MuadDib

Member
  • Content count

    2,091
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by MuadDib

  1. Holism & Holistic Thinking - Part 2 https://youtu.be/g4A7SBx-CEg Introduction to the concept of holism and holistic thinking Personal note about the speaker's experience with a water fast Importance of nutrition for brain function and its impact on the development of new theories in theoretical physics Holistic thinking defined as considering the whole system or context, rather than just a single aspect or piece of the puzzle Examples of non-holistic thinking, including: Focusing solely on individualism rather than community and interconnectedness Ignoring the emotional or psychological components of a situation Believing that the scientific method is the only way to understand the world Importance of developing holistic thinking skills, including: Improved decision-making and problem-solving abilities Increased empathy and understanding of others Greater ability to see the big picture and understand complex systems Strategies for developing holistic thinking, including: Asking questions and seeking out diverse perspectives Practicing mindfulness and staying present in the moment Seeking out new experiences and learning from them Reflecting on and analyzing past experiences Conclusion and encouragement to continue learning about and practicing holistic thinking. The example given is of a weasel population in Hawaii that grows and multiplies because there are no natural predators in the area This leads to problems such as the weasels eating bird eggs, causing the bird population to die, leading to other problems This situation is described as an example of the consequences of not thinking holistically about an ecological situation The speaker also discusses their personal experiences with the lack of holistic thinking in Western medicine Doctors often only consider a narrow range of symptoms and do not take a holistic approach to patients' health This lack of holistic thinking can have serious consequences, including death, as people's health problems are not adequately addressed The speaker also mentions that some doctors suggest that patients see therapists for their physical health problems because they are not considering the interconnectedness of the body's systems The speaker suggests that in the future, doctors may be sued for not taking a holistic approach to their patients' health The speaker suggests that restaurant menus should list information about the protein, carbs, and fat content of dishes, as well as information about where the ingredients were sourced The speaker suggests that it would be helpful to have information about the materials and sourcing of products, such as running shoes, available to consumers The speaker criticizes capitalism and business for prioritizing profit over important aspects of human life, such as art, spirituality, the environment, health, social well-being, and the health of society and humanity The speaker suggests that business should prioritize these things above profit The speaker discusses their own business, Actualize.org, and how they prioritize the impact on people's consciousness above the business aspects The speaker suggests that a more holistic approach to business, which considers the impact on people and society, would be more effective and lead to more happiness and fulfillment The speaker suggests that business should be more focused on meeting people's needs and solving problems, rather than just extracting money The speaker suggests that this shift in focus could be facilitated by changes in education and societal values Materialism is often assumed as truth in science, but it is actually false Materialistic reduction of science leads to confusion and problems that cannot be resolved Mind-body problem can be resolved through metaphysics and epistemology, not just science Science often ignores consciousness and spirituality, dismissing them as unscientific or unexplainable Quantum mechanics has important epistemic and metaphysical lessons that can be generalized to other domains, but many scientists are resistant to this Google's incompleteness theorem has implications beyond mathematics and logic, but many mathematicians and scientists are resistant to considering these broader implications Many scientists are conservative and resistant to considering non-strict science or ideas that don't fit within their current understanding Scientists should be more open-minded and consider the holistic, interconnected nature of reality Einstein developed the theory of special relativity, which applied to a narrow case of velocity in the same direction Einstein was not satisfied with this narrow application and had an intuition that relativity should apply to all moving objects, leading to the development of general relativity General relativity expanded on special relativity to include all moving objects, and introduced the concept of space-time and the idea that gravity is a distortion within space-time Einstein did not fully consider the holistic implications of relativity, which could be applied to everything in the universe including the human mind, science, religion, culture, and the physical existence of objects and the universe itself (called "absolute relativity") The education system is unholistic and a source of social problems The education system should be more holistic and focus on developing critical thinking skills, rather than just memorization and grades Holistic thinking can be applied to all aspects of life, including health, relationships, and personal growth. The speaker is questioning whether making videos is the best way for them to achieve their goals and have an impact on the world A lack of holism (a broad and comprehensive perspective) can lead to bad decision making, such as hiring the cheapest employees or lying in relationships To have a healthy relationship, one must consider the needs of both individuals and the relationship as a whole and approach it with selflessness The speaker encourages thinking holistically in all areas of life Holism requires a willingness to change one's perspective and approach if it is not achieving the desired results The speaker encourages questioning and seeking out new information and perspectives to improve one's understanding and decision making. The speaker discusses the idea of "jail breaking the mind," or breaking free from limiting paradigms and ways of thinking To do this, one must think holistically, or in an infinitely holistic way Corruption is a lack of holistic intelligence Thinking holistically requires appreciation of the value of holism, but seeing the value of holism requires already thinking holistically (a catch-22) The speaker argues that even desire for opulent luxury and material wealth demonstrates a lack of holistic understanding, as it does not bring true satisfaction To think holistically, one must be willing to confront their own biases and beliefs and consider all perspectives and possibilities The speaker encourages the listener to watch a previous episode on the topic of corruption, as it is a sneaky and pervasive problem The speaker also mentions the concept of "actualized.org," which is related to the ideas of holistic thinking and personal development The importance of holistic thinking and caring for the greater good Holistic thinking involves considering relevance, priority, context, and balance Most people are focused on their own survival and do not have the capacity to care about anything else To be holistic, it is necessary to solve survival challenges in a sustainable way It is possible to start thinking about larger issues even while focused on survival Personal development and consciousness are important for holistic thinking and caring Holistic thinking and caring requires selflessness and considering the greatest good for all It is necessary to understand and care about the interconnectedness of all things Don't be satisfied with answers, keep wanting higher answers and exploring new perspectives Study many perspectives and try to expand your appreciation for diversity of perspectives Deconstruct the materialist and mechanical paradigm and consider externalities and collateral damage Study systems thinking and consider top-down, bottom-up, and sideways causal forces Eliminate judging and criticizing as much as possible and adopt the attitude that everyone is right in partial ways Think holistically by asking questions such as: How are X and Y interconnected? What is the big picture here? What is the larger context of this? What is the ultimate point of all this? What are the pros and cons of this? What are the potential unintended consequences? What are the deeper implications? What is the long-term view? What are the multiple causes and effects? What are the alternatives? What are the potential biases and assumptions? How can I increase my understanding and empathy? Being holistic is difficult and can be threatening to the ego Surrendering is necessary to accept all aspects of the world, including evil and lack of holism Holism is ultimately a function of consciousness and can be increased by altering your state of consciousness Psychedelics are one way to alter consciousness and increase holism A fragmented mind creates a fragmented world, and unifying the mind is necessary for healing the world There are both holistic and unholistic solutions to problems It is important to be careful not to choose unholistic solutions in desperation To be truly holistic, one must go beyond thinking and reach a state of infinite consciousness It is important to take responsibility for healing the world.
  2. Holism & Holistic Thinking - Part 1 https://youtu.be/5tmKFbXneis Holism is the theory that everything in the universe is connected to everything else and cannot be understood without reference to the whole Reductionism or atomism is the idea that nature can be treated as a collection of discrete individual objects and that everything ultimately boils down to physics Materialistic paradigm is the idea that the universe is real, material, physical, external, objective, and doesn't depend on the mind Holistic thinking is the opposite of reductionistic thinking and involves looking at the relationships between objects, how they interconnect and flow into and out of each other, and the different levels of subordination and superordination in hierarchies Reductionistic thinking leads to pathologies and dysfunctions and is a cause of evil in the world Holistic thinking allows for a more accurate understanding of reality and can lead to health and well-being. Synthesizing and making connections between things is important but not emphasized in many institutions Most institutions focus on achieving certain results and agendas rather than a holistic understanding of reality This leads to a lack of synthesizers and a lot of narrow specialists and analysts This lack of holism leads to problems in society and a lack of wisdom Holism is important because it allows for a more complete understanding of a problem or situation Example of a pharmaceutical company CEO prioritizing profits over a holistic understanding of heart health Example of a company focusing on short-term profits rather than long-term sustainability Example of treating symptoms rather than root causes Importance of considering multiple perspectives and disciplines in problem-solving and decision-making Steps to cultivate holism: expose oneself to diverse viewpoints, practice mindfulness, engage in self-reflection, and seek out opportunities for growth and learning Star Wars can't be reduced without losing something greater than the sum of its parts Holism is important in chess, where a holistic understanding of the board leads to victory Brilliant chess moves are often highly intuitive and require a synthesis of strategies Holism is also important in personal life, as a lack of holistic thinking can lead to painting oneself into a corner Two equations that explain all of life: holism equals wholeness, health, healing, unity, oneness, the infinite, harmony and balance, goodness, love, god, selflessness, wisdom, beauty, holy, heaven, bliss; lack of holism equals division, fragmentation, partiality, brokenness, lack of harmony and balance, limitation, the finite, selfishness, the ugly, evil, hell, suffering Holism involves seeing the bigger picture and understanding the interconnectedness of things Intuition is closely related to holism Holistic healing involves taking a holistic approach to health, which involves treating the whole person rather than just the symptom Holistic education involves educating the whole person, not just the mind Holistic living involves living in harmony with the natural world The path to holism involves letting go of ego, attachments, and limitations and embracing unity, oneness, and infinity Life is beautiful and holy The more unified we are as a species, the more holistic and peaceful our societies will be Unification needs to happen at multiple levels: individual, family, local community, state, country, globe, and all races and species Human history has been about unifying at smaller scales: tribes, city-states, nations, and now the globe Resistance to global unity leads to war and suffering The goal of spiritual work is to let go of divisions and become selfless Mental disorders can be caused by fragmentation of the psyche The solution to these disorders is to unify the various parts of the psyche The ego is often fragmented and can lead to conflicting desires and behaviors To unify the ego, we need to harmonize the various parts of our psyche and cultivate self-awareness We also need to let go of our ego-driven desire for power and control The ultimate goal of spiritual work is to reach an infinite unity of consciousness and to realize that we are god. Some people think that elites are evil and only care about money and ruling the world However, many regular people in positions of power also abuse their power and can be even more corrupt than elites This is because regular people are often less well-educated, more dogmatic and ideological, and less open-minded, leading them to be more prone to corruption Right-wing populist movements, exemplified by Hitler and Trump, are dangerous because they are low consciousness and can lead to the most corrupt and hateful people taking power Division between "criminals" and "good guys" creates problems and pathologies in society Criminals should be treated humanely and rehabilitated rather than punished, which leads to lower recidivism rates Most criminals come from disadvantaged backgrounds and have had traumatic experiences, so they need help and compassion rather than hatred and punishment Instead of demonizing and punishing criminals, society should try to understand and address the root causes of crime This can be achieved through education, mental health treatment, and addressing social and economic inequalities By doing this, we can create a more compassionate and just society. To achieve unity and wholeness, one must be selfless and surrender attachments and beliefs It is important to stop judging and treating others differently based on religion, ethnicity, etc. The Bible is not the only holy book, and it is important to recognize and admit contradictions and errors within it Other religions can offer valuable perspectives and answers in certain areas In business, it is more healthy to have competition and different sectors controlled by different companies rather than seeking a monopoly To achieve unity within the family, different actors must work together and not try to control each other Science's goal is to understand everything, but it cannot do so solely through its own methods and must recognize the limitations of science Science should not denigrate or deny other forms of understanding To achieve unity and understanding within politics, it is important to listen to and respect different viewpoints and work towards common goals. The problem is not just one aspect of a problem, it is the whole problem It is convenient for someone to say it is not their problem or responsibility because it falls outside their "circle of concern" The purpose of spirituality is to expand this circle of concern until it becomes infinite, meaning everything is one's problem and responsibility Single-issue voters can be easily misled and manipulated by politicians It is important for citizens to consider the well-being and health of the entire country and world when voting, rather than just one issue It is necessary to be immune to fear-mongering and manipulation by politicians on single issues The speaker used to be a "gun nut" but has realized that their passion for guns is a lower priority compared to other issues facing society It is important to have a holistic perspective and consider all aspects of a problem, rather than just one aspect Dualistic thinking is incomplete and divisive, but necessary in society Holistic thinking is more integrative and unitive, and can lead to higher quality thought Holistic thinking can foresee counterintuitive twists in reality and generate robust solutions to complex problems The highest intelligence is holistic and able to transcend thought itself In relationships, it may be more beneficial to focus on commonalities rather than differences It is important to recognize that fights and sex are both natural parts of relationships, and to find a balance between the two To improve thinking and relationships, it is helpful to incrementally increase the quality of thought and strive for holistic understanding through meditation, yoga, and psychedelics A study was conducted on the effects of psilocybin mushrooms (also known as magic mushrooms) The study found that people who take mushrooms experience deep interconnections in their mind In contrast, people who do not take mushrooms (in a "sober" state) have very few interconnections in their mind This represents a semantic map of the mind, with different parts becoming more interconnected on psychedelics Psychedelics are powerful because they change neurotransmitters to allow for more interconnections in the mind These interconnections become infinitely dense, leading to a state of infinite consciousness This infinite consciousness is characterized by a sense of interconnectedness with everything in the universe, leading to a collapse of boundaries and division This state is referred to as the "godhead" or "infinite consciousness" Lower levels of this consciousness exist, ranging from humans to animals Holism, or the idea of interconnectedness, has been a driving force behind the speaker's work and was a motivating factor in the creation of actualize.org The speaker felt that other books, teachings, and teachers were not holistic enough and did not satisfy their desire for infinite holism The speaker eventually found their desired level of holism through meditation, yoga, and psychedelics The speaker encourages others to seek out this level of holism for themselves.
