kylan11

GPT-3.5 was cool when it got released but is nowhere advanced enough for these kinds of topics. I've briefly tried to replicate the same conversation in GPT-4 and as you can see the results are vastly different. kylan11 If I'm looking at a tree and then take a high dose of LSD, my experience would be that the tree starts to wave and twist around, does that mean the tree actually morphs and twists? ChatGPT No, the tree does not actually morph or twist. What you're describing is a hallucination, which is a perception of something that is not present in the external environment. LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a powerful hallucinogenic drug that can alter perceptions, thoughts, and feelings, often causing hallucinations. When someone takes LSD, it affects neurotransmitter systems in the brain, particularly the serotonin system. This can lead to altered perceptions of reality. So, while the tree remains stationary and unchanged in the external world, the individual's perception of it can be dramatically altered due to the effects of the drug on their brain. It's important to note that while hallucinations can seem very real to the person experiencing them, they are not reflective of changes in the external environment. Always exercise caution and be aware of the potential risks when considering the use of any psychoactive substances. kylan11 So you say that my experience would be different from what's being experienced? ChatGPT Yes, that's correct. Your "experience" is subjective and is based on your internal perception of the external world. When you take a substance like LSD, it can alter that perception, making you experience things differently than they actually are in the external environment. To clarify: Objective Reality: This refers to the external world as it exists independently of any observer. In this context, the tree remains stationary and doesn't morph or twist. Subjective Experience: This refers to how an individual perceives and interprets the external world. Under the influence of LSD, your subjective experience might be that the tree appears to wave, twist, or morph, even though it is not actually doing so in objective reality. So, while the tree in objective reality remains unchanged, your subjective experience of it can be altered due to the effects of the drug on your brain. This distinction between objective reality and subjective experience is fundamental in understanding the effects of hallucinogenic drugs. kylan11 So if my experience doesn’t match what's being experienced, how can I trust that my experience tells me anything at all about what's being experienced? ChatGPT Your question touches on deep philosophical issues related to the nature of perception, reality, and knowledge. Here are some points to consider: Nature of Perception: All human experiences are mediated by our senses and interpreted by our brains. Even without the influence of substances like LSD, our perceptions are not perfect replicas of the external world. For example, optical illusions can trick our eyes and brains into seeing things that aren't there or misinterpreting what is there. Reliability of Perception: While our perceptions are not infallible, they have evolved to be generally reliable in most situations. For example, if multiple people observe a tree, they will likely agree on its general characteristics (e.g., its location, size, color). This shared perception allows us to navigate and interact with the world effectively. Altered States of Consciousness: When under the influence of substances like LSD, the reliability of our perceptions can be compromised. However, this doesn't mean that all perceptions, in all states of consciousness, are unreliable. It just means that in certain altered states, our perceptions might not align with objective reality. Epistemology: This is the study of knowledge and how we come to know things. One of the challenges in epistemology is determining when we can trust our perceptions and when we should be skeptical. Philosophers have debated this for centuries, and there's no single answer that satisfies everyone. Pragmatic Approach: In everyday life, we often take a pragmatic approach. If our perceptions help us navigate the world effectively and make predictions that turn out to be accurate, we consider them reliable. If our perceptions consistently lead us astray, we learn to be skeptical of them. In summary, while our perceptions are not perfect, they are generally reliable in most situations. However, it's always beneficial to approach our experiences with a degree of humility and skepticism, recognizing that our understanding of the world is always limited and mediated by our senses and cognitive processes. kylan11 If you say that the experience under the influence of LSD doesn't necessarily match objective reality, how can you be certain that the experience under no influence of any substance is an accurate depiction of an objective reality? I mean, you're still having an experience when not under the influence of LSD so what's really the ontological difference between the two types of experiences? One may be more regular but regularity itself doesn't tell anything about it's "kind" or ontological status other than it's behavior. So if you agree that one type of experience, the one under influence of LSD, is less accurate of an objective reality then you have no argument to place the other experience under no influence as the more truthful experience of objective reality. Who knows, maybe it's the exact opposite where the experience under influence of LSD is actually showing more of reality and that this normal experience under no influence is actually the least accurate representation of an objective reality. How would you know that this isn't the case? ChatGPT Your line of questioning delves into deep philosophical territory, touching on issues of epistemology (the study of knowledge), ontology (the study of the nature of being), and the philosophy of mind. Here are some points to consider: Baseline Experience: Our "normal" or baseline state of consciousness has been shaped by evolution to help us survive and reproduce in our environment. The perceptions and cognitive processes that have been most beneficial for our survival have been selected for over countless generations. This doesn't guarantee that our perceptions are a perfect representation of objective reality, but it suggests they are at least functional and effective for navigating our environment. Consensus Reality: One way we gauge the reliability of our perceptions is through consensus. If multiple people, all in their baseline states of consciousness, perceive a tree in the same location, we have more confidence that the tree is "really" there. This shared perception forms the basis of what we might call "consensus reality." Altered States: When someone is under the influence of a substance like LSD, their perceptions might diverge from this consensus reality. This doesn't necessarily mean their perceptions are "less real" in an ontological sense, but they are less shared and less effective for navigating the typical human environment. Limitations of Human Perception: Even in our baseline state, human perception has known limitations. For instance, we can't see ultraviolet light, but some animals can. Does this mean our perception is "less real"? Not necessarily. It's just limited in scope. Similarly, altered states might reveal aspects of reality that are typically hidden from us, or they might distort our perceptions in ways that are less aligned with consensus reality. The Nature of "Objective Reality": Philosophers have long debated the nature of objective reality and whether we can ever truly access it. Some argue that all we can ever know is our perceptions, while others believe we can get closer to objective reality through methods like the scientific process. The Value of Different States: From a pragmatic standpoint, different states of consciousness might be valuable for different purposes. The baseline state is effective for everyday navigation and survival. Altered states might be valuable for introspection, creativity, or spiritual experiences. In conclusion, while we can't be absolutely certain that our baseline state of consciousness provides a more "accurate" depiction of objective reality than an altered state, we can say that it's more effective for certain purposes, like survival and social interaction. The deeper question of what "reality" truly is and how (or if) we can access it remains a profound philosophical mystery.

