then fall into the trap of regarding their own empirical findings and mathematical models as literal truth. Influential figures like Sean Carroll and Max Tegmark can become overly invested in their theories, asserting that the universe is fundamentally mathematical, an attitude mirroring that of religious literalists. Science and the misconception of universality: The notion that mathematics is a universal language and that scientific understanding is independent of human cognition is challenged by Leo. He suggests that science and mathematics could be incomprehensible to other forms of intelligence, just as they might be to animals or an alien race. This calls into question the belief held by many scientists that their models are universally applicable and by extension, superior to religious understanding. Literalism's block to integral thinking: Literal interpretation closes off the mind to the potential exploration of metaphysical questions and broader understandings. Literalist thinking in religion and science hinders the development of more sophisticated, nuanced cognition that recognizes teachings as metaphoric and symbolic, not factual reports to be taken at face value. Carlos Castaneda's work and literal criticism: Criticisms of Carlos Castaneda's writings-assertions of plagiarism and lack of scientific validity-demonstrate a literalist mindset. This distracts from the profound wisdom contained within the texts, further emphasizing the importance of looking beyond literal imperfections to grasp the essential insights offered. Literalism in interpreting teachings and contradictions: Literalism creates difficulties when encountering contradictions within teachings, such as in religious texts. When teachings are interpreted metaphorically rather than literally, apparent contradictions become less problematic, as the focus shifts to the wisdom or insights being pointed to, rather than the literal content. Literalism restricts integration of diverse knowledge: By adopting a figurative viewpoint over a literal one, individuals can integrate diverse perspectives and teachings more effectively. Literalism leads to isolation within specific paradigms or ideologies, restricting cognitive development and the ability to embrace a more holistic and integral approach to understanding complex topics. Criticism based on literalism: Critics who condemn Carlos Castaneda's work for lack of scientific rigor miss the point-literal accuracy matters less than the wisdom gained from the teachings. Similar to misconceptions about religious texts, literal interpretation obscures the broader lessons and insights teachings aim to impart. Embracing the big picture: Focusing on the big picture allows for holistic understanding and growth. Being concerned with technical precision in teachings risks missing out on valuable insights. Acknowledging imperfection in teachings: Expecting flawlessness in teachings from any source is unrealistic. Teachings should act as guides leading to individual, experiential understanding rather than being accepted as infallible truths. Prioritizing holistic understanding over technical details: An excessive focus on details can lead to missing the essence of the lesson. Leo stresses the importance of pattern recognition and big-picture thinking over technical perfection. Intuition and abstract understanding: Profound insights often come intuitively and resist linear articulation, contrasting with the literalist expectation of concrete, systematic proof. These intuitive truths offer a different, valid form of knowing. Interpretation as an unavoidable aspect of cognition: Denying the interpretive nature of human understanding is a mistake; acknowledging it can reduce the risk of delusion. Leo argues that interpretations, rather than factual claims, shape our perceptions of reality. Dangers of failing to acknowledge interpretation: Misinterpreting scientific data or theoretical models as objective truths rather than interpretations can lead to misunderstanding and misuse, as demonstrated by figures like Sam Harris and Jordan Peterson. Recognizing that many aspects of reality, including societal constructs, are interpretations informed by context can lead to a more nuanced worldview. Gender as a social construction: Gender is a socially and culturally constructed category, and resistance to non-traditional gender concepts often stems from the discomfort people feel when such long-standing constructions are challenged, potentially leading to a sense of chaos and societal destabilization. Western intellectual tradition against deconstruction: Western tradition, from philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, has focused on building up constructs and systems that form the basis of our legal and social order, making it resistant to the idea of deconstruction which exposes these constructs as mere fictions designed for survival. Societal dependence on fictions: Leo argues that society and culture are built on collective fictions like values, norms, laws, and customs, created out of necessity for survival and cohesion, despite being ultimately based on interpretative constructs that aren't "true" in a literal sense. Concept of nations as mental constructions: Nations and borders are highlighted as mental constructs that, while useful, are not inherently real. Recognizing them as such helps to fight for their preservation without over-attachment, allowing for a healthier, more open response to change. Attachment to constructs limits scientific progress: A literal belief in scientific theories impedes the advancement of science, as attachment to current paradigms prevents openness to new ideas and reevaluation. Embracing science metaphorically allows for a continual expansion of understanding. Literalism clashing with faith and historical context: The literal interpretation of religious texts or the actions of historical figures without considering cultural and historical context offers a limited and flawed perspective. Understanding the overarching messages and wisdom, rather than focusing on specific actions or statements, is encouraged for a more integrative view. Detachment from literalism for integral thinking: Moving away from literalism and embracing a more figurative, integral approach avoids the pitfalls of over-attachment to constructs and supports a more expansive and flexible understanding of teachings, beliefs, and concepts. Crucio

May 2018 Solo Retreat - Part 3 https://www.actualized.org/insights/may-2018-solo-retreat-part-3 Premature end to spiritual retreat: After a grueling 15 days, Leo stopped his intense spiritual retreat, having aspired to complete 30 days. He faced psychological barriers and rationalizations for ending early, which led to a sense of compromised integrity as he fell short of the publicly stated goal. Struggles with deep spiritual work: Leo encountered unexpected hardships, including doubt about his methods, questioning the possibility of enlightenment, and encountering the limits of his psychological endurance. He describes the extremely challenging nature of inward-focused spiritual work. Challenging oneself versus adequate self-care: Facing intense mental resistance and diminishing returns from his practices, Leo deliberated between forcefully pushing through or acknowledging the ineffectiveness of brute force in meditation and self-inquiry once mental fatigue set in. The critical role of discipline in spiritual achievement: Leo discusses the varying degrees of natural self-discipline among people and cautions against using this as an excuse for lack of progress. He emphasizes that discipline is a key ingredient for spiritual mastery and notes the importance of acknowledging personal strengths and weaknesses. Self-selection bias in spiritual teaching: He reflects on the tendency for successful practitioners to become spiritual teachers, potentially creating a self-selection bias where many struggling or unsuccessful practitioners remain unheard. The rarity of deep awakening experiences contributes to the skewed narrative, which often obscures the difficulty of the journey. Filming one's own journey towards awakening: Leo explores his intention to document his own path to awakening, comparing it to the improbable task of filming someone's lottery win. This documentation aims to provide a realistic portrayal of the quest for enlightenment, circumventing the biases that come from only hearing from those successful after the fact. Challenge of filming the spiritual journey: Leo reflects on the difficulty of trying to document the process of winning the "spiritual lottery." He recognizes the immense control required and acknowledges both his strengths and the possibility that he may never fully become enlightened due to various human limitations. Realism in spiritual practice: He stresses the importance of being realistic about spiritual work, which is often far deeper and more challenging than commonly perceived. Engaging seriously in practices like self-inquiry will lead only a small percentage to enlightenment. Being honest about personal shortcomings is crucial for genuine progress. Complexity of sustained retreats: The difficulty of retreats increases exponentially with time, leading to profound suffering from ennui and an empty realization of life's inherent pointlessness. Leo admits to underestimating the retreat's challenge and discusses the need for a deeper respect for the discipline required in spiritual practices. Dealing with a sense of meaninglessness: Intense experiences of suffering and existential emptiness during the retreat led to a demoralizing recognition of the pointlessness of life, down to everyday activities. This realization requires a difficult reconciliation with the demands of the ordinary world post-retreat. Impact of realization on daily life: After deep spiritual practice, Leo feels demoralized by the understanding that all life activities, including relationships and basic self-care, are ultimately meaningless. This leads to an existential funk and doubts about the point of engaging in regular social or personal routines. Limits of spiritual pushing and risk of negative states: Leo discusses the dangers of pushing oneself too far in spiritual practice, risking mental breakdowns, depersonalization, or suicidal thoughts. He stresses the importance of knowing when to take a break, analyze one's approach, and avoid harmful extremes. Breakthroughs in self-inquiry and meditation: During his retreat, Leo achieved a clear understanding of effective self-inquiry, focusing on the ungraspable awareness that underlies existence. He also experienced a state of meditation where he could shut off internal dialogue, deeply impacting his perception of reality, though maintaining this state proved challenging. Simplifying Kriya Yoga practices: Leo shares his transition to a more streamlined version of Kriya Yoga based on a simpler and more effective form found in other resources. He plans to discuss this new approach further in the future. Necessity of building discipline: Reflecting on his past struggles and current comfort-induced complacency, Leo recognizes the need to build more discipline to achieve his goals in self-actualization and enlightenment. He recalls the motivation from his times as an underdog and acknowledges the challenges of finding meaningful pursuits when basic needs are met and nothing appears to fulfill or make one happy. Reassessment of daily practices: Post-retreat, Leo realized the need for more strategic discipline in daily practices rather than relying on brute force, emphasizing gradual but consistent efforts similar to weightlifting techniques. Discipline as a remedy for laziness: After recognizing creeping laziness, he began waking up earlier to build discipline, reflecting that intense retreats are not sufficient; the work needs to be carried out regularly to be effective. Personal growth from retreat insights: Despite not completing the full retreat, Leo gained significant insights that led to rethinking his approach to self-actualization and spiritual exploration, particularly related to Spiral Dynamics. Advancement through stages: He advises against rushing through spiritual stages, stressing the importance of thoroughly exploring and integrating experiences at each stage, such as Orange and Yellow, before moving on to Turquoise. Importance of integrity: Leo discusses the importance of integrity, balancing making realistic commitments with the need for bold challenges, and the consequences of failing oneself. Breaking low integrity cycle: To break a cycle of low integrity, he recommends starting with small, manageable commitments to build discipline and gradually improve integrity. Retreats vs. old life: Returning to normal life after a retreat can bring back old habits, echoing pitfalls similar to those a drug addict faces after rehabilitation. It's challenging to maintain the awakened state amidst the return to everyday responsibilities and distractions. Challenge of old habits post-retreat: After the retreat, Leo found himself quickly reverting to old habits, an issue akin to the relapse struggles of recovering drug addicts. He highlighted the difficulty of effecting lasting change when returning to an environment that reinforces previous behaviors. Complexity of environment change: Altering one's environment can temporarily aid in breaking old patterns, but sustainable change is challenging due to practical constraints like financial means, work, and social connections. Additionally, changes like canceling cable or selling possessions have limitations when tools like computers and the internet play essential roles in daily life. Toxic versus necessary elements: The struggle lies in navigating the balance between the toxic distractions and essential functions of modern conveniences, understanding that while they can waste countless hours, they also serve critical roles in emergencies and accessing valuable resources. Psychology-environment feedback loop: Leo noted that our psychology shapes our environment and vice versa, creating a loop that is hard to break. A new environment may initially offer respite, but old psychological patterns can soon recreate the previous toxic setting. Navigating homeostasis amidst radical change: Seeking radical change comes with the cost of discomfort and suffering. Slow, diligent work may appear insignificant due to its gradual nature, but it's necessary for sustainable growth without overwhelming one's mental stability. Rate of growth relative to timeframe: Personal growth's perception depends on the timeframe considered; gradual work over years may feel less impactful but is more manageable than compressing extensive growth into a short period, which could result in evasion or denial. Upcoming content and life balance: Leo plans to create content exploring deep concepts and reconciling the balance between achieving awakening and engaging in everyday life. He discusses the hollow feeling of a life devoid of purpose beyond personal spiritual work and the need to find a balance between detachment and participation in daily activities post-enlightenment. Inevitability of ignorance: Leo emphasizes the necessity of ignorance in the world, recognizing that everyone's personal growth journey is unique, and it's necessary for individuals to go through personal processes and experiences to overcome their own ignorance. Shift to a non-judgmental stance: Leo is experiencing a shift to stage yellow in spiral dynamics, where it becomes impossible to criticize or judge any intellectual point of view because all perspectives are interconnected and every viewpoint contains some grain of truth. Empathy and constructive evolution: Instead of pushing or criticizing others, Leo advocates for empathizing with their psychological and existential needs and helping them evolve constructively. The real art lies in building bridges and aiding in their growth at their own pace. Futility of debating perspectives: Engaging in debates and criticizing worldviews is seen as a complete waste of time; rather, understanding and working with the consciousness level that individuals possess is key to genuinely helping them. Upcoming content plans: Leo shares his excitement to return with new content focusing on spiral dynamics and practical guidance for growth through each stage, aiming to avoid theoretical discussions and instead provide value through practical insights. Finite Incantatem