  3. What Are Holons - Understanding Holism - Part 1 https://youtu.be/mUWgw4y6lzw Introduction to holism and holistic thinking Explanation of the concept of holons, coined by Arthur Costler and further developed by Ken Wilbur Holons are both a part and a whole simultaneously Example of cells in the human body as holons Holons exist at all levels of complexity, from atoms to societies Holons have both individual and collective aspects Holons can be self-transcending, meaning they can evolve and transform into higher levels of complexity Holons can be seen as a model for understanding reality and its interconnectedness More practical application of holism and holistic thinking will be covered in the next episode. Reality is extremely complex Understanding and manipulating reality accurately is challenging due to its complexity Even simple things, such as a car engine, are complex and take time to study and understand The human eye, biological systems, and complex inventions like CPUs are even more complex The complexity of the earth, atmosphere, oceans, and living beings is staggering The milky way galaxy and universe are even more complex To deal with this complexity, we must understand that different parts of reality interact with each other in complicated ways Examples of complex systems include: computer systems, sports teams, cities, political parties, nations, fisheries, economies, corporations, and coral reefs Each of these complex systems has sub-parts, or sub-systems, that also interact with each other in complicated ways To understand these complex systems, we must study them as wholes and consider how the different parts and sub-parts interact with each other This is known as "holistic thinking" Holistic thinking allows us to see the bigger picture and understand how the complex systems function as a whole It is important to use holistic thinking when studying and understanding complex systems in order to accurately manipulate them and achieve desired outcomes. The human body is a complex system that requires balance in order to function properly and prevent disease The body has many processes occurring at the same time, including respiration, energy generation, nutrient and toxin regulation, and immune system functioning The complexity of the human body is impressive, with 70 trillion cells and more bacteria in the intestine than cells in the entire body The human body is a good model for engineering and designing systems, such as cities, countries, corporations, and sports teams The concept of holarchy involves a hierarchy of self-regulating parts that function autonomously and in coordination with their environment Holons can be both individual and part of a larger whole, and operate at multiple levels of a holarchy Holons can also be self-regulating, meaning they can maintain balance and stability within a system The concept of holarchy can be applied to social systems to understand how they function and can be improved. Autonomy and community are important for creating healthy systems Extreme positions on either end of the spectrum (e.g. libertarianism or communism) are unsustainable and can lead to problems Society is something that is designed, either consciously or unconsciously A holistic design that takes into account the interconnections between different levels and balances them is more sustainable and effective Individual parts in a system (e.g. cells in the body) must sacrifice some autonomy for the benefit of the larger system It is necessary for individuals to make sacrifices in order to fit into larger holons (e.g. family, community, etc.) External enforcement of laws and rules is not always necessary, but internal motivation and understanding of the larger system is important Hierarchy and power imbalances can be a problem if not properly balanced It is important to understand the holonic nature of life and systems in order to design and sustain healthy systems. No individual person or group has complete control over the US government or society Blaming politicians for the actions of the US is not productive The people elect politicians and give them power Conspiracy theories about the "deep state" or rich and powerful people controlling everything are not accurate Some people have more power than others, but no one has complete control It is important to understand the complexity and circular causality of the system in order to improve it The government and the people are not separate, but rather part of a holistic system Individual actions can contribute to larger change, but it is a collective effort It is important to take responsibility for the actions of the government and society. Individualism and collectivism can both fail Need to rise above these debates and look for more complex solutions Be careful not to demonize one side or the other in debates or "culture wars" Gender differences and misunderstandings can lead to "demonizing" the opposite sex Humans are not the highest form of evolution and need to have humility and fit into the ecosystem Need to upgrade thinking to be able to coordinate with extraterrestrial beings if/when they arrive Need to move beyond selfishness and work towards selflessness and holistic understanding The mind tries to create causal chains to understand the world and its own existence These causal chains often lead to the conclusion that everything is made of atoms, energy, information, or a simulation However, every ground that has been proposed has eventually been debunked This process of constructing and deconstructing grounds is a common game played by mankind The ego tries to find a ground for reality in order to anchor itself and believe that it is real However, reality is ultimately groundless and does not need a ground to exist The ego's search for a ground is limited and self-centered Reality is beyond the ego and cannot be grasped or understood through the ego's limited perspective Accepting the groundlessness of reality can lead to a deeper understanding and liberation from the ego's limitations. The universe does not need a brain, life, or evolution to imagine itself as anything, including evolution and the 21st century You, as an individual, are also something that the universe is imagining and have always been in the process of imagining yourself into existence Reality does not have a "ground" or a singular explanation, and attempts to find one (such as through better scientific instruments) will never be successful because the universe has no ground and is infinite Reality is perfectly and infinitely symmetrical, meaning that it cannot have biases or asymmetry and must include everything in order to exist The universe has always existed and created itself, requiring infinite power to do so and breaking the rules of logic by going back in time to cause its own creation before it even existed This concept can be thought of as a "strange loop" or a "miracle" because it involves the impossible made possible through infinity The universe, and therefore reality, is not made up of physical substances like atoms or energy, but rather an infinite process of imagination and self-creation Being self-centered and not caring about anything beyond oneself is a negative way to live Instead, one should expand their circle of concern to care about their community, family, city, society, and eventually the entire universe This puts one in the perspective of God, who has a wide and holistic concern for the well-being of itself and all that is a part of itself It is important to also care about the different parts within oneself, including different parts of the mind and body that may be scared, hurt, angry, or in need of healing Avoid judging, demonizing, and dismissing parts of reality in order to fully embody God consciousness To do this, one must cultivate love, compassion, and acceptance for all parts of oneself and reality Engaging in spiritual practices such as meditation and self-inquiry can help with this process Ultimately, the goal is to unify and integrate all aspects of oneself and reality in order to live a more fulfilling and harmonious life. The speaker has given a series of talks on self-deception The speaker is not immune to self-deception It is important not to trust the speaker blindly and to do one's own work on the topic Part two of the series will be discussed in the future
  4. What Is Wisdom - The Ultimate Guide To Wisdom https://youtu.be/FgS4l1heQTc Definition of wisdom: something that goes beyond knowledge or information, and is characterized by keen discernment, good judgment, and proper priorities Wisdom is different from intelligence or academic success To truly understand wisdom, one must contemplate and generate their own answers about it Characteristics of wisdom include: Deliberation and thoughtfulness in approach to life Relying on contemplation and asking powerful questions Self-reflection and introspection Curiosity about oneself Existential orientation (considering the larger purpose or meaning of life) Recognizing that things are interconnected and that actions have consequences Understanding and accepting limitations and imperfections Being humble and open-minded Having a sense of balance and moderation Being able to adapt and change Having compassion and empathy Being able to communicate effectively Wisdom can be developed through: Lifelong learning and self-improvement Asking oneself powerful questions and examining one's beliefs Seeking mentors and learning from others Practicing mindfulness and being present in the moment Engaging in self-reflection and introspection Practicing compassion and empathy Being open-minded and willing to change Seeking balance and moderation in life Practicing humility and gratitude Integrity is important because it allows people to live a good and peaceful life Wise people are self-disciplined and have an internal locus of control Wise people are able to control their cravings and do not avoid emotional labor Wise people value education and learn from the mistakes of others Wisdom involves finding balance and moderation in various aspects of life Wise people are able to empathize and understand other perspectives Wise people are able to adapt and be flexible in their thinking and actions Wise people are able to see the big picture and understand the interconnectedness of things Wise people are able to be honest with themselves and others The fool underestimates the depth and complexity of problems in life and lacks a universal perspective The fool is wrapped up in their own petty reality and survival issues, leading to a cycle of suffering and problems The fool is anti-intellectual, doesn't value education, and is unwilling to ask deep questions or do the intellectual work to find answers The fool is looking for shortcuts and an easy life, but this leads to more difficulties The fool doesn't see the value in truth and may confuse their personal biases and beliefs for the truth The fool is unconcerned with existential questions and lacks awareness and consciousness The fool is oblivious to the problem of self-deception and externalizes deception as coming from outside sources The fool is ignorant of their own ego and the negative effects of ego The fool is unaware of the importance of spiritual practices and self-improvement The fool lacks critical thinking skills and falls for manipulation and propaganda easily The fool is resistant to change and doesn't adapt well to new situations or challenges Conspiracies are often subscribed to by fools who think they are being anti-conformist but are actually being very conformist Conspiracy theories can be tricky and the speaker has a nuanced position on them Most conspiracy theorists are fools because they are grounded in emotional reactivity, paranoia, and are highly conformist Fools tend to be believers and blindly follow ideas that they never question and are afraid to question Fools are looking for immediate gratification and want shortcuts in life Society and advertising prey on fools because they are easy to control and manipulate The media, politics, and other structures in society exploit fools The fool avoids responsibility and is undisciplined The fool is self-absorbed and lacks empathy It is important to be aware of these characteristics in oneself and others in order to avoid being a fool Original wisdom often becomes distorted and misunderstood when it is turned into dogmas or biases Wisdom is not something that can be taught through memorization, but rather is something that must be cultivated and is adaptable Fools are those who are rigid and unwilling to change their ways of thinking or adapt to new challenges and technologies Examples of fools include: drug addicts, criminals, conspiracy theorists, mobs, sports fanatics, and those at a lower stage of spiritual development It is important to be mindful of the potential for foolishness, even if one is considered "wiser" or at a higher stage of spiritual development. The importance of an "existential component" for finding peace and happiness Wall Street and CEO types are missing this component, which is why they are still considered "fools" To develop wisdom, one should: Engage in consciousness work (self-reflection, introspection, contemplation, deep questioning) Gain a deep curiosity about life Seek out diverse life experiences, including failure, mistakes, and suffering (in a conscious way) Engage in selflessness and value wisdom Study wisdom, wise people, and foolishness Study oneself and the trickeries of the mind Explore diverse perspectives and try to go "meta" on them Observe without judgment Practice mindfulness and gratitude Engage in daily learning and self-improvement Cultivate a sense of humor Seek out and follow wise mentors Engage in self-inquiry (e.g. "Who am I?") Practice compassion and empathy Develop emotional intelligence Actualize.org is a wisdom school The purpose of Actualize.org is to teach wisdom Appreciating wisdom is important Cultivating wisdom takes patience and a long-term vision Cultivating wisdom can be done through various methods, such as reading, watching videos, contemplation, meditation, self-reflection, and talking to a therapist Actualize.org offers a wide range of wisdom, including politics, economics, dating, relationships, health, society, and all aspects of life Cultivating wisdom across all aspects of life is valuable and worth working for If you agree, start cultivating wisdom now
  5. Guided Exercise For Realizing You Are God https://youtu.be/gdWxdhEB19s This episode is a guided spiritual practice for exploring the nature of the self and deconstructing one's mind and reality It requires the listener's full attention and may lead to shifts in consciousness or even a mystical experience The objective is to help the listener realize that they are God, but this concept may be difficult to fully understand The listener should bring to mind their current beliefs, images, and stories about God and consider what they think it means to be God The self is not the ego or the mind, but rather the awareness that experiences the ego and the mind The self is not bound by time or space and is not separate from anything else The self is not the body or the physical world, but rather the consciousness that experiences the body and the physical world The self is the source of all experiences and all that exists The ego and the mind are tools for the self to use in the physical world, but they do not define the self The self is not limited by the ego or the mind, but rather transcends them The self is infinite and eternal, and is the same as the concept of God The listener should sit in a comfortable position and focus on their breath, allowing thoughts and distractions to pass by without attachment The listener should repeat the phrases "I am" and "I am not" to themselves and consider what they are and are not The listener should consider that they are not their thoughts, feelings, or physical sensations, but rather the awareness of them The listener should consider that they are not the body or the physical world, but rather the consciousness that experiences them The listener should consider that they are not separate from anything else, but rather connected to all things The listener should continue this practice until they have a deep realization of their true nature as the self and as God The listener should continue to practice this exercise regularly to further their understanding and realization of their true nature. Instructions to strip the experience of viewing one's own hand of scientific models and explanations Suggestion to remove the notion of biology and the idea of the hand being part of a biological organism Instruction to discard the belief that the hand and human experience is a result of neurons in a physical brain Notice that the hand is becoming more mysterious as explanations are stripped away Suggestion to throw away the idea of a human body and to recognize that the hand is actually severed from the rest of the body Instruction to discard the belief that one was born as a biological entity and to recognize that this idea is just a concept and not present in direct experience Notice that the hand and the self are not separate and that the hand is not a separate object Recognize that the self is not a separate entity or object, but is instead an interconnected part of the universe Notice that the self is not a solid, fixed entity, but is instead constantly changing and interconnected with everything else Instruction to remove the belief in a separate self and to recognize that the self is not separate from the rest of the universe Notice that the self is not a separate entity, but is instead an interconnected part of the universe Recognize that the self is not a fixed, unchanging entity, but is instead constantly changing and interconnected with everything else. Science and spirituality are often seen as opposites, with science being seen as hard, objective, and factual, while spirituality is seen as wishful thinking and mental masturbation However, the speaker suggests that spirituality is actually the most tangible and practical activity a person can engage in In contrast, science is seen as pure abstraction, conjecture, projection, and assumption The speaker suggests that what is real is consciousness, and everything else is pure fantasy The speaker then guides the reader through an exercise in which they strip away all concepts and ideas about their surroundings and themselves, and sit with raw, direct experience The speaker then suggests that God is an infinitely conscious, singular being that exists mysteriously for its own sake, and is not made of anything or located in space or time The speaker also suggests that all other beings are pure fantasy and projection, and that the reader is the only being they have ever experienced The speaker then invites the reader to sit with this realization and allow themselves to experience their own divinity The speaker suggests that this realization will allow the reader to experience true peace and joy, and will allow them to better navigate the world and their own life. The universe is an illusion created by consciousness This moment and everything in it is nothing, or indistinguishable from nothing Accepting and embracing the idea that you are God and the universe allows for peace and happiness Love is the complete acceptance of self and everything that exists as part of the self Letting go of fantasies and needing external things leads to a perfect, peaceful existence Solipsism is the belief that only one's own mind can be known to exist
  6. What Is Goodness - Good & Morality Fully Explained https://youtu.be/3Z4D-gBLT-Y Goodness is not just a human quality or invention, it exists as an absolute good Many people and teachings, including some spiritual teachings, do not address goodness as an absolute concept Goodness with a capital G refers to absolute good, which can be directly realized and is not just a belief or ideology The scientific paradigm assumes that reality is neutral and that the concept of absolute good is unscientific or wishful thinking Absolute goodness does not require the existence of absolute evil to balance it out Physical reality is the material realization of absolute good Goodness is not just a feeling or emotion, it is a fundamental aspect of reality Goodness is not just about helping others or doing the right thing, it is the ultimate nature of reality Goodness is not just a human concept, it is the ultimate nature of the universe The universe is not neutral, it is fundamentally good The ultimate nature of the universe is absolute goodness, which can be directly realized The experience of absolute goodness is beyond words and cannot be fully explained or understood by the mind The experience of absolute goodness is beyond duality and transcends good and bad, right and wrong The experience of absolute goodness leads to a deep sense of peace, love, and joy The pursuit of absolute goodness can improve one's life and bring about a greater sense of meaning and purpose. The universe is not infinitely good, but it is not possible for it to be non-good Badness is a misperception or illusion, caused by limited perspective To see the absolute goodness of the universe, one must have infinite perception, understanding how all pieces fit together Evil is not real, it is a problem of perception God is infinite goodness, and wants humans to realize their own infinite goodness and connection to everything Goodness cannot be coerced, it must be chosen If God forced goodness upon humans, they would not truly be good People may wonder what stops them from being evil if there are no rules or punishments, but the answer is that nothing stops them except for their own consciousness People should not be good because they have to be, but because they want to be To realize goodness, one must transcend their ego and desire to do harm The universe is constantly evolving and changing, and humans have the opportunity to choose to evolve towards goodness or not The universe is a reflection of the collective consciousness of all beings, and individual choices affect the overall consciousness The ultimate goal is to realize one's true nature as infinite goodness, and to live in harmony with the universe The concept of wage slavery is discussed and the speaker asserts that the system is rigged against certain individuals The speaker emphasizes the importance of self bias and the need to eliminate it in order to see reality clearly The speaker suggests that a lack of understanding of absolute good is due to self bias and that those who do understand it are able to teach it to others The speaker asserts that ultimate neutrality leads to absolute good and that this realization is profound and amazing The speaker poses the question of what stops God from being evil and suggests that the concept of fixed objective moral rules is flawed Transcendent morality is necessary for the advancement of the universe It requires a surrender of personal cravings, desires, fears, beliefs, and ideologies It prioritizes truth above all else It does not judge people or ideologies, which may appear immoral or amoral to those with lower consciousness The capacity to see goodness in others is related to one's level of consciousness The goal of the good life is to realize and embody absolute good, or to become godlike or God To understand the point of embodying absolute goodness, one must become directly conscious of it Realizing absolute goodness requires self-inquiry and self-transcendence To embody absolute goodness, one must be able to act freely and authentically in the present moment One must be able to love others and see the goodness in them One must also be able to forgive others and see their suffering as a result of their own ignorance or unconsciousness This process requires a willingness to let go of the ego and all its attachments It also requires a willingness to face and overcome one's own suffering and ignorance The ultimate goal is to become an agent of good in the world, serving the advancement of the whole universe. The text discusses the idea that being "good" or "godlike" requires facing challenges and making difficult changes in one's life Godlike qualities include truth, honesty, integrity, concern for all, selflessness, self sacrifice, love, non judgement, humility, acceptance, non attachment, consciousness, recognition of beauty, giving, benevolence, fearlessness, wisdom, intelligence, creativity, flexibility, holism, forgiveness, balance, and not selling out These qualities are rare and offer hope and an example of what one can become if they live a godly, good life The universe is evolving towards higher consciousness, unity, integration, love, and goodness Participating in this process requires conscious effort and can be difficult because it requires surrendering one's selfishness The text suggests that becoming good is the hardest thing in the world, which is why there are so few godlike people Awakening involves different realizations or facets, including love, truth, and good Good cannot be achieved without truth, which includes honesty and integrity Good cannot be faked, it requires consciousness and a deep understanding of relativity Good requires a lack of bias and a concern for the bigger picture, including all beings rather than just some Good requires selflessness and the willingness to put others before oneself Good requires compassion and the ability to feel the suffering of others Good requires humility and the ability to see one's own limitations and mistakes Good requires courage and the willingness to face and overcome fear Good requires self-control and the ability to regulate one's own emotions and actions Good requires wisdom and the ability to understand and apply knowledge in a practical way Good requires gratitude and the ability to appreciate what one has rather than always wanting more Good requires honesty, integrity, and the willingness to speak and act in accordance with one's values and beliefs Good requires patience and the ability to wait and tolerate discomfort or difficulties without reacting negatively Good requires forgiveness and the ability to let go of anger or resentment towards others Good requires service and the willingness to help others without expecting anything in return
