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Comprehension Has Many Degrees https://youtu.be/Fh-BchpGXD0 "A good idea must be chewed to get its juice." Comprehension Has Many Degrees: Leo highlights that understanding can vary greatly, and while many may hear or read truths, insights, or teachings, the level of genuine comprehension can be vastly different. The Importance of Contemplation: Leo underscores that true understanding comes from deep contemplation—digesting and exploring the layers, facets, and implications of an insight or principle to allow for transformative impact. Example of People's Opinions: The common advice that other people's opinions are irrelevant is often not fully internalized, as evidenced by the continued impact of these opinions on one's life despite intellectual agreement with the concept. Language Creates Reality: Leo challenges listeners to contemplate the profound statement that language creates reality, encouraging them to investigate its truth and implications rather than accepting it at face value. The Map is Not the Territory: Understanding the difference between maps (concepts) and territories (reality) is critical, as failing to recognize this can lead to a fundamental misunderstanding of the human experience. Buddha's Teaching on Suffering: The Buddha's teaching that all suffering comes from clinging to impermanent objects is deceptively simple but requires significant contemplation to grasp its depth and apply it to one's life. All Fear Is a Concept About the Future: Contemplating the idea that fear is tied to future projections can lead to profound insights into the nature of fear and possibly its elimination through deeper understanding. Significance of Meditation: Leo argues that to establish a strong meditation practice, one must first comprehend its profound importance through personal contemplation, beyond simply following instructions. Concept of No-self and Non-duality: To even grasp the concept of no-self and non-duality requires serious contemplation, as the implications are vast, affecting all areas of philosophy, science, and daily life. Conceptual Understanding Versus Direct Experience: Leo points out the progression from conceptual understanding of profound insights, such as non-duality, to direct experience and realization of their truth. Transformation Through Contemplation: Leo asserts that contemplating deeply on significant concepts, such as success not being equivalent to growth, can transform one's life. Merely hearing this idea is not enough; one must actively draw connections and implications to truly comprehend and thus change their life. Intellectual Acceptance vs. True Belief: Many people intellectually accept the idea that other people's opinions don't matter, but still experience anxiety and fear, showing they haven't truly internalized the concept. Contemplation can help bridge the gap between knowing an idea and being affected by it in daily life. The Illusion of Good and Bad: Leo challenges the notion of good and bad by exploring how deeply-held yet unexamined beliefs about good and bad influence reactions and suffering in everyday life. Without deep contemplation, when faced with negative experiences, people quickly resort to their default belief in good and bad, revealing their lack of understanding. The Danger of Superficial Beliefs: Leo points out that simply agreeing with profound statements, like the absence of free will, can be deceptive. Without deep understanding and direct experience of such ideas, one might behave contrary to those beliefs, proving a superficial acceptance. Manipulation in Relationships: Leo addresses how manipulation harms relationships, illustrating the importance of contemplating how one's own manipulative behavior could be the root of relational issues. Thorough understanding and behavior change require serious contemplation. Accessing Infinite Intelligence: Leo emphasizes that the human mind has the capacity to access infinite intelligence and creativity. However, making use of this requires months of contemplation to understand its significance and to apply it practically to one's life. Contemplation as Inquiry: Contemplation is described as a process of asking questions about a concept, like 'What does non-duality mean?'. Pondering deeply on various aspects and consequences of an idea allows for a profound understanding and personal insights. Deep Work vs. Accumulation of Ideas: Leo underscores that personal growth work is more about going deep into fundamental truths rather than accumulating many complex, new, or fancy ideas. It's about profound understanding and application, not merely collecting more knowledge. Levels of Understanding: Leo describes a six-stage linear progression of understanding, from merely hearing an idea to properly comprehending it, seeing its significance, experiencing initial glimpses of its truth, and ultimately living in accordance with that deep insight. Conceptual Misunderstandings: Many people falter at the second stage of understanding by misinterpreting concepts, which can impede progress toward profound realizations and experiences, like the nature of non-duality or the illusion of free will. Glimpses of Insight: Gradually, individuals begin to intermittently see glimpses of truth in insights, such as recognizing their own manipulative behaviors and connecting these to the resulting consequences and suffering they cause in relationships. Constant Consciousness of Insights: Eventually, one reaches a stage where awareness of insights becomes constant, making it difficult not to notice these truths. This stage involves understanding the full practical ramifications of an insight and seeing how it intertwinely impacts all facets of life. Awareness of Traps: At the final stage, individuals become acutely aware of the mechanisms and traps that cause them to become unconscious again. They learn to recognize and avoid these traps, or even stop themselves midway when they fall into them. Understanding Inevitability of Mechanisms: Deep understanding culminates in realizing why certain mechanisms and behaviors are inevitable and why reality could not be otherwise, leading to a sense of peace even with the existence of what is typically considered evil. Stages of Understanding: Leo describes various stages of understanding insights, from initial judgment and superficial comprehension to deep acceptance. However, he stresses these stages are not definitive but a framework to aid conceptualization of the growth process. Obstacles to Understanding: Progress through the stages of understanding is hindered by obstacles such as closed-mindedness, judgments, arrogance, complacency, laziness, and a tendency to believe without understanding or experiencing insights. From Belief to Direct Experience: Leo underscores the significant gap between simply believing in principles like morality and directly experiencing the truths behind them. Beliefs can mask underlying contrary behaviors, creating internal conflict and inhibiting growth. Derived Truths for Personal Transformation: Ultimately, personal transformation requires individuals to derive truths for themselves, moving beyond agreement or dissent to direct experience and understanding as an independent verification of teachings. Ownership of Deriving Truths: Leo stresses the importance of actively working towards directly experiencing the truths pointed at by teachings, using one's own cognitive capacities to trace the truth, rather than just accepting it as given. Active Process of Understanding: He explains that understanding is an active process, comparing it to how one must understand mathematics by working through proofs and logic personally, rather than just shuffling symbols or relying on rote learning. Self-Derivation Over External Answers: Emphasizing the pitfalls of looking up answers or accepting ones that he provides, Leo argues that such an approach can be detrimental to personal transformation, which is achieved through self-derived comprehension. Problems in Consciousness Work: He points out the unique challenges in consciousness work, where being given the answers can actually be the greatest disservice, as it leads to an illusion of understanding and potential regression. Laziness as a Barrier: Leo comments on the laziness of human nature when it comes to deriving truths, noting it as a reason for the prevalence of religion and standard morality, as they offer ready-made answers that don't require personal contemplation. Importance of Contemplation for Human Potential: He discusses the critical role of contemplation in realizing human potential, comparing a contemplative person to a lion that hunts, asserting that our hunt is for understanding and is done with the mind. Depth of Comprehension: Leo advises taking ideas seriously, seeking true understanding over immediate results, and contemplating regularly to differentiate between trivial and cosmically significant points, highlighting the importance of interconnecting insights. Derivation and Contemplation as Mandatory: He concludes by reiterating that in the process of personal growth, contemplation and personal derivation of insights are not just optional activities but mandatory ones. Correct Use of Teachings: Finally, Leo portrays his videos as 'dessert', meant to supplement personal work such as meditating and reading books, cautioning against using them as a substitute for personal effort, which can lead to a superficial understanding akin to a 'veneer of righteousness'. Expecto Patronum

Learning = Behavior Change https://youtu.be/V7d_28EqIu0 Insight on Learning: Leo credits Evan Pagan and Wyatt Woodsmall for teaching him that learning is equivalent to behavior change. This key insight is vital to move from theory to practice and to achieve real-life results. Redefining Learning: Learning should be redefined as behavior change rather than the accumulation of facts or adoption of new beliefs. Traditional schooling often misleads us to equate memorization with learning, but true learning manifests as changed behavior. Criteria for True Learning: If information does not change an individual's behavior, then true learning has not occurred. Learning is not to be confused with intellectualization or gaining theoretical knowledge alone. Tangible Learning Milestones: Real learning involves explicit changes in actions based on new understanding or insight, not vague intentions or moralizing on what 'should' be done. Applying the Lessons from Learning: For true learning to be evidenced, specific and tangible changes in behavior must be implemented in various scenarios—whether it be in business practices, handling relationships, or personal development endeavors. Behavioral Impact of Advanced Personal Development: In more advanced stages of personal development, such as consciousness work or pursuing enlightenment, transforming abstract concepts into practical behavior becomes increasingly challenging, yet more crucial. Test of Understanding: To validate learning, Leo challenges viewers to translate what they've learned from his talk into specific behavioral changes they will implement, highlighting the importance of precise action steps. Sustainable Behavior Change: The real test of learning is the endurance of behavior change over time, indicating genuine understanding and integration of lessons into one's life. Different Definitions of Learning: Leo acknowledges that learning as behavior change is just one perspective on what it means to learn, but one that is particularly effective for practical application and achievement of goals. Mystical experiences and behavior change: Leo explains that a mystical experience alone doesn't guarantee behavior change. One must consciously reflect on what was learned to explicitly identify how behaviors should change post-experience, rather than hoping for automatic transformation. New to personal development: Leo addresses those new to personal development, stressing that consuming content isn't enough. One must be clear on how their behaviors have changed as a result of the knowledge gained, or else there has been no real learning. Practical areas to apply behavior change: He lists practical situations to apply the behavior change concept, such as reading books, attending classes, workshops, seminars, and even during daily reflections, successes, failures, and psychedelic trips. The goal is to ask how behavior will change as a result of these experiences. Journaling for concrete behavior change: Leo suggests keeping a journal as an effective tool to articulate and commit to specific behavior changes, warning against the mind's tendency to resort to vague generalizations rather than specifying actual changes in action. Pop quiz on learning: Leo challenges viewers with a pop quiz to specify what they've learned from his talk and how they will change their behavior, underlining that vague future intentions are not sufficient—he looks for concrete plans like committing to journaling daily. Behavior change as a measure of learning: He considers the persistence of behavior change over time as the true measure of learning, implying that without a change in behavior, the philosophical concepts one learns are rendered ineffective. Learning as behavior change as one perspective: Leo clarifies that viewing learning as behavior change is just one perspective out of many, and he promises to introduce other perspectives on learning in future content to provide a comprehensive approach to personal development. Lumos

William Blake: 'The fool who persists in his folly will become wise.' In the realm of profound thoughts and philosophical musings, the words of William Blake hold a special place. One such quote that captivates the imagination and invites introspection is, 'The fool who persists in his folly will become wise.' At first glance, this quote may seem rather paradoxical - how can one transform their foolishness into wisdom? Yet, when we delve deeper into its true meaning and ponder its significance, it reveals a profound concept that challenges our perspectives on growth, development, and the human condition itself.In its most straightforward interpretation, this quote speaks to the transformative power of persistence and perseverance. It suggests that despite initial appearances, even the seemingly foolish can journey towards enlightenment and wisdom if they persist on their chosen path. It is a reminder that wisdom cannot be gained solely through innate intelligence or natural talent, but through the willingness to learn, adapt, and continuously improve oneself.This quote touches on the essence of personal growth and the human capacity for evolution. It reminds us that wisdom is not a destination but a lifelong journey. In this context, being a 'fool' is not meant to be derogatory but rather symbolizes a starting point of ignorance or naivety. It is recognizing our own limitations and embracing the idea that we all have room to grow and learn. Now, let us venture into the realm of an unexpected philosophical concept - the concept of the 'eternal beginner.' Drawing from Eastern philosophy, particularly Zen Buddhism, we find a similar notion. The 'eternal beginner' is someone who approaches life with a beginner's mind, regardless of their level of expertise or experience. This concept aligns beautifully with Blake's quote, as it emphasizes the importance of humility, curiosity, and the ability to unlearn and relearn.In contrast to our conventional understanding of knowledge and wisdom as something attained through accumulation, the 'eternal beginner' reminds us to let go of preconceived notions and approach every situation with a sense of openness and wonder. It encourages us to embrace the unknown, be willing to make mistakes, and persist in our quest for understanding.When we connect the dots between Blake's quote and the concept of the 'eternal beginner,' intriguing parallels emerge. Both concepts emphasize the importance of persistence, despite initial setbacks or perceived foolishness. They remind us that growth and wisdom are not linear but rather a cyclical process of continuous learning and unlearning. In our modern society, where the pursuit of success and the fear of failure often overshadow the joy of learning and exploration, these ideas serve as timely reminders. They invite us to embrace a mindset freed from the shackles of ego and achievement, and instead, focus on the intrinsic value of gaining wisdom through experience, reflection, and the capacity to change.Ultimately, Blake's quote and the concept of the 'eternal beginner' invite us to question our assumptions about knowledge and wisdom. They challenge us to reevaluate our attitudes towards growth and development, urging us to value the journey as much as the destination. In embracing the spirit of persistence and maintaining a beginner's mind, we break free from the confines of foolishness and embark on a path that leads to true wisdom and self-transformation.