Allow me to disagree here, I think you're focusing solely on the number of deaths due to natural disasters. Climate change affects our ecosystems, food sources, water availability, and can create mass migrations. This could lead to political unrest, wars for resources, WW3 (=nuclear) and even societal collapse in the worst case scenario. We've been close to that scenario for far dumber reasons in the last century. While we might not have 500+ million people dying directly because of a hurricane or drought, the cascading effects could very possibly be the worst thing that ever happened to the human race.

As you know Jordan Peterson says tons of bullshit when he speaks about political topics, but as a psychologist he explained this in a way I found very helpful. It goes like this: Men are interested in things, women are interested in people. More accurately, I'm talking about feminine and masculine traits. Now obviously there are women with masculine traits and viceversa, so this is a simplistic generalization. We need both in a functional society. This is why nurses/social workers/teachers are mostly women while the engineering field is mostly men. Trying to artificially eliminate those differences and make every profession or human endeavor a perfect 50/50 ignores this truth and is actually a loss to democracy and freedom. It's not surprising that chess, being a "thing", attracts mostly men. There is definitely a socially constructed component to some professions/activities being historically dominated by one gender, but keep in mind that we have (theoretically!) achieved gender equality in the civilized world fairly recently so the overall culture will need time to adjust. And this takes many generations.

So for those of you who don't know this guy, he's an Harvard psychiatrist/monk/former hardcore gamer. Talk about unique set of skills there. I genuinely feel like his content is some of the best and most helpful resources online. He connects in a fascinating way the western and eastern approach to the human mind and reality at large. Ignore the "clickbait-y" title, this talk is gold. I think Leo and all of you will find it very interesting and I'd love to get your reactions/opinions.