May 2018 Solo Retreat - Part 2 https://www.actualized.org/insights/may-2018-solo-retreat-part-2 Day 10 of 30-Day Retreat: Leo shares his journey over the past 10 days, taking six deep psychedelic trips with five Meo DMT and engaging in meditation and self-inquiry. The trips increased in depth sequentially, revealing layers of consciousness and facets of existence. Transcendent Experiences: The trips brought forth profound insights, with each experience becoming deeper than the last, challenging his prior conceptions and revealing a more human-like aspect of God-an intelligence and personality that he identified with his own. Everything as Consciousness: Leo had the epiphany that all physical matter, including everyday objects like tables and pens, is comprised entirely of consciousness. This recognition transformed his perception of reality, understanding the physical world as an illusion of rigid consciousness. Challenges of Traditional Spiritual Practices: He questions traditional meditation and spiritual practices' effectiveness compared to psychedelic insights, suggesting that such experiences may offer a depth unattainable through conventional methods. The Substance of the Universe: Leo's realizations about the fabric of the universe underscore that consciousness, rather than matter, is the core substance, encompassing stars, the moon, empty space, and the brain-highlighting the non-dual nature of reality. God and Personal Existence: A significant revelation during his trips was the recognition of himself as God, embodying both formless omnipresence and personal existence simultaneously. This dual aspect brought a sense of personal involvement in designing every detail of life. Universal Intelligence: He explores the idea that intelligence is not confined to humans or brains but is an inherent, formless feature of the universe, present in every aspect and entity, a level of intelligence so vast it seems beyond human capacity to fully comprehend. Solipsism and the Feeling of Being Alone: The profound realizations about non-duality led Leo to a solipsistic perception of reality, where he felt as the only existence, a bold and somewhat unsettling insight. Introducing a New Substance: Experimentation with a new psychedelic substance brought insights that consolidated previous experiences into an intense state of non-duality, described as the absolute Godhead. Challenges with Meditation and Seeking Sahaja Samadhi: Leo discusses the difficulties in his meditation practice and his pursuit of a permanent state of non-dual awareness, noting the challenge of remaining focused on the present moment and the work still needed. Coping with Intellectual and Career Implications: Confronts the existential crisis that arises when his intellectual and professional identity begins to conflict with the profound insights gained during the retreat. Commitment and Future Plans: Despite the temptation of distractions, Leo commits to concentrating on the practice of presence and plans to reduce or eliminate psychedelic tripping, emphasizing the importance of discipline and presence in the pursuit of deeper understanding. Self-Design and Strange Loops: Leo experienced a perception that he himself designed every detail of his existence, from the molecular to the macroscopic, only to forget this design. His insight suggested that life's apparent imperfections are consciously architected by an intelligence greater than can be fathomed. Infinite Intelligence in Nature: He reflected on profound intelligence within the natural world, positing that a blade of grass contains more intelligence than the human body. Intelligence, according to Leo, is not the property of individuals but an intrinsic aspect of the universe, formless and omnipresent. Solipsism and Existential Loneliness: Leo grappled with deep solipsism, feeling like the sole architect of reality including other beings, leading to a profound sense of aloneness and existential boredom, challenging his sense of reality and testing his sanity. Potential of the Unknown Substance: Leo experimented with a powerful new psychedelic substance leading to a state of deep non-duality, culminating in the experience of the 'absolute Godhead'-a singularity where all distinction collapses. Extreme States of Consciousness: The intense experience on the new substance made it difficult to retain or translate insights, with heavy mental and physical tolls, leading to his resolution of not seeking such deep states again, as the profundity of the experience had no practical utility for his current life. Meditative Difficulties: Alongside psychedelic voyages, Leo faced intense boredom and struggled to settle his mind during meditation, which he contrasted with previous retreat experiences. Desire for Sahaja Samadhi and Discipline: Frustration arises as the goal of permanent non-dual awareness seems distant, recognizing the need for extreme discipline to continue his pursuit in the face of overwhelming mental and emotional challenges. Psychedelic Insights and Sahaja Samadhi: Leo explores profound insights through psychedelic trips but struggles to maintain their revelations; he aims for Sahaja Samadhi-a permanent non-dual state-yet acknowledges the difficulty in achieving it without continuous effort in presence and mindfulness. Discipline and Commitment: He faces the challenge of extreme discipline required for his practice and often feels a pull towards distraction, yet he demonstrates a strong commitment by limiting note-taking and reducing trips to focus on presence. Doubt and Determination: Despite moments of doubt and grappling with the potential futility of his efforts within the 30-day deadline, Leo expresses a strong desire to push through the struggle and suffering to reach his spiritual goals. Impact on Intellectual Identity: The retreat's profound experiences provoke a crisis for Leo, threatening his intellectual identity and leaving him questioning his future ability to teach, given that the insights gained might transcend traditional intellectual and conceptual frameworks. Accio

May 2018 Solo Retreat - Part 1 https://www.actualized.org/insights/may-2018-solo-retreat-part-1 Preparation for awakening retreat: Leo Gura unveils the start of his 30-day isolation and intensive meditation journey aimed at achieving awakening, during which he will cease work and social interactions, limit necessary outings like grocery shopping, and focus solely on his spiritual practice. Anticipation and energy for the journey: Feeling energized and having a strong desire to awaken, Leo describes his intent and the importance of strong commitment to the path of enlightenment. He underscores the need for surrender and selflessness, prioritizing awakening over all distractions and material attractions. Embracing simplicity in practice: Anticipating a lack of rigid routine, he plans to engage in meditation by being hyper-aware of existence without analysis, focusing on the present, and fully experiencing consciousness. He emphasizes the simplicity of this technique yet acknowledges the profound depths it can explore. The challenge of temptation: Acknowledging the difficulty of resisting distractions such as the internet and his phone during the retreat, Leo plans to overcome these temptations to maintain a meditative state and continue his progress on the path to enlightenment. Surreal existence and meditation challenge: Leo urges viewers to become highly conscious of everyday objects such as their hand, embracing the mystery without letting the mind weave stories or analyses. He emphasizes the importance of presence and silence to eventually achieve awakening, comparing the journey to a form of suicide through consciousness-a slow, voluntary drowning of the ego in emptiness while resisting distractions from the ego's perpetual need for activity. Metaphor of drowning: The process of meditation is likened to smothering a baby, your own life or ego, in silence until it drowns. Leo elaborates on the metaphor, indicating the difficulty and resistance faced during this transformative journey. He warns of the ego's fear and struggle as it is confronted with its own obliteration. Hero's journey as internal transformation: Leo reflects on the hero's journey as not just an external battle seen in movies and mythology but as an internal, often intangible process of overcoming the ego. He discusses the discrepancy between the engaging narratives of pop culture heroes and the real, unglamorous work of spiritual awakening that requires intense personal struggle. Redemption and surrender: Ego-driven life is contrasted with the redemptive path of surrendering to consciousness and selflessness. Leo speaks about using the "1%," the divine spark within us, to redeem the ego's life of distractions, emphasizing the role of love as a powerful tool in overcoming life's greatest fears and actualizing self-transcendence. Lesser Jihad versus Greater Jihad: Engaging in activism for social, political, or environmental causes is referred to as "lesser jihad," focusing on external change. In contrast, the internal work of spiritual awakening, confronting personal fears, anger, and traumas, is termed "greater jihad," a solitary and arduous path without societal accolades. Misconceptions about the Holy Grail: The physical representation of the Holy Grail, often depicted as a solid gold chalice, is a metaphor for immortality through consciousness and the essence of existence. This concept is hard for materialistic and dualistic minds to grasp, leading to underestimation of its true significance compared to tangible material wealth. Commitment to spiritual practice: Leo emphasizes the absolute need for 100% commitment to the awakening process, highlighting the stark difference a mere 1% lack of commitment can make. He acknowledges the inevitability of boredom as a significant hurdle in such retreats and asserts that conquering it is essential for progress toward awakening. The practice of surrender: Leo's "secret weapon" for the retreat is proactive surrendering-a continuous process of letting go of resistance, fear, fantasies, cravings, and the pleasure derived from thinking. This practice aims to dissolve the ego and embrace the present moment, leading towards a state of no mind. Leap of faith towards surrender: Leo Gura emphasizes the act of surrendering to a higher power, referred to as God or ultimate reality, seeking to exchange the ego and its narrow existence for the infinite intelligence of consciousness. This surrender is a leap of faith, trusting in the wisdom far beyond the ego's capabilities. Counterintuitive nature of surrender: Skeptics may dismiss surrendering as nonsensical or illogical, but Leo challenges this by stating that true wisdom recognizes surrendering one's entire existence, including ambitions and identity, as a path to gaining the infinite and becoming one with the cosmos. Divine spark and love as tools against fear: Leo discusses using the divine spark within and the power of love to overcome fears and challenges during the retreat. He encourages tapping into love as an absolute, transformative force that can help counteract the deceits of the ego. Journey beyond awakening: The ultimate aim of the spiritual path is not just awakening or enlightenment, but reaching states such as no mind and embodying unconditional love. This requires a deep surrender of judgments, hatreds, and the ego's selfishness to become aligned with the boundless loving nature of reality. Preparation for awakening: Leo feels ready to embark on his awakening journey, with a sense of readiness stemming from glimpses of awakening through past experiences and an understanding gleaned from various teachings, research, and introspection. Solo journey recognized: He acknowledges that regardless of the path or timing, one ultimately confronts death alone, and the genuine fulfillment of life can lead to dying in peace rather than fear or regret. Purpose of awakening now: Leo refutes the notion of postponing awakening until death by highlighting the transformative potential of experiencing true enjoyment and love for life before physical death occurs, contrasting it with the suffering inherent in unawakened existence. Personal reflection on death and life fulfillment: A memory from a high school health class informs Leo's long-held perspective on death-living a fulfilled life leads to a peaceful death. He later realizes that awakening provides an even deeper fulfillment than the textbook's message suggested, transcending traditional understandings of life and death. Beyond the materialist paradigm: Leo concludes that actualizing the profound truths of existence-traditionally found in myths and spiritual teachings and largely misunderstood by society-transcends the grasp of materialist paradigms, but it is indeed achievable. Crucio