Understanding Absolute Infinity - Part 2 https://youtu.be/rZT9x3XDZ8g "God is a circle whose center is everywhere, and its circumference nowhere." - Empedocles "I see it, but I don't believe it." - Georg Cantor Historical Recognition of Absolute Infinity: Despite the concept of absolute infinity being discovered and articulated by numerous wise and intelligent individuals over 2,500 years, mainstream education largely omits it, a fact Leo views as an educational shortcoming. Georg Cantor's Set Theory: Georg Cantor, a mathematician from the late 19th to early 20th century, is hailed as the father of set theory. He formalized the concept of sets in mathematics, which led to fundamental insights into why math operates as it does. Image 1 Cantor's Interest in Infinity: Unlike his contemporaries who viewed infinity with skepticism, Cantor was deeply interested in the concept and sought to understand it using rigorous mathematical logic. Cantor's Revolutionary Discoveries: Cantor proved that there are different sizes of infinity. He showed that the set of even numbers is identical in size to the set of all natural numbers, and surprisingly, the set of rational numbers is also identically infinite. However, the set of real numbers possesses infinitely more elements than both natural and rational numbers—therefore, establishing multiple sizes of infinity. Infinite Sizes of Infinity: By extending his research, Cantor demonstrated that not only are there multiple sizes of infinity, but that there are infinitely many sizes of infinite sets, a ground-breaking revelation in mathematics. Cantor's Religious Beliefs and Mathematical Insights: A devout Orthodox Christian, Cantor believed he was exploring the mind of God through his study of infinity. He equated the 'Absolute Infinite' with God and saw mathematical evidence of divine presence in the paradoxic property that an infinite subset can be the same size as its whole set. Cantor's Recognition and Personal Struggles: Although now revered, Cantor's work initially faced severe rejection from the scientific and mathematical community. His deeply held religious beliefs intertwined with his mathematical findings, yet they caused him conflict within his religious cohort and contributed to personal distress. Diagonalization Argument: One of Cantor's techniques to prove different sizes of infinity involved matching each element of an infinite set to another set, revealing whether two infinities were of the same size or not. Metaphysics of Infinity: Leo suggests that Cantor's work resonates with the metaphysical implications of God, where every infinite subset reflects the entirety, thus allowing for infinite possibilities within the infinite. Social Ostracism of Cantor: Georg Cantor was denounced as a radical and hoax by his academic peers, which caused him significant personal distress, ultimately contributing to his mental breakdowns and his death in an asylum. Cantor's Identification with Divine Mind: Cantor perceived his work in mathematics as an exploration into the mind of God, creating a profound personal crisis when his Christian contemporaries labeled his ideas pantheistic and heretical. Cantor’s Mental Breakdowns: Cantor's mental health issues could have been compounded by the cognitive dissonance between his insights into the nature of infinity and the rejection of pantheism by Orthodox Christianity. This led to a deep inner conflict. Cantor’s Potential Enlightenment Experiences: It’s speculated that Cantor may have had glimpses of enlightenment that he was unable to integrate due to the cultural and religious beliefs of his time, possibly leading to his mental instability. Conceptualization vs. Direct Experience: Cantor's fixation on conceptualizing the divine through mathematics is used as a cautionary example of the limits of the mind and the dangers of attempting to understand absolute infinity solely through conceptual means. Shift in Perception for Experiencing Absolute Infinity: Leo Gura suggests that experiencing absolute infinity requires more than just intellectual understanding, involving a significant perspective shift towards realizing one's unity with the absolute. Cantor’s Legacy in Mathematics: Posthumously, Cantor's discoveries became mainstream mathematics, illustrating the difficulty of paradigm shifts and the resistance faced by pioneers in their fields. Giordano Bruno's Radical Ideas: Bruno, a mystic and former monk, expanded upon the works of Copernicus and Galileo, promoting the concept of an infinite universe filled with countless stars and planets, which was deemed heretical. Image 2 Dangers of Challenging Established Beliefs: Bruno's fate, being burned at the stake for his beliefs, exemplifies the risks associated with defying established doctrines and the resistance to revolutionary ideas. Infinite Universe in the 1600s: Bruno’s ideas about an infinite universe with numerous worlds were astonishingly advanced for his time, predating the development of telescopes and the broader acceptance of such cosmological concepts. Giordano Bruno's Vision: Bruno envisioned a universe with innumerable suns and Earth-like planets, recognizing the existence of an absolute infinity, perceiving Earth as just a tiny component of creation. Despite his visionary ideas, he faced severe consequences from the Roman Inquisition, reflecting the risks of challenging established paradigms. Barbarity of Paradigm Locks History: Despite advances since the Middle Ages, Leo highlights that society retains significant paradigm locks, with contemporary examples showing how challenging established beliefs can still be met with severe societal resistance, though less physically violent than in Bruno's time. Dangers of Challenging Established Norms: Learning from the past, Leo Gura points out that challenging societal paradigms, especially in realms like deep self-actualization, can lead to ostracism as one leaves the comfort of herd mentality, emphasizing the need for radical open-mindedness in facing potential ideological opposition. Enlightened Greeks' Wisdom Over Dogma: Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers like Aristotle, Anaxagoras, and Anaximander were less constrained by dogma than later thinkers, showing a profound understanding of infinity and creating foundational concepts that anticipated modern ideas of non-duality and boundlessness. Image 3 Image 4 Image 5 Anaximander's Concepts of RK and Apron: Anaximander's notions of Arche, as the underlying principle of all existence, and Apeiron, the boundless origin yielding creation and destruction, align with non-duality and the presence of infinite worlds, demonstrating advanced abstraction in ancient thought. Heraclitus's Enlightened Views on Unity: Heraclitus, an ancient Greek philosopher with an enlightened perspective, wrote cryptically about the unity of existence, using metaphors to express the paradoxical nature of the universe and emphasizing the role of direct experience in understanding. Image 6 Limitations of Realism in Understanding Idealism: Leo describes the difference between idealism and realism, stating that the 'mind of God' exists without physical foundation, challenging realist assumptions and underscoring the necessity of direct experience to comprehend idealism. Absolute Infinity Beyond Scientific Understanding: The recognition that realizing absolute infinity surpasses the capabilities of science which operates within finite boundaries, urging an experiential approach over reliance on scientific methods for comprehension of the absolute. Heraclitus's Metaphors of Unity: Through metaphors of circles, bows, and liars, Heraclitus conveyed the interconnected and paradoxical nature of existence, where the beginning and end are indistinguishable, illustrating non-duality's complex nature. Heraclitus on Nature of Existence: Heraclitus presents the paradox of existence where binary opposites like day and night are not separate but interconnected, thus emphasizing the interdependence of existential dualities. Metaphor for Understanding God: Through Heraclitus's metaphor, the challenge of grasping the formless essence of God is likened to naming the various aromas from spices in a fire, which distracts from acknowledging the singular source of the scents. Pythagorean School's Spiritual Mathematics: The Pythagoreans integrated mathematics with spirituality, using mathematical discoveries to understand the universe and divine essence, contrasting with the modern separation of science from spirituality. Image 8 Plotinus's Concept of 'The One': Plotinus enlightens on the futility of conceptualizing God, stating that whatever idea one has of God, the true nature of God always exceeds it due to the infinite quality of divinity. Plotinus on Unity and Multiplicity: Plotinus illustrates how multiplicity arises from the unified source, which is both infinitely present and absent in creation, challenging conventional categorization and advocating for the limits of conceptualization. The Kybalion on 'The All': The Kybalion posits 'The All' as an infinite, eternal, omnipresent force with no limitations, transcending the current scientific understanding of the universe's vastness. Image 9 Chi Ba Lien and Hermetic Teachings on Absolute Infinity: Descriptions of the infinite nature of the absolute in time, space, and power, with everything in existence reflecting a portion of this infinity within the mind of 'The All.' The Law of One on Infinite Unity: The Law of One expresses the philosophy of infinite creation through unity, where the infinite creator explores itself in an eternal array of manifestations, emphasizing never-ending self-exploration within the infinite reality. The Law of One and the Alf: In Kabbalah, the concept of the Alf embodies unity, representing a point in space containing all other points. This notion correlates with Leo's metaphor of infinite 'videos' within a larger video, signifying infinite perspectives within one unified existence. Image 10 Jorge Luis Borges's "The Aleph": The short story illustrates the experience of absolute infinity, where the protagonist perceives the entire universe from every angle simultaneously, without distortion, fostering an overwhelming sense of infinity in a single object. Image 11 Georg Cantor's Physical Transformation: After an encounter with absolute infinity, Cantor experienced a powerful release of energy, evidenced by physical changes like peeling skin and altered fingerprints—a testament to the profound impact of such an insight. Paradox of Reality: Reality's deeply paradoxical nature, where the relative exists due to the absolute, yet they are intrinsically the same, is a cornerstone of understanding existence. The Nature of Absolute Truth: Absolute truth transcends all human faculties, laying beyond logic, imagination, physics, and even death. It is the most fundamental, paradoxically embodying both everything and nothing. Accessing Absolute Infinity: Despite its inconceivability, absolute infinity can be realized through a pivotal shift—recognizing oneself as not separate from the absolute but indeed being the absolute. Ego as a Barrier to Realization: The illusion of being a limited human being separates individuals from realizing their infinite nature. Overcoming this limitation demands a shedding of the ego, akin to a metaphorical death. God's Self-Limitation for Richness: Absolute infinity involves God imposing limitations within itself to facilitate discovery. These limitations, when lifted, reveal the journey from the finite back to the infinite. Simultaneity of Existence: God's reality transcends time, operating in a simultaneous existence, contrary to the human perception of linear progression. Pursuing Truth Above Distractions: The desire to comprehend absolute truth should outweigh everyday distractions, fostering a deep, inward-focused quest for realization. Self-Experience Over Preaching: Understanding absolute infinity calls for personal experience rather than disseminating beliefs without first-hand realization. Importance of Radical Open-Mindedness: Embracing radical open-mindedness is essential for enlightenment—prioritizing truth-seeking as a personal mission beyond established paradigms and external validation. Beware of Life's Distractions: Common life distractions can dilute one's pursuit of the ultimate truth, hindering the realization of absolute infinity. Prioritizing Truth Above Ego: In the journey towards self-actualization, the pursuit of truth should supersede all ego-driven concerns, necessitating a shift inward. Significance of Personal Experience: True understanding of the truth comes from one's own experience, transcending any external teachings or materials used for guidance. God's self-imposed limitations: God, or absolute infinity, limits itself to explore its richness; this limitation creates a sense of discovery and richness within the absolute. Physical death as a pathway to absolute unity: To experience the absolute unity of existence, one must undergo a process akin to physical death, letting go of attachments to one's limited human identity. The perfect deception of self: The belief in being a distinct individual, separate from God, is a deception that maintains the illusion of separation, which is intricately designed and deeply ingrained. Simultaneity of existence in God's perspective: For God, all events and experiences have already occurred and are happening simultaneously, not bound by time as humans perceive it. Desire for absolute truth as a driving force: A deep, genuine desire to know and experience the truth of absolute infinity is crucial and must be prioritized over other distractions to achieve this realization. Pitfalls of spreading unactualized knowledge: Preaching about concepts like God and absolute infinity without direct experience spreads misinformation and can harm both the individual and others, instead of illuminating the truth. Awakening to God through radical self-inquiry: Realizing one's infinite nature involves a deep desire for truth and an inner wisdom that guides one to let go of their limited sense of self. Distractions undermining the pursuit of absolute infinity: Everyday distractions and lower consciousness desires can divert attention from the true pursuit of absolute infinity, weakening the necessary resolve. Techniques vs. genuine desire in the quest for truth: While various techniques for enlightenment are available, it is the individual's authentic desire for truth that ultimately propels them towards actualizing the concept of absolute infinity. Leo Gura's encouragement to self-experience: Emphasizing the importance of self-experience over mere conceptual understanding, Leo Gura advises individuals to follow their inner desire for truth, stay open-minded, and immerse themselves in practices leading to the realization of absolute infinity. Liberacorpus