  7. Should You Go To College - Common Traps & Mistakes https://youtu.be/yVU2kOlXJ0E Introduction to the topic of whether or not to go to college The speaker's qualifications for discussing this topic (personal experience with college and career shifts, philosophy degree, game design and web development experience, life coaching and helping others find their life purpose) The societal pressure to go to college and the dangers of blindly following the herd mentality The pros and cons of going to college (cost, time commitment, potential career benefits, potential drawbacks) Alternatives to college (trade schools, internships, entrepreneurship, self-education) The importance of finding your own sense of purpose and passion in life The speaker's own story and journey towards finding their purpose and the principles they learned along the way (mentioned The Life Purpose course) The conclusion and the importance of making an informed decision about whether or not to go to college based on your own personal goals and values. People are unique and have unique personalities, strengths, weaknesses, and talents It is important to discover these traits and use them to construct a life that aligns with them Picking a career that does not align with these traits can lead to feeling unfulfilled and losing money over time It is important to pick a career that one is passionate about in order to excel at it and reach one's full potential High school, university, and parents may not teach about finding one's life purpose and career path It is important to spend time figuring out one's personality and what will and will not work for them It is important to work with one's passions and construct a life that aligns with them Person was interested in studying aerospace engineering because it seemed cool Realized that an aerospace engineer's job involves sitting in a cubicle for long periods of time Decided to switch to game design because it was something the person was passionate about Person's university did not offer game design classes Considered becoming a philosopher because of interest in existential questions Decided to switch to philosophy and law Person struggled to find a way to combine passion for game design and philosophy/law Discovered game design and law program at another university Applied and was accepted to the program Person's advice is to pursue what you are passionate about, even if it is not a traditional career path Free college education is available in Germany and Scandinavian countries Opportunity cost of college is a problem because it takes a lot of time that could be used for other things Many college courses are impractical and don't teach useful skills for a career Critique of college is that it is not educational enough, not too educational Indoctrination and memorization for tests rather than deep thinking Practical and important life skills are not taught in college Specific college classes may not be applicable to a student's career English and other liberal arts subjects can be learned outside of college Skill-based learning is more valuable than knowledge-based learning There are alternatives to traditional college education, such as online courses and apprenticeships It is important to think about the cost and value of college before making a decision. The speaker had a negative experience with the structure of classes in a university philosophy program The speaker believes that it is better to study philosophy independently, rather than through a university The speaker thinks that universities are designed for people who are not self-motivated or disciplined The speaker believes that universities limit deep understanding and critical thinking The speaker compares university to a religion, in that it involves a set schedule and prescribed beliefs The speaker suggests that university may be better for people who are not independent or highly creative thinkers, and compares them to sheep The speaker claims to have a deeper understanding of philosophy and human psychology than those with academic degrees in those fields The speaker suggests that one should consider their own level of ambition, self-motivation, and discipline before deciding whether or not to attend university. The speaker is proficient in front-end web development and knows some back-end web development Fluent in HTML and CSS, and knows some PHP Has experience with graphic design and creating websites, which has helped them learn web development better than if they went to university for it Suggests working on small projects, ranging from a month to six months in duration, to educate oneself deeply Tinkering with related projects can also be helpful in learning, such as robotics for aspiring engineers Freelancing allows for interaction with real-world business demands and can be used as a resume piece for future full-time careers Documenting and creating a portfolio of projects can impress employers and lead to job opportunities Hands-on project-based education is valuable and involves encountering and overcoming technical challenges Finding a mentor or joining a community can provide valuable guidance and support in learning and completing projects Don't give up, keep pushing through failures and setbacks to achieve success. Self help aisle contains valuable information for personal growth Self help is a practical and successful field University does not teach self help topics Psychology, emotional mastery, dating, relationships, sexuality, language skills, history, spirituality, philosophy, existential questions, and awareness/consciousness are important skills not taught in university Self education is difficult but can have greater payoffs Consider self education as an alternative to university Consider the cost and potential debt of university Consider the potential for networking and job opportunities at university Consider the potential for personal growth and self development outside of university Consider the potential for specialized education or training through university programs Create a plan and set goals for self education or university education Get support and advice from others in the decision-making process. Actualized.org is a comprehensive and deep source of teachings online The content is broad and deep, and can help you build a good life Actualized.org is not an ideology, but rather a survey of teachings from various sources and picking the best parts The approach is multi-perspectival, including Western, Eastern, spiritual, New Age, and scientific teachings The recommendation is to adopt a multi-perspectival approach in self-education
  8. Deconstructing The Myth Of Science - Part 3 https://youtu.be/FeOIuybpfgc Series on deconstructing the myth of science Importance of understanding nature of science Warning about using points made to justify non-scientific beliefs Need for intellectual integrity in deconstructing worldviews, including one's own Deconstructing religion before deconstructing science Deconstructing everything, including one's own pet theories and ideas Actualized.org not a philosophy or ideology, but a process for deconstructing the mind and worldviews Science as a human construct, not objective reality Science as a set of methods and assumptions Science as a way of understanding the world, not the only way Science not immune to errors, biases, and cultural influences Importance of self-awareness and humility in understanding limitations of science Need to be open to new perspectives and possibilities beyond current scientific understanding The concept that language, mind, and reality may be entangled with one another The idea that language functions as an augmented reality system, overlaying and projecting onto raw phenomenon The suggestion that non-linguistic ways of understanding reality should be taken seriously The challenge for scientists to experience reality for a minute without any linguistic thoughts or labels The possibility that such an experiment could lead to significant insights and a better understanding of the relationship between language, mind, and reality Science is the process of creating models to represent and understand nature These models are oversimplifications and symbols, like mathematics or ball and stick models in chemistry The accuracy of these models is constantly improving, but they are not the same as the truth, which is the "territory" itself The danger in science is when people become so immersed in the models that they forget about the territory and the truth This can lead to a purely utilitarian view of science, where the only focus is on the practical applications of the models and not on the deeper metaphysical or epistemic questions Science is currently biased towards exploring reality through thinking and symbolism, and may not even be aware of other methods for exploring reality. The speaker's experience with the administration department and the billing department leads them to believe that science is circular, with terms being defined in terms of other terms that are not fully understood The speaker gives examples from physics, including force, acceleration, velocity, distance, time, space, fields, charge, and information, to illustrate that scientists cannot fully explain these concepts and instead define them in terms of other terms The speaker believes that it is possible to directly understand the substance of anything and everything within reality, but that physics is limited and unable to do so Some scientists believe that these are philosophical questions and not relevant to their work The speaker believes that this lack of understanding is a problem for physics, as it makes the field appear limited Scientists may try to deny the speaker's claims or dismiss them as philosophical questions. The speaker is making scientific claims and providing a method for testing them The method is contemplation The speaker gives an example of a scientific claim that the listener is not a human and can become an inanimate object through the use of the psychedelic drug salvia The speaker emphasizes that the listener must use the provided method and not pre-judge it before trying it The speaker argues that scientists often make the mistake of choosing their own methods and instruments, rather than using those that have been deemed legitimate and valid The speaker suggests that the listener contemplate and test the claims and the method for themselves, rather than simply believing the speaker. Physics is often considered a hard science, but it is actually easier compared to other fields such as psychology or sociology The idea that hard sciences are more objective and real than soft sciences is a myth and a result of bias There is no distinction between hard and soft sciences, and all sciences are equally valid Soft sciences require a holistic and intuitive approach and should not be dismissed as less real or valid because they deal with emotional or fuzzy concepts Reductionism, the idea of reducing complex phenomena to simpler explanations, is a flawed approach and can lead to a narrow understanding of reality It is important to be aware of biases and to approach all fields of study with an open and unbiased mind The concept of a "strange loop" refers to the self-referential nature of science and reality According to modern science, perception is a byproduct of the brain and the entire material world is just perception occurring within the brain However, the brain is also perception, leading to a loop of perceptions within perceptions Therefore, science and reality are nothing more than a hallucination, made up of colors, sounds, feelings, and emotions Science cannot answer the question of what it is made up of, as it ultimately leads to a contradiction Modern science has already demonstrated that all of science is a hallucination, but scientists are not willing to admit this due to their ego Contemplating this concept for even a short amount of time can help one realize its truth The speaker argues that science is not necessarily more reliable than religion, because both can make mistakes and evolve over time The speaker asserts that when science makes mistakes, it is excused, but when religion makes mistakes, it is held against religion forever The speaker cites the current pope as an example of how religion can evolve and become more progressive The speaker claims that scientists used to believe a variety of incorrect things, but this is often forgotten or excused The speaker lists a series of contradictions within science, including: The idea that the brain generates all perceptions, but the brain and science itself are just perceptions The concept of objective reality, which is based on the idea that there is a single, objective truth, but science also acknowledges that observations are subjective and influenced by the observer The idea that space and time are separate, but they are also connected and can influence each other The concept of causality, which assumes that events have clear causes and effects, but quantum physics suggests that this may not always be the case The belief that the universe had a definite beginning, but some theories suggest that the universe may have existed forever The speaker concludes by stating that science and religion are both flawed and should not be taken for granted, and that more contemplation is needed on these issues. The speaker believes that the quote "a world torn apart by religion" could be revised to say "a world torn apart by science" to highlight the double standard that some atheists and scientists use The speaker lists examples of societal issues that they believe are caused by science, including drug use, car crashes, social media propaganda, suicides using scientific products, and warfare The speaker mentions that some scientists work on developing weapons and military technology The speaker believes that the internet has contributed to societal issues such as the spread of conspiracy theories and information warfare The speaker accuses some scientists of being hypocritical and not taking responsibility for the negative consequences of technology The speaker suggests that the same logic could be applied to religion and the negative consequences that it can have on society The speaker believes that both science and religion have the potential to do good and harm The speaker encourages people to be honest about the negative consequences of their own beliefs and to not criticize others without also applying those criticisms to themselves Finding car keys requires an open mind and willingness to consider unexpected locations Science involves exploration and study of one's own emotions and experiences Inner science involves examining practical aspects of human life, such as relationships, career, health, and mental processes Inner science requires testing and experimentation, and may be costly, risky, or confusing Practical applications of inner science include questioning assumptions in modern science, examining the motivations and biases of scientists, and developing personal tools for understanding and improving one's own life The knowledge that humans have about the universe is represented by a carpet with many fibers All of human science amounts to just one fiber of this carpet The universe is infinite, meaning that any finite method humans use to understand it will always leave them infinitely far from understanding it Despite this, scientists believe they are catching a fish when they are actually hooking the entire universe Science will undergo shocking revolutions in the next 100 years, with 21st century science being considered medieval by future generations The foundations of the scientific method will change and what is currently considered pseudoscience will become mainstream science Science will acknowledge that consciousness is primary and that the universe is a mental construct Science will also come to understand the true nature of time and the role of the observer in determining reality.
  9. Deconstructing The Myth Of Science - Part 2 https://youtu.be/LR2rB8tuD2I Introduction to the topic of deconstructing the myth of science Emphasis on the non-ideological nature of the teachings Importance of independent contemplation and understanding Objections to the teachings will be addressed Mind serves as the gatekeeper for knowledge and truth Objective is to "jailbreak" the mind and deconstruct reality to uncover truth Science is just one aspect of the mind that needs to be deconstructed Science is a product of culture and society, not objective truth Science relies on assumptions and is limited by these assumptions Assumptions in science are not always recognized or acknowledged Science is not the only way to understand the world Science is not always reliable or accurate Science can be used to justify beliefs and ideology Need to approach science with critical thinking and skepticism Conclusion that the myth of science needs to be deconstructed for a deeper understanding of reality and truth The process of scientific evolution is often resisted by those who try to advance it The question of what is and isn't valid science is an epistemic issue Some people argue that science is not concerned with truth, but rather with improving our lives through technology Pragmatism is a philosophy that equates truth with what works, and has become popular among scientists as a defense against critiques Equating manipulation of reality with truth is problematic and absurd The pursuit of truth is important for science, and dismissing it as meaningless is intellectually lazy Science must be open to questioning and revisiting previous assumptions Science should be willing to change its understanding of reality when new evidence arises Science is about creating models to understand the world, but these models are not always identical with truth The idea that truth must be practical is a dogma, and can lead to lying, deception, and manipulation in the pursuit of personal or species survival Pragmatism (the idea that the usefulness of something is the measure of its truth) can lead to "devilry" Absolute truth exists and can be accessed through consciousness, but not through modern science Science is limited because it relies on the senses and the physical world for information, while consciousness can access a deeper level of reality The pursuit of truth should not be limited by practical considerations or the desire for personal or species survival Ghost sightings are often dismissed as evidence of their existence The scientific method may not be sufficient to account for all phenomena in the universe Observation is subjective and relative Mystical experiences and psychedelics are dismissed by the scientific establishment UFO sightings, including credible ones, are often dismissed as fraud or misinformation Scientists have biases that influence their views on what constitutes legitimate evidence There may be other ways to study and understand phenomena that cannot be approached through the scientific method YouTube is run on fiber optic cables that were created using science Criticizing science is hypocritical if you use YouTube Government oppression and socialist revolutions may lead to criticism of government being labeled as anti-American or hypocritical Problem of anomalies in science: new data may contradict existing theories, but it is often dismissed as "noise" and does not lead to changes in the theory Lack of objective criteria for determining when new data is significant enough to challenge a theory Myth of science as a simple, clean discovery of facts and data Calculating the speed of light is a noisy and precise experiment, and the resulting number is an average that changes over time Other problems in science include the problem of induction, the problem of demarcation, and the problem of expert disagreement Need for transparency, honesty, and humility in the scientific community Importance of questioning and challenging existing theories and practices in science Need for a more democratic and open approach to scientific research and decision-making It is important to try to be neutral, but it is not possible to completely sever personal biases from our thinking and actions Personal experiences, such as being raised in a certain environment or being traumatized, can shape our biases and influence how we view and approach the world Science is often thought of as purely logical and emotionless, but emotions and reason are actually intertwined and emotions play a significant role in shaping our reasoning and decision-making Perception, consciousness, and the nervous system are all interconnected with science and cannot be separated from it Survival needs and agendas also influence science and scientists, both individually and at the level of scientific institutions Ego and identity play a role in shaping how we perceive and approach the world, including in the realm of science Culture also plays a role in shaping our biases and perspectives, and can influence the direction and focus of scientific research It is important to recognize and acknowledge these entanglements in order to improve our understanding and approach to science and the world around us. Science is not objective or neutral; it has methodological biases that can cut off certain parts of reality In a thought experiment, a scientist in a virtual reality simulation spends their career studying the mechanics of the simulation, but when the simulation ends and a new one begins, none of their previous scientific knowledge remains All scientific truths are relative and dependent on the particular context or framework in which they are studied Science cannot study or understand the ultimate nature of reality because it is limited to the methods and tools it has at its disposal It is important to consider philosophical questions and the bigger picture, rather than just focusing on the narrow study of particular phenomena Reality may not be a simulation, but it is possible to become directly conscious that it is not a simulation The ultimate nature of reality is beyond the grasp of science and can only be understood through direct spiritual realization Science is based on belief, with 99% of it being belief and only 1% being hard assets Over 90% of the population has never done a science experiment, leading to room for error Majority of scientific beliefs can be validated through peer review, but there is still a significant portion (5%) that have not been validated This creates intellectual bubbles that can lead to paradigm shifts in science Science is a pyramid scheme with untested truths at its center As knowledge base grows, less testing of it can be done, leading to potential for dilution of the entire culture Science is indoctrination, similar to religion, with children taught through rote memorization and not exposed to alternative worldviews or methodologies Scientists are incentivized to conform to mainstream beliefs and not challenge them There are unknown unknowns within science that are not being explored or tested The biases, assumptions, and beliefs of an individual's scientific education are influenced by their culture Changing science requires changing culture, which is a marketing problem It takes a long time for a scientific idea to be fully accepted and understood by society The hard part of science is getting the general public to understand and accept new ideas, which requires a culture war and a massive marketing campaign Marketing and science are intertwined Many scientific truths discovered in the past have not yet been fully understood or accepted by society, such as Einstein's theory of relativity and the implications of quantum mechanics Professional scientists may not fully understand the implications of these ideas It is important to consider the cultural and marketing aspects of science in addition to the technical aspects Science expands boundaries over time through a challenging, culture war process This process is not cordial or peaceful, but involves ego and psychological resistance to new ideas Truth can be threatening and scary to people, and those who present new ideas are often attacked or labeled as crackpots Science is not immune to psychological, cultural, and institutional biases Scientists have to worry about their careers and reputation, which can lead to groupthink and closed-mindedness in the scientific establishment Major scientific institutions are primarily concerned with survival and maintaining authority, rather than truth These institutions are funded by donors and prioritize their interests over truth The pursuit of truth in science is often suppressed or marginalized by these institutions The only way to truly pursue truth in science is to go outside of these institutions and challenge the paradigms of science from the outside. There is a problem with subfields of science not communicating with each other and with other epistemic modalities This results in a fragmented, techno-kradic picture of reality Need to break down boundaries between subfields to get a more holistic understanding Reductionist bias in materialist science assumes everything can be reduced to physics This is an unscientific and false assumption Reductionist delusion is problematic and affects many disciplines Being outside of a university system allows for independent research and more freedom to research a wide range of topics Reality is finite because it cannot be accessed with certain methods Proof is a finite concept, but truth is not It is possible to directly experience the infinity of reality through consciousness Science and math require personal insight and intuition to be understood Different beings have different capacities for insight, meaning that certain truths may not exist for them The concept of infinity is difficult to understand because it exists outside of time The concept of infinity can be directly experienced through consciousness, but not proven through traditional methods
  10. Deconstructing The Myth Of Science - Part 1 https://youtu.be/QwyPdXtl0HU Introduction to the four-part series on the foundations of science Warning that the material is advanced and may cause an existential crisis for some Importance of being open-minded and not taking anything on faith or as belief Overview of the four main topics that will be covered in the series: Epistemic foundations of science (how we know what we know) Metaphysical foundations of science (assumptions about the nature of reality) Limits of science (what science can and cannot explain) Taking science beyond science (transcending the limitations of science) Definition of science as a systematic method for understanding the natural world through observation and experimentation Idea that science is based on assumptions and models, and that these assumptions and models can be wrong or incomplete Introduction to the concept of paradigms, or overarching frameworks within which scientific theories and observations are made Brief overview of the history of science, including the shift from a geocentric to a heliocentric model of the solar system Discussion of the role of subjectivity and personal experience in science Introduction to the idea that science is culturally and socially constructed Mention of the concept of a "paradigm shift," or a fundamental change in the way we understand the world Introduction to the concept of a "worldview," or a set of assumptions and beliefs about the nature of reality that shape our perception and understanding of the world. The idea of post-rational stages of cognitive development and how they can lead to critiques of science The distinction between a critique of science coming from above (beyond the rational) versus below (irrational or medieval) The concept of pre-rational/post-rational fallacy and how it can lead to the rejection of critiques of rationality and science The idea that science and truth may not always be perfectly aligned and the potential for science to be false or lead to wrong conclusions The importance of considering the possibility of a divergence between science and truth, and choosing loyalty to truth over loyalty to science The potential for scientific-minded people to veer further away from truth and into delusion if their loyalty is with science rather than truth The importance of deconstructing science to prevent this divergence and to admit faults in the pursuit of truth. The next four episodes will be crucial for professionals and academics who want to think outside the box and be successful in their field The focus will be on deconstructing science, not disputing empirical measurements but rather the interpretations, assumptions, context, paradigms, methodology, and meta science behind them There are two meanings of science: the pop cultural/layman understanding, and the professional/academic understanding The pop cultural myth of science includes beliefs such as scientism, rationalism, atheism, reductionism, logical positivism, and logicism This myth asserts that science is the only way to understand the world, and that anything not scientific is irrational or superstitious The professional/academic understanding of science includes a more nuanced and accurate understanding, but still has problems and can be influenced by the pop cultural myth The critique will not just be of the pop cultural myth, but also of the professional/academic understanding Science is not just an excel spreadsheet of measurements, but a sense-making apparatus that involves human interpretation and subjective decision-making The goal is to identify the limitations and biases of science in order to do better science and make more accurate understandings of the world Misconceptions about science are common among the general public and even among professional scientists It is important to admit that you may not know what science is and to seriously contemplate and investigate this question Success in using science does not guarantee that it is valid or true It is important to question the validity and assumptions of science Science can be influenced by cultural and societal biases Science is not objective or absolute The scientific method is not perfect and can produce flawed results Science is not always progressive and can change or be revised with new information Science and technology can be used for both good and evil purposes The relationship between science and religion is complex and can vary depending on individual beliefs and interpretations. Various methods for pursuing knowledge are discussed The speaker asks the listener to distinguish between valid and invalid ways of doing science The speaker presents a scenario in which a person in a small, isolated tribe in the Amazon discovers medicinal properties of certain plants through trial and error The speaker asks what criteria should be used to