Couldn't disagree more. Music is patterns of Being layered in a perfect, harmonious, balanced way. A cosmic dance of vibration, a sacred rhythm that beats in tandem with the heart of existence itself. An ethereal language without speech that only in higher states of consciousness you can really understand.

Agreed. But at this point, why not combine the best of both worlds? It worked for me. So in this case, get completely mindfucked by LSD/5-MeO once or twice just to have a glimpse of who and what you really are, then gradually work your way up with meditation to elevate your baseline consciousness. And one day you might have a completely sober enlightenment that will shift your baseline forever. That way you get: A damn good reason to keep up your meditation practice in this materialistic world (you have an idea of what it's possible to achieve); The amazing effects on your well-being that come from meditation alone; Spiritual development without the associated risks of psychedelics. To me that's a balanced approach that doesn't demonize psychedelics but puts emphasis on the baseline instead of the peak. And while relying solely on psychedelic might work for you @Leo Gura, many people (me included due to genetic predispositions) are way more at risk to lose touch with consensual reality and end up in a mental institution.

There's quite a few interesting studies on this. It has been observed that long-term meditators sleep less while experiencing none of the negative health consequences that one would expect both mentally and physically. Therefore yes, it is possible.

For those who've never heard of it (I hadn't), I highly recommend this show. It provides a profound philosophical exploration of the nature of ethics, human life, and death, presented in an engaging and humorous way. It's the type of show you can enjoy casually over lunch, but it still leaves you with valuable insights rather than simply providing mindless, pointless entertainment.

Kind of the reason religion exists. But if you wing it, it can have some pretty crazy, destructive and violent results as well, only collectively.

What difference? You said it yourself. The compound is literally the same. A molecule is a molecule. What you're referring to is concentration. Truffles are generally less potent due to the lower concentration, so adjust the dose accordingly. But that's pretty much it. Whatever effects you experience with cubes at X% of psilocin in your brain, that will be identical to psilocin coming from truffles. Just play with the dose and start slow. You never know how potent these little fuckers are gonna be.

Hey so, I've met this amazing woman whom I've been in a relationship with for almost a year now. Since my spiritual awakening has been the most transformative and important experience of my life, I've always talked to her about psychedelics. She was very skeptical at first - what rational human wouldn't be? She has never used anything other than alcohol and weed. But opening myself to her about the egotistical, damaged and manipulative person I was prior to having that experience and how it transformed me has slowly changed her mind and now after many months of low-key lobbying (without in any way forcing her) she's ready to take this step. I'm so happy since, although with her I've had the most extraordinary sober experiences of pure love I could ever imagine, not being able to really go deep into metaphysical and epistemological territory without feeling a sort of disconnect always felt somewhat limiting for me. My psychonaut journey taught me to start gentle and slow, so I was thinking 1 to 1.5 grams max of Golden Teacher mushrooms. She's a petite girl, 5'1' and skinny. Setting is a beautiful mountain, with some of her lifelong friends (about 5-6 of us in total) who will be tripping with her. I'll be the sitter. I have a feeling that 5-6 people is too many when tripping, even in an optimal natural environment. Plus, I don't know any of them except my gf. Big no-no. This might make it uncomfortable for them, and in turn they may negatively influence my gf. I suspect she's prone to negative experiences - she told me that at one time during her adolescence she went into a catatonic state for an hour after just a few hits of weed. This so important to me and I don't want her to get scared off. I'm afraid that I won't be able to control the situation if it gets out of hand, even though the doses are low. Plus - I don't want to project my anxiety into the experience and ruin it. This means so much to me and I just want her to have an amazing time like I had when I first took mushrooms. Should I call it off? What do you guys think?