Subtle Addictions https://youtu.be/xZPxIqqOxHA "The greatest addictions aren't even considered addictions" Gross vs. Subtle Addictions: Gross addictions involve obvious and tangible habits like junk food, drugs, alcohol, whereas subtle addictions are less obvious, more conceptual, and often culturally normalized, making them harder to recognize and address. Defining an Addiction: Addictions are characterized by repetitive negative actions that lead to overconsumption, guilt, withdrawal symptoms, and a dependence that hinders growth and freedom. Cultural Perceptions of Addiction: Society's standards for what constitutes addiction are too low, often overlooking everyday behaviors like excessive food and internet use as potentially addictive. Subtle Addictions as Cultural Norms: Subtle addictions are difficult to combat due to their normalization in culture, creating rationalizations for their continuation, and a lack of clear solutions for cessation. The Damage of Subtle Addictions: Unlike gross addictions, the negative impact of subtle addictions unfolds over time and is less tangible, making it challenging to recognize their long-term harm. Awareness of Subtle Addictions: Leo intends to raise awareness of subtle addictions, providing numerous examples to help recognize these patterns and illustrating that they can be as detrimental as gross addictions. Examples of Subtle Addictions: Examples include addiction to love, judgment, success, money, material possessions, security, and even negative mental states. These are not as easily noticed but can hold one back from personal growth. Addiction to Judgment and Preaching: Criticism, judgment, arguing, and preaching can become addictions, often unrecognized because they are socially accepted or even professionally rewarded. Success, Money, and Possessions: A relentless pursuit of success, monetary wealth, or material goods can mask deeper unfulfillment and become addictive behaviors that inhibit genuine happiness and development. Security and Negative Mental States: The desire for certainty and an overemphasis on security, as well as addictions to worry, fear, anxiety, and negative self-talk can limit personal expansion and peace of mind. Technology and Dwelling on the Past: A fixation on technology and an inability to let go of past wrongs are also forms of addiction that prevent living in the present and achieving personal advancement. Cultural Technology Obsession: Society promotes a constant chase for the latest technology, fostering an environment where individuals feel compelled to obtain the newest gadgets, which ultimately consumes time and attention, detracting from inner self-work and spiritual growth. Productivity and Efficiency Addiction: The pursuit of efficiency and productivity, while seemingly positive, can lead to a life focused on performing tasks quickly and multitasking, which takes one away from the present moment and impedes spiritual practices like meditation and self-inquiry. Min-maxing in Life: Derived from gaming, where players optimize characters for peak performance, this obsession applied to life can become neurotic and addictive, leading to an inhuman and ultimately unsatisfying existence. Addiction to Competition and Being Special: The need to win, be recognized as the best, and to receive awards, popularity, or fame can become strong addictions that distract from self-actualization and genuine personal growth. Multitasking and Distraction: Attempting to engage in multiple activities simultaneously can lead to scattered focus and detract from important practices for raising awareness, hindering abilities like deep work, concentration, and meditation. Helping and Changing Others as an Addiction: Becoming overly invested in the role of a helper or change-maker can become an addiction, often manifesting in neglecting one’s self-improvement in favor of fixing others. Addiction to Companionship and Approval: A reliance on the presence and approval of others can inhibit solitary practices essential for growth, such as meditation, contemplation, and solitary retreats. Suffering and Control Addictions: Some individuals develop addictions to drama, self-sabotage, control, power, and the pleasure of getting things their way. This includes negative attitudes like victim mentality, which can fuel a sense of helplessness. Intellectual Addictions: Overthinking, philosophizing, and analyzing can become addictions, especially when they serve as a substitute for action or become barriers to spiritual progress. Physical Comfort, Laziness, and Perfectionism Addictions: These addictions include the need for physical ease, leading to avoidance of activity, and the pursuit of perfection, which can never be fully satisfied, both of which lead to dissatisfaction and dependency on others. Addiction to Physical Appearance: Obsessiveness over personal or others’ physical attractiveness can lead to a constant need for approval and the inability to accept natural aging or imperfections. Negative Motivation Addiction: Some people are driven only by external pressures or pain, becoming addicted to this negative form of motivation, which leads to a miserable success and hinders the fulfillment of their true potential. Guilt, Jealousy, and Envy as Addictions: Continually dwelling on feelings of guilt, jealousy, or envy can form addictive patterns that prevent individuals from moving forward and self-improving. Addictions to Novelty, Gossip, and Unethical Behaviors: A constant need for new experiences, engaging in gossip, and unethical behaviors like cheating and taking shortcuts can all become addictions that reduce the quality of outcomes and personal growth. Lying, Manipulation, Mystical States, and Knowledge Hoarding: Addictions here include manipulation for control, excessive striving for mystical states through meditation, and the accumulation of knowledge without practical application, replacing meaningful engagement with the world. Identifying and Overcoming Addictions: Addictions are patterns in the mind, not the specific activities. To identify addiction, one can abstain from the suspect behavior for seven days and watch for cravings, signifying addiction. Overcoming these requires awareness, reflection, and a willingness to change. Awareness is Key to Identifying Addictions: To recognize the full extent of a subtle addiction, one must observe themselves like a hawk, discerning all ways the addiction presents itself and understanding the pros and cons it offers. Journaling and Root Cause Analysis: By focusing on a single addiction such as manipulation, one should catalog all instances of that behavior, tracing it back in history to grasp the pattern, which enriches awareness and foresights future occurrences. Examining Identity and Core Function of an Addiction: Understand how the addiction, like manipulation, is intertwined with your identity and serves as an escape mechanism. Delving into why it's needed can uncover underlying self-beliefs or insecurities. Envisioning an Addiction-Free Lifestyle: Envisioning a lifestyle without the addiction is crucial. If this new vision isn't regarded as superior to the life with the addiction, the addictive behavior is likely to return. Assessing Willingness to Let Go: Real change occurs when one is willing to release not only the addictive behavior but also the aspect of their identity tied to it. This involves deep introspection and honesty about readiness to let go. Setting a Firm Intention for Change: Declaring a firm and clear intention to change is vital, even if the method or timeline is unknown. This intention helps to initiate and sustain the process of transformation. Increasing Mindfulness Around Addiction: Utilizing a physical reminder, like a wristband, can aid in becoming more mindful of addictive behaviors, increasing awareness of every instance throughout the day. Replacing Addiction with Raw Being: The ultimate goal is to substitute the addiction with the simplicity of 'being'. Addictions often fill the void of being, and confronting that emptiness is the way to true change. Solo Retreats for Experiencing Pure Being: Undertaking a solo retreat can provide a glimpse of life free from addictions, helping one reconnect with themselves and experience the essence of being without distractions. Approaching Addiction Removal Gradually: Tackling addictions should be seen as a lifelong endeavor, with gradual progress leading to significant improvements in life quality, freeing up time for personal growth and fulfillment. Cleansing Addictions for a Liberated Life: Removing addictions incrementally opens up space to focus on self-improvement, pursuing life goals, and living in alignment with personal values, thereby enhancing overall life quality. Expecto Patronum

Why People Seem Crazy https://youtu.be/ufkb8vvbO3k "Always remember you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else." - Margaret Mead Shift from Sameness to Difference Model: Leo invites the audience to transition from the Sameness Model, which views people fundamentally alike, to the Difference Model, which acknowledges the profound uniqueness of each individual. He stresses that most problems in understanding others stem from our default position that everyone shares the same psychological wiring and experiences. Misinterpretation of the Sameness Model: The assumption that others should act and think as we do because they are human too is flawed, leading us to dismiss those who differ as crazy, evil, or subhuman. The Sameness Model fails to accommodate the actual diversity in human behavior, especially in edge cases, which are often more common than we assume. Consequences of the Sameness Model: By not considering the vast differences between individuals, we encounter fundamental misunderstandings and adversarial relationships, especially with those we deem 'foreign' due to their divergent thoughts or behaviors. This leads to frustration, anger, blaming, hostility, and even violence. Impact on Personal Dynamics: In personal relationships, like with children or spouses, who might deviate significantly from our own wiring, the inability to acknowledge their unique perspective due to the Sameness Model leads to misunderstandings and conflicts. Tribalism and Lack of Acceptance: The habit of categorizing individuals with radically different opinions and behaviors as inferior stems from the Sameness Model, reinforcing tribal behaviors and a lack of compassion and acceptance. Human Evolution and Tolerance: Human history reflects an evolution toward greater tolerance and democracy, which has fostered improved interpersonal relationships. These evolutions exhibit the gradual broadening of human perspectives away from the Sameness Model. Recognition of Individual Differences: The Difference Model embraces the genetic, physiological, psychological, and spiritual uniqueness of every individual, stressing that every person not only differs in preferences but potentially inhabits an entirely different reality from one another. Paradigm Shift from Sameness to Difference: Leo Gura suggests a radical shift—instead of assuming one canonical physical reality, we should acknowledge that everyone lives in their own 'reality bubble'. Alignment of these bubbles is perceived as physical reality, and misalignment leads to conflict and misunderstandings. This difference model is backed by empirical evidence from various fields, which challenge the validity of the sameness model. Evidence for the Difference Model - The Big Five Personality Traits: Leo presents evidence from psychological research on the Big Five aspects of personality: extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness. These traits, existing on scales with subcomponents, offer a detailed map of diverse human behaviors and preferences, undermining the sameness model and supporting the difference model. Impact of Personality Differences on Perception and Relationships: Differences in personality traits, such as high neuroticism or low openness, dramatically affect individuals' worldviews and experiences, shaping their reality. Recognizing these differences is crucial for improving understanding and reducing conflicts in relationships, and Leo emphasizes the inherent value in all personality traits for the successful functioning of human society. Rejecting a Universal Perfect Personality: Leo argues that there is no 'perfect' set of personality traits; instead, every trait plays a role in humanity's survival. Just like ants in a colony, humans with diverse personalities contribute to the species' adaptation to various environments. Attempting to make others more like us leads to misjudging them as 'crazy', while we should instead embrace the diversity of each individual's constructed reality. Role of Genetics and Environment in Sexual Orientation and Addiction: Leo provides evidence that sexual orientation is not a mere preference but is deeply influenced by one's genetics, prenatal environment, and early upbringing. Similarly, addiction potential varies among individuals due to brain wiring and chemistry, calling for empathy rather than condemnation when addressing such challenges in others, like one's own children. Approach to Children's Issues: Leo advocates for a compassionate approach when dealing with children's issues, such as addiction, recognizing the complex factors that contribute to the problem rather than simply expecting children to be more like their parents. Sexual Orientation and Behavior Judgments: He addresses the tendency to demonize people with different sexual orientations or behaviors, suggesting that factors like past trauma, prenatal drug exposure, or high maternal stress levels might influence an individual's behavior and their ability to control it. Empathy for Individuals with Different Wiring: Leo encourages putting ourselves in the shoes of people who are radically different from us, including sexual predators, to understand their circumstances and react with compassion instead of quick moral condemnation. Diversity in Human Wiring: He notes the wide diversity in human wiring, which explains the significant variations in behavior, and urges others to be open to understanding these differences rather than expecting uniform behavior across all individuals. Importance of Mental Illness and Brain Disorders Study: Leo emphasizes studying mental illness and brain disorders to grasp the full extent of diverse human realities; he cites a book on his book list about rare brain disorders to support his point. Clinical Case Studies of Brain Trauma: Leo shares clinical case studies from the book, such as a patient who began to hallucinate dancing dwarves and an elephant after brain damage, illustrating how physical changes to the brain can lead to different perceptions of reality. Different Realities and Personality Differences: He points out that individuals who experience reality differently due to brain trauma or disorders may believe and behave in ways that seem strange to those around them, emphasizing that their reality differs fundamentally from the "normal" one. Neurological Basis for Behavioral Extremes: Leo recounts an example of an individual who, due to specific brain trauma, believed that others around him were androids, leading to an extreme act of violence. This case highlights the impact of brain conditions on behavior and the need to understand the underlying neurological causes. Subtleties of Individual Brain Chemistry and Genetics: While not everyone has radical brain disorders, Leo notes that slight variations in brain chemistry and genetics can influence our experiences and perceptions in more subtle ways. Optimization of Consciousness for Survival: He discusses how evolution and natural selection might optimize our consciousness, mediated by our brains, for certain environments and tasks in order to survive and reproduce, resulting in unique brain wirings. The Case of Pineal Gland Cancer and DMT: Leo presents the case of an artist, Shawn Thornton, whose art style dramatically changed after being diagnosed with pineal gland cancer, potentially linked to increased DMT production, showcasing how changes in brain chemistry might alter one's mental state and experiences. Artistic Transformation Through Neurological Change: Leo discusses the case of artist Shawn Thornton, who after being diagnosed with cancer of the pineal gland, experienced a change in vision, potentially due to increased DMT production, leading him to create spiritually significant art. This illustrates how brain chemistry can influence perception and creativity. Genetic and Neurochemical Components of Spirituality: Leo argues that spirituality is not only influenced by personality and culture but also has significant genetic and neurochemical components. He suggests that varying brain wiring can explain why some individuals have profound spiritual or mystical experiences while others do not. Diversity in Spiritual Experience and Enlightenment Rareness: By acknowledging the diversity in human brain chemistry, Leo explains the range of spiritual experiences across cultures and individuals. He posits that figures like Buddha or Jesus Christ are exceptional, not because enlightenment is unattainable for others, but because they were uniquely wired for spiritual pursuits. Diverse Consciousness Influenced by Evolution: Leo emphasizes that consciousness is malleable and shaped by evolution to optimize an individual's survival and reproduction. Psychedelic exploration can demonstrate the significant impact of neurochemical changes on one's perception of reality. Existential Disinterest Due to Brain Wiring: He notes that most people are not deeply interested in spirituality or existential truths, speculating that for evolutionary reasons, their brains are not wired to prioritize such pursuits, leading to a lack of engagement with deep spiritual or existential inquiries. Explanation for Varied Spiritual Perspectives: Leo suggests that stories of spirits, demons, and aliens are not merely fabrications but could be actual experiences of individuals with certain neurological mechanisms, explaining why such phenomena persist in human culture and why they are often regarded as esoteric. Influence of Brain Disorders on Capacity for Consciousness: Referring to case studies of brain disorders, Leo supports his hypothesis that different capacities for consciousness can explain not only why some people experience unusual realities but also why most people do not prioritize spiritual development. Misunderstanding Superiority: Leo warns against feeling superior to others, explaining that this attitude comes from an inability to empathize and understand that different perspectives have their own advantages and drawbacks. Pursuit of Dreams with Strategic Growth: Leo advises not to use genetic or brain chemistry limitations as excuses, but to recognize one's unique strengths and shortcomings and work strategically towards personal growth and ambitions. Necessity of Effort in Achieving Goals: Despite any genetic predisposition, Leo emphasizes the importance of sustained effort, environmental support, and continuous learning in achieving success in any endeavor. Enlightenment and Genetics: Leo argues that most people are capable of enlightenment if they put in sufficient effort, clarifying that struggles with achieving spiritual goals should not be attributed solely to genetic wiring. Danger of Limiting Beliefs in Personal Potential: Leo cautions against self-imposed limits based on genetics, sharing his personal weight loss story to illustrate how overcoming such beliefs can lead to significant self-improvement. Society's Response to Harmful Behavior: Leo argues for compassionate societal rules that focus on rehabilitation and understanding the influences behind someone's actions, rather than on condemnation or punishment. Practical Takeaways for Personal and Societal Development: Leo provides actionable advice, such as embracing authenticity, allowing others to be themselves, being open to nontraditional lifestyles, and being cautious when giving advice due to individual differences. The Role of Advice and Judgment: Leo stresses the need for caution in offering advice or passing judgment, reminding us that what may be suitable for one person may not apply to another due to different life circumstances. The Influence of Role Models on Authenticity: While role models can inspire, Leo discourages emulating them at the expense of discovering and expressing one's authentic self, advocating for a personalized approach to self-actualization. Life Crafting Around Individuality: Leo concludes by urging viewers to tailor their self-improvement journey, lifestyle, and personal growth to their unique personality, needs, and context, emphasizing individual discovery and authenticity. Liberacorpus