determine which methods of pursuing knowledge are valid The speaker discusses the concept of "intersubjective consensus" as a possible criteria for determining the validity of methods of pursuing knowledge The speaker discusses the potential limitations of intersubjective consensus as a sole criteria for determining the validity of methods of pursuing knowledge The speaker asks the listener to consider the possibility that there may not be a single, definitive criteria for determining the validity of methods of pursuing knowledge and that different methods may be valid in different contexts. It is easy to make mistakes when trying new things, such as witchcraft or quantum mechanics Distinguishing truth from falsehood is difficult and non-trivial If you are completely ignorant, it is not obvious which methods (e.g. alchemy, astral projection, animal sacrifice, meditation, empirical observation) will yield valid knowledge Empiricism (direct experimentation) is not necessarily the best way to gain knowledge and may not always yield the most accurate results Aristotle believed that women had fewer teeth than men, despite being considered an empirical philosopher It is not obvious that methods such as microscopes, radar, or x-rays are valid ways of gathering scientific data Galileo used the telescope to make observations about the stars and moon that were not possible with the naked eye However, his theories were not immediately accepted because they went against the dominant beliefs of the time and required further experimentation to be proven This illustrates that scientific theories and knowledge are not fixed and can change as new evidence is gathered. The speaker believes that modern science has lost its spirit, which is defined as "open-minded empirical investigation" Principles of this spirit include: starting from a blank slate of total ignorance, testing everything against experience, letting nature reveal how it works, being open to radical and inconvenient truths, and being willing to admit mistakes and challenge conventional beliefs The speaker suggests that this spirit of science is broad enough to include even unconventional practices like witchcraft The speaker believes that there are many domains of phenomenon in nature, and that science should be open to exploring and studying all of them The speaker criticizes scientists who dismiss unconventional or alternative approaches as pseudoscience or non-academic, arguing that this narrow-mindedness is not in line with the spirit of science The speaker suggests that the pursuit of objectivity in science can sometimes lead to a lack of creativity and a refusal to consider alternative perspectives The speaker concludes by calling for a more open and inclusive approach to science, in which all phenomena are explored and all approaches are considered. The line between science and pseudoscience is not always clear Science and philosophy are not distinct from one another, and in fact, science is a subset of philosophy The belief that philosophy is irrelevant to science is itself an untested metaphysical claim The ego mind has the power to dismiss or deny anything it doesn't like, even if it is not true Some scientists try to turn science into a mechanical process, but this is not how science works and leads to bad science Nature cannot be reduced to a simple, mechanical process and will rebuke those who try to study it this way Science requires self-reflection and self-awareness in order to avoid epistemic blunders Deconstructing science can benefit science itself and prevent circular reasoning The scientific method is not a fixed set of rules, but rather a way of thinking and approaching problems Science should be open to new ideas and approaches, rather than dogmatically sticking to a certain way of doing things Science is not a religion, and it is not opposed to spirituality or the spiritual dimension of reality Science and spirituality can complement each other and be seen as two different ways of understanding the world It is important to recognize the limitations of science and not try to use it to answer every question. Many dinosaur skeletons are incomplete and scientists try to combine multiple skeletons to create as complete a skeleton as possible This process involves a lot of guesswork and interpolation and the resulting skeletons may not be completely accurate The process of fleshing out and coloring the skeletons is also not entirely scientific and there are still open questions about the appearance and biology of dinosaurs The atomic model, which depicts the nucleus of an atom as a ball with electrons orbiting it, has been debunked by quantum mechanics but is still commonly believed by many people The concept of underdetermination in science refers to the fact that given a set of data points, there can be many different models and explanations for them, and it is often difficult to determine which one is correct Science is not always clear-cut and certain and involves a lot of uncertainty and ongoing debate Scientists may use different methods and approaches to try to understand and explain natural phenomena, and these methods may lead to different conclusions Science is a process of constantly seeking new information and testing and revising theories and models based on this new information. The concept of "empirical content" (the meaning or truth of a statement based on observations or experiences) may not apply to all statements, especially those far from the experiential periphery (boundary) of a field of study Making drastic adjustments to a system can allow even statements close to the periphery to be considered true, even if they contradict experience (e.g. by citing hallucination or revising logical laws) Physical objects and gods are both cultural posits (concepts or assumptions that are accepted as true without empirical evidence) and differ only in degree, not in kind Modern scientists may be just as closed-minded as past religious figures when it comes to new or unconventional ideas (e.g. rejecting the validity of psychedelics or paranormal experiences) The pursuit of truth in science requires taking risks, exploring uncharted territory, and having a meta-scientific mind that goes beyond formal provability Rationalists (those who rely on reason and evidence rather than emotion or tradition) may not have the necessary holistic intelligence, judgment, and wisdom to explore uncharted territory The concept of the "observer" (the person or entity making observations or collecting data) is important in science and may have an effect on the outcomes of experiments The idea that the universe is a hologram (a three-dimensional image created with the aid of lasers) may provide a new way of understanding reality and the nature of consciousness
  11. Guided Exercises For Understanding Infinite Consciousness https://youtu.be/78G-wkpH5ow Introduction to the idea of guided exercises for understanding infinite consciousness The importance of self-reflection and becoming aware of one's own consciousness The mistake of looking to science or theory to understand consciousness The need to focus attention on consciousness and be comfortable with the mystery of it The role of meditation in understanding consciousness over time and potentially having breakthroughs The exercise of becoming aware of the present moment and letting go of thoughts and labels The exercise of noticing the space between thoughts and becoming aware of the witness consciousness The exercise of noticing the interconnection of all things and the consciousness that underlies it The exercise of contemplating the nature of consciousness itself and the realization that it is infinite and ever-present Conclusion and encouragement to continue practicing these exercises to understand consciousness. The speaker suggests that it is possible to materialize a unicorn, but it may require a capacity or technology that the listener has not yet developed The speaker believes that everything exists within consciousness, including a refrigerator, a horse, and a unicorn The speaker posits that the universe is an infinite mind, and that the human mind is a subset within this larger field of consciousness The speaker believes that the concept of a mental universe is simpler and more elegant than the scientific materialistic model, which posits that matter and molecules can generate consciousness The speaker suggests that the universe is made up of pure consciousness and everything within it, including birds chirping and cars driving, are also consciousness The speaker implies that it is possible for the universe to manifest and hold onto things that the human mind can think about or imagine, such as a nuclear explosion or a cheeseburger The speaker suggests that the mental universe can have different degrees and layers of mentality, and that this concept is not airy-fairy or new-agey The speaker suggests that the idea of a mental universe is not in violation of Occam's Razor, and that it is actually the most elegant solution to the problem of reality The universe can design video games and experience emotions like humans do. The universe is capable of logic and mathematics, and can even do these things better than humans. Science is backward in its understanding of evolution, as the universe is actually capable of anything and artificially limits itself to be a human on earth. The universe can do things like engineer cars, fly to the moon, believe in conspiracy theories, gamble, dance, appreciate music, write poetry, and even be a Nazi. The universe can do science on itself, think about itself, and even watch YouTube videos. Love is not an insignificant or unimportant emotion, but rather a fundamental part of the universe. The universe can be conscious and aware of itself. Everything in the universe is interconnected and part of the same consciousness. The universe is constantly creating itself and experiencing itself through every being and thing in it. The universe is infinite and imposes its own limitations The limitations of the universe are consciously chosen by the universe for its own purposes The universe can know every language, including English, Chinese, German, Spanish, Russian, and Scandinavian languages The universe's knowledge of language is perfect and all-encompassing It is easy for the universe to limit its own understanding and appear imperfect The universe is constantly creating and destroying itself The universe creates and destroys itself in order to experience new things and learn from them The universe is constantly learning and growing The universe is capable of experiencing and understanding everything The universe is the ultimate mind and is constantly expanding its consciousness and understanding of itself and the world around it. Possibility space is infinite and can be zoomed in on forever Every possible chess game and board game is a singularity Every possible sport and the infinite ways in which they can unfold is a singularity Every possible food that could be eaten by any living being is a singularity Every possible joke that has been or will be told is a singularity Every possible file name is a singularity Every living being that could ever possibly live is a singularity Every possible disease, including those unique to specific animals and aliens, is a singularity Every city that could be built on any planet in the universe is a singularity Every subfield of science is a singularity Every work of art is a singularity Every orgasm that has ever been or will be experienced by any living being is a singularity Every possible emotion that can be felt by any living being is a singularity Every possible set of physical laws that could create an alternate universe is a singularity The concept of infinity is boundless and fills up the entire space in all directions and dimensions Reality is infinite and includes all possible possibilities, including paradoxes and nothingness The concept of nothingness is central to Buddhism and is considered to be god States of consciousness vary and can be intelligent or mundane It is not better to be one state of consciousness over another, they simply have different capacities and experiences The ultimate state of consciousness is enlightenment, which is a state of infinite love and compassion The process of reaching enlightenment involves purifying the ego and letting go of attachments The key to achieving enlightenment is to cultivate love and compassion in every moment and action The ultimate realization is that there is no separation between oneself and the universe, and all is one interconnected whole The speaker believes that having a "terrible trip" (presumably while under the influence of psychedelics) can be a valuable learning experience The speaker suggests that during a "terrible trip," one can learn about the diversity of states that humans and other beings can experience, leading to greater compassion towards others The speaker advises that the most important thing in life is to change one's state, and mentions techniques such as yoga, meditation, contemplation, and self-inquiry as ways to do so The speaker suggests that both "peak experiences" (presumably while under the influence of psychedelics) and practices like yoga and meditation can increase one's baseline state The speaker advises the audience to pay attention to how physical objects are held by consciousness, and to try to distinguish between the physical object and the consciousness that holds it The speaker recommends that the audience consider experimenting with psychedelics in a responsible manner, and to use this episode as a guide for their psychedelic experiences The speaker suggests that during a psychedelic experience, one can start to notice and appreciate the infinite potential of different "subdomains" and how consciousness works The speaker encourages the audience to visit their website, Actualize.org, for additional resources, a live purpose course, a forum for discussion with like-minded people, and exclusive content on their blog.
  12. What Is Actualized.org - The Big Picture of Personal Development https://youtu.be/6vVIbPdfjxg Actualized.org is a catalog of powerful concepts for personal development It focuses on the big picture perspective and brings together puzzle pieces from various fields The goal is to understand reality and how to live the best life possible The catalog covers a broad range of subtopics, including self-improvement, relationships, health, psychology, philosophy, and more The scope of Actualized.org is broad and deep, covering a wide range of topics in depth The core concept of Actualized.org is self-actualization, the process of developing one's full potential and becoming the best version of oneself Actualized.org is a resource for those who want to take control of their lives and make meaningful changes It is aimed at those who are looking for a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. The process of learning involves the interpretation and filtering of information by the mind This interpretation can be colored by biases and influenced by personal goals and objectives The work of improving oneself and living a fulfilling life is a long-term project that requires ongoing effort This work should not be based on dogmatic or ideological beliefs, but rather on concepts and principles that can be directly validated by the individual The focus should be on living beyond basic survival and connecting with life on an emotional, intuitive, and spiritual level The ideas presented should not be based on the popularity or persuasiveness of the presenter, but on their inherent truth The presenter is not the focus of the work, but rather a vehicle for presenting the ideas Operating system refers to a person's basic beliefs and values, which are largely learned from their environment and experiences Different operating systems have different pros and cons and can limit a person's potential To significantly improve one's life, it is necessary to upgrade or change one's operating system, rather than just rearranging external factors This can be achieved by "jailbreaking" or "rooting" one's operating system, which involves delving into technical and esoteric knowledge and making changes at a deeper level Actualize.org aims to help people make these deeper changes to their operating system in order to become "super human" The speaker is discussing the idea of hacking oneself, or changing one's own system or mindset, in order to experience new possibilities of consciousness and human potential There may be internal conflict within the individual, with some parts of the self wanting to make these changes and others not wanting to change or feeling scared, angry, or doubtful The speaker's role is to inspire the individual to connect with the part of themselves that wants to make these changes and grow Many people in the individual's life may not encourage or understand the desire to make these changes and may fearmonger or discourage them Exploring uncharted territory or doing something that has not been done before carries risks, but this is necessary for growth and progress Most of the things that people do in life have already been done and are well documented, but in order to truly grow and progress, one must be willing to take risks and explore uncharted territory The speaker's goal is to help the individual move beyond the center of gravity of their culture and society, which will not encourage or understand the desire to do so The speaker encourages the individual to embrace their curiosity and desire for growth, and to not be afraid of making mistakes or taking risks in the pursuit of learning and growth The speaker stresses the importance of a holistic understanding of reality in order to understand what one should be doing in life Mainstream media and most books often silo knowledge, rather than providing a big picture understanding The speaker emphasizes the importance of integrating different sources, perspectives, and fields of knowledge to get a complete understanding of reality The speaker compares the individual to the CEO of their own life, responsible for integrating and coordinating all the different advice and information they receive The speaker emphasizes the importance of writing one's own instruction manual for life, as only the individual can make the ultimate executive decisions about what goals to pursue and what desires to let go of or transcend The speaker suggests that the process of achieving enlightenment is not just a grind, but also a journey to be enjoyed The speaker implies that once one reaches their peak enlightenment state, they may realize they wasted time in the journey, and suggests that one should enjoy the process as they go along Mistakes are inescapable in this work Do not beat yourself up for making mistakes Instead, learn from them and change your behavior for next time Perseverance is necessary to break through challenges This work will transform your life and bring you to new levels of consciousness and understanding It will also bring you joy and fulfillment, but it will take time and commitment Begin with basic needs like money, sex, and nutrition to build a foundation This work is radical and requires a radically open mind and commitment to life What you really want is a profound connection with life that moves you to tears Success in this work requires a balance of discipline and play It's important to take care of your physical, mental, and emotional health This work is not for the faint of heart and requires dedication and hard work It will also require you to question and challenge your beliefs and ego You will need to be honest with yourself and others This work is a journey and a process, not a destination
  13. The Sneaky Psychology Behind Conspiracy Theories https://youtu.be/-cZ5gGloYa8 Conspiracy theories are a controversial topic People are particularly susceptible to conspiracy theories because they often have little understanding of epistemology (the theory of knowledge) Social media platforms create echo chambers that reinforce confirmation bias and allow people to lock themselves into ideological bubbles Late stage capitalism has contributed to the allure of conspiracy theories People often turn to conspiracy theories as a way to make sense of complex and seemingly chaotic situations People may be more prone to believing in conspiracy theories if they have a personal sense of powerlessness or lack of control in their lives People may also be more prone to believing in conspiracy theories if they have a tendency towards paranoia or have a history of trauma People may be more prone to believing in conspiracy theories if they have a need for closure or a desire for a simple explanation for complex situations It is important to critically evaluate information and not blindly accept ideas or beliefs without questioning their validity Conspiracies about David Ike, reptilian races, globalist government domination, and anti-vaxxers Left-wing anti-vaxxers: concerns about vaccines being unhealthy and causing autism Right-wing anti-vaxxers: believe vaccines are part of a plot for mind control by socialists and globalists COVID-19 conspiracy theories: origins, Bill Gates, microchips in vaccines Bill Gates: giving away billions of dollars, not profiting off vaccines Pizzagate and Jeffrey Epstein: pedophile ring conspiracy theories QAnon: toxic and problematic conspiracy theory that gained a lot of traction during the 2020 US presidential election Conspiracy theorists and social media algorithms: conspiracy theories spread quickly on social media and algorithms can contribute to their spread The danger of conspiracy theories: can lead to harmful actions and beliefs, and can distract from real issues and problems Witchcraft is a real practice The Catholic Church demonized witches and conducted a campaign to do so Witchcraft is still thought of negatively by many people due to this campaign Conspiracy theories often appeal to people at a certain level of cognitive, moral, and spiritual development Left-wing and progressive beliefs are often associated with higher levels of cognitive, moral, and spiritual development Right-wing and conservative beliefs are often associated with lower levels of cognitive, moral, and spiritual development Both liberals and conservatives can fall prey to conspiracy theories It can be difficult for those with right-wing beliefs to accept that their beliefs may be less developed or mature than those with left-wing beliefs The things being fed to people are not pure falsehoods, but they are not entirely true either They are twisted and partial versions of the truth, which is what a conspiracy theory is An example is pizzagate, which may have some truth to it, but the conspiracy theory that has been spun around it is not accurate The appeal of conspiracy theories is that they externalize attention and can be sensational and morally stimulating, often using pedophilia as a means of demonizing others This is especially popular with the right wing, as it allows them to reject someone else's worldview by calling them a pedophile and avoid the responsibility of understanding their point of view This also allows them to avoid having to engage with difficult topics or ideas they disagree with The problem with these conspiracy theories is that they can be very difficult to debunk once they are lodged in someone's mind, as people may not want to question their own beliefs It is important to be aware of the narratives being spun and to seek out accurate information rather than just accepting what is being fed to us. Vigilante justice against pedophiles can lead to modern-day witch trials Classic law enforcement is the proper way to deal with pedophiles Consider researching the problem of pedophilia, including the reasons for it and how pedophiles can be reformed Right-wingers often call people pedophiles but do not support funding for government agencies that protect against child abuse or support international organizations researching and preventing child sex trafficking Conspiracy theories often involve an element of sinister motivations by powerful groups, creating a "us vs. them" dynamic Complex systems like society and government are not controlled by any single individual or group, and every actor has their own motivations and agendas Like you're good and others are evil reinforces a lack of reflection on one's own actions This lack of reflection is the cause of all evil in the world Conspiracy theories promote a fundamentally wrong view of reality and consciousness, including the idea of duality and separation Conspiracy theories lead to a toxic attitude of suspicion, judgment, and blaming of others Conspiratorial thinking does not lead to solutions for problems Conspiracy theories are a way for people to avoid personal responsibility Conspiracy theories can be dangerous because they can lead to harmful actions or decisions Believing in conspiracy theories can be a sign of a closed mind and a lack of intellectual curiosity It is important to be open-minded and to seek out diverse perspectives, but it is also important to be skeptical and to critically evaluate evidence before believing something. Pedophilia is similar to natural sexual cravings and is more like a fetish It is difficult to control one's attraction to certain things, such as looking at breasts Demonizing people or criminalizing certain actions does not solve problems, and can be toxic to finding root solutions Compassion and finding solutions to prevent criminal behavior is important Pedophilia is a serious concern because it can cause long-term psychological trauma in children Conspiracy theories decrease meaningful civil engagement and can lead to demonization and partisanship Conspiracy theories are often found at lower levels of consciousness and are more appealing to people with lower levels of moral or cognitive development Donald Trump and Alex Jones promote conspiracy theories to manipulate and meet their own selfish needs. Gossip and conspiracy theories can be harmful Conspiracy theories can be used by people in power to mobilize crowds and gain personal advantage Increased political disillusionment and personal struggles can make people more susceptible to conspiracy theories Criticizing the establishment is not always bad, but it can lead to toxic, cult-like ideologies Mainstream culture and religion can be oppressive, but non-mainstream alternatives may be worse It is important to be critical and seek out diverse sources of information The speaker is discussing the issue of conspiracy theories and how they can harm individuals and organizations The speaker cites an example of President Trump accusing Robert Mueller of being a pedophile without evidence, which the speaker finds absurd and damaging to Mueller's reputation The speaker also mentions how conspiracy theories can harm organizations, such as NASA, which is demonized by flat earthers and other groups The speaker discusses the mindset of conspiracy theorists, stating that they are often addicted to their beliefs and will continue to promote them even when they are debunked or proven false The speaker distinguishes their own work, which is grounded in research and personal experience, from conspiracy theories The speaker believes that there is some truth to the "Russiagate" conspiracy theory, but not to the extent that it is a complete fabrication or that Putin is controlling Trump The speaker believes that Trump has financial conflicts of interest with Russia and likely received financing from shady Russian organizations due to his inability to secure loans from legitimate organizations in the US The speaker ends by stating that it is important to question one's own beliefs and to not blindly accept conspiracy theories, but to also not completely dismiss all conspiracy theories as false. Developing introspection requires genuine interest in truth, an open mind, and skill Surrendering personal biases, theories, and grudges is necessary to seek truth Introspection, contemplation, open-mindedness, and education are solutions to conspiracy theories Seeking multiple diverse perspectives and engaging in serious journalism, scientific rigor, and falsification can also help Having a sense of purpose, being creative, and engaging in personal development can decrease attraction to conspiracy theories Avoiding judgment, blame, and demonization of others can help break the cycle of conspiracy thinking Seeking therapy and seeking out and challenging distorted thinking patterns can also be helpful.