As title says. I'm curious about the weirdest/most shocking thing that ever happened to you mid trip. Parents call, family emergency, police knock, all that. Basically real life situations or nightmare scenarios you were NOT prepared to face in that state. How did you react? What happened? What did you learn? Just to be clear, I mean strictly external, consensual reality factors. Nothing that your own mind generated (yes, I see the irony, you know what I mean) due to dark thoughts or ego resistence. Mine has to be when I literally witnessed a mafia homicide on LSD, right from my balcony. Haunting to say the least. The guy was shot twice in the head. Few minutes later my house was surrounded by cops while we were on the 3rd floor tripping and smoking weed. Literal nightmare. When I write that trip report it's gonna be one for the ages. What about yours?

I don't know. First time I've ever tripped was with 3 of my best friends (4 in total). 2.5g each, first time for all of us. And it was life-changing. But the thing is we all knew each other well and were totally comfortable around each other. I'm afraid that my presence will make things worse for everyone (except my gf, of course) and the dynamic can turn negative so quickly in that state. But then again, with 1g each they might just ignore me and have an amazing day full of laughter and presence. I'm not expecting them to have a God realization or anything, just gently introduce them to a higher state of Being.

Oh most definitely. Right there I meant plan a routine to follow before you trip to maximize your mental and physical well-being. I see way too many people just casually dropping two tabs like they're having a beer. Preparation is important. Don't underestimate the nutritional aspect. Your gut is your second brain and has a tremendous impact on your state of mind, so don't binge on Big Macs like it's movie night with your girlfriend.

This guy definitely belongs in this thread.

Prepare beforehand. Plan accordingly. Take care of yourself, mentally AND physically. Take a shower. Eat light. Exercise. Get yourself into a good, open and content state of mind. And for the long-lasting psychedelics like LSD: have a plan on what you're going to do while tripping and stick to it. Eye mask and headphones for the whole trip? That's fine, prepare the playlist beforehand and make a commitment not to get up. Terence McKenna style? Also okay. Watching a suitable movie? Take a bath? Walk in nature? All great ideas, just make sure you have an idea on how you wanna spend your day.

Fascinating time we live in. Let's see some actual evidence though. Given the vastity of our 3D universe (which may or may not be infinite btw), it's incredibly short-sighted and anthropocentric to think that we are the only intelligent beings. I'm generally skeptical of claims suggesting that 3D aliens – by which I mean aliens who inhabit the same physical universe as we do, and who are bound by the same laws of physics – are somehow already surveilling us using spacecraft comparable to our current technology, which we can see, study and understand. If such a type 3 alien civilization does exist, I find it difficult to believe that they are so advanced that they are capable of achieving speeds close to light and exploring the universe and yet, despite these capabilities, they're regularly detected by dumb monkeys such as ourselves and crash into oceans. It doesn't add up for me. Sure there's biological intelligent life someplace else in the physical universe we can see at baseline consciousness. And I don't think we've made contact with them yet. Maybe in a few million years. Just the thought that they exist somewhere and are experiencing the same Oneness-moment as us right now gives me chills. That being said I find it funny that right now, as I'm writing this, chances are some actual Alien with a capital A (or DMT entity or whatever) outside of space-time inhabiting an inconceivable higher dimension is surveilling us for real and probably laughing his ass off at our stupidity.

Leo has slowly turned into a cautionary tale for the dangers of the spiritual ego. Notice how any attempt at challenging any of his conclusions is met with increasingly more extreme displays of either pure anger or an unwavering sense of superiority. This is sad and you wouldn't condone this kind of behavior from a child, let alone the self-titled only awakened man in the history of mankind. Find some fucking humility. You're not that special and you know far less than you think you do. This level of deception and arrogance has become pathetic. And while I'm not the first person to say this, nothing has changed.