Hawaii Late Night Insights https://www.actualized.org/insights/hawaii-april-2018-late-night-insights Striving for permanence in awakening: Leo is attempting to make his deep awakening experiences permanent during his solo retreat by focusing highly on the notion of nothingness during meditation. The inverse of self and ego: He has come to understand that what he truly seeks-the nature of his existence-is the inverse of self and ego, essentially nothingness and infinity, suggesting a need for ego surrender for deeper insight. Experience of existential envelopment: During intense meditation, Leo feels engulfed by nothingness, leading to a profound suffering analogous to physical symptoms of death, reinforcing his insight that genuine understanding requires self-surrender. Acceptance of physical death: Leo advocates that true awakening demands not just psychological or ego death, but the acceptance of one's own physical death, encompassing the surrender of life's enjoyments and identity. Criticizing the understatement of awakening's difficulty: He critiques many spiritual teachings for understating the rigors of awakening, clarifying that proper meditation leads to confronting a critical choice between succumbing to fears or surrendering to truth. Buddha's revered image and death: Leo reflects on Buddha's revered status and how his moment of awakening, depicted in statues worldwide, signifies the death of the small self and the continuation of the body as a mere vessel for teaching post-awakening. Materialist paradigm's limitation: The materialist, egoic, and dualistic paradigms struggle to comprehend the continuation of life without the self. This notion challenges the very core of understanding reality, as it does not align with the experience of the self being alive. The Buddha's awakening: Described as a form of actual physical death, the Buddha's awakening is presented as an embodiment of surrender and the ultimate leap of faith. This surrender is revered and symbolized in statues around the world, representing the ultimate cost paid for enlightenment. Fear of actual death during awakening: Leo confronts his fear that the awakening process might lead to his actual physical death. He recognizes this as a possible outcome and prepares to accept it, which represents a significant mental and emotional milestone in his journey towards enlightenment. Understanding the sacrifice for awakening: Most people are unprepared for the level of sacrifice required for true awakening, which is described as the willingness to sacrifice physical life for truth. The process involves intense suffering and a paradox where the pursuit of eternal happiness ultimately requires one to face their physical mortality first. Clarification on real death: Leo emphasizes that awakening does not involve literal physical harm but is about accepting real death in the sense of realizing one's non-existence from the beginning. Illusory nature of self: Despite the fear and sensation of a pounding heart during meditation, he recognized that the self he thought he was surrendering is an illusion, as he was essentially 'nothing' all along. The challenge of conscious surrender: The difficulty lies in consciously deciding to let go and surrender to the process, which is complicated by the fear of death. Leo faced significant resistance from his ego, which caused inner suffering. Love as a means to conquer fear: In the struggle to surrender, Leo discovered that invoking the feeling of infinite love can dissolve the fear, and the intention to act out of love for truth, humanity, and reality became his intended method to transcend fear. Meditation session conclusion: Despite the build-up to a potential awakening and overcoming fear with love, the expected transformation did not occur. Leo's intensive meditation session ended without the anticipated breakthrough. Validity of process insights: Leo explains that his insights are credible, even in the absence of a full awakening during the session, due to his cumulative experiences from smaller awakenings and deepened understanding over time. Psychedelics as a preview to awakening: He argues that psychedelics are powerful tools for understanding the dying process related to ego death and can offer profound, real experiences that demonstrate the process without one's conscious effort to die. Comparison between suicide and ego death: Ego death during meditation is compared to the arduous task of overcoming one's survival instincts-as difficult or even harder than the physical act of suicide due to the ego's deep-rooted resistance. Repeated attempts and psychedelic support: Real awakening requires persistent effort and might involve many attempts. Psychedelic experiences, particularly 5-MeO-DMT, help diminish the fear of ego death by repeatedly crossing the threshold, making the process less intimidating over time. Awakening as permanent death: The pursuit of awakening that the most revered sages have achieved equates to a permanent death of the ego, a key distinction from ordinary self-improvement or consciousness work, which Leo highlights with great emphasis. Insight on the awakening process: Leo identifies his past lack of understanding about facing his own death; he now comprehends that awakening requires an acceptance akin to physically dying and takes a leap of faith inspired by infinite love. The illusion of the little self: The transition from the ego, or little self, to the big self-the true infinite self-is seen as a form of death by the ego, which ultimately is an illusion. Crossing this barrier reveals that the fear and life associated with the ego were never real. The persistent nature of the ego: Leo likens the ego to a relentless antagonist in a horror film or video game that requires continuous confrontations and defeats to fully extinguish, highlighting the non-linear and repetitive path to true awakening for many individuals. Awakening as a multichapter journey: Contrary to many spiritual teachings that oversimplify the process, Leo emphasizes that the journey to awakening may span multiple 'chapters,' with each one requiring renewed effort and different approaches. The gravity and exclusivity of awakening: The process is not for everyone; it is a serious, profound undertaking reserved for those wholly dedicated to discovering truth and undergoing a transformation akin to that experienced by historical spiritual figures like Buddha. Channeling infinite love for transcendence: The key to overcoming the fear experienced at the brink of awakening is channeling infinite love, an emotion so potent that it can overwhelm and extinguish the ego. Leo suggests that psychedelics can facilitate the initial experience of this love, which can then be recalled at the crucial moment of surrender. The hero's paradoxical journey: The journey to awakening is akin to the hero's journey, where the hero's perceived self-sacrifice is paradoxical because the 'hero' never truly existed-it was always an illusion. The recognition and experience of the infinite self is considered the pinnacle of non-duality and the most significant achievement. Colloportus

Hawaii Retreat Intro https://www.actualized.org/insights/hawaii-retreat-intro Overview of the retreat location and cost: Leo is at a new Airbnb location in a jungle on the Big Island of Hawaii, near Hilo. He describes the sunny weather and the natural surroundings, including wildlife. The accommodations cost is about $100 per night with an $800 flight from Las Vegas to Hawaii. Description of living spaces: Leo tours the rented house, mentioning unused areas like a downstairs bar, and focuses on the second floor where he spends his time. This includes the kitchen, dining, balcony with a meditation bench, living room, and his preference for open windows due to the pleasant climate. Food preparation for retreat: Leo details his assortment of food supplies for 10 days, including various fruits, vegetables, eggs, bacon, and rice, acknowledging some unhealthy choices due to local shopping limitations. He shows the food storage in his kitchen and emphasizes practicality over strict health during the retreat. Leo's intention for a deeper retreat: He aims for a deeper retreat experience by adjusting his daily techniques, including EEG brain training, yoga, and the use of psychedelics such as five Meo. Leo plans to avoid nightly update videos for a more immersive retreat, with a summary video at the end. Daily retreat practices: The routine involves daily brain training, yoga, mindfulness, and contemplation, followed by five Meo use each night. Leo also plans to incorporate shamanic breathing to work through emotional blockages and facilitate profound existential investigation. Emphasis on process over distractions: Leo speaks about the double-edged nature of retreating in a beautiful location, resolving to remain focused on his practices despite the temptations of Hawaii's pleasant environment. He explains the importance of dedication and mindfulness throughout the retreat for personal growth. Commitment to continuous practice: Leo is dedicated to staying within the house for nine days, engaging in hour-long meditation sessions throughout the day, aiming for 10 to 12 sessions each day, while maintaining mindfulness during all activities. Deepening mindfulness through persistence: As the retreat progresses, Leo explains that the continual practice builds upon itself, leading to increased mindfulness and the potential for profound mystical experiences, samadhi, and awakening experiences. Emphasizing the difficulty of retreats: He candidly discusses the intensity of the retreat, stressing it is not a vacation but hard work that's emotionally taxing and challenges his ego, dispelling any romantic notions viewers might have. Real work versus passive learning: Leo differentiates between the deep work done on retreats and the less involved learning from self-help materials or online videos, urging viewers to experience a solo retreat to understand the true depth of suffering and transformation involved. Facing personal challenges: The retreat brings to the surface inner demons, personal failings, cravings, and egoic resistances, which he acknowledges can provoke a strong desire to escape into distractions or seek comfort from others. Staying focused amidst loneliness and temptation: Success in the retreat requires facing loneliness and fears head-on, avoiding the trap of distractions, and dealing with arising psychological baggage with mindfulness. The grueling nature of the process: Leo describes the retreat as a test of patience and focus, with lengthy periods of meditation that can be tedious and boring, advising to take the process one step at a time and remain in the present moment. Building momentum with practice: Acknowledging the need for extensive hours of technique practice to reach significant breakthroughs, Leo emphasizes the importance of perseverance and a beginner's mind in the pursuit of deeper realization and insight. Confundo