2C-B Trip Report - Experiencing Physical Death https://youtu.be/9_WL0hoRA7s "Death is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come." - Rabindranath Tagore Understanding of 2C-B: Leo explains that 2C-B is a phenethylamine psychedelic, often used recreationally at parties. Unlike tryptamines like DMT or mushrooms, 2C-B is supposed to be more visual and less mind-altering, with a lower 'mindfuck' component, meaning it doesn't deeply challenge one's perception of reality. Rectal Administration of 2C-B: Opting for rectal administration, Leo takes 10 milligrams of 2C-B, which he describes as efficient, cost-effective, and capable of causing fast onset of effects. This method also reduces issues like nausea and the need for fasting before consumption. Onset of the Trip: Shortly after taking 2C-B, Leo feels an undefinable strangeness and notices a change in the physical sensation of his body, described as 'body load'. Feeling somewhat anesthetized, he takes ginger pills to alleviate the slight onset of nausea. Visuals and Introspection: As the trip progresses, visual anomalies like colors and patterns commonly associated with psychedelics start appearing. Leo becomes increasingly introspective, delving into existential questions about the nature of consciousness, reality, Brahman, and God, while observing hypnotic visuals. Concept of 'Groundlessness': During his experience, Leo confronts the idea of groundlessness, the realization that all known surfaces within reality have no ultimate grounding and that this continues indefinitely. This insight is described as beautiful and profound, so much so that it's beyond mere emotion and leaves him sobered by its depth. Surrendering to the Experience: Leo surrenders to the experience, abandoning his meta-awareness and the usual note-taking process for later reflection or teaching. He recognizes he is past the point of no return, with the line between physical and non-physical dissolving, and is entranced by the beauty of the existential truths revealed. Distinction between physical and mental: Leo challenges the conventional distinction between the physical body and the mental aspects of the self. He asserts that in a heightened state of consciousness, the paradigm of a physical body collapses since what we consider physical is actually just surfaces within consciousness. Paradigm breakdown during 'physical' ego death: During his experience, Leo’s perception of having a physical body disintegrated, leading to a breakdown in his entire sense of reality. This felt akin to physically dying, which he describes using the analogy of bleeding out after being shot and the body and mind preparing for the end. Preparation for the end: Leo narrates how, while expecting to die, he began to reflect upon his life as if confronting his creator, preparing for the inevitable end. This retrospective review of life is typical of an actual physical dying process where one faces their life's events, regrets, and their ultimate meaning. Complete surrender to the experience of death: Leo expresses a deep state of acceptance and surrender to the experience of dying, claiming to feel ready to die due to the overwhelming beauty of the experience, indicating a complete ego death from his perspective. Realization through open-mindedness: He reflects on his entire life journey, from childhood curiosity to philosophical education to his work with Actualized.org, and concludes that his constant pursuit of increased open-mindedness led to this moment of experiencing his own physical death. Moment of physical ego death: Leo describes the moment of 'death' as the sensation of his self supernovaing and dissipating into reality, a moment where his self, both the personal identity and the physical sense, is completely gone, leaving only the universal existence. Death experience as a relief and joy: Post-'death', Leo describes feeling an immense sense of relief, peace, and joy—as if all burdens were lifted. He likens this post-death liberation as the greatest possible experience for a living being, feeling immortal and untouchable. Reemergence after 'death': After experiencing 'death', Leo re-emerges with a changed perspective, no longer feeling his ego, but instead feeling part of the universe. He uses the story of the Buddha to illustrate the feeling of universal applause for confronting and overcoming death. Altered perception of physical reality: Returning to his body, Leo no longer perceives things as physical objects; his hands and the coffee table are seen as manifestations within a field of consciousness with no boundaries, all made of the same 'substance'—consciousness. The residual effect of the trip: Although the most intense effects have subsided, Leo continues to feel anesthetized and marvels at his altered perspective for hours after, reflecting on the entire experience as profound, enlightening, and devoid of fear or resistance. Post-Peak Trip Experience: After the peak, Leo's trip continues without significant new developments. He spends time walking outdoors, observing his surroundings with a fresh yet numbed perspective, contemplating the profound experiences he'd had earlier. Integration of Experience: During the lingering effects of 2C-B, which last nearly 12 hours, Leo meditates and ponders the significance of what he underwent—reflecting on existence and the nature of consciousness. Lessons on Psychedelic Depth: Leo highlights that the depth of a psychedelic experience is influenced more by the user's preparation, intent, seriousness, and receptiveness to existential shifts, rather than by the substance or dosage alone. Diet and Mindfulness Practices: He credits his plant-based diet, mindfulness exercises, and consistent neurofeedback brain training for contributing to the richness of his psychedelic experiences. Psychedelic Journeys as a Progressive Arc: Leo discusses how psychedelic trips are not isolated incidents but part of a spiritual journey. This progression takes someone through understanding and confronting inner fears, leading to increasingly profound insights. Enlightenment as Physical Death: He shares the insight that enlightenment manifests as a form of physical death, where the boundary between physical and non-physical dissolves, and one becomes the universe itself. Positive Reinterpretation of Death: Leo's trip transformed his perception of physical death into a desirable and positive transformation, akin to a grand finale rather than an end to be feared. Various Degrees of Surrender and Ego Death: Leo talks about encountering various degrees of surrender and ego death throughout his psychedelic experiences, culminating in a trip that felt like a complete physical death. Temporary Nature of Psychedelic Enlightenment: He addresses the criticism of psychedelics' temporary enlightenment by asserting that these experiences have a transformative potential that extends beyond the trip itself. Continued Growth and Spiritual Effort: Leo emphasizes the need for ongoing spiritual work and contemplation to fully integrate the insights gained from psychedelic experiences. Future Content Teaser: The segment concludes with Leo mentioning a detailed written trip report that may be published for those interested in the finer aspects of his experience, and he promotes his website and future content for his audience. Levicorpus

How To Get Started With Self Actualization - Over 40 Techniques https://youtu.be/dn-pmRDauK8 Life Purpose as a Key to Motivation: Leo considers identifying life purpose integral as it involves transforming one's career into a passion that provides meaningful work and enthusiasm for life, unlike the standard nine-to-five job many despise. Reprogramming the Subconscious Mind: Leo introduces ways to alter the subconscious, which dictates most thoughts and actions, by using tools such as affirmations and visualization to alter deep-rooted beliefs and address fears and insecurities. Transformation through Meditation: Leo champions daily meditation as a life-changing habit that one should commit to indefinitely, mentioning his personal adherence to daily practice for several years and its profound impact. Mindfulness Meditation with Labeling: He elaborates on a specific meditation technique of deconstructing sensory experiences using labels, crucial for advanced personal development by challenging the mind's conceptual delusions. The Importance of Concentration Practice: Leo talks about the loss of concentration due to technological distractions and the subsequent necessity for concentration practice to maintain focus for personal growth techniques. Self-Inquiry as a Path to Truth: He presents self-inquiry as an ultimate method to discover both relative truths about life and absolute truths for enlightenment, pushing for self-discovery beyond taking someone else's word. The Power of Contemplation: Contemplation is distinguished from other practices as essential for deriving independent truths and experiencing genuine growth by reflecting on concepts and beliefs personally. Journaling for Personal Insight: Leo describes journaling as an effective starter technique for self-reflection, organizing thoughts on life goals, frustrations, and aspirations, and as a tool for self-coaching and therapy. Learning Theoretical Aspects: He emphasizes the necessity of reading, listening, and watching various sources for acquiring the theory behind self-development, likening it to academic levels of study. Taking Notes: Leo insists on documentation of insights and techniques from theory-acquisition to create a personal knowledge base for reference and review, much like diligent academic study. Personal Responsibility for Self-Design: Central to Leo's message is that individuals are responsible for architecting their own lives, selecting which personal development tools to use, and not relying on others to dictate their journey or development order. Investing in Quality Courses: Leo emphasizes the transformative potential of high-quality courses available online and in various formats like DVDs, CDs, or audiobooks. He notes that despite the cost, these courses can save years of self-discovery and significantly accelerate personal growth. Researching Self-Improvement Resources: He advocates for dedicating time to research which books, courses, and seminars to invest in as this planning is essential for progress in self-actualization. Studying Spiritual Traditions for Wisdom: Leo advises studying a broad range of spiritual traditions but warns against the dogmas within them. He talks about the importance of discerning valuable wisdom from false beliefs, emphasizing the need for good epistemology. Seeking Masterful Teachers: The abundance of expert teachers available today is highlighted by Leo as a critical resource. He suggests that these teachers can be an asset in learning, whether through direct coaching, workshops, or working closely with them. Attending Workshops and Retreats: Leo discusses the profound impact of attending workshops, retreats, and seminars. He admits they can be expensive but are worth the investment due to the paradigm-shifting insights they provide. The Transformative Power of Solo Retreats: He details the benefits of undertaking solo retreats, which involve isolation for deep meditation, self-inquiry, and reflection, accelerating personal growth by years within a concise time frame. Psychedelic Retreats for Growth: Leo also describes the potential of psychedelic retreats to foster significant personal and spiritual growth when used responsibly and with proper guidance. Ending Unconscious Relationships: He insists on the necessity of removing oneself from negative and toxic relationships to enable personal development and the pursuit of life purposes. Improving Salvageable Relationships: Leo encourages the improvement of relationships by letting go of selfish egoic behavior. This entails honest communication and addressing manipulative tendencies within oneself. Practice Radical Honesty: He recommends adopting radical honesty with oneself and others to alleviate stress, neuroses, and even physical health issues. Making Conscious Friendships: Leo suggests actively seeking high-consciousness friends who support personal growth, and conversely, distancing oneself from friends who hinder one's progress. Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP): Leo introduces NLP as a tool for subconscious mind reprogramming, suggesting its techniques can improve beliefs and emotional states. Shadow Work for Personal Insight: He presents shadow work as a method for addressing repressed psychological elements. This involves self-administered exploration of one's fears and neuroses, akin to therapy. Exploring "New-Age" Methods: Leo highlights various new-age practices like lucid dreaming, astral projection, and Reiki as potentially beneficial, though he cautions against uncritically accepting associated dogmas. Openness to New Techniques: He stresses that maintaining an open mind and experimenting with various personal development techniques is critical, even those that might initially appear as "woowoo." Importance of Diet: Cleaning up one's diet is portrayed as a critical aspect of self-actualization, affecting energy, confidence, and overall quality of life. Leo describes his personal journey of improving his diet over ten years. Vitality of Physical Exercise: A connection is made between consistent physical exercise, such as gym workouts or hatha yoga, and personal growth through improved health and unblocking energy pathways. Role of Diet in Self-Actualization: Leo underscored the profound impact of diet on self-actualization, sharing his personal struggle with food addiction and how it impaired his energy, self-esteem, and overall well-being. He advocates for the necessity of clean nutrition and advises dedicating effort to learn about and implement dietary changes, mastering healthy recipes, and forming new eating habits. Physical Exercise and Yoga: Emphasizing the importance of physical exercise, Leo mentions gym workouts and hatha yoga as methods to improve physical health and release energy blockages. He also introduces the concept of Kundalini yoga, which includes specific exercises to purify the chakras and can facilitate physical healing and release psychological baggage. Critical Importance of Proper Breathing: Leo discusses the significance of learning proper breathing techniques, which most people are not taught. He suggests that correct breathing can transform both physical vitality and mental processes, and he plans to share transformative breathing exercises that can alter one's thought patterns and overall well-being. Body Work and Energy Work for Personal Growth: Describing techniques like body work, energy work, and Reichian therapy, Leo explains their effectiveness in releasing physical blockages and connecting the body with emotions. He stresses these practices are critical as they address the physical aspect of personal development often overlooked in talk therapy. Developing Body Awareness: Leo raises awareness about the importance of understanding how we carry our bodies, including posture and movement. He highlights that lack of body awareness can lead to various physical and emotional issues and recommends a book that specifically focuses on body awareness. Cutting Out Low-Consciousness Media: Leo emphasizes the need to eliminate media sources that promote low consciousness, such as television, internet, comedy shows, news, gossip, and certain music genres. He advocates cutting these out cold turkey to make room for self-actualization activities. Eliminating Hard Addictions: Leo classifies junk food, drugs, alcohol, smoking, and even video games as "hard addictions" that distract from higher consciousness work. He suggests that eliminating these is crucial for incorporating practices like meditation and yoga into one's life. Addressing Subtle Addictions: Leo introduces the concept of "subtle addictions," which include behaviors like judging, chasing success, arguing, and criticizing. He notes these addictions can be more challenging to overcome due to their social acceptability and sneakiness but are essential to address for self-actualization. Building Life Experiences: Leo argues that travel, adventure, and engaging in deep conversations are vital for experiencing life's richness. Such experiences provide material to understand life's complexity and inspire a desire to live a more fulfilling life. Socialization and Dating Skills: Highlighting their relevance, Leo shares his own efforts to develop social and dating skills due to his initial difficulties in these areas. He encourages learning these skills as they are influential in one's self-actualization journey. Finding Healthy Relaxation and Entertainment: Leo suggests seeking healthy forms of relaxation and entertainment, different from the addictive activities previously mentioned, such as physical sports or meditation. Organizing Life Affairs: Stressing the importance of tidying one’s disorganized life, Leo recommends setting up automatic systems for routine tasks like bill payments to free up mental space and time for personal development. Lifestyle Minimization: Leo advocates for minimizing lifestyle and creating an open calendar to allow for reflection, contemplation, and soaking in life's mundane aspects, which people often overlook due to constant activity. Hiring a Life Coach or Therapist: For individuals earning over $50,000 a year, Leo sees the value in investing in a coach or therapist to help identify personal challenges and accelerate growth. Neurofeedback Training: Leo introduces the promising technology of neurofeedback training, which involves attaching electrodes to the head to synchronize brain activity, potentially benefiting issues like depression and enhancing meditation practice. Starting with Research: To begin with self-actualization, Leo urges starting with research into various techniques as self-actualization encompasses a broad domain. He cautions not to expect one person to provide guidance on all techniques and highlights the value of continually learning and seeking expertise from different sources. Starting with self-actualization: To begin self-actualization, Leo suggests setting aside a few hours to assess one's life using a journal, reflecting on past experiences, current situation, and future aspirations. This includes considering your resources, limitations, fears, past successes and failures, and formulating a clear vision and plan for your life. Creating a vision: The importance of developing a compelling, long-term vision of what one wants to achieve and who they aspire to become is underscored. A clear vision is essential for motivating oneself to make significant life changes and to sustain focus on personal growth. Investing in theory: Leo stresses the need for beginners to consume extensive theoretical knowledge, involving hundreds to thousands of hours of study. Theory helps understand the available options for personal growth, how to pursue them, and the pitfalls to avoid. Eliminating addictions and distractions: Identifying and removing addictions and distractions that hinder progress is crucial. These may manifest as behaviors that are socially accepted and often overlooked but can significantly impact one’s personal development journey. Establishing small healthy habits: Developing small, healthy habits such as daily meditation, improving diet, and continuously learning is critical. Attending retreats can also bolster one’s trajectory towards self-actualization. Experiencing non-ego consciousness: Leo advises beginners to aim for a glimpse of non-ego consciousness through practices like meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises. This experience can profoundly expand one's perspective on personal growth beyond materialistic goals. Taking the long-term perspective: Embracing the lifelong journey of self-actualization means avoiding the rush for immediate results and focusing on steady, incremental progress. Realistic expectations are key, as well as understanding that significant results accumulate over time. Maintaining the path to self-actualization: Leo warns of the danger of forgetting the path outlined in his lectures. He emphasizes the necessity of keeping the vision and plan in mind, writing down goals, using reminders, and committing to consistent action steps towards self-actualization. Utilizing available resources: The video concludes with Leo encouraging viewers to visit his website for further resources on self-actualization, including access to courses, book lists, forums, and insightful blog posts. Lumos