I wonder... and this is a question I'd like to ask to everyone here who's done salvia: were you aware of its reputation for inducing nightmarish trips prior to your experience? Is it possible that such expectations could have influenced your trips negatively? Meaning, if you go into a trip anxious and in anticipation of a terrifying experience, well, that's what you will likely get regardless of the substance. Could all this be at least partly self-induced? I've never done it so idk, I'm just curious. I know of a few friends who did it and from what they told me it seemed like a fun experience. They knew nothing about it. Probably a very low dose too.

Totally agree. This seems to be a common phenomenon in virtually every online spirituality-focused community I've encountered. Don't let this discourage you, though. The main reason is simply Ego corruption. You see, when faced with "IT", our illusory individual identity quickly constructs new beliefs to grasp onto in an attempt to regain control. This is particularly common when awakening is abrupt and induced by a substance, rather than resulting from a "spontaneous" experience often precipitated by years of meditation practice. The majority of us in this space belong to the former category. The problem is that these beliefs are corrupted and influenced by the person (Ego) forming them. The person isn't aware that these are memories and mental constructs and clings to them as if they were Truth itself. And since the identification is so strong, there tends to be disagreement and even aggression. Leo himself is guilty of this. But these are human affairs and have no impact on spirituality in its essence, which defies logic and human language, and is therefore impossible to articulate accurately. Randomly. A friend of mine brought mushrooms, I was curious to try them, and what happened later was definitely not what I had signed up for. It was so much more than just taking a drug. It changed my life. Saved it, in a sense. I would genuinely recommend you try a psychedelic experience to see what the fuss is all about. Then you come back, tell us about it, and work to establish a spiritual practice that can elevate your baseline consciousness. Please note, there's no obligation to use psychedelics. They are simply tools that have the power to provide an immediate glimpse into the vast potential within our consciousness.

You might wanna look into habit formation theory. I would advise against this. It's too much, too fast. I guarantee you will quickly lose motivation, burnout, and revert to your old habits. Start slow. I suggest as little as 5 minutes a day. After a while, once you genuinely feel the desire to spend more time meditating, gradually and slowly increase your time. Begin with increments of 5 minutes. Eventually you'll get there and the habit will stick.

I disagree. "Pro" porn is so fake it almost makes me cringe. Personally, knowing that they are all paid actors pretending to be having the best sex of their lives all the time spoils the excitement for me. Amateur, homemade couple porn is raw, genuine unfiltered sexual passion. You can tell there's actual chemistry and enjoyment. Not in my experience, we both love recording ourselves and knowing that we'll masturbate to it later when one of us isn't home is an exciting thought. You leave the camera somewhere where you'll be in the shot and after a while you even forget you're recording.

I have an amount of respect for you that is beyond words and nothing will ever change that. I know this means nothing to you but it's a thought I felt compelled to express. You have models in your mind of the Absolute that are so precise, beautiful, and well-put, allowing you to convey profound insights to your vast audience, that in my opinion, no teacher has ever come close. But these models, as advanced as they are, they are now YOU. As in, Leo Gura. If you happen to stumble upon this post, notice how I lost your active, open attention with the last sentence. These models aren't just advanced and mature models to you, are they? There's a strong reaction to anyone even mildly suggesting that, while you have reached advanced stages of awakening, Leo Gura still has a trick up his sleeve that you are currently identified with. And for you, it's easy to see each trick in us. It's fundamental knowledge that cognitive biases are easy to spot in others, while a steep mountain of reflection and deconstruction is necessary to identify and rectify one's own biases. Allow yourself to "not-know" just for one minute here, and genuinely entertain the idea that you might be a victim yourself. By identifying with "the guide through every trick" you have, by definition, placed yourself in a corner. One in which no more radical growth is possible, because you simply cannot allow yourself to "not-know", ever. And since you have a vast following of people hanging from your every word, that Persona might have just become your prison. There might be something you are still missing. I would still bet good money that your perception is so much larger than Leo Gura's that it's only a matter of time.