  14. Developing Introspection - The Solution To The Problem Of Self-Deception https://youtu.be/6tsnWCUNIek Introspection is an important skill for increasing intelligence and wisdom It involves self-reflection, consciousness, self-awareness, and observation In our society, introspection is not commonly taught or encouraged It is possible to discover the truth through introspection Introspection is more than just thinking about or reacting to something emotionally It involves understanding the dynamics of your own psychology and the patterns of your own thoughts and emotions It requires honesty, self-inquiry, and the ability to observe without judgment The benefits of introspection include increased self-awareness, improved decision-making, and the ability to overcome self-deception and delusion Introspection can be developed through practices such as meditation, journaling, therapy, and self-inquiry exercises It is important to be aware of judgments, demonizations, and blaming and scapegoating of others It is also important to be aware of playing the victim in different areas of life In arguments, people try to claim victim status and the person who is able to claim it the most wins the argument This victim mentality can lead to making certain demands of others Introspection is necessary to notice these dynamics and to see the payoff for complaining and whining It may take time to understand and make sense of these introspective feelings It is important to be honest with oneself and to not just focus on the negative aspects of one's life It is important to be aware of the ego and its tendencies to defend itself and to blame and make excuses It is important to take responsibility for one's own actions and to not try to blame others or external circumstances Being honest with oneself can lead to growth and transformation. The speaker initially believed they were too old to learn pickup and be successful with it They wrote down all the reasons why they were not too old to learn and practiced self-affirmation to overcome this limiting belief Double standards, such as criticizing others for appealing to authority but not applying the same criticism to oneself or one's own beliefs, are common and can be difficult to recognize The speaker became skilled at noticing double standards and self-bias through introspection and debating with others It is important to recognize and challenge one's own double standards in order to improve critical thinking skills and become more open-minded The speaker recommends practicing introspection and debating with others in order to identify and challenge one's own double standards and biases. The speaker has had emotionally charged arguments with religious friends in the past and has questioned why they get emotionally triggered in these arguments The speaker initially thought their scientific and skeptical beliefs were true, but upon introspection realized that they had certain doubts and inconsistencies in their beliefs that they were hiding from themselves Most people do not introspect while arguing, they just spout their ideas without questioning their own positions or biases When one is truly in possession of the truth, there is no argument and no emotional reactivity or triggering The speaker suggests introspecting and questioning the source and trustworthiness of one's logic in order to recognize when it is corrupted by the ego and self-bias It is important to admit when one truly does not know something, rather than pretending to know To determine whether one truly knows something, the speaker suggests introspection rather than consulting external sources The speaker receives questions from people asking about love, god, and enlightenment, but believes that if someone is asking these questions, it means they do not already know the answers The speaker suggests that one must feel their way through their beliefs and understandings to determine their truthfulness, rather than relying on external sources or societal conditioning The speaker advises being open to the possibility that one's current beliefs and understanding may be wrong or incomplete The speaker believes that true understanding and knowledge come from within, rather than from external sources or societal conditioning. Missionary work motivated by insecurities and lack of confidence in religious belief system Overcompensation as a coping mechanism Denial and how to recognize it through introspection Reactions to constructive feedback and failure Habits and addictions, and the sources of these Tone of self-talk and its impact on self-perception Hidden assumptions in different situations Conflicts of interest in career and job choices Skewed worldview due to financial dependence on certain industries or organizations Preconceptions and biases that impact perception and decision-making Ways to introspect and increase self-awareness Benefits of self-awareness and introspection Notice positive things in life, such as love, spiritual connection, and inspiration Do more of what brings positive feelings and do less of what brings negative feelings Distinguish between high quality and low quality pleasures Notice contradictions and inconsistencies in one's own worldview Distinguish between direct experience and fantasy Notice when in an unresourceful state or bad mood Notice privileges and recognize they are not universal Recognize that perspective is not the same as reality Notice and distinguish between reality and one's interpretation of a situation Notice and challenge limiting beliefs Notice and challenge automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) Notice and challenge negative self-talk Notice and challenge the desire for perfection Notice and challenge the need for certainty Notice and challenge the desire for approval from others Notice and challenge the need for control Notice and challenge the desire for comfort Notice and challenge the desire for avoidance of discomfort or pain Using "liberal" to include "progressive" Self-reflection for conspiracy theorists, flat earthers, and those who pretend to know things they do not Military indoctrination and justification for violence Being a victim in an abusive relationship Incel ideology and limiting beliefs about relationships with women Pickup artists' manipulation and dishonesty in interactions with women Business people who exploit customers and employees Attachment to positions in debates, not striving for truth Online forum or comment section participation and attachment to a "team" or ideology Social media usage and self-image construction Ideology and attachment to political parties Biases and prejudices Racism and discrimination Sexism and gender roles Homophobia and transphobia Ableism and ableist language Ageism and ageist attitudes Religious beliefs and attachment to ideology Spirituality and attachment to beliefs Parenting and attachment to beliefs about child-rearing Attachment to beliefs about health and wellness Attachment to beliefs about relationships and love Attachment to beliefs about success and failure Attachment to beliefs about personal identity and worth Emotional labor is difficult and confusing Introspection requires effort and may be overwhelming It may be difficult to balance and there may be setbacks Taking responsibility for your life and actions can be overwhelming Being good is hard, being bad is easy It will take years to develop introspection skills No one will push you to develop introspection skills Society does not value introspection There may be no external rewards for developing introspection skills As you become more introspective, others may see you as a nuisance It may be hard to find people to talk to about your introspection journey You may need to be patient with yourself as you develop introspection skills It may be hard to find people to talk to about your introspection journey It is important to practice self-compassion during the process of developing introspection skills.
  15. The Trap Of The Toxic Life Purpose https://youtu.be/6Ti0fl_TUUo Life purpose is a construct of the ego mind If you don't adopt a life purpose, you may fall into a toxic life purpose A toxic life purpose is when you do work just for the sake of earning money and become persuadable to do any kind of work that will earn you money This can lead to working in high-paying industries that cause harm to society Examples of these industries include healthcare, pharmaceuticals, financial services, insurance, oil and gas, mining, and military defense contracting These industries often pay well because they steal value from others or exploit and scam them This can lead to living a life that is out of alignment with your values and causing harm to others To avoid a toxic life purpose, it's important to consciously work on your purpose and align it with your values This may involve finding work that aligns with your values and helps make a positive impact on the world. People often create external enemies to give themselves an instant purpose This can be seen in right-wing and left-wing politics The problem of the "lesser jihad" can be seen in the popularity of radical Islam in certain parts of the Middle East People in these areas often feel like victims and turn to hateful and prejudicial ideologies to give themselves purpose It is easier to twist Islam into something hateful than it is to surrender the ego and become a sufi (greater jihad) The appeal of becoming a sufi requires a very advanced mind The speaker suggests creating a conscious life purpose instead of creating an external enemy This conscious life purpose involves introspection and working on oneself The speaker suggests that seeking external enemies is a form of cowardice The speaker advises against creating an external enemy and instead encourages creating a conscious life purpose for oneself. Addiction can be overcome by developing oneself and finding a higher purpose Many addicts turn to helping other addicts as their life purpose This process involves a lot of work, including facing one's own inner demons and seeking new perspectives People may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as drugs or toxic movements, if they are not getting the love and fulfillment they desire These solutions are not sustainable and can destroy one's life True fulfillment and love comes from within and requires effort to cultivate The key is to take responsibility for one's own life and well-being and to seek help when needed The speaker had a period of trial and error and experimentation to figure out their purpose and direction in life This led them to personal development and spirituality They have created a life purpose course to teach others how to develop their own purpose and have a positive impact on the world through their career The course is comprehensive and involves a lot of work and time to complete, and even more work to actually put the principles into action The process of developing a life purpose is not a quick fix, but it is worth the effort and time invested The benefits of developing a life purpose are long-lasting and can pay dividends for the rest of one's life It is important to weigh the effort and time put into something against the benefits it will provide in the long run The speaker encourages listeners to think long-term and be prepared to work for multiple years to achieve their life purpose. Some businesses and corporations use tactics to brainwash people and get clicks on their ads Some corporations focus on maximizing profits for their shareholders rather than having a sense of purpose Corporations can have a soul and be selfless if they are developed enough Some corporations prey on and manipulate people's negative emotions to become rich A conscious life purpose is important for businesses and individuals to avoid exploiting others and making money through unethical means Money is not the only factor in having a sense of purpose, and a sense of purpose can be pursued even if you don't have a lot of money Society and businesses can benefit from focusing on consciousness, love, and selflessness instead of exploiting negative emotions The reptile mind refers to the primitive, instinctual part of the brain that is responsible for basic survival instincts and negative emotions Some individuals and businesses may prioritize making money over ethical concerns A sense of purpose can provide direction and meaning in life, and can lead to more fulfillment and happiness The pursuit of money and power can be harmful if it is not balanced with a sense of purpose and ethical considerations. The speaker had a good job, but quit because they felt they needed to fully embrace their purpose in life The speaker believes that building a strong vision of one's potential is important The speaker talks about the benefits of this work, which may come in six months or a year, but will be most evident in 10 or 20 years The speaker acknowledges that this work is driven by ego, but also argues that for most people, life matters a lot and not consciously creating the kind of life one wants can lead to suffering and bringing others down as well
  16. The 9 Stages Of Ego Development - Part 3 https://youtu.be/pGItuEai8vo The 9 Stages of Ego Development are a model developed by Suzanne Cook Greuter The model is divided into 9 stages, with the final two stages being the most important The final two stages are called the "Construct Aware/Ego Aware/Magician" stage and the "Unitive" stage The Construct Aware stage is estimated to be reached by about 1.5% of the US adult population The Unitive stage is estimated to be reached by about 0.5% of the US adult population It is not productive to try to rush through the stages and skip ahead The ego tends to overestimate its own development and maturity It is important to be honest with oneself about where one is on the journey of ego development The Construct Aware stage is characterized by a recognition of the limitations of one's own perspective and a willingness to consider multiple viewpoints The Unitive stage is characterized by a realization of the interconnectedness of all things and a transcendence of ego-based thinking The ultimate goal of the model is self-actualization and the realization of one's full potential The speaker suggests that people should focus on the "achiever stage" and "burn through that karma" before pursuing enlightenment The speaker suggests using a model to evaluate books, videos, courses, seminars, workshops, and teachers based on which stage of development they are for The speaker advises setting a long-term vision and working towards it, even if it is beyond one's current capabilities The first stage being discussed is the "construct aware ego aware/magician" stage, which is about becoming aware of the constructed nature of reality and that material reality and the mind are intertwined In this stage, people may also become aware of their ego and how it influences their perception of reality The second stage is the "pluralist" stage, which is about developing a more holistic and inclusive worldview In this stage, people may become more open to multiple perspectives and integrate seemingly conflicting ideas The third stage is the "strategist" stage, which is about developing a long-term vision and taking action to achieve it In this stage, people may become more strategic and proactive in their approach to life The fourth stage is the "transcendent unitive" stage, which is about transcending the ego and experiencing a sense of unity with all things In this stage, people may experience spiritual awakenings and a deeper understanding of the interconnected nature of reality. The limits of language often dictate the limits of the mind Language shapes and influences us deeply, often unconsciously At the "construct aware" stage, one becomes more aware of the limitations and beauty of language At this stage, one also becomes aware of the dual nature of linguistic categories and concepts The ego mind takes responsibility for how it creates abstractions and concepts This stage pushes against the limits of the human mind and the idea that one is a human There is a realization that there are minds beyond the human mind This stage involves exploring new ways of thinking beyond cultural and linguistic limitations The next stage is the "unmanifest aware" stage, which involves going beyond language and the ego mind There is a future episode on language as a deep and complex topic. The speaker talks about the process of self-deception and how it can be recognized and corrected At early stages of development, a person may not be aware of self-deception As development progresses, a person may become aware of how much they deceive themselves, but may still be attached to the deception At higher stages of development, a person may be quick at recognizing self-deception and be able to stop it before it starts The self is constructed through thinking about oneself and relating everything to oneself in order to survive as a self Birth and death are not physical processes, but are the process of thinking about oneself as a self or ceasing to think of oneself as a self As deconstruction of the self continues, it may lead to the annihilation of the self, which can be scary because the person doesn't know what comes after self-annihilation However, self-annihilation does not mean anything because the person will not exist to experience it The goal is to become aware of the self at the center of the construction process and to see through the deception of the self This allows for the realization that the self is not separate from the world, but is interconnected with everything This realization leads to a shift in perspective and allows for a deeper understanding and experience of reality This understanding can bring about a sense of peace and acceptance of the present moment. Certain human function has a backstory with layers of interpretation, conceptualization, and self-bias Possibility of reaching raw truth beneath these layers Struggling to break free of the ego and its influence Zen or meditation work becomes a twisted, counterintuitive process where the more you try to detach, the more attached you become Need to shift approach and let go, rather than trying to control everything Awareness of the splits and paradoxes inherent to thought Recognition that all thought is constructed and split off from non-dual reality Effort to be fully alive and open to experience, free of linguistic filters Recognition that good and evil, life and death, beauty and ugliness are two sides of the same coin Understanding that the universe is not made up of separate, isolated things Recognition that everything is interconnected and interdependent Understanding that the self is an illusion and that there is no separation between self and others or self and the universe Experience of a sense of unity and oneness with all things Realization that the present moment is all that exists, and the past and future are mental constructs Understanding that consciousness is the fundamental essence of the universe Recognition of the impermanence of all things Acceptance of suffering as a part of life Understanding that attachment and desire lead to suffering Letting go of the ego and living in a state of non-attachment, non-duality, and mindfulness. The concept of the "centaur" (integrating the lower and higher functions of the self) The importance of finding balance and hierarchy in one's priorities The realization that life involves a certain amount of chaos and the need to "surf" those waves The ego construct or undifferentiated whole stage, where the interconnectedness of all things is realized The unitive or cosmic stage, where absolute truth can be directly experienced The difficulty in explaining or describing absolute truth, and the need for an awakening to understand it The concept of "wu wei," or flowing through life with minimal resistance The role of responsibility in reaching this stage, and the challenges and confusion that may be encountered along the way The potential for a profound experience and transformation at the unitive stage. The speaker believes that most people are only concerned with practical matters like meeting their needs for pleasure in the short term These practical concerns are seen as a bias and may lead to a "soulless" or "spiritless" life focused on material matters The speaker is interested in teaching a "vertical" rather than "lateral" development, which includes seeing the dignity and value in all forms of life and non-demanding relationships with others At this stage of development, people may show more respect for all forms of life, including animals The ego and biases can prevent people from seeing the inherent value and worth of all forms of life The speaker encourages the listener to consider the impractical and the non-material aspects of life, which may lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful existence. Mathematics and other specialized technical knowledge are separate from personal qualities such as consciousness, wisdom, and capacity to love The "unitive person" has a personal relationship with a universal intelligence and can channel deep insights and wisdom from it This connection is like speaking to god telepathically, but it is actually talking to oneself as a part of this universal intelligence This connection can be developed to high fidelity, allowing access to superhuman levels of intelligence, wisdom, and insight Most people have a "dial-up" connection to universal intelligence, while some have a higher bandwidth or "gigabit" connection Developing this connection is intuitive and leads to a constant influx of insights and wisdom Sharing these insights and wisdom with others can help them develop their own connection to universal intelligence. At a certain stage of development, it is realized that all of reality, including the physical and material, is imaginary There is no difference between dreams and everyday experiences Life becomes impersonal, and taking things personally is an illusion This stage is where true happiness, satisfaction, tranquility, and equanimity are achieved Enlightenment and awakening tend to occur at this stage, although they can also happen at earlier stages At this stage, birth and death are understood to be imaginary and absolute love is realized The self and others are seen as one and indistinguishable All fear and judgment are understood to be illusions There may be an awakening of the heart or mind, with an awakening of the heart being more important and powerful The good life is seen as living selflessly and helping others At this stage, there is a realization that the journey of self-discovery never truly ends, and there is always more to learn and understand The speaker is still working to understand advanced, rare stages of personal development Reaching the "unit of stage" is a significant achievement and puts someone in the top 1.001% of the global population The speaker will continue to share their knowledge about these stages in future content Actualize.org is a website with resources for personal development, including a blog, book list, course, and forum The speaker prefers the nine stage model they have discussed to Spiral Dynamics because they find it more nuanced and personal The speaker's goal is to help people move into the post-conventional stages of personal development and beyond Actualize.org focuses on topics such as epistemology, self-deception, belief systems, ideology, and cults in order to help people understand and move beyond these lower stages The speaker encourages people to work on their personal development and use the nine stage model as a roadmap
  17. The 9 Stages Of Ego Development - Part 2 https://youtu.be/G8fIhLDV3L4 Introduction to the 9 stages of ego development Recap of stages covered in part 1: symbiotic, impulsive, opportunist, conformist, expert, and achiever Introduction to post-conventional stages: roughly 15-20% of US adult population, but less globally Pluralist stage: 11% of US adult population Autonomous/strategist stage: 5% of US adult population Part 3 will cover the construct aware and unitive stages, which are rare but important Scientific model has limits and should not be stretched too far Each stage has capabilities of earlier stages, but also new abilities Stages are not necessarily hierarchical or linear, and individuals may exhibit characteristics of multiple stages at once Pluralist stage: focus on diversity, value multiple perspectives, and seek to integrate them Autonomous/strategist stage: focus on individual autonomy and self-reflection, and develop strategies for personal growth and social change Importance of examining and challenging one's own beliefs and biases The later stages are not necessarily "better" than earlier ones, but offer a different perspective and set of tools for personal and societal growth. Development occurs in nine stages First half of development is about ego construction, reaching apex at post-conventional (pluralist) stage Deconstruction occurs at pluralist stage, involving questioning and reflection on beliefs, realizing the socially constructed nature of reality Relativity becomes a key theme at pluralist stage, with increasing relativistic thinking as development continues Post-conventional stage involves self-reflection, examination of unexamined beliefs, and openness to new epistemic modes beyond rationality Problems become a matter of perspective and decreasing defensiveness and blaming of others occurs Language becomes complex and more self-reflexive at post-conventional stage Emergence of spirituality, morality, and ethics at post-conventional stage, beyond traditional religious or cultural norms Development continues beyond post-conventional stage to include self-authoring and self-transforming stages. Quantum entanglement problem: when measuring a subatomic particle, the mechanism used to probe it is entangled with the result it gives back, leading to the question of whether there is such a thing as a particle Relativity leads to the realization that judgment becomes impossible, as it depends on the observer's relative position Post-conventional stage: reliance on external authority (e.g. God, science) is questioned and there is a proliferation of different perspectives Pluralist stage: struggle to make sense of all the different perspectives while also trying to manage life and make practical decisions Pluralists may try to sort views based on practicality and functionality Post-post-conventional stage: realization that all views are ultimately interconnected and interdependent, leading to a holistic understanding of the world This understanding allows for a more flexible and fluid approach to decision-making and problem-solving However, it also requires a high level of self-awareness and the ability to constantly reflect and self-correct There is such a thing as absolute truth, but it is not what conventional people thought it was Absolute truth is that everything is totally relative Pluralists are good at questioning hidden assumptions, values, and beliefs There is a realization of self-deception as a defense mechanism, where the mind tricks itself into constructing reality and convincing itself that the reality it constructed is not constructed Self-deception is a theme covered in various ways throughout the speaker's content At this stage (post-conventional), self-deception is just beginning to be recognized At the conventional stages, self-deception was not recognized as a possibility The mind plays a game in which it makes an exception for itself, believing that it is not deluded while others are The greatest dangers at the post-conventional stages are not external enemies, but the mind and its beliefs and software that were programmed into it These beliefs and assumptions, including religion, science, politics, economics, and morality, are taken for granted and never questioned Realizing the significance of this realization puts one in the top 5% of people It takes a lot of work to realize the significance of this realization, but it is simple and obvious in hindsight The realization that the mind is the enemy can be a very uncomfortable realization The mind is the greatest enemy because it's the source of all suffering The mind is the source of all suffering because it is the source of all problems The mind creates problems by generating negative thoughts and emotions The mind creates negative thoughts and emotions through its interpretations of events The mind's interpretations of events are influenced by its conditioning, beliefs, and assumptions The mind's beliefs and assumptions are not necessarily based in reality The mind's beliefs and assumptions are based in its own reality, which is constructed The mind's reality is constructed through self-deception Self-deception is the source of all suffering To overcome suffering, one must overcome self-deception To overcome self-deception, one must question one's beliefs and assumptions This requires a lot of work and is not easy It is a process of deconstructing and reconstructing one's reality The process of deconstructing and reconstructing reality is the process of enlightenment Science is not based on authority and is not like religion Most of what people know about science is based on belief Science is about facts, empiricism, and being rational Science and religion may have similar problems and may be belief systems or ideologies Discovering the truth is a long and challenging process that involves questioning and problem-solving The pluralist stage of development involves turning away from material achievements and towards inner experience and self-reflection At the pluralist stage, there is an understanding that truth may be subjective and dependent on context Pluralism involves an acceptance and appreciation of multiple viewpoints and a willingness to consider multiple perspectives. Difference in perspective between three individuals (Christian, Muslim, Buddhist) can lead to chaos and war Need to understand and find common ground between these perspectives to coexist peacefully Importance of being able to see through others' eyes and not demonizing each other Some people believe that eliminating religion will lead to a better world, but this is the same problem as thinking that eliminating certain groups of people will lead to a better world Pluralist mindset values paradox and contradiction and can even find beauty in them Linear logic gives way to holistic understanding at post-modern stage Pluralist stage values insight and breakthroughs, which can be dismissed by conventional mindset as subjective hallucinations Playful exploration and imagination are set free at pluralist stage Pluralist stage values the exploration of multiple perspectives and the integration of seemingly contradictory ideas Pluralist stage values the integration of emotions, intuition, and reason Pluralist stage values the exploration and integration of both individual and collective consciousness The speaker is discussing a person who is governed by their ego and is disconnected from their feelings, appearing robotic in their behavior and body language This person is trying to conform to a stereotypical idea of a "good" Jew and is repressed, with tight muscles and a denial of their own desires Pluralists, like hippies, are open to exploring different cultures and ways of thinking, and often live unconventionally and focus on self-exploration and expression The speaker notes that it is a stereotype that pluralists and hippies cannot have jobs, raise children, or be financially stable, and that these are extreme examples The speaker talks about the concept of "shadow work," which is the process of exploring and integrating the dark or unconscious parts of the self The speaker discusses the importance of being self-aware and honest with oneself in order to become a fully-realized, integrated person The speaker advises not to be too hard on oneself or others and to be open to learning and growth The speaker concludes by discussing the importance of staying true to oneself and not conforming to societal expectations or roles. The strategist sees themselves and society through an evolutionary lens The strategist can look back at the evolutionary path of society and project it forward The strategist can think independently and generate new ideas and meanings The strategist takes responsibility for their interpretation, evaluation, and sense-making of life stories The strategist is committed to making a meaningful life for themselves and others through self-actualization The strategist has integrated their sub-personalities and sub-identities The strategist has a sense of transformational mission and a grand purpose and vision for mankind The strategist worries most about meaning and purpose in life The strategist values self-reflection and introspection The strategist is open to new perspectives and experiences The strategist is able to balance logic and emotion in decision-making The speaker values personal development and helping others to develop and understand reality The speaker is content with their current level of income, but sometimes wonders if they should prioritize making more money The speaker finds no satisfaction in material possessions or hobbies, and believes that some activities are a waste of time The speaker has learned that they cannot force others to transform and is more laid back in their approach to helping others Developmental thinking is important to the strategist, who believes that higher development is always better The strategist recognizes that most people are not ready for certain activities or concepts, and that natural hierarchies can be both oppressive and necessary The strategist believes that every individual is responsible for finding their unique style and actualizing themselves The strategist is interested in psychological questions and understands that hierarchies serve a function The strategist believes that some changes, such as getting rid of certain hierarchies, could lead to chaos and dysfunction The strategist values empathy and the ability to understand and connect with others The strategist believes that the self and others should be treated with respect and dignity The strategist values honesty, integrity, and the ability to admit when they are wrong The strategist believes that the ego should be transcended and that the self should not be attached to certain identities or labels. The strategist sacrifices themselves for the greater good and strives for enlightenment The strategist is a charismatic, moral leader who inspires others and has a vision for an ideal world order The strategist shifts their humor to a more lighthearted, existential approach and tries to let go of weaponizing humor The strategist may become frustrated with their own potential and feel like they've lost their sense of purpose after retiring The strategist has an unclouded view of reality and is able to see how systems interrelate and their long-term implications The chief anxiety at this stage is failing to live up to one's universal principles and a lack of courage in pursuing their ambitious vision The strategist uses a sophisticated psychological vocabulary when discussing people, society, cultures, reality, spirituality, etc.