Conclusion: Mindfucked In Hawaii https://www.actualized.org/insights/mindfucked-in-hawaii Hawaiian retreat with a twist: Leo Gura shared his deep and profound meditation retreat experience in Hawaii, where he supplemented his practice with five Meo DMT, leading to a series of psychedelic trips that took him to unprecedented levels of consciousness. Experimenting with five Meo DMT: By incorporating daily doses of five Meo DMT into his meditation retreat, Leo found himself delving into depths of awakening and consciousness, surpassing all his previous spiritual experiences and highlighting the often underestimated profundity of the awakening process. Deepening with each dose: Each successive psychedelic trip brought about deeper insights and experiences, causing Leo to hold off on recording his thoughts and instead continue to explore further, culminating in an experience he describes as "absolute nothingness." Profound realizations: In this state of absolute nothingness, Leo's consciousness expanded infinitely, feeling omnipresent and realizing that nothing has ever truly happened-the reality we perceive as life is, in fact, just pure nothingness. The paradox of expression: Leo struggles with the limitation of words like "infinity," "nothingness," "God," and "enlightenment" to convey the depth and dimensionality of his experiences. Even if others have had similar insights, their understanding may not capture the magnitude of what he encountered. Non-duality and the Absolute: Leo explains the concept of non-duality, where all distinctions collapse, revealing that the apparent reality is identical to nothingness. He describes this insight as the deepest understanding of reality and himself-one that aligns with Zen's concept of "mu m mu mu." Infinity and nothingness: Leo discusses the duality of the Absolute, where infinity and nothingness, while seeming opposites, are actually identical. He reflects on the profound nature of everything being infinite and the shift to understanding the oneness of all. Absolute nothingness and perception: The realization of absolute nothingness transcends the awakening experience of 'no self'. Perception breaks down as the idea of a self perceiving the world is seen as an illusion; all forms exist without the necessity of being perceived by a 'self'. This deeper understanding reveals forms existing in nothingness, negating the division between the inner and outer worlds, resulting in the awareness of just being. Illusion of time: Time is reinterpreted as a mental construct rather than a flowing reality. In this view, every moment exists simultaneously, akin to slices of bread merged into a single loaf, and life is seen as an interconnected ball of yarn. This realization articulates that all past, present, and future moments exist in an eternal superposition, demonstrating the eternal nature of existence which includes both stillness and dynamism. Infinity of objects and scale invariance: Every object, down to a simple piece of paper, is infinite in its existence. The universe operates on a principle of scale invariance, allowing for infinite zooming in and out of any space with infinite detail. An infinite chain of causation is recognized in every object, such as a penny, which has innumerable causes and factors contributing to its current state and position, reflecting the interconnectedness of all things. Illusion of linear time: Leo reflects on the nature of existence where linear time is an illusion, and every moment exists eternally. The present, past, and future are not separate but part of an infinite superposition where each moment has always existed and continues to do so, animated and dynamic within eternity. Infinity within infinity: Every object, such as a hand or penny, is infinitely complex within itself, reflecting the larger infinity of the universe. Leo delves into the concept of scale invariance, where one can zoom into any space infinitely, with each part of space having no end to its detail. Infinite causation of objects: Leo explores the infinite chain of causation behind the existence of any object, using the example of a penny. This causation spans from personal history to cosmic origins, demonstrating the interconnectedness of all events and substances that lead to the present moment of any object's existence. Overwhelming complexity of existence: The enormity of understanding every cause of an object's existence is beyond linear description, highlighting the limits of verbal communication. The realization of this complexity strikes with an insight so profound that it surpasses human emotion and defies comprehensive explanation. Transcending the brain and mind: Leo acknowledges that the insight into the infinite interconnectedness of existence is beyond the capacities of the brain or any physical system. To comprehend this, one must relinquish linear and logical thinking, embracing a form of understanding that operates on an infinite scale. Infinite understanding: Achieving a level of consciousness that provides an infinite and non-linear understanding of reality, distinct from the rational or intuitive mind known in conventional consciousness, ultimately resulting in a profound silence due to its inexpressibility. Life and death as identical: At high levels of non-duality, Leo recognized life and death as the same-non-existence within the eternal 'ball of yarn' hallucination of life. Physical death holds a great illusion; in truth, life, death, and self are conceptual and dissolve at higher consciousness levels. Personal journey and five Meo DMT: The use of five Meo DMT had a significant influence on Leo's meditative practices, believing it greatly accelerates the awakening process beyond what traditional methods could achieve in decades. He feels equipped to guide others on non-duality, realizing the complexity in experiencing and communicating consciousness levels that few have accessed in human history. Complexity in spiritual expressions: Leo acknowledges the diverse ways in which individual minds interpret the absolute, emphasized by a multitude of traditions and languages. This variety contributes to the complexity and potential confusion within spiritual communities, as each person shapes their understanding based on their unique perspective and focuses on different facets of the same underlying truth. Communication and direct experience: He notes a communication gap in spirituality, which makes it challenging to translate nonlinear insights into linear language accessible to the rational mind. Leo asserts that direct experiences are crucial for genuine understanding, as the most profound spiritual insights resist conventional expression. Psychedelics as unparalleled teachers: Leo extols psychedelics such as five Meo, LSD, and mushrooms as the most effective spiritual teachers, providing direct and personalized experiences that surpass what any verbal teachings can offer. Psychedelics act as guides, revealing precisely what one needs to see and understand. Depth of spiritual work: He encourages reflection on the depth required to achieve enlightenment, which may exceed initial expectations. Leo invites listeners to trust their intuition rather than adhere to rigid practices, potentially hastening spiritual progress by exploring customized paths. Personal journey and vision: Sharing his own experiences, Leo emphasizes the power of a personal vision for enlightenment. He suggests that living in alignment with your vision, even before its full realization, can propel you towards that reality, dismissing external criticism and embracing trust in one's transformative journey. Future focus on structure and openness: Leo plans to divide his content between documenting his personal experiences on his blog and producing more structurally analytical videos for his channel. His goal is to help others while being careful not to impose limits on their potential for awakening based on his journey's timeframe or methods. He promotes an open and fluid approach to personal and spiritual growth, allowing for tailoring and adaptability to one's unique process. Finite Incantatem

Don't Half-Ass Yoga https://www.actualized.org/insights/dont-half-ass-yoga Essential points on practicing kriya yoga: Leo Gura highlights that practicing kriya yoga, as with other yoga forms, must be done correctly to avoid common mistakes. He suggests using a specific book that acts as a manual for kriya yoga, which can be found via his book list. To practice yoga properly, one must do it on an empty stomach and maintain a proper diet to optimize energy, cognitive function, and overall system balance. Practices should not be done soon after eating, and performing advanced techniques on a full stomach can be dangerous. The right timing for yoga practice should consider a sufficiently empty stomach, ideally waiting four hours after a meal. It's crucial to be meticulous and disciplined in following yoga routines as designed by spiritual masters who are akin to geniuses in their field. Mixing different schools of yoga or modifying techniques without understanding can lead to confusion, ineffectiveness, and even danger due to the transformative power of these practices. Therefore, it is advised to commit to a single yogic path and follow it rigorously. Appreciation of yogic mastery: It is crucial to recognize the high level of consciousness achieved by yoga masters, akin to the difference between a human and an ant. Just as we trust the expertise of professionals such as car engineers or surgeons, we must trust the yogic system and follow kriya yoga instructions rigorously without attempting to innovate or mix with other techniques. Commitment to regular practice: To see the benefits of kriya yoga, it's necessary to practice every day, ideally for at least a year, before assessing the results. The process involves building up a stack of techniques, gradually adding new ones, and requires commitment and not just casual dabbling. Mindfulness during practice: Performing yoga techniques demands full attention and mindfulness. Any distraction or intellectual skepticism must be set aside to fully immerse in and benefit from the practice. The techniques should be executed with the same focus and seriousness as if one's life depended on it. Mindful execution of techniques: When performing yoga techniques, one must deeply focus and mindfully engage with every action, breathing pattern, and visualized element. Distractions and skepticism should be set aside to fully immerse in the practice. Significance of silent sitting: The final minutes of a kriya routine, spent in silence, are crucial. This period of stillness is not for passive rest, but for culminating the practice's efforts into a deep, contemplative, one-pointed awareness that prepares one for profound awakening experiences. Understanding metaphysics and openness: Yoga practices often come with metaphysical and quasi-religious explanations. Skeptics or strict materialists might struggle with these concepts. Success in yoga requires an open mind and direct experience, rather than dogmatic adherence to any particular philosophy or scientific materialism. Readiness for advanced practices: Kriya Yoga and similar high-level spiritual practices necessitate a certain readiness and maturity beyond what conventional self-help offers. These practices are not for casual interest but demand serious commitment and an appreciation for the subtleties of spirituality. Adhering to chosen methods: It's important to stick to the prescribed techniques of a particular school or book without synthesizing variations from multiple sources. Trust in a single, consistent method is more effective than attempting to create a personalized combination of practices. Commitment to a single yoga system: It is crucial to commit fully to one yoga system or a set of teachings and not attempt to synthesize techniques from different schools or sub-schools which could cause confusion and dilute the effectiveness of the practice. Like a cheetah choosing one antelope to hunt or lions identifying a distinct zebra, being decisive and focused in practice is vital. Kriya Yoga for householders: Kriya Yoga is designed to be powerful and efficient, requiring only about an hour of practice each day, making it suitable for those with household responsibilities. Unlike some meditation practices that may demand extensive retreats and hours, Kriya Yoga is tailored to fit into a busy lifestyle without sacrificing significant personal or professional obligations. Prioritization and vision: Individuals need to have the right priorities and vision in life, understanding that setting aside time for yoga practice is more beneficial than the pursuit of materialistic pleasures. Leo criticizes the notion of being too busy as a reflection of immaturity and lack of understanding of life's deeper purpose. There is no 'best' yoga practice: The concept of the 'best' spiritual technique or yoga school is a distraction; what truly matters is what resonates with each individual based on their personality, lifestyle, and spiritual readiness. Different people may connect with different practices at different times in their lives, and experimentation with full commitment is encouraged to discover what works best for oneself. Diversified approach to spirituality: Leo advocates for a diversified approach to spiritual practice, incorporating tools like visualization, self-inquiry, mindfulness, and even psychedelics, rather than strictly adhering to a single path or guru. He acknowledges that this may not align with everyone's beliefs but emphasizes that it's his personal path and may work for others who resonate with his teaching style. Timing and consistency in practice: Leo advises against doing kriya yoga when tired or close to bedtime, as the techniques energize the body. Instead, choose a time when alert and with an empty stomach-morning being ideal but afternoon and evening also working. Emphasizing regular daily practice, he suggests committing to at least a year to properly evaluate its transformative effects, highlighting that consistency is key, not sporadic engagement. Importance of commitment and vision: Leo stresses the necessity of serious commitment to yoga practice, likening it to mastering an instrument. One must approach it with a strong willingness to learn and a clear vision of why they are undertaking the practice. He warns against merely dabbling in yoga as it might lead to frustration and suggests that a disciplined and rigorous approach will eventually make mastering the techniques achievable. Mindfulness and discipline in execution: The techniques must be performed with mindfulness, full attention, and without distractions. Intellectualizing or skepticism during practice detracts from the experience. Mindful execution of every component, such as breath and focus on chakras, is imperative for effective practice. Leo emphasizes the critical role of the silent sitting period at the end of the routine, urging practitioners not to underestimate its significance in the awakening process. Embracing metaphysical elements with openness: Addressing the metaphysical aspects of kriya yoga, Leo recommends adopting an open-minded stance towards the non-scientific explanations and language found in the texts. He suggests focusing on direct experience rather than getting hung up on unconventional concepts that may initially seem unbelievable. Readiness for advanced practice: He acknowledges that kriya yoga entails advanced practices that require aspirants to be in a certain stage of development and readiness, beyond mere curiosity or the pursuit of materialistic goals. To successfully embark on and persist in such advanced practices, one must have already achieved a significant level of personal growth and self-understanding. Adherence to prescribed techniques: Leo emphasizes the importance of sticking to the standard kriya yoga techniques as described in the recommended book. While slight variations can be found across different sub-schools or teachings of kriya yoga, he warns against attempting to synthesize these and suggests trust in and adherence to one primary source to prevent confusion and ensure focused, effective practice. Single-school focus: Just as a predator singles out one prey in a hunt, practitioners should remain committed to one school of kriya yoga or one yoga practice without mixing techniques from various sources. This focused approach is likened to the distinction between zebras in a herd-standing out clearly with one approach rather than blending multiple methods together. Kriya Yoga for daily life: Kriya yoga is tailored for householders, designed to be integrated into regular life without requiring the extensive time commitment associated with some other meditation practices. Leo asserts that sincere daily practice for a reasonable duration can lead to significant spiritual results, and one doesn't need to engage in long retreats or spend numerous hours each day in meditation. Personal responsibility in practice: Leo highlights individual responsibility in managing one's time and prioritizing spiritual practice. He criticizes excuses of busyness and misplaced priorities, suggesting that anyone can find time for serious spiritual practice if they understand its importance and value over other materialistic pursuits. Experimentation and personal resonance: The 'best' practice is subjective and can vary from person to person. Leo encourages experimentation and finding what resonates personally, acknowledging that one might need to switch techniques or teachers as their path evolves. He reiterates that there is no universal 'best,' as it all depends on individual needs and readiness at a given time. Diverse spiritual toolkit: Leo describes his own broad-based approach to spirituality, which includes tools like visualization, self-inquiry, breath meditation, and psychedelics alongside kriya yoga. He acknowledges this eclectic method may not suit everyone, suggesting that different individuals may find their spiritual success through various means, either by focusing on one or diversifying their practice. Episkey