How To Deal With Loneliness - Especially While Self-Actualizing https://youtu.be/uGqlCkuah94 "Whosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or a God." - Aristotle The commonality of loneliness in personal development: Loneliness is a frequent companion for those engaged in personal development, self-actualization, or spiritual work due to the dissonance it causes between their growing awareness and the relative stagnation of those around them. Loneliness as a consequence of growth and change: Engaging in self-improvement leads to changing values and behaviors that can alienate one from their social environment, resulting in feelings of loneliness due to this perceived elevation above "the vulgar common masses." Fear of loneliness impeding personal development: The fear of loneliness often stops individuals from pursuing further personal growth, causing them to revert to the familiarity of societal norms to avoid the feeling of isolation. External solutions to loneliness are temporary distractions: Leo lists common external fixes for loneliness such as socializing, working, joining communities, or getting pets, but emphasizes that they do not address the core problem and only serve as distractions. Internal growth by facing loneliness: True personal development requires introspection and facing loneliness directly, which Leo describes as part of the "hero's journey," necessitating solitude to discover one's true self. Facing life alone on the path to higher consciousness: Raising one's consciousness is a solitary endeavor and cannot be achieved collectively; one must individually confront their internal struggles. Loneliness stems from disconnection from being and the true self: A fundamental cause of loneliness is a lack of connection with one's true self and the concept of "being," which is experiencing the present moment and the essence of reality. Solutions involve connecting with being and appreciating solitude: Leo encourages exposure to solitude, taming loneliness to reconnect with "being," making solitude the grounding center of life, and viewing social interactions as forays from this solitary foundation. He suggests that facing loneliness now is better than postponing it until later in life when it can become more difficult. Inevitability of Solitude in Life's Extreme Moments: Facing death, suffering, fear, and confusion are solitary experiences that everyone faces alone, regardless of the company they have at the time. Confronting Inner Demons Alone: Deep personal issues and "inner demons" can only be confronted and understood through solitude, as these aspects of oneself are beyond what others can comprehend or support. The Profound Beauty of Life Experienced Individually: The most extraordinary beauty in life is fundamentally a solitary experience because it's an aspect of first-person consciousness that can't be fully shared or expressed through words or symbols. Personal Development as the Central Focus of Life: Emphasizes the significance of committing to self-actualization and personal development as the core objective of one's existence, suggesting that everything else is secondary. Strong Relationship with Nature for Self-Understanding: Encourages a profound connection with nature as a counterbalance to human ego and constructs, which can offer a deeper understanding of existence. Discovering Life Purpose: Underlines the importance of clarifying one’s life purpose to give direction and meaning to personal growth and self-actualization. Adopting a Contemplative Lifestyle: Promotes a minimalist and contemplative lifestyle aligned with existence itself, rather than being caught up in human-made distractions and social constructs. Techniques for Deep Self-Reflection: Recommends solo retreats in nature, solo psychedelic experiences, and solo travel as methods to face solitude and foster personal growth directly. Transcending Social Expectations and Constructs: Advises going against societal norms that discourage solitude, thus deepening the emotional connection with oneself and the world. Transformation and Integration of Internal and External Experiences: Discusses the phenomenon where, through deepening consciousness, the perceived barriers between introversion and extroversion dissolve, indicating the interconnectedness of all experiences. Solo Travel as a Path to Solitude: Leo discusses the benefits of solo travel to places like national forests or historical monuments, emphasizing its ability to help you confront solitude and emotional states, despite social conventions suggesting travel should be done with others. Challenging Societal Programming: He stresses the importance of overcoming societal messages that discourage solo activities, which he views as essential experiences for personal growth and connection with one's emotions. Embracing Melancholy and Negative Emotions: Leo speaks about the value of embracing deeply melancholic and traditionally negative emotions, associating them with significant personal growth and effective self-reflection. Cultivation of Loneliness: He advises listeners to "play up" their feelings of melancholy by engaging in activities like listening to sad music, which he believes can enrich the contemplation of life and existence. Converting Loneliness to Advantage: Leo argues for the strength and reliability of loneliness as a foundation for life, urging listeners to use solitude to massage their perspective and creativity. Prioritizing Personal Development: Leo admonishes against making social life and relationships the core of one’s life. Instead, he advises focusing on personal development and solitude to lay a strong foundation for meaningful contributions to the world. Solitude Fuels Creativity and Foresight: He explains how solitude can be a source of genius-like vision, foresight, and wisdom, which can then inform and improve contributions made to society. Consoling Yourself on Your Personal Journey: When feeling lonely or lost, Leo encourages self-consolation and focusing on the larger goal of personal growth and the significance of the journey of self-actualization. Being Independent from Societal Expectations: He discusses the importance of disconnecting from societal norms and finding fulfillment within rather than seeking external validation through relationships or achievements. Using Books and Mentors to Counter Loneliness: Leo suggests using books and virtual mentors as forms of companionship and learning when dealing with loneliness, advocating for audiobooks as a tool for personal growth. Finding Authenticity Post-Solitude: Leo concludes by highlighting the benefits of developing a deep connection with solitude, stating that it can lead to more authentic, fulfilling, and enjoyable social interactions. Wingardium Leviosa

Leo's Solo Meditation Retreat - 90 Hours Of Nonstop Meditation In The Forest https://youtu.be/gfS2k1iI5k8 Overview of Solo Meditation Retreat: Leo is about to embark on a nine-day solo meditation retreat in an Arizona forest, aiming for continuous meditation even during sleep. He emphasizes the solo nature of the retreat as most beneficial for his introspective practice. Logistics and Preparations: Leo takes viewers through the practicalities of embarking on a retreat focused solely on meditation, including pre-planning meals and anticipating the need for isolation from distractions like the internet and grocery shopping. Extended Meditation Effects: He suggests that several consecutive days of uninterrupted meditation could lead to experiencing unprecedented levels of consciousness. Material Preparation: Leo displays the packed car, filled with food and the necessary gear for his retreat, highlighting the physical readiness for the trip. Recording the Retreat for Viewers: By documenting daily insights and activities, Leo intends to provide a reference for those interested in intensive consciousness work, covering the food preparation, meditation techniques, and self-inquiry practices. Embodiment vs. Theory: Stressing the importance of practice over theory, Leo aims to demonstrate real-life applications of self-actualization principles rather than just discussing them, highlighting the retreat as an example of this embodiment. Choice of Location and Comfort: Even though he practices regular meditation at home, Leo explains his preference for changing environments to reset the mind and increase the seriousness of the retreat, noting the investment in a comfortable and conducive setting. Solo Meditation as Advanced Practice: Leo points out the challenge and intensity of maintaining a rigorous meditation schedule during the retreat, mentioning that it's not advisable for beginners and that even he feels a certain level of trepidation about the upcoming solitude. Adventure and Personal Growth: Leo shares his vision of turning the practice of meditation into an adventurous pursuit, discussing plans to meditate in diverse environments like Hawaii and emphasizing that wherever one goes, the ultimate journey is internal. Mystical Experiences and Shadow Work: Leo envisions the possibility of having powerful mystical experiences, doing shadow work, and even achieving enlightenment during his retreat, emphasizing the unpredictability of these outcomes and his commitment to discipline and focus. Actualizing Theories: He talks about the importance of moving beyond theoretical understanding to actual practice and embodiment of the principles he promotes, suggesting that serious commitment is essential for deep personal transformation. Arizona Forest Preview: Leo gives a glimpse of the pine forests in northern Arizona, dispelling the misconception that Arizona is all desert and expressing excitement for meditating in this lush environment. Setting Up the Cabin: On arrival in Arizona, Leo sets up his living space and meditation areas, organizing his supplies for the retreat. He shows viewers his food stash, cooking ingredients, and emphasizes the importance of preparing for an undisturbed practice. Outdoor Meditation and Challenges: He mentions his plans to meditate outdoors and the physical challenges that come with long hours of sitting, planning to include walking meditation to maintain comfort and mindfulness. Benefits of Deep Personal Development Work: Leo conveys his passion for showing the depth of personal development and consciousness work, explaining that the deep work is both amazing and transformative, but requires a greater level of seriousness. Commitment to Consciousness Work: Lastly, he ties his reflections back to the viewers, hoping his experience inspires them to commit more seriously to their own personal development and consciousness work. Selected Meditation Spots: Leo has identified comfortable spots near trees outdoors for sitting meditation and has a lawn chair for meditating in these natural settings around the cabin. Wildlife in the Retreat Area: He encountered a large falcon during a walk, admiring its camouflage and size, and shared his attempt to film the bird despite the windy conditions and rough terrain. Arizona's Unexpected Greenery: Leo is pleasantly surprised by the lush green landscape of northern Arizona, contrary to its typical desert image, and enjoys a nature trail as his retreat concludes. Reflection on the Meditation Retreat: The retreat provided significant growth without enlightenment experiences; Leo plans on conducting more retreats in diverse locations including Hawaii, and has many insights and notes for future content. Importance of Outdoor Retreats for Clarity: Engaging in retreats outdoors, away from distractions, is highlighted as beneficial for mental clarity and resetting the mind, although it requires careful planning and braving the elements. Work-Life Balance for Personal Development: Leo addresses the challenge people face in dedicating time for deep inner work due to job constraints, emphasizing the value of being self-employed to have the flexibility for personal growth. Exploring Different Self-Improvement Techniques: He discusses the usefulness of various techniques such as meditation, self-inquiry, contemplation, and journaling, which can be beneficial for personal development beyond the pursuit of enlightenment. Customization and Planning of Personal Development Retreats: Leo advises viewers to tailor personal development activities to their preferences and to strategically pre-plan retreats, ensuring that work schedules accommodate personal growth priorities. Alohomora