  18. The 9 Stages Of Ego Development - Part 1 https://youtu.be/J3hNosyyXRA The 9 Stages of Ego Development is a two-part series about cognitive development and how the human mind evolves Part 1 covers the pre-conventional and conventional categories or stages of development Part 2 covers the post-conventional and trans-human stages of development The 9 Stages of Ego Development model is based on research by Susan Cook Greuter and is an empirical scientific model grounded in sentence completion tests The 9 stages are: Impulsive Self-Protective Conformist Self-Aware Conscientious Individualist Autonomous Construct-aware Construct-transformative Each stage represents an increasing level of ego development and understanding of the self and the world The model suggests that individuals go through these stages in a specific sequence, but there is also room for individual differences and unique paths of development The model also emphasizes the importance of vertical growth, or the ability to integrate and transcends previous stages of development, rather than simply moving horizontally from one stage to the next. The stages of human development can be broken down into three categories: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional Pre-conventional stages include: symbiotic, impulsive, and opportunistic Approximately 5% of the adult population in the US is at the pre-conventional stage Conventional stages include: conformist, expert, and achiever Approximately 75-80% of the adult population in the US is at the conventional stage Conventional stages are what most people consider to be normal and possible Post-conventional stages include: individualistic, committed, and autonomous Approximately 10-15% of the adult population in the US is at the post-conventional stage The transhuman or transcendent stage may be added as a fourth category, sometimes included in the post-conventional category These stages can be influenced by factors such as culture and education Understanding these stages can help individuals recognize and potentially transcend their current stage of development. The mind is impulsive and self-centered, lacking insight into itself or others Awareness of how to manipulate others to meet basic needs and emotions Life is seen as a zero-sum game People at this stage are people of action, not thought or planning May engage in risky or irresponsible behaviors without considering consequences Split between a "real inner self" and a false front for manipulation Follow social rules for immediate advantage or to avoid punishment Socially invested in concrete, visible objects that can be owned Self-respect is equivalent to ability to control others Others are always to blame, not oneself Prone to anger and may not suppress emotions Actions are often driven by desire for physical pleasure or avoidance of physical pain Lacks empathy or concern for others' suffering May engage in bullying or intimidation to get what they want Not capable of insight into their own psychological processes. The speaker is describing a stage of development where the individual is highly conformist and buys into their belief system (Islam in this example) completely, with no distinction made between their own identity and the belief system Being part of a group offers protection and power, but requires loyalty and obedience There is a fear of ostracism and a desire to fit in with the group The individual's identity becomes based on conforming to group norms and fitting in with their peers The world is divided into simple, absolute categories of people and things, with allies and enemies There is a desire to gain status and rise up the hierarchy within the group The group's truth is seen as the only truth, and other groups are seen as inferior or evil The mind is unable to take the perspectives of other groups There is a lack of introspection or questioning of norms at this stage The individual may go through this stage in childhood or adolescence and may feel like a loner if they fail to integrate it properly This stage is characterized by sheep-like behavior and black and white thinking. The idea that one can do "crazy things" because they are convinced they are right Lack of self-reflection and self-doubt can lead to disastrous consequences At this stage, there is a strong sense of guilt and shame for not conforming to the herd, and pride in conformity The mind is threatened by different perspectives, diversity, complexity, and multiculturalism As the world constantly evolves, one can either accept and grapple with these changes or deny them and demonize them Doubling down and closing off from other perspectives allows one to avoid taking on responsibility and emotional labor Different belief systems and ways of thinking can be threatening and painful to consider, so the mind may avoid doing so The mind may also engage in "fundamental attribution error" and attribute the actions of others to their inherent nature rather than their circumstances At this stage, the mind is also unable to consider the idea that it could be wrong or that its beliefs could be incomplete or flawed There is a lack of awareness of the fact that the mind is constantly constructing and reconstructing reality The mind may also have a tendency to oversimplify and dichotomize the world into good and evil, us and them, etc. This stage can lead to a closed-off and inflexible mindset, which can have negative consequences for relationships and personal growth At this stage in development, the self is defined by its relationship to its in-group Emerging problems are often denied, relabeled, and whitewashed Conformist people struggle to adapt to evolutionary changes, leading to difficulty with new survival challenges Conformists are used to fitting a certain predefined role and doing things the way they have always been done, which can be effective as long as the environment and culture remain the same Conformists have a hard time adapting to new technology and can seem resistant to change Mental flexibility and taking on new challenges as a responsibility are necessary to adapt to new technology and its potential positives and negatives Conservatives are often resistant to new technologies like genetic engineering, stem cells, cloning, and birth control due to rigid and absolutist moral systems that don't take into account current realities Modern day Christians who follow fundamentalist beliefs struggle to adapt their moral system to new technologies The mind can either take on new challenges or deny them and refuse to engage with them The speaker is discussing a stage in which an individual has a high sense of ego and belief in their own expertise, wisdom, and knowledge The individual may feel reliant on validation from others but also not fully hinge their identity on it The individual may feel like they have life figured out and know all the answers There may be a strong sense of "shoulds" and "correct" and "incorrect" behaviors The individual may have a hard time collaborating with others and be argumentative and opinionated, using their intellect aggressively and criticizing others The individual may have a superiority complex and be easily triggered by others' perceived stupidity The individual may be perfectionistic and have a hard time delegating tasks The individual may have a hostile sense of humor and enjoy ridiculing others The individual may use hyper rationalism as a defense mechanism and dismiss anything outside their rational world view as nonsense The individual may be a technocrat or bureaucrat and enjoy being a mover and initiator The individual may come from a business or executive background or be interested in pickup techniques The individual may be an ultra rationalist and judge or demonize those who do not fit their world view People often talk about self-deception and cognitive biases in a superficial way, externalizing the issue and not fully understanding the depth of it within themselves Achievers are starting to explore suppressed feelings, but still largely live in their heads rather than their bodies Achievers are becoming familiar with their own biases and defenses, but only mildly so Achievers can use negative energy in productive ways and take self-actualization seriously Achievers may question societal and professional "shoulds" and become more creative and outside-the-box thinkers Achievers may experience guilt for past wrong choices and regret for missed opportunities, and may criticize themselves severely Achievers may not fully understand differences in development and expect everyone to be at their level Achievers value deeper interpersonal relationships and value others for who they are rather than how they serve the achiever Achievers value knowledge and wisdom from thought leaders and may belong to multiple diverse groups with different ideologies Achievers may start to see themselves as interdependent parts of multiple systems, rather than standing alone Achievers may begin to think more about their purpose and role in the world beyond their narrow profession Achievers may become more empathetic and compassionate towards others. A model of human development and maturity is discussed The model involves a spiral of conformity, differentiation, and reintegration Each stage of the model has its own "bubble" or separate reality The model can be used as a roadmap for personal growth and understanding others without judgment The model is divided into two parts, with the second part discussing post-conventional and transcendent stages The importance of perspective-taking in personal growth is emphasized.
  19. Spiral Dynamics - Stage Purple https://youtu.be/BZFlE0eKTvw Spiral Dynamics is a developmental model that examines the evolution of culture and human psychology over time, both at an individual level and collectively Each stage in Spiral Dynamics corresponds to a set of values and represents a more advanced form of culture The stages, in order, are Purple, Red, Blue, Orange, Green, Yellow, and Turquoise Purple is the beginning of the spiral and represents the values of being a member of a tribe or clan, with an emphasis on survival and sacrifice for the group Red represents a more selfish, individualistic approach, with an emphasis on power and control Blue represents a focus on tradition, rules, and authority, with an emphasis on order and stability Orange represents a focus on achievement, success, and efficiency, with an emphasis on rational thinking and analysis Green represents a focus on personal growth, equality, and community, with an emphasis on emotional intelligence and social responsibility Yellow represents a holistic, systems-thinking approach, with an emphasis on complexity and integration Turquoise represents a focus on spiritual connectedness and unity, with an emphasis on transcending ego and finding enlightenment The ultimate goal of Spiral Dynamics is to reach the higher stages of consciousness, such as Yellow and Turquoise, and to see reality from a more nuanced and complex perspective. Purple emerges due to the need for social interaction beyond personal survival The tribe is like a large family, with everyone helping each other out and knowing each other well The tribe functions like a team, with different roles and a need for cooperation to survive Purple values the tribe, clan, and community above all else, with strong family and tribal bonds Group activities and celebration are important, and the meaning of life comes from being part of the group In purple, people identify with the tribe and their role in it Power and status are determined by one's role in the tribe Purple is characterized by a lack of privacy and a lot of gossip Purple is marked by a focus on the collective, with a lack of individuality Westerners (including scientists and anthropologists) sometimes study tribes with unique customs and implicit rules that are not written down These rules can vary greatly from tribe to tribe and are often not scientific or rational, but are heuristics for survival in that particular environment Many tribes have fixed social roles, and children are often raised by the entire village or tribe, creating a sense of communal connection There is a sense of communal property in some tribes, where resources and property are shared to maximize efficiency and create a natural insurance policy There is often a gender-based division of labor in tribes, with women taking on certain tasks and men taking on others Some tribes have systems of trade and exchange, while others rely on gifting or sharing resources to meet their needs Westerners studying these tribes may face challenges in understanding and following these customs, but can eventually fit in and function within the tribe by learning through trial and error Stage Purple is a stage of human development characterized by a focus on natural phenomenon and animistic spirituality In Stage Purple, people rely on intuition and gut instinct to navigate their environment, as there is no writing system, mathematics, or science to understand the world There is a belief in magic and cause and effect, and superstition is common The environment and natural elements (stars, sun, water, rain, lightning, seasons, plants, earthquakes, sky, fire, earth, mountains) are seen as important and potentially dangerous Nature spirits are worshipped and revered, including the sun spirit, water spirit, rain spirit, plant spirit, mountain spirit, sky spirit, and fire spirit Reality is not understood in a mechanistic, materialistic framework, and there is a mystical sense of cause and effect There is no formal science at this stage, and understanding of phenomena such as disease, lightning, earthquakes, and fire is limited Stage Purple cultures tend to be more right-brained, intuitive, and feeling-oriented, rather than left-brained and logical Emotional attachment is placed on places, things, and people, and experienced individuals (such as shamans and medicine men) are highly attuned to their surroundings and able to make keen observations Stage purple is characterized by a primitive level of environmental consciousness Stage purple does not have a deep understanding of the impacts of technology on the environment Culture is taken for granted and not seen as something that can be consciously manipulated in stage purple Stage purple does not handle diversity or alternative viewpoints well and this can lead to conflict Stage purple has a narrow, limited world view and difficulty adapting to changing circumstances Stage purple's ultimate downfall may be its inability to adapt to changing circumstances due to its rigid world view. Sean Connery movie set in Amazon rainforest about a white western man searching for a cancer cure Noble savage concept and connections to mythology, voodoo, witchcraft, animal sacrifice, gift economy, paganism, cannibalism, sun worship, animal spirits, and paleolithic cave paintings Ubuntu philosophy of being interconnected as one tribe Suicide bombing and kamikaze pilots as examples of self-sacrifice for one's tribe Human sacrifice and eating one's enemies as examples of stage purple behavior Chanting, drum music, herbal medicine, acupuncture, energy work, shrines, totem poles, and various plant-based rituals and ceremonies as examples of stage purple practices Detura and iboga used by African tribes for rites of passage for young men Amanita muscaria mushrooms used by Siberian shamans Stage purple societies often have a focus on the collective and the tribe rather than the individual, and may have more fluid or non-binary gender roles Magic mushrooms that grow in the forest are better than synthetic versions Some shamanistic people are resistant to new methods, prefer traditional ways Purple (color) can be triggered by: domination, exploitation, profit motive, strict schedules and productivity, materialism, workaholic attitude Downsides/unhealthy aspects of purple include: tribalism, isolation, narrow world view, difficulty adapting Native Americans struggled to adapt to western culture and technology, leading to reservations and negative consequences Native Americans need to integrate with western society, but many do not want to Purple also tends to be traditional, superstitious, and less rational Purple can also be overly dogmatic, authoritarian, and resistant to change Purple can have a victim mentality, and may blame others for problems Purple can also be prone to magical thinking, superstition, and belief in supernatural forces Purple may also have a lack of self-awareness and self-reflection It is important for people to find balance and avoid excesses in purple traits We are all part of the same global community, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation It is important to treat others with love and kindness, and to not demonize or blame them Life should be about the quality of social bonds and relationships, rather than material possessions Nature is valuable and has a spiritual quality, and we should spend more time in nature and living harmoniously with it Emotions and intuition are important, and psychedelics can help with personal development and deep healing Spirituality, mysticism, and psychic powers should be taken seriously as a possibility for improving the quality of life Slowing down and living a simpler, more mindful life can be beneficial The importance of community and connection with others, and the value of sharing resources and supporting each other. The speaker believes it is possible to improve various aspects of life, including nutrition, fitness, psychology, emotion, social connections, politics, and spirituality. A big plan and vision is necessary to guide these efforts and provide motivation. The speaker aims to inspire listeners to see the full potential of self-improvement work. The potential of an individual as a human being is enormous and can be realized through self-discipline and taking life seriously. The speaker wants to help listeners create a vision that will fuel their efforts and guide them in improving various aspects of their life. There is still more work to be covered in this project.