Sitting Posture For Yoga & Meditation https://www.actualized.org/insights/sitting-posture-for-yoga-meditation Simplified posture for practice: The recommended posture is accessible for over 95% of people, avoiding complicated positions such as full or half lotus. Proper attire and environment: Remove socks and wear comfortable clothing; the room should be at a comfortable temperature to maintain focus and avoid distractions. Use of cushion for support: A stiff foam cushion, around 2-3 inches thick, helps to elevate the hips and create stability without collapsing under body weight. Heel-perineum alignment for men: Position the heel gently against the perineum, adjusting for comfort, particularly for males by lifting the genitals over the heel to avoid pressure. Spinal posture visualization: Envision a string pulling the top of the head upwards to promote a straight, aligned spine conducive to kriya practice. Avoiding advanced lotus positions: Dismisses advanced postures like full lotus as non-essential and potentially detrimental for knee health, emphasizing upper body techniques. Techniques for initial discomfort and circulation: Encourages perseverance through initial discomfort, suggesting alternating leg positions and using pillows for support to alleviate circulation issues. Grounded and dignified posture: Recommends a grounded posture that conveys a sense of nobility without rigidity, ensuring the spine is not slouched. Chair option for sitting: Offers chair sitting as an alternative for those unable to sit on the floor, stating that over 90% should manage the floor posture but acknowledging exceptions for special conditions. Avis

Hawaii Solo Retreat Feb 2018 Videos - Day 7 https://www.actualized.org/insights/hawaii-solo-retreat-feb-2018-videos End of Retreat Reflection: Leo closes his Hawaii retreat, summarizing key insights from an incomplete yet humbling experience. He undertakes a candid assessment of his failures, realizing the significance of raising personal standards, confronting addictions, and understanding the perpetual learning journey in life. Shift in Personal Standards: Reflecting on the evolution of his own expectations, Leo notes the continuous increase in his standards over five years, which has influenced his perception of success and failure. He discusses the paradox of ignorance as a helpful factor in starting projects and the danger of unrealistically high expectations hindering progress. Tech Addiction Recognition: Leo recognizes his dependency on technology for unwinding and contemplates how his addictions fulfill certain functions in his life. He acknowledges the need for alternative methods to relax without relying on his phone or internet. Desire for Nature and Reevaluation of Living: The retreat stirs a desire in Leo to be more connected with nature and contemplate where and how he wants to live. This leads to the realization of being nature-deprived in a digital world and a yearning to integrate more natural surroundings into his daily existence. Living Consciously: The retreat catalyzes a deep contemplation about the direction of life beyond the pursuit of enlightenment. Leo ponders what realizations entail for one's lifestyle choices and how important it is to regularly consider life's bigger questions outside of the context of enlightenment-focusing on living consciously and shaping a meaningful impact on the world. Meaning in the Enigmatic Dream of Life: Leo argues that the understanding that life is an 'infinite hallucination' should not lead to nihilism but instead empowers individuals to interpret their experiences consciously and decide how to construct a life post-awakening. He emphasizes using awakenings as a foundation to build a life that aligns with authentic motivation to contribute positively to the world, rather than being trapped in a quest-fueled treadmill. Life as an Infinite Sandbox: Conceiving of life as an intricate, boundless sandbox game, Leo notes the liberty to create and shape one's reality, highlighting the importance of freedom over societal precepts. This perspective encourages active engagement with life's vast possibilities and creative potential. Living fully through enlightenment: Enlightenment is seen as a tool for freeing oneself from resistances, fears, and addictions, enabling a life of full engagement and selfless living. The retreat offered insights into the work still needed on personal limitations and revealed the potential of human beings to lead a rich, creative life when not impeded by fears and societal conditioning. Human potential and the exploration of self: Humans as unique vehicles of consciousness, with the body serving as a means for the infinite to explore its own vast possibilities. This perspective emphasizes the significance of human experience and potential, highlighting the detrimental effects of allowing fears and societal programming to stifle one's life. The transformative power of retreats: Retreats are shown as instrumental in realizing and maintaining healthy consciousness by creating an opportunity for isolation and contemplation. Leo advocates for the importance of changing environments to reset psychologically and gain new perspectives on one's life, suggesting even modest means for retreats can be effective. Autonomy in solo retreats and inner work: Solo retreats promote self-reliance, discipline, and planning, contrasting with the structured nature of group retreats. Leo argues that true spiritual work is done in solitude, where one must face inner demons without external aid, enhancing one's spiritual growth and independence. Contemplating future retreat structures: Leo is considering different approaches for his upcoming retreats, including the use of psychedelics, personal development work, or focusing solely on meditation. He emphasizes experimenting with various methods to offer more effective tools for growth and is aware that not everyone may be ready or interested in enlightenment-specific practices. Leveraging retreats for personal development: He advocates for the use of retreats to work intensively on psychology, shadow work, and life purpose, suggesting even those young and free of heavy obligations should seize the opportunity to engage in these transformative experiences to master life more effectively. Digital existence vs. physical world engagement: Reflecting on his retreat experiences, Leo identifies a personal need to spend less time in the digital realm and more time outdoors, engaging with nature physically-attributing psychological and creative benefits to this reconnection. Escaping the busyness trap: The retreat has led Leo to realize that increasing busyness does not lead to happiness. He suggests that slowing down is key to fulfilling life, especially when pressures mount, and that creatively valuable work comes from periods of isolation and deep contemplation, not from relentless activity. Shift towards selflessness and ego reduction: Leo aims to remove ego-driven actions from his life's equation to focus more on selflessness. He recognizes the negative impact of ego on work and interpersonal relationships and the importance of authentic, ego-free communication. Rat race vs. meaningful creative work: Acknowledging the shallowness of busy work, Leo envisions eliminating such work to focus more on creativity and innovation. He wants to align his life with more meaningful endeavors that transform society rather than remain caught in the rat race. Need for significant life questions and lifestyle changes: The retreat has prompted Leo to consider how one's life structure might be reorganized to allow for a more creative and fulfilling existence, contemplating the importance of pursuing deeper, more valuable work and living more aligned with truth and consciousness. Ego-driven life mechanisms: Leo examines his daily interactions and questions the ego-driven mechanisms behind most of his decisions. He illustrates how relationships and work may inadvertently cater to personal needs, fears, and weaknesses, contributing to an unsatisfying loop of temporary fulfillment. Shifting away from egoic needs: Leo plans to redirect his focus toward selflessness, removing the ego from actions and interactions. He describes a vision of living free from personal needs, fully present and content with consciousness itself, which offers a more fulfilling existence. Authenticity and compassion challenges: Leo acknowledges the need to work on authenticity, fighting cockiness and arrogance, especially around those new to personal development. He reflects on the shift required to aid others from a compassionate, non-egotistical stance. Unconditional love and defensiveness: A new area of focus for Leo is learning about unconditional love and applying it powerfully in life. He also seeks to be less defensive and security-driven, broadening his openness and capacity to give and receive love freely. Importance of incremental personal growth: Leo voices the importance of gradual improvement over time, pointing out that even small percentage increases in growth can accumulate to significant change, steering life toward betterment and higher consciousness. Urgency of scheduling personal retreats: He emphasizes the necessity of planning personal retreats well in advance, pushing past excuses, and committing to these growth opportunities. Leo argues that retreating from daily life, even for brief periods, can provide fresh perspectives and profound clarity on one's life direction. Flagrate

Hawaii Solo Retreat Feb 2018 Videos - Day 6 https://www.actualized.org/insights/hawaii-solo-retreat-feb-2018-videos Day six struggles: Leo describes his worst day of the retreat, succumbing to addictions by surfing the internet for hours, resulting in a deterioration of his meditation practice and a resurgence of ordinary life thoughts, deviating from his enlightenment journey. Failing the process: Leo expresses that failing at meditation is a deeply humbling experience which highlights the difficulties of facing one's inner demons, attachments, and the void of existence. He sees failure as a natural part of the growth process that can nurture compassion for human suffering and the collective challenges we face. Inner demons and personal obstacles: Leo confronts his own attachments, including his addictions to the internet, business, and conceptual thinking. He posits that facing and acknowledging these attachments is an important step in the journey towards enlightenment. Glimpse into the human psyche: Through grappling with his own struggles, Leo gains an intimate understanding of the powerful nature of the human psyche. He believes personal failures can provide insight into societal issues like addiction and violence, reinforcing the importance of facing and working through one's personal issues. Compassion through personal suffering: Leo's experience leads him to develop deeper compassion, as he relates personal suffering to broader societal problems. He suggests that to alleviate the collective suffering, one must first address individual pain and the difficulty of self-improvement. Surrender as a core aspect of enlightenment: Discussing the process of enlightenment, Leo emphasizes the necessity of surrendering one's entire existence and attachments, recognizing the void's pure emptiness, and releasing one's perceived identity to truly gain existential insights. Enlightenment's radical implications: The path to enlightenment is misconstrued by many; it requires not only order in one's life but the willingness to surrender every aspect of existence, a radical concept often missing from superficial understanding. Enlightenment is more than a state-it's a surrendering process that dissolves even the most deeply-held personal elements. Misconceptions about enlightenment: Many who pursue enlightenment have not truly grasped its radical implications, such as the non-existence of a physical body and the deconstruction of long-held scientific and philosophical beliefs. Enlightenment is vastly more profound than just achieving a mystical state, requiring the surrender of all attachments and the recognition of life as an illusion or a dream. Enlightenment vs. cultural paradigms: Enlightenment challenges the foundations of Western intellectual tradition and materialistic perspectives, proposing that there is no ultimate control over life, no time, no space, and that reality as we know it is a grand illusion. Depth of understanding in spiritual pursuit: The journey of enlightenment necessitates deep, direct experience, and merely conceptual understanding-or listening to spiritual teachings-is not sufficient. The realization that life is akin to a dream only truly sinks in after years of dedicated practice and cannot be apprehended by intellectual reasoning alone. Challenges of being a visionary: Visionaries are those who have the intuitive capacity to see beyond conventional wisdom, connecting disjointed ideas into a cohesive understanding of deeper truths. While this ability is insightful, it may also isolate the visionary due to skepticism and misunderstanding from others who rely solely on linear, logical thinking. Advanced insights and validation: Leo emphasizes the importance of not hastily dismissing insights that stem from extensive research, intuition, and direct experience. The process of discerning truth is intricate, continuous, and requires a balanced approach between trusting teachings and validating them through personal exploration and experiences. Imperfection in spiritual teachers: Admonishing viewers to have realistic expectations of spiritual teachers, Leo asserts that seeking perfection in teachers is a misstep, and expecting them to be free from human faults could lead to disillusionment and susceptibility to misleading doctrines or cult-like followings. Advantages of learning from a less mastered teacher: There is merit in learning from teachers who are openly navigating their spiritual journey, as their experiences can be more relatable and their struggles more illustrative for students who are at earlier stages in their own paths. Balancing skepticism and open-mindedness: The path to enlightenment demands a delicate balance of skepticism and open-mindedness-a receptiveness to new ideas without surrendering critical thinking or clinging to outdated beliefs. Rejecting the idea that teachers must be infallible, Leo encourages a nuanced relationship with spiritual guidance that is both grounded and aspirational. Realities of the spiritual path: Authentic growth comes with facing personal trials and weaknesses. Leo is committed to continuing meditation, observing his psychological patterns, and detecting how the mind habitually creates problems regardless of external changes. Inherent problem creation of the mind: The mind has a tendency to manifest a consistent number of problems no matter the situation, highlighting the importance of addressing internal issues rather than merely changing physical circumstances. Exploration and adaptation of techniques: Leo is evaluating his practice methods and planning to experiment with new techniques such as yoga, acknowledging that certain methods like self-inquiry may have lost their effectiveness for him. Use of psychedelics in spiritual growth: While Leo has experimented with various psychedelics and is considering a return to five Meo DMT for potential permanent enlightenment, he also recognizes the risks and intensive nature of these substances. Research aspect of Leo's spiritual journey: Leo's journey includes a research dimension, where he tests different methods and substances, contributing to a broader understanding of spiritual work and aiding others. Upcoming retreat and integration: Despite setbacks, Leo finds value in his experiences and intends to learn from them for future retreats, emphasizing the necessity of compassion that arises from personal suffering on the path to enlightenment. Confringo