The Highest Hero's Journey - What It Means To Be Real Hero https://youtu.be/5IVEKz4jYmA "A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself." - Joseph Campbell Understanding the Highest Hero's Journey: Leo delves into a more significant dimension of the hero's journey, exploring its interconnections with spirituality and non-duality, contrasting with his earlier practical take on the concept tailored to finding one's purpose and societal impact. Different Life Paths Explored: Before establishing Actualized.org, Leo considered becoming a science fiction writer, leading him to study narrative structures, storytelling, character, and the psychology of villains—a journey that ultimately directed him toward personal development and understanding human psychology. Studying Influences on Star Wars: Research into the creation of Star Wars, an influential franchise that inspired him, led Leo to explore its origins in Flash Gordon and Valerian comics, the latter offering a distinctive European French style influencing cinema. Joseph Campbell and the Hero's Journey Concept: Joseph Campbell, the American mythologist who popularized and made explicit the concept of the hero's journey, which illustrates a schematic outline of human life, was a key figure Leo studied. Starting the Hero's Journey: The journey begins with the hero leading an ordinary, comfortable life. A call to adventure is presented, which invokes fear and resistance due to the human tendency toward homeostasis and aversion to risk. Forced Acceptance of Adventure: Despite initial refusal, the hero is coerced into accepting the journey through dramatic changes or loss (e.g., Luke Skywalker's family and home being destroyed), thus pushing the hero into unknown and risky territories. Facing Threshold Guardians and Seeking Mentorship: The hero encounters Threshold Guardians, which test their resolve. Upon failure, the hero seeks out a mentor—a past hero who imparts wisdom, training, and often provides a crucial tool for the journey ahead. The Significance of the Mentor: Mentors play a vital role as they are themselves experienced heroes from a previous generation, ready to guide new heroes through trials with advice and skills training. The Final Boss and the Dragon: The hero must prepare to face the final boss or dragon, which guards the coveted Holy Grail. Initial defeat is typical, leading to a retreat for reevaluation and self-confrontation before the hero can succeed. Entering the Belly of the Whale and Inner Reflection: Facing failure, the hero enters a phase of deep inner reflection known as "entering the belly of the whale", where they must confront their own inner demons and weaknesses, realizing that these internal barriers are what truly hold them back from success. The Hero's Inner Battle: The final boss in the hero's journey is the hero's own inner demons, weaknesses, and fears. The struggle with these personal challenges is the most difficult part of the journey. Revelation upon Obtaining the Holy Grail: Upon obtaining the Holy Grail, the hero experiences a reversal in understanding; the journey's value lies in the transformation and personal growth achieved, not in the physical prize. The Physical Grail vs. Self-Discovery: The hero realizes that the true Holy Grail is the discovery of oneself, not a material treasure. This revelation leads to a sense of peace and happiness derived from personal evolution. Return to the Tribe with Knowledge: The hero returns home to share the lessons learned, but the tribe is unable to comprehend the value of the journey as they have not experienced it themselves. The Hero as Mentor: The returning hero stands as a mentor, ready to guide new heroes who choose to embark on their journey, although few are willing to leave comfort for the call to adventure. Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey: Joseph Campbell formulated the hero's journey after studying global mythological traditions, finding consistent patterns across different cultures. The Hero's Journey as Human Life Structure: The lecture affirms that the hero's journey's structure represents the framework of human life and is essential to understanding one's existence. Misinterpretation of External Journeys: Many perceive the external journeys in pop culture as literal, but these are actually metaphors for the internal pursuit of consciousness and enlightenment. Derived from Vedanta Philosophy: The core of the hero's journey is derived from Vedanta—a Hindu non-dualistic tradition focused on the pursuit of enlightenment. The Choice between Ego and Truth: Human life and the hero's journey are about choosing between serving one's ego or pursuing the absolute truth, with heroes choosing the latter. Understanding Evil: Evil is characterized as intrinsic selfishness or ego, not as an external monster; the villain symbolizes the ego-serving status quo. Holy Grail’s Symbolism: The Holy Grail represents intangible concepts like truth, God, enlightenment, or consciousness, which cannot be exploited for materialistic power. Villain's Disregard for the Truth: Villains seek power instead of truth, striving to maintain the ego-centric status quo and consciously rejecting enlightenment. Journey Misconception: Many people mistake the hero's journey for a materialistic quest and miss the opportunity to embark on a true inner spiritual journey. Materialistic Path as a Villain's Journey: Pursuit of materialistic goals, like wealth or career success, is a trap and misconception of the hero's journey, leading one to embody villainy rather than heroism. Enablement of Villainy: Many people are not strictly heroes or villains but enablers of villainy due to unconsciousness and selfish tendencies, functioning as minions and opposing true heroes. Refusal of the Hero's Call: The lecture states that most individuals unconsciously refuse the call to a deep inner spiritual journey, misunderstanding it as a materialistic pursuit and not recognizing it for the transformative journey it is. Mistaken Identity of Heroes: Leo points out that society often misidentifies athletes, celebrities, tycoons, and politicians as heroes, whereas real heroes are spiritual figures such as Zen masters and mystics who undertake true inner journeys and find humility in the Holy Grail. Heroes as Rare Phenomena: Heroes are rare because their journey entails a break from personal loyalty and pragmatism, which goes against society's collective conspiracy to serve the self. Personal Sacrifice in the Hero's Journey: Accepting the call to adventure often leads to social isolation and demonization because it violates the societal norm of self-service. The Call to Adventure and Romanticism: Accepting the hero's call requires romanticism and risk-taking due to inherent uncertainty, as pragmatic thinking and a list of pros and cons would discourage the journey. Cultural and Visionary Obstacles: Societal intoxication and lack of vision hinder most people from accepting the call, as they are unable to visualize the Holy Grail, and peer pressure dissuades them from taking risks. Emotional Impact of Heroes: Heroes inspire and evoke emotion because they reveal the highest potential within us and the profound inner journey we ought to undertake. Inevitable Struggle on the Hero's Path: Heroes must struggle not only because of opposition by the status quo but also due to the internal battle of coming to terms with one's self, which is the scariest and most confusing aspect. Resistance to the Heroes' Wisdom: The tribe cannot immediately grasp the hero's lessons upon return because true understanding requires personal experience, not simply intellectual knowledge. Misinterpretation of the Hero's Lessons: Reading about a hero's experiences in a book isn't enough to understand their teachings. Dismissing their struggles leads people to continue in their mundane, ego-driven activities, missing the actual journey the hero undertook. Impossibility of Symbolizing the Holy Grail: The Holy Grail's true essence cannot be communicated through symbols, language, or scientific analysis. This emphasizes the non-symbolic and experiential nature of the truth that one seeks through the hero's journey. The Purpose of Life: Leo underscores that life's purpose isn't mundane success or pleasure but rather the pursuit of reality's truth, which equates to the Holy Grail. Experiential Learning Through Hardship: The School of Hard Knocks is Leo's analogy for learning life's truths—these lessons cannot be outsourced or taught; they must be experienced personally to be fully comprehended. The Hermit Mentor: Mentors who have grasped the Holy Grail become hermits, not due to misanthropy, but because they've transcended the ego-driven societal game and know the Grail cannot simply be given to others. The Hero's Journey as a Framework: Leo advises using the hero's journey as a blueprint, a process which, when understood, can help navigate through life's difficult phases and maintain resolve. Accepting the Call to Adventure: Emphasizing the critical step of accepting the hero's journey, Leo states that it involves emotional labor, sacrifice, and the readiness to pursue true meaning. Dedication to a Greater Cause: The deepest fulfillment comes from giving oneself to a cause beyond personal gain, which often requires overcoming societal pressures and carving out a unique path. Zen Master Ryokan's Haiku: The journey's solitary and arduous nature is encapsulated by a haiku from a true hero, Ryokan, which parallels the hero's solitary return after fulfilling their mission. The village has disappeared in the evening mist And the path is hard to follow. Walking through the pines, I return to my lonely hut. -Ryokan Muffliato

Concentration vs Meditation - How To Develop Concentration https://youtu.be/sSxtR4psOoQ "Until you get into access concentration, you ain't got squat." - Daniel Ingram Revolutionizing meditation with concentration: Leo emphasizes that understanding and practicing concentration is a game-changer for anyone's meditation practice, claiming it can lead to exponential growth and yielding deeper results compared to a casual approach. Vast difference between concentration and meditation: Concentration entails a laser-like focus on a single object, building the 'concentration muscle,' whereas regular meditation practices often involve a relaxed state of mind without such disciplined focus. The state of access concentration: Achieving access concentration is crucial for profound meditation results. It's a state of absorption where the mind becomes deeply focused on the object of concentration, leading to heightened meditation experiences. Decline in modern concentration abilities: With the abundance of distractions in contemporary life, Leo points out that most people's concentration skills are significantly impaired, highlighting the importance of actively working to improve this ability. Importance of concentration for serious meditators: A strong concentration ability is not only beneficial for meditation but is also essential for effective self-inquiry and contemplation practices. Technique to develop concentration: Leo outlines a method involving starting with a digital timer set to short periods, like five minutes, and focusing intently on a single object, such as the sensation between the thumb and index finger, without letting the mind wander. Building concentration gradually: Start with very short sessions, such as two minutes, and only increase the duration once consistent focus is achieved. The aim is to work up to longer sessions where access concentration can be reached. Conceptualizing the concentration object: When the object of concentration is complex, like the breath, Leo suggests conceptualizing it as a single entity to simplify and unify the focus, thereby easing the absorption process. Uncertain timeframe to achieve access concentration: Leo acknowledges the time it takes to hit access concentration varies among individuals, suggesting daily practice and possible multiple short sessions throughout the day to develop this skill. Misperception of Rapid Concentration Development: Attempting to quickly amplify concentration by practicing for excessively long periods initially is ineffective, similar to expecting to lift heavy weights without prior conditioning. It's important to patiently build concentration skills over time. Concentration versus Physical Strength: Just as muscles require training to grow stronger, mental focus needs gradual development. The mind's habits are deeply ingrained and cannot be altered rapidly, which is why quality over quantity in concentration practice is paramount. The Journey of Concentration Practice: Starting with short sessions of concentration and building up to longer durations is crucial. Over time, Leo found that a period of focused concentration can quiet the mind, likening the aftermath to the calm at the center of a hurricane. Synergistic Effect of Concentration on Meditation: Brief concentration exercises before regular meditation can dramatically improve the quality of meditation by taming the 'monkey mind'. This disciplined prelude allows for a more controlled and fruitful meditation session. Selecting the Right Concentration Object: A wide range of concentration objects exists, including mudras, breath sensations, physical objects, mental images, colors, mantras, or sounds. Choosing an object that resonates with the individual is crucial for maintaining focused attention. Demonstration of a Concentration Aid Using a Metronome: Leo recommends using a metronome app as an auditory focus aid, finding personal success with this method. The consistent ticking sound helps guide the mind back when it starts to wander. Commitment to a Chosen Concentration Target: Once a comfortable and intriguing concentration target is selected, commitment to it is important. Switching targets mid-practice can disrupt concentration and impede progress. Misunderstanding Around Free Will and Focus: Leo addresses the misconception that lacking free will negates the necessity for discipline in concentration practices. He explains that while actions get done, the illusion is in the belief that the individual self is the doer rather than the actions occurring organically through the universe or the body. Clarification on Spiritual Practice Misconceptions: Leo emphasizes that spirituality involves rigorous discipline and is not merely about surrender. Surrender comes at a very advanced stage and should not be conflated with a lack of effort in the practices leading to that point. Misconception of Effort in Spirituality: Spirituality often has the misconception that it doesn't require effort, hard work, or desires such as the desire for enlightenment. Leo dispels this myth by explaining that genuine spiritual practices demand discipline and a deep desire for truth, which is essential for spiritual growth. Desire for Enlightenment vs. Materialistic Desires: Leo differentiates between materialistic desires and the profound desire for enlightenment. He emphasizes that the desire for enlightenment is necessary; without it, one's spiritual journey may mirror the average, non-spiritually inclined person, leading to stagnation. Misinterpretation and Misuse of Spiritual Truths: Leo warns that the mind may misinterpret spiritual teachings as an excuse for laziness. He criticizes those who advocate simply "being in the now" without taking rigorous steps towards enlightenment, noting that genuine teachers work hard for their spiritual advancements. Enlightenment versus Mystical Experiences: Leo clarifies that while concentration might lead to beautiful mystical experiences or absorption states such as Samadhi, these are distinct from enlightenment, which is attained through insight and knowledge. Synergy of Concentration with Other Practices: Stressing the importance of a balanced spiritual toolbox, Leo advises not to rely solely on concentration but to combine it with practices like self-inquiry and contemplation for deeper insights into the nature of reality and ultimate truths. Ego's Co-option of Spiritual Techniques: Leo cautions that the ego can distort spiritual techniques and knowledge for its preservation. He urges vigilance to prevent the ego from co-opting spiritual methods. Maintaining Meditation with Concentration Practice: Leo advises against replacing meditation with concentration, recommending instead to integrate concentration practice into daily routines for significant life transformation. Commitment to Regular Concentration Practice: Leo urges viewers to commit to daily concentration practice, emphasizing that consistent discipline over time, even in increments as small as five minutes, can lead to profound spiritual and personal growth. Long-Term Potential of Concentration: Highlighting the transformative impact of developing concentration ability, Leo encourages building the practice progressively, from short durations to longer sessions, and anticipates discussing deeper absorption states in future content. Active Implementation of Spiritual Practices: Leo underscores the necessity of applying spiritual theories and practices for genuine transformation, cautioning against passive consumption of information and procrastination. He advocates for the consistent establishment of foundational habits for self-actualization and mastery of life. Nox

Contemplation - The Most Important Tool For Sages https://youtu.be/wa-NAtBEMkA "Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are" Defining Contemplation: Contemplation is described as an essential process for sages to reach the core of reality by pondering thoughtfully on a subject with focus, without biases, and from a ground zero perspective. Importance of "What is it?" question: The question "What is it?" is a crucial contemplative tool that prompts deep exploration into the nature of any subject, object, or concept by replacing "it" with the subject of inquiry. Versatility of "What is it?": This simple yet powerful question can be applied to countless topics ranging from personal to existential, including love, success, emotions, science, society, art, and more, illustrating the vast potential of contemplation. Misconceptions about Contemplation: Common misconceptions about contemplation include confusing it with hearsay, fantasy, or passive thinking. Real contemplation requires active, focused inquiry starting from a base of not knowing. Contemplation Process: To contemplate effectively, one selects a question of genuine interest, sets aside uninterrupted time, and actively ponders on the question, probing its essence for a substantial period. Existential and Prospective Understanding of Contemplation: While some may view contemplation as a mundane intellectual exercise, it also has deep spiritual and mystical dimensions, possibly leading to mystical states of awareness and existential insights. Practical Examples of Contemplation: A broad range of examples is given to showcase the different areas where one can use the question "What is it?" such as understanding color, happiness, society, art, and even the act of contemplating itself. Steps of Contemplation: To start contemplation, choose an intellectually stimulating question that genuinely piques curiosity, like "What is art?" The process involves deeply questioning and probing the topic from different perspectives. Personal Motivation in Contemplation: It's crucial to have a real interest or personal stake in the question being contemplated, as genuine curiosity drives a more profound inquiry into the subject matter, leading to better insights. Questions for Deeper Understanding: During contemplation, a series of guiding questions are used to dive into the subject: "What is it?" "What is its true nature?" "How did it come into being?" "What are its elements?" "What allows it to exist?" "What is its purpose?" "What is its substance?" "Is it physical or conceptual?" "What is its significance?" Historical Context in Contemplation: While studying the history of a topic can provide background knowledge, it is important to move beyond historical facts to contemplate the essence and underlying components that allow something like art to exist. Intellectual vs. Experiential Understanding: Contemplation aims to move beyond intellectual understanding to reach experiential, 'being-level' insights. This involves transcending the mind to merge the contemplator with the subject matter. Contemplation vs. Other Practices: Contemplation is differentiated from meditation, self-inquiry, and concentration. Meditation is about relaxing the mind without a goal, self-inquiry is about understanding the self to achieve enlightenment, and concentration is focused attention without intellectual inquiry. Personal and Existential Levels of Contemplation: Contemplation ranges from personal-level inquiries, like life goals, to existential questions such as the nature of life or existence itself. Both levels of contemplation are of value for personal development. Significance of Curiosity in Contemplation: Seeking profound understanding requires continuous and curious questioning, even within familiar subjects such as art. Beliefs and ideas absorbed from culture may not reflect the true essence until individually contemplated. Distinct Levels of Insights Through Contemplation: Insights can emerge at the thought level, which is intellectual, or at the being level, which is spiritual and mystical, transcending intellect and leading to a deep existential understanding. Contemplation at Intellectual vs. Being Level: Deep contemplation involves breaking through the intellectual level to the being level, a rare and profound experience that requires hundreds of hours of focused effort, typically achieved in spiritual practices or the pursuit of enlightenment. The Challenges of Deep Contemplation: Achieving deep contemplation is challenging—it is not accomplished by sporadic or brief periods of thought but requires intense, dedicated practice, significantly contributing to its rarity. Contemplation vs. Speculation and Theorizing: Genuine contemplation must be differentiated from mere speculation or theorizing, which can lead to delusion. It requires self-honesty and the avoidance of creating justifications for one's ego. Avoiding Preconceived Notions: Being cautious not to project personal biases and preconceived notions onto the object of contemplation is critical for achieving true contemplative insight. Wisdom Through Contemplation: The deepest wisdom and spiritual insights are garnered not from science or idle theory but from rigorous and precise contemplation, which is a time-intensive endeavor involving hundreds to thousands of hours. Everyday Contemplation Benefits: Contemplating everyday concepts like anger, happiness, and relationships can significantly benefit one's life, although the deepest insights require a strong ability to focus for extended periods. Focus and Open-mindedness for Contemplation: To penetrate the being level of understanding, an individual needs a highly cultivated ability to focus and a radical degree of open-mindedness, which may initially be beyond comprehension and recognizably valuable only after significant trial and error. Existing Paradigms and Contemplation: Existing paradigms can limit the mind's imagination, preventing the reception of the most profound transcendental insights. These paradigms can only be overcome through deep and relentless contemplation. Continuous Exploration: Questions like "What is art?" warrant continuous contemplation, and initial answers are often superficial or incorrect. Understanding deepens with further contemplation, experience, concentration ability, and practices like meditation or self-inquiry. Contemplation vs. Researching Answers: The essence of contemplation lies in coming to conclusions independently, without reliance on external answers, as true understanding and ownership of insights come from the process itself. Contemplation for Personal Transformation: Contemplation is transformative, changing one's relationship to life and its aspects. By cutting through life's illusions, it assists in aligning oneself with truth and eliminating ignorance, the source of many life problems. Genuine insights through contemplation: Contemplating deeply on questions in life leads to insights that cannot be gleaned from books or second-hand knowledge, demonstrating the limitations of purely academic or external learning. Ignorance as the fundamental problem: Leo emphasizes that ignorance is the root cause of life's problems, including depression, anger, relationship issues, and understanding oneself and reality. Contemplation acts as a tool to penetrate life's illusions and magic show, revealing underlying truths. Contemplation as intellectual research: Leo likens contemplation to a form of intellectual research that relies on personal mental faculties rather than collecting information from external databases or sources. Improved life through contemplation: There's a direct correlation between the quality of life and the frequency and depth of contemplation. Effective contemplation can lead to a clearer understanding of truth, which aligns one's actions with knowledge. Adopting a contemplative lifestyle: To contemplate effectively, Leo suggests lifestyle changes, such as avoiding distractions like video games, porn, and overwhelming work hours. Recommends watching his episode on 'Lifestyle Minimalism' to learn about creating room for contemplation. Contemplation exercise assignment: Leo provides a practical assignment to demonstrate the power of contemplation by contemplating the question "What is relationship?" for a week. This is to be reminded by wearing a wristband and thinking about relationships, especially during interaction with others. Commitment to personal growth: Leo calls for a lifelong commitment to growth through contemplation and applying the learned concepts. He promises transformative content, focusing on foundational existential topics and expressing the importance of embodiment over theoretical understanding. Systematic weeding of ignorance: Consistent self-improvement and contemplation are portrayed as enjoyable yet challenging tasks. Leo shares his personal experience of enhancing his life through self-contemplation and emphasizes the momentum that builds over time for greater rewards. Continuous learning for transformation: Encourages signing up for his newsletter and committing to watching his videos. Leo assures that implementing even half of his teachings will lead to significant life changes, aiming to cover deep existential topics not commonly found in self-help material. Alohomora