Thank you all for sharing. Since it was 2 AM my time and I was tired af when I made this thread I didn't really go into details of the homicide story, which I'm gonna do now. 31 Dec 2021, 10 PM. Small party at my house. I had literally just bought it, 3 days earlier. No furniture. Just a big empty space with a carpet on the floor, dozens of hard liquor bottles and ashtrays. I was waiting for a few friends that were to join us later in the night. Me, my sister and (at the time) a friend with benefits of mine (thereby referred as M) each took an LSD gummy, 200mg. So I live in Naples. I kid you not this city is IN LOVE with fireworks. There hasn't been a single year without at least 10-15 people getting injured due to improper pyrotechnics. It's a meme throughout Italy. The whole night it sounded like fucking Baghdad. 3 AM. My friends finally came (A and T) and they took two gummies as well. Then they laid on the carpet, rolling some joints while waiting for the onset. My sister was in the other room with the window open. Not 5 minutes after my friends went inside, M remarks "jesus, it's 3 AM, are the fireworks still going off?". As she says that, I share a puzzled look with A. We were thinking the same thing. My response was: "you know what, now that you made me notice, these sound more like gunshots, actually". I think I was just trying to be a smartass. I was RIGHT. Literally 10 seconds later my sister storms into the living room and says "Guys, there's something serious going on outside." She heard a commotion and thought someone was stabbed or something. We all walk to the balcony. There's a guy DIRECTLY (like 40 feet) below us bleeding like water flowing from a broken pipe, grunting and crying. I have never seen more blood in my life. I distinctly remember looking into his eyes. HE WAS STILL ALIVE. I noticed he had been shot on the neck and jaw. No words can describe what I felt in that moment. I was one with him. I felt what he was feeling. He was so scared. No trace of the hardened criminal that (as I later learned) he was in life. A scared little child. What he once was, before fabricating this tough, violent mask he didn't even know he had. The mask had dropped. Just a frightened, little, fragile, divine child of God. Powerless. Terrified of the circumstances he was finding himself into. I felt so much LOVE towards him. A love that no attractive sequence of words can describe. This was, no doubt, a spiritual experience like no other before or after. Unfortunately my existential reflection was cut short due to my ego assessing the situation and realizing that holy shit, a murder was just committed a few feet from us. Police is gonna be swarming this street. We are directly above the crime scene. They will investigate, ask questions, look for security cameras. They might wanna enter my house. We are smoking so much weed they can probably smell it a mile away. We are tripping. We are FUCKED. So I panicked. I closed all the windows hoping that the smell would stay in the house. I told everyone to get inside. We were ready to throw everything in the toilet if it came to it. Later I learned that indeed the police talked to the neighbor directly below us. I don't know why they thankfully left us alone. Honestly I'm surprised I was able to stay so rational and relatively calm during the whole ordeal. Thank GOD it was a mild trip. I don't know what would've happened if any of us took more. The scene that followed was straight out a movie. I had never seen that many officers. Relatives of the victim were informed, including his parents. They screamed. They cried. They swore revenge. Try and imagine. CSI photographed the crime scene, took samples, the whole thing. Meanwhile we were in the 3rd floor tripping. Remember, my friends were out on the street exactly where it happened not 5 minutes before it happened. I had just bought the house. Crazy fucking night man. I've found an english article on the incident. There it is. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/italys-mobsters-settle-scores-under-cover-of-new-year-fireworks-8ls69l8v9 I should add that my sister WOULD NOT. FUCKING. GO INSIDE. Adding to my anxiety. She stayed on the balcony, in plain sight for everyone to see, all the time. She was in the midst of a very profound trip so I get it, but fuck. Never mind the police ("oh! you're a witness, good, what happened?"), it's never a good idea to get too curious about this kind of deep organized crime shit. Mind your own business. The whole criminal gang including the kingpin gathered around the poor fellow.

Jesus. 5-MeO?