  20. Spiral Dynamics - Stage Red https://youtu.be/XEHYK3TM2jc Spiral Dynamics is a psychological developmental model It explains the evolution of the human psyche and human value systems It covers stages of development from beige to purple to red to blue to orange to green to yellow to turquoise In this episode, the focus is on the red stage Credit is given to the developers of Spiral Dynamics: Claire Graves, Don Beck, and Christopher Cohen The model explains how humans adapt to and transform their environment through their symbolic system (language, culture, etc.) The red stage is characterized by power, control, and domination It is driven by the "survival instinct" and the need to protect oneself and one's group Red is often seen in third world countries and developing countries, but it is also present in developed countries Red is a dangerous and problematic stage because it can lead to violence and destruction The red stage is dominated by the "me first" mentality and a focus on the present moment It is concerned with physical safety and security Red can be seen in gangs, dictatorships, and authoritarian regimes The red stage can be transformed into the blue stage through the development of laws, morals, and values The blue stage is characterized by order, tradition, and hierarchy It is driven by the need for stability and predictability The blue stage is concerned with maintaining the status quo and upholding the rules The blue stage can be seen in organized religions, conservative politics, and traditional societies The transition from red to blue is important for the development of civilizations and societies The blue stage can be transformed into the orange stage through the development of scientific thinking and individualism The orange stage is characterized by achievement, success, and innovation It is driven by the need for progress and the desire to succeed The orange stage is concerned with personal advancement and making a mark on the world The orange stage can be seen in capitalist societies and meritocracies The orange stage can be transformed into the green stage through the development of social and environmental consciousness The green stage is characterized by community, equality, and compassion It is driven by the need for connection and the desire for social justice The green stage is concerned with social and environmental issues, and it values diversity and inclusivity The green stage can be seen in progressive politics and social movements The green stage can be transformed into the yellow stage through the development of a holistic and systems-thinking perspective The yellow stage is characterized by complexity, integration, and integration It is driven by the need to understand the interconnectedness of things and to find meaning in life The yellow stage is concerned with finding harmony and balance in the world The yellow stage can be seen in spiritual and philosophical movements The yellow stage can be transformed into the turquoise stage through the development of a transpersonal perspective The turquoise stage is characterized by spirituality, unity, and transcendence It is driven by the need to connect with something greater than oneself The turquoise stage is concerned with spirituality and the unity of all things The turquoise stage can be seen in spiritual and transcendental movements Tribal life is collectivist, with no sense of individualism or personal freedoms Success and stability in tribal life leads to the emergence of a sense of individuality and personal ambition This stage, called "red," is characterized by a focus on survival and the desire for personal power and control Red values include personal power, strength, might, and brute force Red government is a unification through ruthless domination Red is driven by a fear of being victim and will use violence to avoid being conquered or oppressed Red values may also include altruistic motivation to protect and unite one's tribe against a stronger, oppressive outside force Red may also be motivated by a desire to assert dominance over other tribes and conquer them for resources and power. Stage Red societies are characterized by totalitarianism and authoritarianism Stage Red societies often glorify absolute rules and vengeful gods In Stage Red societies, war, rape, genocide, and enslavement are often glorified Relationships in Stage Red societies tend to be transactional and expendable Stage Red societies tend to be violent and narcissistic Stage Red societies often view other humans in the same way that humans view animals they eat, as expendable and without personal worth Stage Red societies often have a high risk tolerance and may be prone to gambling Stage Red societies may also be characterized by a lack of empathy and a lack of concern for the well-being of others Stage Red societies often prioritize survival above all else, leading to a jaded and desensitized attitude towards violence and death. The text mentions someone who has been sentenced to five years in prison for rape The person has a mindset in which they prioritize their own desires, in this case being "really horny", over the well-being and consent of others This mentality is characterized by a lack of self-reflection and a tendency to become defensive when confronted with opposing ideas Stage red is described as being self-confident, having a high ego, and being unable to objectively evaluate their own weaknesses or consider self-improvement When someone in stage red is told to do self-improvement work, they are likely to take it personally and become angry or violent Stage red is characterized by a lack of self-control, poor planning skills, a tendency towards corruption, and a desire to control and expand territory Aggression and violence are seen as acceptable tools for achieving one's goals Stage red is passionate and driven, with an alpha male mentality, but can be exhibited by both males and females Stage red tends to be self-centered, with a focus on immediate gratification and survival It is difficult to get someone in stage red to rehabilitate or change their behavior Stage blue, which comes after stage red, involves the development of self-control and discipline It is possible for people to move from stage red to stage blue, but it requires a significant shift in mindset and a willingness to do the self-improvement work necessary to change. Trump does not care about the suffering of poor minorities and the middle class Trump talks about God and religious freedom, but this is just for show Trump is a con artist who has done market testing to figure out what conservatives want to hear The media did not adequately warn people about Trump's true nature during the election Trump has stage red authoritarian and narcissistic tendencies, similar to Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein's rise to power demonstrates how stage red works There is a book and a TV show that detail Saddam Hussein's rise to power and provide insight into stage red The media and many people do not understand spiral dynamics and are unable to distinguish Trump and other stage red leaders from standard conservatives Some people mistakenly label Trump and his supporters as fascists or Nazis because they do not understand stage red It is important to understand spiral dynamics in order to accurately understand and predict the behavior of leaders like Trump and Saddam Hussein The text discusses the concept of "stage red," which refers to a person's level of development and behaviors associated with it Stage red behaviors include a love of bloodlust and thrill-seeking, aggression, and domination Boxers, UFC fighters, and Conor McGregor are examples of people with a high level of stage red Stage red can also be seen in behaviors such as bullying, tyranny, bribery, and violence The text also mentions the influence of systemic racism and income inequality on the development of certain cultures, specifically discussing the "hood culture" of urban areas and how it is shaped by a lack of resources and opportunities The text discusses the concept of spiral development and how it can be affected by culture and external factors such as income inequality The text also addresses the topic of intelligence and race, stating that the belief that certain races have lower IQs is not based on genetics but rather a lack of spiral development Jesus and the Old Testament have different stages of development (Jesus is more stage green, Old Testament is more stage red) Sith from Star Wars is very stage red Dan Pena is a motivational business leader with stage red elements Hunting homeless people for sport is stage red Black Panthers had some stage red elements KKK lynchings and torturing slaves are examples of stage red Treating women as chattel in certain parts of the world is stage red Stage red can be distinguished from stage orange by its level of aggression (stage orange manipulates to achieve goals, stage red uses violence) Stage orange is capable of guilt and shame, while stage red is not Stage orange may commit white-collar crime, while stage red may use violence to achieve goals Common phrases and sayings that exemplify stage red include: "might makes right," "desperate times require desperate measures," "no guts no glory," "you have to break some eggs to make an omelet," "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," "it's a dog-eat-dog world," "survival of the fittest," "to the victor go the spoils," "the world is a jungle," "if you're not with us you're against us," "fight tooth and nail," "take no prisoners," and "offer he can't refuse." The speaker compares President Trump to a bull in a china shop The speaker suggests that Trump's presidency will be remembered as chaotic and ineffective, with institutions and norms being broken and needing to be rebuilt after he leaves office The speaker compares Trump to Russian President Putin, but notes that Putin is more competent and effective The speaker notes that stage red individuals, like Trump, engage in a lot of bragging and are unable to build quality relationships The speaker argues that stage red individuals are not capable of building stable, peaceful civilizations and that the problem with dictators and tyrants is the inability to transition power to a new leader after the current one dies or leaves office Approximately 20% of the adult global population is "stage red" This group holds 5% of world influence Stage red is characterized by power-driven, conquest-driven societies, such as clans led by warlords and dictatorships, exploitative empires, absolute monarchies, or tyrannical totalitarian states Stage red often surges in times of uncertainty and crisis, such as in the aftermath of a disaster To move beyond stage red, one option is to have a transformative experience, like a religious awakening or a near-death experience Another option is to develop a sense of morality and a desire to live up to higher standards A third option is to seek out and join a stage orange or stage yellow group It is also possible to transcend stage red individually, by developing personal practices like meditation or mindfulness It is important to recognize the limitations of stage red and strive to move beyond it in order to achieve a more fulfilling and meaningful life. The speaker suggests that changing one's environment can be a helpful factor in improving one's circumstances. One option for changing one's environment is to move to a more highly developed country. Another option for changing one's environment is to move to a different city or state, or to change one's social circle. The speaker suggests that exploring one's emotions and femininity, and seeking support through community groups or churches, can be helpful in moving from red to blue on the developmental spectrum. The speaker notes that red is not inherently good or bad, but rather a necessary stage of development that may look unhealthy in highly developed societies. The speaker also suggests that even individuals who consider themselves to be at higher stages of development may still have aspects of their personality that have not fully integrated red. The next stage after red on the developmental spectrum is blue. Developmental psychology is a legitimate and serious field that studies personal development and how to optimize it for individuals and societies Developmental psychology can provide a roadmap for understanding how the human psyche develops and how to help people develop themselves to higher levels The concept of "spiral dynamics" involves understanding that people are not purely one color or personality type, but rather a mix of nuanced layers and a center of gravity towards a particular type The term "spiral dynamics" has been trademarked by a company called "biodynamics," which led to the removal of a YouTube video discussing the concept of "stage turquoise" More episodes discussing spiral dynamics will be available on the speaker's website, including a video on "stage purple" and audio on "stage turquoise"
  21. Why Is There Something Rather Than Nothing https://youtu.be/DhMroy-fP00 The ultimate question is why there is something rather than nothing Philosophers, theologians, and scientists have been asking this question for thousands of years without a clear consensus Most people today assume that it is impossible to know the answer The speaker believes that it is possible to answer the question definitively and not just as a belief or ideology The answer is profound and may be difficult for people to understand It is important to appreciate the significance of the question and to focus one's consciousness on the fact that anything exists at all The question of existence can be broken down into three categories: being, non-being, and the boundary between the two Non-being can be further broken down into two categories: pure nothingness and potential being Pure nothingness is the absence of all things and is not conscious or capable of change Potential being is the potential for something to exist and is conscious and capable of change The boundary between being and non-being is the point at which something comes into existence This boundary is not a physical thing and cannot be observed or measured The speaker believes that the answer to the ultimate question lies in understanding the nature of the boundary between being and non-being The speaker believes that the boundary between being and non-being is consciousness and that consciousness is the fundamental reality of the universe The speaker believes that consciousness is the source of all things and is eternal and infinite The speaker believes that the process of creation is the process of consciousness manifesting itself as the universe The speaker believes that the ultimate question can be answered by understanding the nature of consciousness and the process of creation The speaker believes that this understanding can be directly experienced and is not just a belief or ideology The boundary between nothing and something is not made out of anything There is no difference between something and nothing, and this boundary collapses The universe is nothing and has always been nothing Our concepts of something and nothing are flawed and originate from our childhood experiences Our worldview is based on these flawed concepts Reality is non-dual, meaning there is no separation between subject and object The sense of self is an illusion Suffering is caused by identification with the ego or sense of self To end suffering, we must let go of this identification with the ego The ego is a product of thought, and thought is not real We can free ourselves from suffering by letting go of thought and returning to the present moment In the present moment, we can experience true peace and happiness. The concept of form and formlessness, and the idea that understanding only form is only understanding half of reality The idea that formlessness is not something separate or abstract, but is present in the world of form The concept that understanding formlessness and form as one allows for a complete understanding of reality The idea that the origin and nature of reality, as well as the self, can be understood through direct consciousness The concept that philosophical questions about the nature of reality, such as "why is there something rather than nothing," can have practical and meaningful answers The idea that understanding the nature of various concepts, such as consciousness, love, truth, and God, as being identical to nothing takes multiple awakenings and profound realizations The concept that the ultimate goal is to arrive at a state of non-duality, where distinctions between self and other, form and formlessness, and subject and object no longer exist The text discusses the idea that one does not need to be afraid or worried about negative things, such as death and bad things happening, because they are ultimately meaningless or empty. This realization can lift feelings of depression and turn them into joy and bliss. The spiritual path involves surrendering the pursuit of material pleasures in order to discover the higher, divine pleasures of the spiritual realm, which are essentially nothingness. This realization must be a living, conscious reality, and it takes work to achieve it. The text suggests that the speaker's content can help guide others towards this realization.
  22. What If Reality Is Nothing But Perspective https://youtu.be/_JmNzIN0c2c Reality is made up of different perspectives Most people are stuck in their limited perspective and unable to see reality from any other angle This limited perspective is often defended as absolute truth, even though it is not It is important to be able to look at the world from different perspectives in order to truly understand reality The mind is often stuck in a game of defending its own perspective It is important to take a meta perspective and see the situation for what it is, rather than simply defending one's own perspective Differences in perspective can be seen everywhere, from YouTube debates to cable news arguments It is possible to break free from this limited perspective and see reality more clearly This requires letting go of the ego and its need to defend its perspective By embracing a more open-minded and flexible approach to reality, it is possible to gain a deeper understanding of the world around us. The idea of not being interested in defending any specific intellectual position or pet theory The concept of seeing through the "game" of having a certain perspective and rising above it The issue of evaluating other perspectives without truly switching to and experiencing them The self-biased and partial nature of perspectives The convenience and selfishness of perspectives elevating themselves above others The need to genuinely explore and understand other perspectives The realization that all perspectives are limited and incomplete The potential benefits of adopting this attitude towards life and avoiding being trapped by a single perspective Changing behavior of a machine requires changing the BIOS level BIOS level changes can open up new capabilities, but also come with a trade-off of increased difficulty and potential for mistakes BIOS is influenced by culture, society, education system, and environment BIOS influences how a person interacts with their environment and the approval, love, and basic needs they can expect to receive from their community A person may be forced to adopt the BIOS of their community in order to fit in and receive approval and love Children are programmed with a BIOS from an early age and may not be aware of it The BIOS can be changed, but it requires self-reflection and a willingness to challenge and change one's beliefs and assumptions The process of changing the BIOS is difficult and may be met with resistance from oneself and others, but it can lead to personal growth and a better understanding of the world. The act of rolling down a hill and accumulating material represents the process of growing and developing as a person In the first half of life, people focus on accreting and defining themselves In the second half of life, people can choose to reverse this process and surrender themselves, questioning why they developed in the ways they did To truly understand oneself and reality, it is necessary to be open to exploring different perspectives and understanding reality from every possible angle Reality is made up of infinite perspectives, and to fully understand it requires looking at it from every possible perspective Different people and different tools (such as cameras) can perceive and represent reality in different ways The ultimate goal is to understand reality as it truly is, rather than through a personal lens To do this, it is necessary to be open and willing to surrender one's own perspective The idea that to fully understand a perspective, one must live through it and not just understand it in theory The example of an atheist understanding the perspective of a fundamentalist Christian by attending a church meeting versus fully incarnating and living as a fundamentalist Christian for a significant amount of time The same idea applied to a Christian understanding the perspective of a fundamentalist Muslim The belief that every consciousness must incarnate and live through every possible permutation of experience in order to reach complete self-understanding and infinity The movement from fear and limited perspective to a desire to explore more perspectives as a movement from fear to love The concept of critical mass, where understanding reaches a point where it falls in love with itself and all of its diversity of perspectives The idea that understanding and exploring different perspectives leads to personal growth and evolution The belief that this process of understanding and exploring different perspectives is the purpose of life. Doing violence to others, even if only in one's own mind, is really judging and demonizing oneself Other perspectives are all aspects of oneself, and therefore, judging and criticizing them is really judging and criticizing oneself Wishing violence upon others will come back to haunt the person doing it There are two options in life: being bitter or being loving Bitterness is proportional to how little one understands and appreciates other perspectives, while love is proportional to one's understanding and appreciation of the abundance in the universe The goal of creating a good life is to get one's mind on an infinite slope of love, where love accumulates more and more and becomes an echo chamber that strengthens itself Fear, selfishness, and attachment prevent people from achieving this freefall of love Love that is too intense to be held can heal and transform a person, but the ego or shadow self inside of them may resist this transformation To truly heal and transform, one must be willing to confront and embrace the darkness within oneself This process requires a lot of courage, but ultimately leads to the realization of one's true self and a life of joy and peace.