How I Do Research & Develop Big Picture Understanding https://youtu.be/TVPzXaHMifw "The aim of philosophy is to show the fly out of the bottle." - Ludwig Wittgenstein Leo's Epistemic Foundation: Leo attributes his ability to research and develop a big picture understanding of life to having the right epistemic foundation. He views this not as a technique but as a fundamental approach to inquiry, emphasizing that without this foundation, people fail to develop accurate big pictures of reality. Initial Interest in Philosophy & Epistemology: Leo traces his journey back to his interests in philosophy and epistemology during high school and college, where he became deeply engrossed in questions about knowledge and truth. Meta-Philosophy and Role of Psychology: While engaging in philosophy, Leo observed his own process and the influence of personal psychology, such as biases and desires, on philosophy and the pursuit of truth. Limits of Philosophy and Reason: He realized that philosophy has its limitations, and it cannot be used to solve every problem. Recognizing these limits is crucial to preventing missteps in philosophical inquiry. Leo's Research Process: Over a decade of research has been guided by Leo's developing epistemic foundation, which he considers his "superpower" in growing quickly and discovering new areas of knowledge. Starting Position of Inquiry: Leo insists that the starting point of inquiry is admitting "we don't know what's true," which he feels is often overlooked as individuals bring assumptions into their research. Openness to Every Possibility: He underscores the significance of being open to every possibility since we cannot prejudge the outcome of research nor know which guiding principles to apply. Independence from Pre-mined Knowledge: Leo stresses the importance of not relying solely on information supplied by others in books or by experts, as it is crucial to critically evaluate these sources independently. Self-Deception as Main Enemy: Self-awareness is key, with Leo pointing out that personal biases and weaknesses are the main obstacles in research, not the misconceptions of others. Every Perspective Has Hidden Assumptions: He acknowledges that all perspectives have underlying, often unexamined assumptions, which shape one's worldview and are foundational to understanding. Partiality of All Perspectives: Leo claims that adopting any single perspective will yield an incomplete understanding, so it is essential to study multiple perspectives to obtain a broader comprehension of reality. Partial Perspective Problem: Leo stresses that every perspective is incomplete and suggests sampling a variety of perspectives without fully committing to any single one, similar to exploring various dishes at a buffet. Models vs. Reality: He warns that while models can be helpful, they should never be mistaken for reality. Good models can falsely reassure us that we have reality figured out; this misplaced confidence is a significant epistemic risk. The Web of Beliefs: Leo describes our belief system as a loosely fact-connected web, allowing for varying interpretations of the same facts. He points out that different people might build different belief systems to explain identical phenomena, leading to diverse perspectives and ideologies. Rejecting Foundationalism: Leo declares the philosophical attempt to find an indisputable base for all beliefs, foundationalism, to be a historical failure. He asserts there is no single truth that can serve as the fundamental cornerstone for understanding reality. Limited Use of Rationality: He argues that relying solely on rationality to understand reality is a mistake because rationality is only a subset of reality, and much of the universe contains no rationality. Embracing Paradox: Leo suggests that paradox, rather than being a sign of failure, indicates the depth of the quest to understand reality or could signify the limitations of our attempts to rationalize everything. Primacy of Direct Experience: He concludes that direct experience should be the primary source of information in research, as it is less fraught with pitfalls than authority or reasoning, though all can play a role. Spectrum of Direct Experiences: Leo underlines the importance of expanding the spectrum of direct experiences to develop a bigger picture understanding of reality, since having a narrow range can distort one's perception of the whole. Practicality in Philosophy: He emphasizes the need to ensure that philosophical exploration is grounded in practicality, with the goal of improving life quality, emotional mastery, and achieving personal success. Positionless Inquiry: Leo advocates for an approach to understanding that is free from defending any fixed standpoint, focusing on exploration and understanding rather than on supporting a particular ideology. Understanding Over Truth: He argues for prioritizing the pursuit of understanding different life aspects instead of chasing a fixed "truth," which can be a limiting and rigid quest. Experiencing Diverse Life Aspects: Leo states the need to explore a broad spectrum of life experiences, including engaging with intelligent people, encountering altered states, and investigating unconventional phenomena to enrich the understanding of existence. Maintaining a No-Position Stance: He advises maintaining a stance with no firm positions to defend, focusing only on understanding and how to optimally live life. Shift from Possession to Understanding: Leo emphasizes the shift from trying to possess the ultimate truth to fostering a broader understanding. He isn't interested in claiming a singular "best" way to do things, but rather in comprehending the variety, mechanics, and nuances in various fields such as business, personal development, spiritual development, relationships, and health. Holism vs. Hyper-Specialization: Leo criticizes the hyper-specialization seen in academia that focuses on minute, often irrelevant details. He advocates for a holistic approach to life, prioritizing comprehensive understanding that impacts one's happiness, relationships, emotional mastery, and consciousness. Argumentation as an Ego Trap: Leo points out that engaging in argumentation, debate, and justification are ego-driven activities that obstruct the quest for truth. Defending a position creates attachment and stagnation, whereas the goal should be the continued expansion of one's understanding. Principles for Investigation: Leo shares the principles he's learned without delving into how he acquired them. He suggests using them as axioms to guide one's investigation and to remain skeptical, even of the information he provides, acknowledging that understanding starts from accepting one knows nothing for sure. Default Position as Major Obstacle: Detailing the "default position," Leo describes it as going with the flow, which leads to limited understanding and persistent struggles in various life aspects. It stems from uncritically absorbing mainstream beliefs and not questioning deeply about life. Academic Approach Limitations: Leo describes the academic approach's pitfalls as narrowly focused and specialized, often lacking practical use in one's life. This can lead to knowledge depth in one area but a lack of understanding in others, failing to create a holistic view of life. Limitations of Adhering to a Single Spiritual Tradition: Leo warns against dogmatically following a single spiritual tradition, which might offer enlightenment but also presents a narrow, culturally biased perspective. This partial view can hinder developing the most extensive understanding of reality. Dangers of Relying Solely on Direct Experience: Leo stresses that exclusive reliance on direct experience, without external input, can lead to severe self-deception. He underscores the importance of being critical of one's understanding, even when derived from direct experience. Motivation and Self-Reliance in Research: Leo warns against over-reliance on oneself to discover reality without considering other perspectives. Focusing solely on oneself can lead to a limited understanding due to a narrow spectrum of experiences and ignoring the lessons available from various traditions, scientific disciplines, and historical mistakes. Limits of Single-Method Approaches: Leo critiques various single-method approaches for understanding reality, such as exclusively focusing on academic study or direct experience. He suggests that any singular approach is inherently flawed and can lead to "epistemic traps." Leo’s Pragmatic Approach to Understanding: He advocates for a pragmatic approach that involves a committed dedication to understanding without being defensive about one’s position. Leo outlines a process that includes being mindful of debates, avoiding semantic squabbles, studying a wide range of perspectives, and integrating those with direct experience to continuously refine one's model of reality. Cross-Referencing Perspectives: Leo proposes a method of learning by experiencing different perspectives, such as studying with masters of various religious and philosophical doctrines. By doing so, he aims to triangulate common elements and validate them against personal intuition, to create a coherent bigger picture. Flexibility in Understanding: Recognizing the provisional nature of knowledge, Leo stresses the importance of adaptability and willingness to discard outdated beliefs. He suggests that as understanding grows, what once seemed true may later be recognized as flawed. Openness to Being Wrong: Gura emphasizes the importance of being open to the possibility that one's entire understanding could be fundamentally flawed. This requires a high degree of humility and the courage to abandon misconceptions. Positive Outlook on the Pursuit of Understanding: Despite the reality that understanding can be complex and riddled with potential for error, Leo maintains a positive outlook — believing that the pursuit of understanding is inherently valuable and will yield practical benefits in time. Rejection of the Default Position: Leo criticizes the default position of abstaining from active research and passively absorbing mainstream ideas, stressing that such inaction leads to ignorance and aligns with the majority's status quo. Risk of Loyalism to Single Teachings: He warns against becoming overly loyal to any one spiritual or philosophical tradition, as it can prevent a broader, more comprehensive understanding of reality and lead to sectarianism. Reality's Potential for Absurdity and Counterintuitiveness: Leo argues for staying open to the possibility that reality may be fundamentally different from what we expect — it can be irrational, shocking, and contain twists that challenge our most ingrained assumptions. Openness to the Absurd: Leo Gura stresses being open to absurd, illogical, and paradoxical ideas during research, as dismissing them prematurely can be a significant barrier to discovering deeper truths. Long-Term Approach to Research: Gura advocates for a long-term commitment to research, suggesting that the benefits of such investigation may not be immediately apparent but can lead to profound, lasting success later in life. Not Obsessing Over Immediate Utility: He cautions against overly focusing on the immediate practical utility of research, emphasizing that transformation in life's foundation might take years to manifest but will result in remarkable improvements. Deep, Stable Success: By nurturing and cultivating one's foundational understanding, Leo suggests that one achieves a resilient form of success that is immune to external instability, such as economic downturns or job loss. Pursuing Wisdom Over Resources: The approach highlighted by Gura prioritizes wisdom and personal growth over acquiring material resources like money, leading to more substantive and enduring life satisfaction. Meta Sources in Research: Gura underlines the use of meta sources—those who have synthesized multiple perspectives—to gain a holistic big picture, which he considers an effective approach to understanding reality deeply. Reality as Ever-Evolving: He acknowledges that the big picture of reality will always be under construction and encourages a constant state of adjustment and evolution of one's understanding until the end. Value of the Meta-Research Approach: Leo conveys that while the subtleties of his meta-research approach may be hard to articulate to those who have not delved deeply into various perspectives, those who do engage with it will live uniquely satisfying and impactful lives. Reconstructing Beliefs: He likens the ongoing modification of beliefs to sailors at sea who must perpetually repair their ship while it's in use, emphasizing continuous effort and vigilance. Approach to Objections and Risks: Gura addresses concerns about wasting time investigating 'nonsense' and the risk of adopting silly beliefs, clarifying that an open-ended search inevitably includes dead ends, but the overall process is designed to minimize these risks and is the nature of thorough research. Pursuing Extraordinary Outcomes: He invites individuals to consider the long-term value of an unorthodox approach to research, one that few people undertake but potentially yields exceptional results. Misinterpretation of Perspective Sampling: Leo clarifies that his research method is not relativism; he does not regard all perspectives as equally true but advises against averaging different perspectives. Instead, some perspectives will be quickly identified as incorrect, while others may hold more truth. Transformative Value of Research: Leo speaks to the concern of the research process being a waste of time, suggesting that the subtle accumulative effects over time can lead to significant life transformations, justifying the commitment to the process. Questioning the Exclusivity of Enlightenment: Leo challenges the belief that the pursuit of enlightenment alone is sufficient for understanding reality. He points out that even after enlightenment, there may still be unknowns, urging the necessity for openness to more than just enlightenment. Cautiousness in Adopting Beliefs: Leo insists on the need for extreme caution in holding beliefs and understanding reality. He stresses the importance of continually being open-minded and questioning, regardless of one's current level of enlightenment or knowledge. Self-Vigilance in Research: Leo emphasizes his commitment to epistemic humility and aware self-vigilance. He highlights the need to constantly be on guard against one's own potential for self-deception and to remain flexible and open to reevaluating one's beliefs, regardless of how certain they may seem externally. Promotion of Actualized.org and Continued Research: Leo promotes his website, Actualized.org, and outlines his commitment to ongoing research in personal development. He promises future content that will deliver profound, potentially paradigm-shifting perspectives. Aguamenti