Hawaii Solo Retreat Feb 2018 Videos - Day 5 https://www.actualized.org/insights/hawaii-solo-retreat-feb-2018-videos Exhaustion and doubt during retreat: Leo discusses the mental exhaustion and frustration experienced on the fifth day of the retreat, feeling less conscious despite rigorous meditation, leading to moments of doubt and the temptation to quit but ultimately staying the course. Encountering varied meditation experiences: He had contrasting sessions, with some powerful moments of self-inquiry and a notable 'do nothing' session leading to a peaceful state, juxtaposing the struggle of using structured techniques versus the ease of surrendering control. Reconciling meditation techniques: Leo reflects on the struggle between effortful and effortless meditation methods, contemplating the supposed goal of meditation as a process of enjoyment and quieting the mind rather than a masochistic pursuit, and how the right method may vary by personal disposition. Contemplating disciplined vs. conceptual life: The tension between a disciplined, unthinking state and the enjoyment derived from conceptual, creative thought is discussed, with Leo questioning the desirability of completely shutting off his mind, even though it may not align with the Zen pursuit of 'no mind'. Handling sexual cravings in solitude: Leo explores two strategies for dealing with sexual urges during retreats: the hardcore yogi approach of complete celibacy and the pragmatic approach of quickly addressing and moving past cravings. He recommends the latter for those not heavily afflicted by such desires for greater efficiency in returning focus to the retreat. Transmutation and Retention of Sexual Energy: Leo discusses various methods to manage sexual urges, including transmuting sexual energy and retaining it for spiritual practices. However, he is uncertain about the necessity of total abstinence for achieving awakening experiences and acknowledges that personal factors like age and sexual constitution greatly influence one's experience and discipline. Dealing with Persistent Sexual Cravings: Awareness of the persistence of sexual cravings despite spiritual advancements is highlighted. Leo advises developing coping strategies and not presuming that enlightenment or awakening experiences will eliminate these natural desires. Setting and Adhering to Ground Rules: Emphasizes the importance of establishing ground rules for a retreat to avoid distractions and maintain discipline. Leo shares his own set of strict rules designed to foster an environment conducive to meditation and self-reflection. Psychological Anticipation and Reality: Leo reflects on the dichotomy between pre-retreat excitement and the challenges that arise when actually on retreat. Understanding this can help prevent giving into desires to escape the discomforts that come with intensive meditation practice. Recognizing and Managing One's Breaking Point: Leo stresses the importance of recognizing personal limits and allowing for relaxation before reaching a breaking point during a retreat. This knowledge helps avoid potential backsliding that might undo the progress made. Persistence of the Ego in Maintaining Stability: A discussion on the ego's inherent drive to maintain stability and survival, and how this can both support life and simultaneously make significant, lasting changes in consciousness challenging to sustain without regression. Expectation Management and Motivation: Leo talks about the pattern of having difficult days followed by a sense of release or 'second wind,' but also cautions against expecting repetition of easy days as it can lead to disappointment and a downward motivational spiral. He closes by emphasizing the continuous need to navigate one's inner challenges and maintain motivation throughout the retreat process. Fidelius Charm

Hawaii Solo Retreat Feb 2018 Videos - Day 4 https://www.actualized.org/insights/hawaii-solo-retreat-feb-2018-videos Realization of the perceiver: Leo had an insight that shifted his perspective; he recognized that our true identity is not the body, mind, or emotions, but the perceiver of all these aspects. He struggled with the abstract nature of the perceiver, which he describes as pure emptiness with no qualities, leading him to a deep contemplation about the essence of self and the inability to grasp it through conventional thinking. Expanded awareness through meditation: During his retreat, Leo noticed an increased ability to be aware of his surroundings with a newfound quickness. Contrasting this with the usual lack of awareness needed to perform daily routines, he reminisced about a childlike attunement to life which he felt returning through increased meditation practice. Fluctuating energy and mindfulness: Leo experienced a shift from a productive start to a diminishing clarity of mindfulness as the day progressed, feeling both physically and mentally tired. He recognized a drop in his ability to maintain consistent mindfulness later in the day, acknowledging both the progress made and the challenges faced. Difficulty of enlightenment: Leo emphasized the immense challenge of enlightenment, noting that it requires extended, uninterrupted practice, which is daunting and often underestimated. He expressed frustration with enlightenment teachings that don't fully convey the emotional and time investment necessary for such profound spiritual work. Intensity of dedicated practice: He stressed the stark contrast between casual, intermittent meditation and the deep commitment required for enlightenment, akin to the dedication of monks and yogis. Leo questioned the efficacy of short daily practices and advocated for long, continuous retreats to achieve higher states of consciousness. The misunderstanding of effort in enlightenment: Leo reflected on the misleading portrayals of the path to enlightenment, criticizing the lack of transparency about the true emotional difficulty and extensive, persistent effort required to attain heightened spiritual states. Perception of awakening as a cure: Leo observes that people often turn to spiritual awakening to solve their life problems, without realizing that the journey of enlightenment can bring about greater challenges, as one confronts their inner self and demons, which can be more intense than their initial troubles. Personal struggle and enlightenment's worth: He reflects on the demanding nature of spiritual practice, noting how his previous life's manageable suffering pales in comparison to the emotional toil endured during his pursuit of enlightenment-a pursuit he views as a substantial investment in seeking something profound. Commitment to spiritual practice: Leo discusses the extreme dedication required for radical shifts in consciousness, suggesting that without extraordinary talent or past life advantages, reaching such profound levels of enlightenment is nearly impossible for the ordinary person, emphasizing the significance of psychedelics as an avenue to understand the depth of spirituality. Appreciation for psychedelics in spiritual work: Despite the temporary nature of their effects, psychedelics are praised for their ability to rapidly reveal profound states of consciousness that would take immense effort and time to achieve through meditation alone. Challenges in mastering spirituality: Leo considers spirituality to be the most challenging mastery, likening it to understanding the fabric of the cosmos, an endeavor that demands great commitment as one is asking to comprehend the origins of all reality. Gratitude for chemical advancements: He expresses gratitude for living in an era where substances like 5-MeO-DMT are accessible, facilitating experiences of infinite consciousness that were largely unknown a century ago, stressing the balance between valuing manual spiritual work and the insights offered via psychedelics. Respect for traditional Zen practices without psychedelics: Leo acknowledges the achievements of Zen masters who accomplish spiritual progress through years of disciplined manual practice without psychedelics and muses on his own experiences and insights regarding the awakening process and spiritual purification. Flipendo

Hawaii Solo Retreat Feb 2018 Videos - Day 3 https://www.actualized.org/insights/hawaii-solo-retreat-feb-2018-videos Self-inquiry meditation: Leo described an intense meditative experience involving self-inquiry focused on a fork, leading to a profound examination of perception and identity, where he distinguished between the physical form and the emptiness of the perceiver within. Struggle with concentration: Leo expressed difficulty in maintaining deep concentration during meditation, which he views as a key factor in attaining enlightenment. He described his mind's tendency to 'jiggle' when attempting to focus, highlighting the need for a disciplined and still mind to penetrate the concept of emptiness. Importance of observation: He emphasized the importance of pure observation in meditation, recommending an approach free from analysis and internal commentary. Leo shared the challenge in overcoming the natural tendency of the mind to seek understanding and latch onto minor insights, which can distract from achieving a major breakthrough. Distractions amidst meditation: Discussing the practical challenges faced during his retreat, Leo reported constant noise from helicopters flying overhead in the supposedly remote location in Hawaii. He acknowledged the disturbance but remained committed to his practice despite the annoyance. Self-discipline versus temptations: Leo discussed the presence of potential distractions such as a laptop with entertainment options and a smartphone but affirmed his discipline in not succumbing to them. He reflected on past experiences of yielding to temptations and the subsequent negative feelings, recognizing the value of self-control. 'Do Nothing' technique: He explored the 'Do Nothing' meditation technique, which advocates for releasing control over the mind and thought process, praising its effectiveness and the contrast to other more effort-intensive techniques. Approach to multiple meditation techniques: Leo closed by advising on the approach to trying out different meditation techniques, acknowledging the upfront costs of time and the need for repeated practice to accurately assess their effectiveness. He warned against the pitfall of switching techniques too hastily and stressed the importance of perseverance. Self-discipline in the face of temptation: Leo reflects on having a variety of distracting options available on his laptop and smartphone but remains disciplined, resisting the urge to engage with them. Experience from past retreats has taught him the negative consequences of succumbing to such temptations, paralleling it with the diminishing allure of junk food after overindulgence. Advice for meditation retreat newcomers: For those who might struggle with the discipline required during meditation retreats, Leo advises against bringing potential distractions such as a smartphone or laptop. If necessary, he suggests removing enticing content or disconnecting from the internet to maintain focus. Efficacy of the Do Nothing technique: The Do Nothing meditation technique's power lies in its ability to promote effortlessness. By releasing the urge to control or direct the mind, Leo finds this method to align with the intrinsic nature of meditation. He emphasizes the gentle discipline required to let go continually during practice. Costs and benefits of technique experimentation: Engaging with various meditation techniques involves a trade-off between the time and energy invested in learning and practicing them against the flexibility and potential discovery of an effective approach. Leo acknowledges the risk of not persisting with one technique during challenging periods, highlighting the importance of commitment to experience true progress. Aparecium

Hawaii Solo Retreat Feb 2018 Videos - Day 2 https://www.actualized.org/insights/hawaii-solo-retreat-feb-2018-videos Morning refreshment and revelation: Woke up feeling refreshed with a sense of deep, meaningful dreams indicating spiritual purification commonly experienced during retreats. Resistance to disciplined practice: Faced ongoing resistance throughout the morning with a lack of motivation for self-inquiry, feeling a sense of rustiness and questioning the effort invested when past retreats have sometimes yielded no tangible results. Contrast between psychedelic experience and manual effort: Reflects on the ease of achieving enlightenment states with psychedelics compared to the manual effort required in non-psychedelic retreats, noting a conflicting sense of motivation and demotivation. Environmental challenges and internal struggles: Encountered interruptions from frequent helicopter tour noises and the lure of Hawaii's attractions, which fueled the desire to abandon the process and surrender to distractions. Dynamic nature of retreats: Notes the unpredictable ebb and flow of emotional and mental states during retreats, with the potential for rapid shifts and the importance of avoiding escape and staying committed to the process. Time pressures on shorter retreats: Expresses feeling rushed due to the shorter seven-day retreat format, recognizing the preference for a 10-day retreat to alleviate the rush and fully engage in the process without distraction. Shift into surrender and nature's embrace: As external interruptions waned and rain set in, found tranquility in nature, which facilitated deeper focus, concentration, and mindfulness, cultivating a more effective meditation practice towards evening. Adjusting to a less structured approach: Stopped meticulously tracking meditation sessions, adopting a more intuitive approach to maintaining mindfulness, indicating a shift from structured tracking to a holistic, continuous practice. Deepening self-inquiry: Leo had an insightful moment of self-inquiry, looking at his hands and reflecting on the absence of a 'self' behind perception, bringing forward experiences from psychedelic sessions to his sober state, and feeling the closeness of a 'no-self' realization. Integrating mindfulness opportunistically: Instead of a strict meditation schedule, Leo embraced spontaneous moments of insight, such as the kitchen episode, showing an intuitive approach and willingness to dive into self-inquiry whenever opportunities arise, using methods like hand observation to stay grounded. Preparation for continued effort: Acknowledging the possibility of fluctuating moods and the return of distractions like helicopters, Leo prepared himself for the challenges ahead, especially entering day three, typically when the retreat deepens. The harsh reality of retreats: Leo dismantled the misconception that meditation retreats are akin to relaxing vacations, highlighting the gritty reality of confronting addictions, loneliness, and various annoyances, requiring significant discipline and effort. A call for universal spiritual work: Emphasizing the importance of spiritual work for mastering life and finding true happiness, Leo pointed out that both the rich and the poor often neglect this essential practice due to distractions, responsibilities, or lack of awareness, advocating for everyone to engage in this transformative work regardless of their social status. Geminio