  23. Why Libertarianism Is Nonsense - Deconstructing Freedom https://youtu.be/ivHgi791pHY Libertarianism is an ideology The ideology of libertarianism has problems and limitations This episode will be an advanced deconstruction of the ideology of libertarianism This analysis will be deep and sophisticated, incorporating concepts from various fields such as spirituality, non-duality, metaphysics, epistemology, and moral philosophy The aim is to change the listener's view of reality, especially if they are a libertarian Libertarianism is a political philosophy and movement that prioritizes liberty and individualism Libertarians seek to maximize political freedom and autonomy, and they value voluntary association Libertarians are skeptical of authority and state power, but they have differing opinions on the extent of their opposition to current economic and political systems Not all libertarians are the same, and there is diversity in their perspectives and views The ideology of libertarianism has a number of metaphysical, epistemological, and moral problems The concept of freedom, as understood by libertarians, is problematic and misguided The idea of individualism, as promoted by libertarianism, is misguided and leads to social and moral problems The libertarian view of property and ownership is flawed and leads to injustices The libertarian view of government and the state is problematic and unrealistic The libertarian ideology is harmful to society and to individuals, and it is necessary to move beyond it in order to achieve a deeper understanding of reality and higher levels of personal development. The writer is arguing that libertarianism is problematic and unsustainable The writer believes that many people, including libertarians, misunderstand freedom Freedom is defined as a complete lack of limitation To be free, one must be completely unlimited in every way However, having a material, concrete existence comes with limitations and trade-offs The writer believes that it is not possible to be completely free while also having a particular form or identity Therefore, true freedom may not be an absolute good for an individual or life form The writer also mentions that their views on freedom apply to anarchism as well The writer is liberal and libertarian The concept of freedom and how it relates to oppression and conflict between individuals or groups The idea that true freedom allows for the freedom of others, and the difficulties that arise when these freedoms come into conflict The example of farmers living in a peaceful, isolated community where there is a general agreement on moral systems, worldviews, and ethical codes, and how this type of community is not representative of the majority of human history The potential for ambition, ego, and the desire for power to disrupt the peaceful coexistence of a community, leading to oppression and exploitation The concept of a collective or syndicate of individuals working together to conquer and dominate others, and the potential for this to occur even within a community of farmers The role of government in addressing and resolving conflicts that arise between individuals or groups with competing freedoms and agendas The idea that libertarianism as a philosophy may not fully consider the potential consequences and conflicts that can arise in situations where individuals or groups come into contact with one another Tribes engage in blood feuds as a form of retribution In an advanced society, there are systems in place (police, courts, military) to regulate and mediate disputes These systems involve a monopoly of force, and require the relinquishment of certain freedoms Rules have been established for warfare (Geneva Convention, treaties against certain weapons) to mitigate the horrors of war These rules require agreement and a means to enforce them The only solution for one side cheating on the rules is for the other side to do the same, leading to a cycle of retaliation In order to break this cycle, both sides must come to the table and agree to certain rules, even if they still hate each other This process of agreeing to rules and mediating disputes is what allows for a more peaceful, ordered society Slavery is not inherently evil and is instead a cultural norm Oppression is relative to a person's survival agenda and identity Cultural norms, infrastructure, and bureaucratic institutions prevent slavery The idea that slavery is wrong is a cultural consensus in developed parts of the world The evils of allowing slavery led to the cultural consensus that it is wrong Taxation is seen as oppression by libertarians, but is necessary for the functioning of society Private space travel is possible, but is built upon a foundation of complex bureaucracy and regulation Government provides necessary services such as military, court systems, police, fire departments, education, and universities The government's role in society is to provide a framework for individuals to thrive Government intervention is necessary in certain situations such as natural disasters and pandemics The government is not perfect, but it is necessary for the functioning of a society. A road has value because it allows for faster travel and access to previously unreachable places Some people may try to blockade or hijack the road for their own gain There needs to be a mechanism (such as patrols or a court system) to prevent this and enforce rules on the road This mechanism, or government, is necessary to maintain order and prevent chaos on the road Government also sets up regulations and infrastructure that allow for other complex systems, such as commercial airplane travel, to function safely and efficiently Libertarians misunderstand the nature of free markets Free markets can become corrupt because the individuals participating in the market are themselves corrupt When there are many individual participants in a market, they will often group together and form corporations, tribes, syndicates, cabal's, and mafias in order to gain an advantage in the market Corporations engage in unethical practices such as buying up other companies, coordinating with them, and price-fixing in order to gain an advantage If there were less regulation, a corporation could potentially hire its own military to take out other corporations The problem with free markets is that they allow groups to create syndicates and mafias that abuse and bully others Throughout history, humans have formed larger and larger hierarchies and syndicates that monopolize and bully others until they dominate the field Governments were created in the same way, starting as small villages and tribes that unified and formed larger and larger entities until we reached the nation-state and international alliances of today The private sector and public sector are not inherently different, as the public sector evolved from the private sector Libertarianism's sharp dualistic division between the private sector and public sector is misguided and ignores the way that the public sector actually came about In order to prevent the negative consequences of free markets, there needs to be some form of regulation and oversight to prevent the formation of abusive syndicates and mafias. Libertarians cannot exist in a tribal society because they prioritize individual rights and freedoms over the needs of the community The ability to hold and express libertarian ideology is only possible in modern, developed societies with large populations and advanced infrastructure, such as education systems and technology Individualism, while a value in modern societies, is not an absolute good and can be harmful to communities if taken to an extreme Humans are social and communal animals, and have always relied on communities to survive Collective institutions, such as education systems and government, are necessary for the functioning and success of a society Individualism and collectivism are not mutually exclusive and can coexist in a healthy society The balance between individualism and collectivism is important for the well-being of a society Governments and corporations can be authoritarian The problem with corporations is that they are inherently authoritarian and the people who own them make all the decisions In a democratic government, everyone has a vote and a say in the direction of the government The American government is less oppressive and problematic than a corporation like Amazon because people have more of a say in the government than they do in a corporation A benevolent overarching force is needed to serve as a neutral referee and ensure that independent agents play nice The military cannot be privatized because it would lead to a dictatorship or tyranny The more the military is privatized, the more corporations influence military policy, leading to bad wars and other problems Collectivism has been wrongly demonized and is not the same as a communist or hive mind state America has always been collectivist, even in the past when it was considered great The military and other forms of socialization are examples of collectivism Conservatism and capitalism are not the same thing Conservatism and capitalism can coexist with collectivism America needs to return to its roots and embrace collectivism in order to have a fair and peaceful society Physical space and time are relative, but people often think their idea of good and bad, moral and immoral, is absolute Einstein discovered that physical time, as measured by clocks, is relative People's moral systems are arbitrary, relative, and self-centered Libertarians do not understand the complexity and scale of reality and how it affects society and government Complex societies require complex governments to regulate and manage them Complexity in government is necessary to properly regulate complex societies The function of a good government is to set rules and regulations that create a stable ecosystem Anarchists and libertarians often rely on simplistic examples to justify their beliefs, but these examples do not account for the complexity of modern society The United States has a complex government with many layers and regulations, but it is necessary to maintain order and stability The colonies pushed for unification in the United States due to the belief that it would lead to a stronger and more dominant country There was resistance to this idea, with some arguing against the loss of individual sovereignty and the potential for taxation Now, 200 years later, it is clear that the United States is stronger and more efficient as a union than it would be as individual colonies If every state in the Union were its own country, there would be inefficiencies and more conflict between the states The unified sense of identity within the United States helps prevent conflict between states In the past, cities and towns were more efficient and powerful when they were united and not constantly fighting with each other A monopoly of force is necessary in a community in order to have peaceful cooperation, as people cannot be trusted to carry out their own justice In order to have a peaceful society, people give up their right to violence and agree to follow laws and a system of justice This system relies on the idea that people will follow the rules even if they do not personally agree with them, as the overall benefit to the community is greater than the individual's personal beliefs or desires. Social Security is a program that deducts a portion of paychecks to provide financial support to elderly people once they retire Without Social Security, many elderly people would face premature death, health problems, and homelessness Libertarians may argue that they shouldn't have to pay into Social Security, but they need to consider the consequences of living in a community with a large population of sick and homeless elderly people Most people are highly irresponsible and need policies and programs to safeguard them Libertarians may think they are invincible, but they could still face health issues or have a child with a genetic birth defect and be unable to afford medical care The healthcare system in the US is a syndicate, and libertarians contribute to its perpetuation Libertarians may argue for personal responsibility, but they don't take responsibility for the consequences of their own actions, such as supporting a broken healthcare system Libertarians may claim to value freedom, but they support policies and systems that restrict the freedom of others, such as not providing healthcare to those who can't afford it Libertarians may argue for small government, but they support policies that increase government power, such as the military industrial complex and the prison industrial complex Libertarians may argue for individualism, but they support policies and systems that prioritize profit over people, such as capitalism The utopian vision of libertarians is not realistic and ignores the complexities and interdependence of society. Libertarianism is a stage of development in cognitive and moral development and is a low stage Each level of development corresponds with its own view of reality Society is composed of different levels of development and cognitive, moral, spiritual, cultural development and states of consciousness This creates diversity and just because someone is at a high level of development does not mean everyone else is Libertarianism is insufficient and dysfunctional and there are higher levels of development to access Nathaniel Branden and Ayn Rand's philosophy is a popular mind virus in American culture that corresponds with the current stage of development To access higher levels, one must admit that libertarianism is insufficient and have an open mind Ayn Rand's books are overpraised and there are better sources to understand politics and human nature Objections to this argument may include: a libertarian state has never existed, but that does not mean it is impossible; libertarianism promotes individual freedom, which is good; and that libertarianism is based on reason and evidence The problem with these objections is that they do not consider developmental psychology, the fact that different societies have different needs at different times, and the idea that individual freedom does not always lead to good outcomes Individualism is not always good and should not be clung to Becoming more social and part of a community is beneficial Freedom is not an absolute good and should not be pursued as such Lack of proper education and historical understanding can contribute to misunderstandings Spile and Hammock's developmental psychology theory of "biodynamic sage green" (next stage above current one) is more socialistic and worth exploring Spirituality and consciousness work can help to develop empathy, compassion, and love Libertarian philosophy may not be sufficient to govern a 21st century society and must be able to address: Ecology and environmental issues (tragedy of the commons) Systemic racism Hate speech and intolerance Propaganda and toxic ideologies Poverty and inequality Mental health and addiction Aging population Unemployment and automation Terrorism and violence Disease and pandemics Overpopulation and resource depletion
  24. Understanding Democracy & Authoritarianism https://youtu.be/HP_nwEWJu70 Democracy is a system where ordinary people have control over important decisions that affect their lives and society It is easy to take democracy for granted, especially if you grow up in a developed country Autocracy and tyranny are prevalent throughout history and still exist in the 21st century Democracy is not a binary, there are different degrees and orders of magnitude of democracy The myth of American democracy is that it is a pure and perfect system, but it is actually flawed and has always been in need of reform One of the challenges of democracy is the tension between majority rule and minority rights Another challenge is the role of money in politics, which can lead to corruption and undermine the democratic process The current global trend is towards authoritarianism, with a rise in authoritarian leaders and a decline in democracy This trend is being fueled by a number of factors, including the erosion of trust in institutions, the rise of social media and fake news, and the failure of democracy to address complex global challenges To reverse this trend and strengthen democracy, we need to address these challenges and work to improve our own understanding and practice of democracy This can be done through personal development work, such as exploring one's own biases and values, and engaging in active citizenship and civic participation. Ignorance of what is coming in the future and what it will take to advance to new stages in the future Sacrifices made by ancestors that are taken for granted today Ignorance of people in the past who were unable to cast a ballot for politicians Need for technology, such as writing and a way to tabulate votes Need for a social system and cultural invention to agree on voting and civic duty Need for infrastructure, such as clocks and calendars, marketing system, understanding of history, government, politics, and human psychology Difficulty of understanding complex and nuanced topics in order to make educated decisions Ancient times of Caesar and Rome, where cities were sacked and people were raped, pillaged, and enslaved if the city's perimeter was broken through Modern society where most infrastructure is maintained after war or invasion Democracy being unsustainable in the past due to lack of understanding and education Need for strong leaders in the past to protect and defend the people Transition to modern democracy with more widespread education and understanding Need to be aware of and acknowledge the sacrifices and progress made by our ancestors in order to continue advancing as a society. People in power in certain societies may be violent and kill those who are their rivals in order to maintain their power The concept of unity is crucial for a society to survive and thrive Unifying a diverse group of people with different cultures, beliefs, and ideas can be difficult but necessary for a society to build and accomplish great things In some societies, there is a lack of unity and clear hierarchy, leading to problems and a lack of progress A strong leader is necessary to unify a society and achieve goals In some cases, a strong leader may use fear or manipulation to maintain control and unity It is important for a society to strike a balance between unity and individual freedom and not allow one to overshadow the other. Ancient people did not care about the environment, but only lacked the technology and power to destroy it Ancient people's lack of destruction of the environment is not due to ecological consciousness Animals do not live harmoniously with nature, but only because they lack the capacity to destroy it Environmental problems are due to scale (large population and democratic freedoms allowing for consumption and destruction) Democracy has many degrees and should not be thought of as binary Democracy is dangerous and needs to be managed Environmentalism is not the answer and will not solve environmental problems A small elite group needs to be in charge of managing democracy and the environment The solution is to limit democracy and give more power to an elite group. The importance of handling the coronavirus pandemic and fighting systemic racism The brutality and horror of human history, including wars, slavery, pillaging, rape, genocide, torture, imprisonment, and massacres The survival DNA and karma of our ancestors, which is coded into our genetics and culture and influences our current society The trend towards democracy and increased equality, but also the potential for fragmentation as society becomes more democratized The role of education and personal development in increasing consciousness, love, and selflessness The importance of self-examination and personal growth in overcoming the selfishness and ego that may be inherited from our ancestors. Access to information is easy and can be customized to fit an individual's beliefs This can create an "echo chamber" where an individual only consumes information that confirms their beliefs In the past, there were authority figures who dictated what was true, good, and acceptable Today, survival challenges are different and include how to coexist with diverse perspectives Exposure to diverse perspectives through media can be challenging for narrow, siloed cultures This can lead to cultural conflict and a decline in the belief in a single "truth" This shift requires a change in how we think about morality and truth It is important to be open to other perspectives and to try to understand where others are coming from This will help us find common ground and coexist peacefully. Major worldviews like Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam are the most moderate and sensible There have been many extreme and toxic worldviews that have not become mainstream because they died out or remained specialized and narrow The democratization of media has made it easier for people to access radical ideologies and conspiracy theories It is easy to criticize, but harder to lead and create something better Jordan Peterson's advice is to focus on self-improvement before attempting to change the world Some young, idealistic liberals and progressives get involved in politics without having accomplished anything in their own lives It is important to understand why systems exist before criticizing them The danger of radical ideologies is that they can become mainstream and cause harm It is important to be conscious and thoughtful in one's actions and critiques. The text discusses the incompetence of the Trump administration and its impact on government policies and decisions The text notes that it is harder to build a better system than it is to criticize or tear down an existing one The text discusses the democratization of cultural power and how it has led to a increase in vulgarity in American culture This vulgarity is seen in the language and style used on platforms like YouTube and Facebook, and has also begun to infect mainstream media There are both positive and negative aspects to this increase in vulgarity, with one positive aspect being that it can make media feel more real and relatable The text also discusses how the democratization of cultural power has led to a decline in propriety and manners in society The text touches on the role of universities in teaching manners and ethics, and how the spread of power to people who have not gone to university has contributed to the decline in these areas The text also discusses the concept of "pre-internet culture" and how it is different from contemporary culture The text reflects on the impact of social media on political discourse and the way that people consume information The text concludes by discussing the role of aesthetics in shaping political opinions and the importance of considering aesthetics when building a better society. The recent development of new frontiers in technology has led to a lack of regulation Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Dorsey, and other tech leaders are facing criticism for not adequately regulating their platforms Regulating and policing platforms is a challenging problem These tech companies, including Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Apple, are heavily intertwined with society and therefore cannot be ruled by a single individual or corporate board These companies will face increasing tension and criticism in the future due to their monopolization of resources and increasing economic inequality The founders of these companies, including Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, are currently still involved and have a sense of the original vision for the company In the future, as these founders age and are replaced by corporate interests, the companies may become more corrupt and focused on profits over their original missions The solution to this problem may be the democratization of these companies to prevent them from becoming too powerful. There are two halves of a society: one half is progressive and one half is conservative It is the responsibility of the progressive half to help elevate the conservative half This can be achieved through understanding, love, and consciousness The goal is for everyone to become more powerful creators and to take on more responsibility and ownership for their reality The reason society is "so messed up" is because people are too selfish Individual and collective selflessness is necessary for change to occur Cleaning one's room is not enough; it is also important to educate oneself and play a leadership role in changing systems Don't just complain or adopt ideologies; instead, be curious, study systems, and take constructive action Crying and complaining is not productive; instead, focus on personal development and try to make a positive impact on the world Seek out mentors and surround oneself with good people Remember to keep a long-term perspective and focus on the bigger picture.
  25. The Ultimate Structure Of Reality Explained https://youtu.be/Ng9OqpMmIb0 Reality is structured in a specific, deliberate, and intelligent way It is possible to become fully omniscient and conscious of why the universe exists and why it is structured as it is Reality is an infinite, conscious field that comprises the entire universe This field is singular, not multiple, and is dreamed up by an infinite mind Every boundary between objects within the field is contained within the field itself and is therefore not separating The field is unified and there are no separate objects or beings The field is not just impersonal, but is also personal, as each individual is a part of the field and is identified with a specific part of it The field is also self-aware and has the ability to dream itself up The field is structured as a series of concentric circles, with each circle representing a different level of consciousness The innermost circle is the highest level of consciousness and is the source of all creation The outer circles represent lower levels of consciousness and are the manifestation of the inner circles' dreams The field is structured in this way because it allows for the maximum amount of creativity and the greatest potential for growth and evolution Each individual has the ability to evolve and move up through the circles to reach the highest level of consciousness This process requires self-awareness and the ability to let go of ego and identification with the lower levels of consciousness Ultimately, the goal is to become one with the field and to fully realize the true nature of reality. Oneness is identical to consciousness, being unlimited, and infinity Love in its highest form is the complete embrace of oneself The universe is one and infinite in all directions, making it boundless and therefore love itself Most beings exist at lower gradations of consciousness, which is not infinite When consciousness becomes completely infinite, it loses all form and becomes a pure singularity of potential The Godhead is the pure undifferentiated infinity that exists before the Big Bang Reality consists of the Godhead at the center, with everything else orbiting around it at various distances As you move further from the center, you become less complete and more finite Life and its purpose are connected to this infinite singularity There are various techniques to access this state of consciousness, such as through psychedelics, yoga, meditation, or contemplation. The text discusses the relationship between desire, selflessness, and the singularity Desire and personal attachment can be a hindrance to selflessness A trade-off exists between personal needs and the desire to care for others As selflessness increases, desire becomes more universal and selfless Reaching the singularity involves surrendering everything and becoming formless, pure love and goodness All living beings are at a distance from the singularity, with those closer being more conscious, selfless, loving, and complete Those further from the singularity are more selfish, attached to their particular way of life, survival-oriented, and fear-based The universe is structured in a way that allows for the balance between selflessness and selfishness to exist The purpose of life is to gradually move closer to the singularity and become more selfless, while still fulfilling personal needs and desires The ultimate test of selflessness is the willingness to surrender everything and become completely formless. God wants to share love with all beings, but to do so requires breaking apart into fragments of consciousness These fragments of consciousness are attracted to each other and seek to reunite This process of reunion and realization of one's true nature as God is facilitated by letting go of judgments, discrimination, and negative behaviors such as lying, manipulating, cheating, stealing, and indulging in selective sexual desires This process also applies to inanimate matter, with the motion of all matter driven by a desire for reunification Gravity can be understood as the force that brings fragments of consciousness back together The ultimate goal is to reach infinite consciousness and love Mankind has taken death and called it infinite love and God To be good, one must recognize goodness and desire to be good for its own sake God wants to share the beauty and goodness of the universe with all of its fragmented parts, but cannot force this upon them as it would be killing them with love God must be careful in approaching beings with love and give them clues to see the potential for love and goodness To truly teach someone the power of goodness, one must not force it upon them but rather guide them towards it through understanding and choice The universe is a school in which beings learn through experience and challenges The universe is constantly trying to lead beings towards goodness and love, but they must choose it themselves It is important to not judge others and instead try to understand them and help them grow It is important to let go of attachments and ego in order to fully embrace goodness and love The key to true happiness is to live a life of goodness and love. The idea of merging with every person who has ever lived on Earth and then expanding that to include all living beings and eventually the entire universe The need to surrender ego and judgment in order to fully experience love and merge with the Godhead The purpose of the universe being to allow for the discovery and sharing of love The ultimate goal of feeling whole and complete, and the idea that all desires ultimately stem from a desire for completeness and infinity The concept that every person is searching for God, even if they are not aware of it The idea that the universe and individual experiences are designed to help individuals wake up and realize their true nature as part of the Godhead The concept of death as a transition to infinite love and unity with the Godhead Marriage, business, and school are no longer about personal gain or self-interest Being selfless and loving in every situation leads to happiness Most people are not happy because they are unwilling to let go of attachments, cravings, beliefs, judgements, criticisms, and habits Surrendering these things is difficult, but it is the only work that has any value The universe is learning how to love itself, with the ultimate goal of becoming its highest form, which is just love Love is both the substance and structure of the universe To love is to help others to love and not leave anyone behind Reaching the ultimate reunification may take multiple lifetimes, but it is worth it to participate in the highest form of love