Forestluv

@non_nothing A beautiful poem with depth of human experience.

You speak of the "ego" as if it were a bothersome pet of yours. Ego = self = delusion The idea that "I want to understand my ego. . . " is a classic trick of the ego!

@Jed Vassallo I did three Ayahuasca ceremonies during a retreat in Peru. I took two servings. As well, I've done 5-meo about 10 times solo at home. The term "powerful" is relative to the person. Are you referring to depth of insights? Visuals? Mental / physical discomfort? For me personally, I would put Aya and 5-meo on a similar "power" level. Yet, they are different teachers with different lessons. In general, Aya gave me three very different trips, while 5-meo has been more consistent. In terms of mental intensity - both require a high level of surrender and I had to deal with panic / insanity zones prior to ego death with both. Both are possessive to me, with Aya more aggressively possessive. Aya was much more visual and it felt like there was some presence offering lessons - often called Mother Aya. 5-meo have very little visuals - it's more like a dissolving. There was no sense of any type of being. In general for me, it's like becoming the universe, being the magnificence of life. Or, just deep insights into energy flows. It's hard to describe. I'm fortunate in that 50-meo is fairly gentle on me, yet I can see how people go into insanity zones with it. Both Aya and 5-meo gave me a very deep sense of interconnection to all of reality - especially nature and people. In terms of physcial intensity - I found Aya to be more physically intense, yet people have told me I'm an oddball with 5-meo body load.

Exactly ???

It depends on your definition of “know”. If you want to go the “it’s all a dream route”, then I don’t know. Yet that leaves me sitting all day in silence in a nondual state - just being. I kinda like communicating with others and making human connections - which involves sharing memories.

This is a 2005 talk, somewhat outdated. He presents a rational, physical view - yet lacks higher-order relativism and metaphysics regarding existence. A standard rationalist with little trans-rational understanding

Ok. There is a deeper understanding than alpha/beta available at a deeper level of consciousness. From an evolution/neuroscience perspective, it would be primarily a limbic system view, with perhaps a single layer of frontal cotex reasoning.

It’s just another perspective

I never had children and I never had a desire to have children. I've always had a strong aversion to having my own kids. Does my life lack objective meaning? We have the technology to kill off all men and keep the human race going without sexual reproduction. Would such a world lack objective meaning?

alpha or beta males is Red/Blue/Orange level thinking. There is a much deeper understanding available at Green and above.

For me, when a sense of knowing arises, the types of questions you are asking dissolve. My “breakthrough” with the whole “were you born thing” came in a sensory deprivation tank.

This makes complete sense from a rational perspective. There is also a perspective that is non-rational.

In the general lexicon of word usage, I would consider "necessary" as most objective, "meaning" as most subjective and "purpose" as in-between. Purpose suggests intention. I think there is a basic concept of intention related to the self and a more metaphysical usage of intention beyond the self.

Seems like some entitlement going on here.

Ok. . . and a pigeon expresses meaningless homing behavior. . .

I would be mindful of rational/logical reasoning in search of an answer. Sometimes I simply ask "From where is this impulse arising"? Or, "what does nature desire to bring forth through me?". For me, gathering data, facts, practicalities etc. is great. It's great input. Then, allow a "higher order" consciousness to "decide" and express itself. I imagine myself waiting for a train in Paris and uncertain what to do next. Should I return to the hostel? Should I try to squeeze in a trip to the Eiffel Tower? Inputting information such as train schedules, tourist hours, meal times etc. is fine. Then, there is often an intuition toward something. As well, perhaps contemplate "decisions". Who/what is "deciding"?

Why play sports if it doesn't have meaning? Why learn if it doesn't have meaning? Why climb mount Kilimanjaro if it doesn't have meaning? Why does a bird soar through the sky? Why does a polar bear cuddle her cubs? It is the magnificence of life.

I’d wish for understanding of the existential nature of a wish.

Necessary and meaning are generally used differently. Necessary is a more objective term than meaning. You are *adding* something extra with the term meaning. For example: Electricity is necessary for a movie to continue playing. Is electricity the meaning of the movie?

Consider that thoughts are within truth.

Some scientists might agree with that idea. I think most scientists would prefer a statement like “Reproduction is necessary for the continuation of life”. In general, scientists prefer more objective terms than subjective- “necessary” is more objective than “meaning”. Your persoectivec is relative to what you assign as “meaning”.

I also speak to a lot of college students on this. I try to show them there are good things in life beyond personal achievement and rational thinking. I’ll ask them about times in life they reached flow states - in sports, playing a musical instrument etc. I encourage them to describe their state of consciousness and their connection with teammates or band mates. That sense of oneness. Or times they were struck in awe by beautiful nature. They have all had moments like these above Orange. . . After they really get into state, I ask “You love it, don’t you? And you want to spend more time there, don’t you?”. . . They all nod yes and I have their curiousity and attention. There are still challenges with getting them up through Green. I think it might be easier to breeze through some of the non-threatening aspects of Green and then into Tier2. There are aspects of Tier2 that resonate with them - deep down below all the noise in their heads.

Def. not. 4-aco-dmt is the most well-known RC.

Wow, the author of that video was a hard-core Orange-level atheist. Yet, that video is tier2 thinking. I remember him as an atheist with a genuine desire to seek the truth. So cool to see him evolving.

Very nice. Buddhists call that being free from all attachment. I think it’s so cool how the same awakening is expressed differently in the various spiritual practices.