Hawaii Solo Retreat Feb 2018 Videos - Day 1 https://www.actualized.org/insights/hawaii-solo-retreat-feb-2018-videos Inconsistency in meditation practice: Leo experienced difficulty with focus and selecting a meditation technique to stick with, which led to feelings of laziness and underachievement based on his prior expectations from years of practice. Dealing with drowsiness: Frequent drowsiness impacted Leo's ability to maintain lengthy meditation sessions. He chose to focus on meditating when feeling most awake rather than adhering to a strict sleep schedule, attributing sleepiness to potential jet lag. Developing momentum with labeling: By forcing himself to practice labeling, despite an initial reluctance, Leo began to build momentum in this technique, which he hopes to carry into the following days of the retreat. Acclimatization to retreat settings: Adjusting to the new surroundings of the retreat, including the colder-than-expected nights, was a learning experience for Leo. He emphasized the need to adapt quickly to different environments when on retreats. Choosing between multiple techniques: Leo expressed a conundrum regarding the abundance of meditation techniques he knows, causing indecision and distraction. He contemplates sticking to one technique but doubts his ability to commit to only one throughout the retreat. The goal of heightened awareness: The retreat's purpose is to fine-tune Leo's sensitivity to minute sensations and details around him. By increasing mindfulness, he aims to move deeper into questions of self and reality from a place of enhanced perceptual acuity rather than intellectual thought. Enlightenment through deliberate practice: Leo reiterates his goal of enlightenment, acknowledging that although there is an element of chance to awakening, committed and intentional practice significantly increases the chances of transformative experiences, contrary to the passive approach advised by some. Preparation versus luck analogy: He compares the pursuit of enlightenment to preparing for a successful fishing trip: effort and preparation can significantly increase the likelihood of success, but the actual moment of enlightenment, much like catching a fish, involves a stroke of luck. Fidelius Charm

Hawaii Solo Retreat Feb 2018 Videos https://www.actualized.org/insights/hawaii-solo-retreat-feb-2018-videos Retreat introduction and setting: Leo begins his solo meditation retreat, situated in Mountain View, Hawaii, in a cozy cabin amidst a 20-acre jungle property. Despite the drizzling rain, he is enthusiastic to share his setup and environment. Preparation and accommodation: The retreat was planned for eight days, but the first day was spent preparing and acclimating to the island. The cabin is off-grid, powered by solar panels and supplied with water from a rain catchment system. Sustainability and nourishment: Leo's kitchen is stocked with ample provisions for the retreat, including a variety of fruits, vegetables, eggs, and grains that amount to an eight-day supply. A total of seven gallons of water has been reserved for the duration. Meditation plans and adjustments: Leo plans for intensive meditation on the cabin's balcony, utilizing makeshift seating, but is also prepared to move indoors due to the cold temperatures. He has outlined a varied meditative schedule of techniques and practices. Daily routine and mental discipline: Beyond formal meditation sessions, Leo applies mindfulness to daily tasks, with planned meals to reduce decision-making. Physical isolation contributes to a focused, uninterrupted retreat experience. Solo retreat benefits: Leo advocates for the benefits of solo meditation retreats, highlighting the freedom of location choice, cost-effectiveness, and the deeper work on consciousness achievable in solitude. Personal commitment to meditation: The investment of time and money into these retreats underscores Leo's dedication to his consciousness work. Acknowledging the challenges, he remains committed to maintaining a disciplined meditation practice. Retreat frequency recommendation: Four solo retreats a year is Leo's recommended frequency for continuous personal growth. He advises scheduling in advance due to the popularity of destinations like Hawaii. Content creation to share insights: Leo intends to document daily insights via video recordings, aiming to share takeaways post-retreat. These personal observations may serve as guidance for others on their meditation journeys. Impedimenta

Life Lessons From "Life Below Zero" https://www.actualized.org/insights/life-lessons-from-life-below-zero Authenticity of "Life Below Zero": The reality show is praised for its authentic portrayal of survival in the Alaskan wilderness, following different groups as they live independently, using a mix of traditional and modern methods to sustain themselves in extreme conditions. Technological contrast: While Alaskan residents utilize contemporary tools like snowmobiles and chainsaws for survival, their lifestyle remains closely tied to nature, a sharp contrast to the urban lives of most viewers, who are insulated from such raw survival scenarios by modern conveniences. Perceived versus actual survival: Leo points out that survival in Alaska appears fundamentally different from urban living, but at their core, both lifestyles are engaged in survival-urban living has just morphed into a less recognizable form of it. Disconnect from nature's repercussions: The discussion emphasizes the psychological and societal ramifications of modern individuals becoming increasingly detached from nature, which fundamentally misaligns with human psychological evolution and exacerbates cultural disdain for traditional, nature-based lifestyles. Universal push for survival: Ultimately, Leo argues that despite different living conditions and daily activities, all humans are universally motivated by survival, with the modern workplace being an adapted environment for this instinct. Modern work's disconnect and dissatisfaction: The show is used to illustrate the stark reality of most modern jobs, where people are stuck in repetitive, disconnected roles with little passion or fulfillment, leading to widespread dissatisfaction, mental health issues, and dependency on temporary escapes. Entrepreneurial heritage lamented: Leo laments the lost connection to humanity's entrepreneurial roots, shown by the autarchic lifestyle of Alaskans, contrasting with the modern employment structure that leaves many feeling unfulfilled and disconnected from meaningful work. Entrepreneurial essence of human nature: Leo emphasizes that humans are inherently designed for entrepreneurship; this design aligns with our need to remain engaged with life. Modern societal structures, however, create a hierarchical system that is soul-draining, leading many to feel alienated and disconnected in their day-to-day roles. Repetitive nature of all work: Despite differing environments, both the Alaskans' and cubicle workers' lives are cyclical and repetitive. Leo points out that the dissatisfaction isn't exclusive to cubicle workers; even those in Alaska perform daily survival tasks, yet they do not achieve self-actualization. Human psyche and job satisfaction: Our ancestors evolved to be satisfied with tasks related to direct survival such as hunting or gathering, opposed to the modern cubicle work. Leo suggests that a stronger psychological fulfillment may arise from more traditional ways of living closer to nature, despite access to modern amenities. Civilization's paradox: Leo argues that while technological progress has made aspects of life easier, it results in a less satisfied and more disconnected life from nature. This paradox has led to an increased need for guidance, exemplified by Leo's own life purpose course. The illusion of location-based fulfillment: A change of location, such as moving to Alaska, will not necessarily resolve the psychological aspects of self-actualization. True growth, Leo argues, comes from engaging in consciousness work, such as self-inquiry and meditation, regardless of one's environment. Spirituality transcending survival: Leo delineates the difference between survival-which both modern and primitive lifestyles share-and spirituality. Spirituality surpasses the basic need for survival, leading to a fulfilled life beyond the basic structure of repetitive tasks, something that people in both settings might lack. Ineffectiveness of environment change for self-actualization: Changing one's environment, such as moving to Alaska, will not solve underlying personal problems, because these issues are internal rather than external. Understanding survival and spiritual growth: It's crucial to distinguish between activities done for survival and those for spiritual development. While physical survival can involve engaging with nature, spirituality requires conscious effort and transcends basic survival. Video games and psychological needs: Modern video games often simulate hunting and gathering, which connects to our ancestral behavior and satisfies deep psychological needs unmet by mundane work environments like cubicles. Broadening perspective through "Life Below Zero": Watching the show can enlighten viewers about societal dysfunctions, human instinct, and the psychological importance of survival, prompting deeper reflection on personal and community life. Recognizing universal psychological drivers: By connecting the concepts of self-actualization to real-world observations, one can gain a comprehensive understanding of human behavior and motivations, which transcends superficial characteristics like ethnicity or nationality. Exploring alternative lifestyles for fulfillment: Research and consideration of different lifestyles showcased in documentaries can inspire individuals to break free from conventional paths and discover livelihoods that align more closely with personal values and desires for nature-connected living. Furnunculus

