Forestluv

I've contemplated that same question and unsure of "the answer". Yet, my sense is that awareness of the present moment and simply being is "it". Using terms such as "self-inquiry" and "meditation" makes that "it" a something. A something is separate from other somethings. Yet, that "it" is not separate from anything.

Hmmmm, so a solo retreat without talk and thought would be nondual. And. . . using inherently dualistic language to describe my summer trip to Peru is also nondual - because the fundamental nature of nonduality cannot be separate. So, the nondual must be a "nothing" and "everything". Because as soon as I try to classify things as either "nondual" and "dual", I am making "nondual" a something that is separate from a "dual" something.

@Brimstone Accessibility needs two separate entities - one trying to gain access to the other. So yea, it’s inaccessible.

@Joseph Maynor I intellectually acknowledged the ego as an illusion for 20 years. I went through all the letting go and surrender motions. It wasn’t until I went to the ego-death zone with psychedelics that shit got real. Entering the insanity zone and having all control stripped away has at times included struggle, intense anxiety and even terror. My days of meditation and group discussions on letting go of the ego and developing a compassionate heart is like a warm blanket and s’mores compared to facing ego-death head on.

@Aimblack My path involved 25 years of self improvement. I worked a lot to improve my self, to develop a positive self image. That fragile, insecure self became confident and independent. My life greatly improved. After 25 years of strengthening, it seems I may finally have a self/ego that is strong enough to die. It has been a difficult process with fear and struggle. Several times have been so intense, I said enough - never again. Yet I keep getting the calling to return. I can’t imagine working through this with a weak ego. I just wouldn’t have done it

I find it interesting how much attention is given to “happiness” in spiritual circles. I suppose that’s an easier sell than “surrender and ego death”.

For me, your model breaks down when you include duality: inside vs. outside.

@Leo Gura To me, the term dualism suggests bimodal distinctions. Yet, wouldn’t continuums also be considered dualistic distinctions? E.g. “He drives a LARGE truck” includes dualism (The truck he drives is seperate from other smaller trucks he does not drive). If so, wouldn’t most adjectives in language be dualistic since they compare seperate items?

@AleksM Thanks. I'll let that settle in for a while. . .

Yes I have read it. That is not what I am getting at. It's not it, yet It's also not not it.

I've had glimpses into what I think you are describing. The closest I can describe the experience: "is" I am becoming more aware of how my mind keeps adding to "is" - adding thoughts, concepts, judgements, separation etc. For example, I've noticed every time my mind uses an adjective - it is adding to, and separating from, "is". (Doing that is also "is", yet it seems awareness of what "is" is becomes reduced or lost).

And off we go!. . .

@Visionary Authentic is an adjective we subjectivly assign. It is a judgement. What is. . . is. No need to analyze or judge. Just be.

That’s not what I mean by singularity. That use is seperating into source / not source. Recently I’ve had some nondual experiences. I’m aware of it, yet can’t explain it. The other day I was admiring a butterfly dancing among flowers as a pollinator. There was a moment of awareness of one, of same, of singularity. It wasn’t like “I” was watching “it”. I don’t know how long the moment was because it was timeless. My mind has tried to make sense of that moment, yet each attempt isn’t it.

There is a singularity of is

Pure psychedelics are safer than pure alcohol. Contaminated psychedelics and contaminated alcohol are both unsafe.

Thoughts and cocepts is is too. As is everything.

My most insightful moments have not felt good. They usually involve some level of ego dissolution or death. I find it really uncomfortable and I don’t know why I keep going back for more. For me, my strongest sense of Truth was simply “is”. My ego didn’t like it one bit and I reached the insanity threshold.

@AleksM Those are feelings that simply “is”. One is not more “is” than anothet. They all “is”

@kuwaynej The AI contingente at the National Neuroscience conference is getting larger every year. . .

@Marios Tsagoulis The hardest part for me is entering the dreaded ego-death zone. An ego with insecurities, dissappointments, self-judgement, confusion, overwhelm etc. is an ego still under the illusion of control. For me, that is infinitely more comfortable than losing all control and facing ego death. Yet since I first got there, I keep having this calling to return. Sometimes I feel like I’m on the edge of insanity and enlightenment.

Those are just a couple selective factors. Others such as height, sense of humor, religion and ethnicity are also strong selective forces. An insecure guy who is 6’3”, handsome with a great sense of humor would have a higher sexual fitness than an emotionally-stable confident 5’4” guy who is overweight and balding.

I’ve gone on dates where neither of us started in the friend zone. We meet on Bumble or Tinder. We exchange messages about ourselves and what we are looking for in a relationship. We agree there is potential for romance and go on a date. We arrive in the prospect zone and could move into the romance zone, friend zone or never-see-each-other-again zone.

Who decides what is *real*?

@Nahm The sentiment isn’t negative. Perhaps conceptualization candy is better