Changing Perspectives Destroys Reality https://www.actualized.org/insights/changing-perspectives-destroys-reality Experience of reality's subjectivity: Leo describes a profound personal experience where he perceived reality as entirely subjective, realizing that what is considered real is just a perspective-nothing more than a collective fiction, an illusion that doesn't inherently matter whether acknowledged or not. Difficulties in conveying perspective relativity: Leo discusses the challenge in communicating the concept that reality is a subjective perspective to others who view their reality as concrete and tangible, highlighting a fundamental disconnect in understanding. Clinging to perspectives: Leo emphasizes that minds tend to cling to their current perspectives and actively resist considering others, which he believes is due to the underlying relativity of reality; exploring too many diverse perspectives can cause one's stable sense of reality to dissolve. Skeptical philosophy and search for truth: Leo reflects on his high school years when he embraced skepticism and committed to seeking truth without being swayed by religious or scientific dogmas, illustrating his long-standing quest for understanding diverse perspectives. Concept of trying multiple worldviews: Leo presents the idea of adopting different religious and philosophical worldviews on a rotating basis as a method to deepen his search for truth, acknowledging the epistemological challenge of determining which authority to trust amid conflicting claims. The game of perspectives and reality construction: Leo explains that the mind constructs reality by playing a game of perspective management, insisting that exploring a breadth of perspectives can cause an experiential realization that undermines the illusion of a stable reality. Challenge of radical perspective shifting: He notes the nearly impossible task of asking someone deeply rooted in one perspective to genuinely adopt another for a short time, pointing to a covert understanding within the mind of each person that such an endeavor could irrevocably alter their worldview. Resistance to perspective change: People resist changing perspectives due to the fear of losing their perceived reality. This resistance stems from the belief in an objective reality that underlies various worldviews, even when subscribing to different religious or scientific beliefs, such as Christianity or atheism. Materialist vs. realist paradigms: There are two thought paradigms: the materialist paradigm assumes an objective reality behind varied perspectives, while the realist paradigm, which Leo advocates, posits that reality is solely the perspective itself, dismissing the existence of an objective reality behind it. Ego and the fear of change: Switching from one firmly held perspective to another threatens the stability that the ego depends on for its identity, effectively changing one's reality and self. The fear of such change prevents people from deeply exploring other worldviews. Clinging to perspectives and reality: The mind clings to fixed perspectives to maintain a stable reality. People fear the destabilization of their reality through exposure to radically different worldviews, which could deconstruct their understanding of existence and self. Cultural relativity and deeper metaphysics: Cultural practices are recognized as relative, but people seldom recognize the deeper relativity affecting their metaphysical beliefs. This deeper level can radically differ from mainstream views and challenge one's entire concept of reality. Xenophobia and its psychological roots: Xenophobia and dogmatism partly arise from avoiding psychologically challenging or traumatic situations. Exposure to diverse perspectives and cultures can dissolve xenophobic tendencies, but this often requires confronting discomfort and challenging long-held beliefs. Justifications within perspectives: Perspectives are accompanied by justifications that make them appear as the only valid way to see the world; for example, individuals may rationalize avoiding unsettling situations like confronting poverty or violence in other cultures, as it challenges deeply held views and comfort zones. Traumatic shift to radical perspectives: Transitioning to a perspective where oneself or reality doesn't exist can be traumatic, as it directly contradicts ingrained beliefs and the core identity, leading to profound discomfort and fear akin to being stranded in a hostile environment. Embracing diverse perspectives: Leo advocates for the exploration of various perspectives to achieve true open-mindedness, believing that only through confronting radical viewpoints can one escape the constraints of their own perspective and gain a richer understanding of reality. Pressure to conform to single perspectives: Leo observes that social institutions, teachers, and schools often pressure individuals to adopt their specific worldview-whether in spirituality, science, or education-compromising the exploration and understanding of alternate points of view. Trade-offs of perspective approaches: Leo emphasizes that all perspectives, including his meta perspective, have pros and cons. His approach allows for a broader comprehension of reality and reduces the risk of becoming stuck in one perspective, but it may also lead to confusion and delay in achieving goals such as enlightenment. Benefits of exploring multiple perspectives: Leo suggests that by examining many perspectives without clinging to any single one, the likelihood of becoming stuck is greatly reduced-fostering an adaptable and open-minded approach toward enlightenment and understanding reality. Downsides of a singular approach: Committing to only one worldview or teacher could result in adopting a limited perspective or alignment with someone who might not truly guide you to enlightenment. He compares this to the risk of being overcharged for a TV due to not price-checking across multiple stores. Richness of diverse experiences: Having encountered and synthesized a broad range of perspectives, Leo expresses a deeper appreciation of life's richness, encouraging others to similarly explore and appreciate diversity instead of succumbing to xenophobia or dogmatism. Impermanence of perspectives and reality: Leo discusses the concept of no perspective being the ultimate perspective, equating it to a deep state of enlightenment where one realizes that both the self and reality are constructions of individual perspectives within the infinity of existence. Cultural design against diversity: Society and culture often deter exploration of alternative perspectives. Leo encourages challenging this trend to gain a more complete and eclectic understanding of reality, akin to the way experiencing various cuisines enhances one's appreciation for food. Embracing diversity aligns with the universe's essence: By embracing the universe's inherent diversity, we align with the nature of existence, which contradicts narrow, anti-diversity stances evident in xenophobia and narrow teachings that limit understanding. Fear as the root of limited perspective: Leo identifies fear from past experiences as the underlying cause for resisting new experiences, such as trying different foods or embracing unfamiliar perspectives, emphasizing the importance of moving beyond this fear to truly engage with the diverse possibilities of life. Ultimate exploration journey towards Nirvana: The exploration of perspectives can ultimately lead to the erasure of the self and the experience of Nirvana-a perspective devoid of concrete reality. Returning from this state with a broadened worldview allows one to appreciate both the finite and the infinite aspects of existence. Accio

Understanding Better Than Academics https://www.actualized.org/insights/understanding-better-than-academics Experiment with vlog style: Leo is trying an informal vlog format to share his non-linear, rapid, and intuitive thought processes that are difficult to convey in structured videos. Intuition versus logic: He describes his intuitive thinking as a vast neural net that allows for simultaneous processing of many ideas, unlike the clear and precise, but linear nature of logic. Communication struggles: Leo admits to the communication challenge presented by his intuition-driven insights, expressing the difficulty in convincing others without a linear argument structure. Content prioritization dilemma: With a limit of one video per week, Leo must prioritize which topics to include, leaving many insights unshared due to the constraint of releasing only about 50 videos a year. Vision for actualized.org: Leo hints at the deep and far-reaching potential of his work with actualized.org and the long-term commitment required from followers to realize the full benefits. Long-term strategic thinking: He promotes long-term strategic thinking as part of being successful in life and overcoming short-term setbacks and lack of vision. Expert knowledge through commitment: Leo promises viewers profound understanding surpassing top academics in various fields if they commit to watching his content and doing the work for several years. Open-mindedness as a knowledge key: He emphasizes radical open-mindedness as the key to profound knowledge, which he claims is often underestimated and lacking in academia and general society. Challenges of maintaining openness: Leo discusses the difficulty of remaining open-minded enough to fully embrace and comprehend reality, which requires a radical and unbiased approach. Transformation via deep engagement: Stresses the life-changing potential of deeply engaging with radical ideas about reality, which can lead to a transformative shift in understanding and personal growth. Resistance to change: He observes that many people resist change, preferring to defend existing belief systems, which inhibits the deep understanding he advocates for. Limitations of the academic system: Leo talks about the cultural constraints within academia that indoctrinate PhDs and prevent them from adopting maverick or radically open-minded positions due to the need for approval and adherence to established paradigms. Academic marginalization: He mentions how institutions isolate mavericks by relegating them to less influential areas, such as the philosophy of religion, effectively neutralizing the threat their ideas might pose to established norms. Threatening nature of transformative ideas: Leo notes how deeply transformative ideas can be perceived as a threat to social structures, relationships, and institutions, resulting in resistance to change. Academic career constraints: Highlights the career and livelihood dependence on not challenging the status quo within academia, which discourages radical openness and innovation. Academic dependency and career limitations: Academics are deeply invested in their institutions and face significant pressure to conform, compromising their ability to think outside the box due to dependence on salary, reputation, and incentives like tenure. Specialization and barrier to big-picture ideas: Universities force researchers to focus on narrow, specialized subfields, making them more akin to technicians. This hyper-specialization obstructs the pursuit of broad, interconnected ideas and understanding. Corruption of truth in academia: Leo observed the university system's corruption firsthand, watching philosophers prioritizing institutional bureaucracy over the true pursuit of wisdom, leading him to abandon the path of becoming an academic philosopher. Financial independence for uncorrupted truth: Leo emphasizes that his ability to share unadulterated insights on actualized.org is underpinned by his financial independence from traditional employment, reputations, and external funding resources. Creative freedom from non-conformity: Before actualized.org, Leo's commitment to financial and creative independence allowed him to escape the corrupting influences that plague professionals in academia and other creative fields. Balance of practical and metaphysical content: Leo curates content for actualized.org that balances practical utility with his passion for metaphysical subjects, enabling him to maintain his creative independence and share his vision for understanding reality. Promise of deep understanding: Leo believes that following his guidance on actualized.org over the course of several years can lead to a profound understanding of reality that surpasses the knowledge of the most adept academics. Deep curiosity for truth: Leo stresses the importance of seeking truth for its own sake, highlighting that all life decisions hinge on our understanding of reality. Without truth, we can't be confident in the validity of our actions or life choices. Human capacity for understanding: Emphasizing humanity's unique ability to reflect and comprehend, Leo places high value on philosophy and science as means to explore the fundamental questions of existence. Importance of open-mindedness: Leo criticizes the limitations of strict beliefs and encourages a genuine curiosity that leads to undertaking serious research across various fields of knowledge. Life as a great privilege: Viewing the pursuit of understanding reality not as an obligation but as a privilege, Leo finds fulfillment in the intellectual exploration of life's fundamental aspects. Interconnectedness of reality: Leo describes his admiration for the intricate interconnectedness of all elements in reality, leading to a deeper appreciation for existence and an experience of life akin to witnessing a masterpiece. Enriching daily life through curiosity: He encourages finding unconditional love and satisfaction in both positive and negative aspects of life, leading to a more magical, childlike wonder in everyday experiences. Crafting a holistic vision for one's life: Leo discusses the importance of taking the time to craft a meaningful life through planning, vision, and correcting past mistakes, asserting that it's never too late to reshape one's life path. Value of long-term vision: Working towards a meaningful, long-term goal provides a sense of relief and purpose compared to the monotony of a typical nine-to-five job. Liberation through correction: Acknowledging and correcting past mistakes is difficult but ultimately liberating, as it allows a person to work towards a larger, more conscious life vision. Conscious life construction: Piece by piece, one can construct a conscious life by focusing on personal development, aligning with like-minded individuals who support growth, and minimizing distractions. The importance of vision and trust: Keeping the vision of a profound understanding of life in mind is crucial, and trusting the process is essential-even though life decisions are inherently gambles. Radical open-mindedness as a principle: True open-mindedness involves not taking a fixed position on any issue and trusting that this approach will lead to positive insights and understanding. Pursuing truth as a noble endeavor: Centering life around the pursuit of truth, and being genuinely curious about it, is a rare approach that can yield interesting and strategic life developments. Power of big-picture understanding: Obtaining a comprehensive understanding of life by connecting different areas of knowledge confers a unique confidence and strategic advantage. Radical ownership of life: Taking full ownership of all aspects of life, including finances, information consumption, and personal growth, avoids societal corruption and empowers individual choices. Trusting resonance in consciousness work: Trusting the intuition that resonates with profound, truthful, and high-consciousness content is key to aligning with transformative ideas. Long-term self-actualization as an investment: Self-actualization is a process of connecting knowledge dots, which initially may not yield visible results but gradually leads to a deeper understanding of life. Gratitude for life's miraculous nature: By continually working towards the vision of life's potential, one can tap into feelings of infinite intelligence, creativity, love, and gratitude for life's miraculous nature. Visioning challenges and psychedelic shortcuts: Developing a clear vision of what is possible is difficult, and psychedelics may serve as a means to see the potential, though not as a substitute for the work required to actualize it. Avifors

Absolute Infinity Demo https://www.actualized.org/insights/absolute-infinity-demo Infinite consciousness metaphor: Leo employs a simple GoPro vlog to elaborate on the concept of absolute infinity using ordinary items like paper cutouts, aiming to conceptually explain reality's structure before urging personal experiential understanding. Inherent forms in consciousness: Demonstrating with a paper kangaroo, Leo illustrates that all possible forms and their configurations are inherently present within the infinite 'paper' of consciousness, whether or not they are physically outlined or cut out. Image 1 Differentiation by human cognition: The metaphor extends to address how human minds interpret infinite consciousness by differentiating forms with particular logic and physics, which are not intrinsic to all of reality but are rather human-specific constructs. Illusion of separate forms: Highlighting the illusion of separation, Leo communicates that what we perceive as our individual selves is just another form within the infinite consciousness, not fundamentally different from any other form. Enlightenment as awareness: Leo describes enlightenment as realizing and becoming aware of our true nature as formless, undifferentiated consciousness, a challenging shift from the distraction of identifying with differentiated forms. Metaphor expansion to infinite dimensions: The vlog invites viewers to expand their imagination beyond two-dimensional representations to an infinite-dimensional block, containing all potential existence, and influencing how forms perceive and interact with each other. Existential revelation of self: The narrative culminates in revealing that our perceived self is also an expression of the same infinite consciousness, dismantling the boundaries between self, others, and the totality of existence. Avis