Becoming A Zen Devil - The Dangers Of Half-Assing Enlightenment https://youtu.be/z2B_e24UJi8 "If you cannot weep with a person who is crying, there is no kensho." - Yamada Koun Neo-Advaita Criticism: Leo addresses the Western trend of neo-advaita which simplifies and strips away traditional aspects of non-duality, aiming for a direct path to enlightenment; though innovative, it risks neglecting the complexity and depth found in these ancient teachings. Historical Account of Mount Hiei: By recounting the decline of Mount Hiei in Japan, Leo illustrates how a devout non-dual tradition can degenerate into chaos and corruption, highlighting the dangers of misinterpreting and misapplying spiritual practices. Misinterpretation of Enlightenment: Leo criticizes the oversimplified view of enlightenment as a single insight with no further growth or practice needed, emphasizing that true enlightenment is a nuanced process that doesn't discard values, principles, or continual self-improvement. Zen Devil Phenomenon: He warns against becoming a 'Zen devil', a term for someone who rationalizes ethical neglect and indolence using non-duality, leading to harm and misunderstanding. Importance of Discipline and Values: Leo underscores the necessity for maintaining discipline, ethical behavior, personal development, and commitment to excellence in the practice of non-duality, using the strict environment of Zen temples as an example. Wisdom Within Tradition: Although Leo acknowledges his distaste for tradition for tradition's sake, he recognizes that traditional practices in mysticism can embed deep wisdom which should not be disregarded entirely. Dichotomy of Small and Big Non-duality: Leo introduces the distinction between 'small non-duality', a limited and possibly egoistic understanding of the concept, and 'big non-duality', a holistic and inclusive approach that respects the complexity of enlightenment and the importance of values and ethics. Pitfalls of Initial Non-dual Experiences: Individuals new to non-duality who gain initial experiences can become arrogant, creating a higher level of duality while claiming to be non-dual due to inexperience and lack of mastery. Small vs. Big Non-duality: Small non-duality pits itself against other approaches, fostering rivalry, criticism, and a sense of superiority. In contrast, big non-duality is humble, integrating both the non-dual and dual aspects, and recognizes practical realities such as good and evil. Maturity in Non-dual Practice: Big non-duality practitioners don't engage in ideological battles and are open to various techniques, such as therapy and self-help, understanding that not everyone can immediately pursue deep spiritual work. Chaos on Mount Hiei: The lack of big non-duality understanding could have contributed to the issues on Mount Hiei; it emphasizes inclusivity and lack of competition and could require years to master. Zen Devil and Wild Fox Zen: Zen Devil refers to someone who has had an enlightenment experience but lacks broader knowledge or study, while Wild Fox Zen represents the opposite—book knowledge without practice. Both extremes can be problematic, with the middle path being ideal. 10,000-Hour Rule for Mastery: Mastery in any field, including non-duality, generally requires at least 10,000 hours of dedicated practice. Non-duality is not exempt from this rule and could require even more time to fully understand and embody. Variety and Depth of Enlightenment: Enlightenment can vary in depth and there are different types, with minor insights being just as important as major ones. True enlightenment transforms one's emotions, mind structure, and habitual reactions, which takes extensive work beyond initial insights. Post-Enlightenment Transformation: After enlightenment, negative relationship patterns and habits may persist, so work is needed to transform these areas and cultivate unconditional love and enlightened relationships. Habits Persistence: Cultural influences and bad habits (such as substance abuse or poor diet) persist post-enlightenment and must be actively changed, a danger overlooked by neo-advaita's focus on existential breakthroughs. Need for Worldly Education: Understanding existential truths doesn't equate to worldly knowledge. Education in practical areas remains essential, and ignorance can lead to poor choices affecting society. Community Engagement and Citizenship: Being an enlightened individual also means being a good citizen and caring for one’s community. Neglecting societal responsibilities reveals a lack of true enlightenment embodiment. Ethical Career Choices: It's crucial for those who are enlightened to pursue careers that contribute positively to society and the environment, aligning with the principles of non-duality. Transcending Cultural Limitations: Enlightenment doesn't erase cultural conditioning; effort is needed to overcome negative cultural influences, such as racism, and to develop a more cosmopolitan understanding. Physical Health: It is important to focus on physical health by ensuring proper nutrition and exercise, which are part of a comprehensive approach to enlightenment, beyond just non-duality. Character and Ethics: Developing good character and strong ethics is essential; moral and ethical considerations remain important even when considering the existential perspective of non-duality. Ecological Awareness: Concern for ecology, the environment, and all living beings, including animals and plants, is an aspect of a more holistic approach to spirituality and enlightenment. Spiritual Powers: Exploring spiritual powers can deepen one's spirituality beyond the realm of non-duality, aiding in healing others, teaching, and understanding. The Value of Understanding: Understanding a broad range of fields, such as business, history, and science, enriches the insights gained from enlightenment, making it more valuable than the enlightenment experience itself. Post-Enlightenment Practice: True enlightenment involves continuous practice and compassionate functioning, not a static state achieved in one moment. Hazards of Overemphasis on Non-duality: Focusing solely on non-duality risks emotional bypass, where deep emotional issues are ignored, and character splits can worsen, leading to a divide between an ideal self and a shadow self. Goodness and Non-duality: Goodness and ethical behavior are distinct from enlightenment. While good and bad are not existentially absolute, they hold practical significance and are included in the non-dual understanding. Social Responsibility and Non-duality: Enlightened individuals should act responsibly in society, recognizing the consequences of their actions under the social contract. The Danger of Misusing Non-duality: Misusing non-duality to justify harmful actions can lead to individuals becoming 'Zen Devils', causing suffering instead of alleviating it. Enlightenment as a Choice of Lifestyle: Realizing life is a game doesn't excuse inaction or destructive behavior. Enlightenment offers the choice to live consciously, responsibly, and with compassion for the suffering of others. Using Enlightenment Constructively: Enlightenment teachings should be embodied in one's life constructively, not used as weapons against others, to live aligned with higher consciousness. Continuous Development and Enlightenment: Personal and psychological development, relationship building, and self-improvement work are valuable and contribute to the journey towards enlightenment. Nuanced Approach to Non-duality: Balancing non-duality with practical wisdom is key; true mastery is rare and involves avoiding the many traps on either side of extremes. Silencio

What you do is the result of your desire. Desire is what drives all actions. Nothing happens in life without desire. There is a place in you that desires to be free from this internal conflict. If you put all your attention on that desire. Your mind, body, emotions and energy will all align itself perfectly to fulfill that state of conflict free existence. And that way it will stop all the compulsive chaos in you. It is my heartful suggestion you consider giving full attention to the prayerful desire that is in you already to be free and witness how that impacts your entire system from the very fundamentals and brings about great transformation and healing on all levels.

Becoming A Sage - A New Vision For Actualized.org & You! https://youtu.be/z2wNbLO02Wg Leo's Personal Evolution: As Leo has developed and learned more about life and its various facets such as psychology, business, politics, and culture, his vision for Actualized.org has similarly evolved towards helping others and himself become sages. Best Life for a Human Being: Leo argues that after extensive research, he believes the best life one can live is that of a sage, surpassing other forms of success and fulfillment. Limited Exposure to Sagehood: He notes that most people are not exposed to the notion of becoming a sage, especially not as children, which he sees as a missed opportunity for guiding one towards an incredibly fulfilling life path. Actualized.org as 'Sage University': Leo's goal is to transform Actualized.org into a repository of knowledge—akin to a university—for those seeking sagehood, providing resources, techniques, and guidance to fulfill this lofty ambition. Difficulty in Defining Sagehood: There is no clear, step-by-step guide to becoming a sage, which Leo finds intriguing and challenging, and he is motivated to document this journey and share it with others. The Value of Sagehood: Leo emphasizes the profound inner reward of becoming a sage and is committed to documenting and sharing the various models, frameworks, and techniques necessary for such a transformation. History's Great Sages: He lists several historical and modern sages such as Buddha, Socrates, Gandhi, Osho, and Sadhguru. Leo encourages his audience to study these figures to understand their lives and the qualities that differentiate them from average individuals. Inner Qualities of a Sage: The essence that makes sages 'great' according to Leo is not their external achievements but their internal self-mastery and inner transformation, which is evident in their unique way of relating to others and perceiving the world. Sagehood Overlooked and Misunderstood: He laments that sagehood is not taught or discussed widely in society and that when it is, it’s often distorted by the ego-driven interpretations found in certain religious teachings. Meeting Modern Sages: Leo expresses his profound admiration for modern sages he has met in person, highlighting the transformative potential of interacting with someone who embodies sage-like qualities, and questions why such a valuable life option is not more widely shared or understood. Key Qualities of Sages: Sages exhibit a commitment to Truth, consciousness, goodness, and love along with a deep, effortless embodiment of these qualities after radical inward transformation. Sage vs. Enlightenment: There is a distinction between merely having enlightenment experiences and being a sage. Being a sage involves a mastery that goes beyond the experience of enlightenment itself. Modern Mystic Sage Vision: Leo desires for individuals to progress towards becoming 'modern mystic sages'—a composite of Eastern non-duality and Western philosophy, science, and art—creating individuals who engage in the world with consciousness and deep conceptual understanding. Being in the World as a Sage: Unlike ascetics, modern sages apply their self-mastery and understanding to solving real-world problems, utilizing their enhanced creativity and productivity. What a Sage is Not: A true sage is not a detached intellectual lacking self-awareness or emotional mastery, nor an ideological crusader interested in converting others to their worldview without inward focus. The Importance of Vision in Becoming a Sage: The vision of becoming a sage is more significant than knowing the precise steps. A strong, motivating vision propels individuals forward, while a weak vision leads to seeking reassurance and formulaic paths. The 'How' of Becoming a Sage: While specific steps vary, the process includes setting truth as the top value, rejecting materialism, performing a spiritual purification process of body, mind, emotions, and habits, and developing a strong 'energy body' to manage emotions effectively. Emotional Resilience of a Sage: Sages experience deeply but have the ability to transmute negative emotions, such as hurt and tragedy, into love and truth due to a strong energy body. Necessity for Extensive Theoretical Learning: Despite common misunderstandings, becoming a sage requires a robust theoretical foundation which includes studying philosophy, psychology, history, and other fields to understand the sage path. Seeking Uncommon Knowledge: A sage must sift through vast amounts of information to find valuable insights that further their mastery, as exemplified by Leo's own extensive research and learning process. Application of Knowledge: The knowledge acquired is not for mere intellectual accumulation but for practical application in self-mastery and raising consciousness, differentiating a sage from an academic. Raising Awareness through Practice: Regular meditation, contemplation, self-inquiry, and understanding the nature of life, truth, falsehood, and society are crucial practices for a sage to raise awareness. Exploring Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness: Engaging in activities like meditation, breathwork, and the use of psychedelics helps a sage go beyond the ordinary level of consciousness and gain deeper insights. Creativity as a Sage Attribute: Sages should explore and express their creativity, using their knowledge for positive real-world impact, as guided in Leo's Life Purpose Course. Holistic Big-Picture Understanding: The universal and compassionate perspective that emphasizes love for humanity and a broad understanding of life distinguishes sages from specialists in academic or scientific fields. Unconditional Love and Compassion: A true sage develops deep, indiscriminate love and compassion for all of reality, transcending the newbie trap of indifference due to the illusory nature of life. Enhancing Collective Consciousness: Helping others raise their awareness is seen as part of a sage's purpose, through various domains like technology, art, and science, to address the lack of consciousness in different fields. Selective Path of the Sage: Although becoming a sage may not be for everyone, those who are called to it will find fulfilling content on Actualized.org and opportunities to engage in transformative work. Distinguishing between Life Purpose and Sagehood: Leo addresses that becoming a sage is compatible with having a life purpose, as both relate to the journey of self-mastery and should not be viewed as mutually exclusive. Vision and Excitement for Sagehood: The path of becoming a sage is specialized and requires a profound desire and excitement from the individual; it's not represented in mainstream society despite its significance. Engagement and Feedback Request: Leo invites audience feedback on the vision of becoming a sage to inform the direction of future content on Actualized.org and encourages signing up for the newsletter for further insights. Paradox of Enlightenment and Life Purpose: Enlightenment may reveal life as an illusion without inherent purpose, yet historical figures like Buddha, Jesus, and Gandhi, who were deeply enlightened, were also driven by a strong sense of life purpose. Reconciling Career and Personal Purpose: Leo distinguishes between career purpose, as guided by the Life Purpose Course, and personal purpose, which is the overarching aim of becoming a sage and pursuing self-mastery, regardless of one's professional work. Illusion as Motivation: Although enlightenment exposes life's illusory nature, having a purpose created by oneself can serve as a motivator. The desire to create and enjoy a purpose is sufficient reason to do so, despite it being a construction. Seriousness in Spiritual Practice: Leo stresses that the pursuit of sagehood and mastery of consciousness must be taken seriously, akin to mystics of the past. Temporary objectives can motivate and inspire on this path, countering the risk of spiritual stagnation. Content Direction for Actualized.org: Future content will delve into deeper, meta, and philosophical topics, with an emphasis on understanding over success. A longer time horizon is required of viewers, as these subjects demand individual initiative and application to one's life. Importance of Big-Picture Thinking: The forthcoming content aims to integrate diverse perspectives from various fields, fostering big-picture thinking and a historical understanding of personal growth. Evolutionary Journey of Actualized.org: The envisioned direction for Actualized.org is to support viewers in becoming sages, which Leo deems a purposeful life dedication. Audience engagement and feedback will be essential in shaping this direction. Invitation to Join the Journey: Leo invites viewers to sign up for Actualized.org's newsletter for more insights on becoming a sage and encourages them to share their thoughts on embracing this vision for personal transformation. Legilimens

How To Deal With Confusion https://youtu.be/lRipeQ_lcN8 Understanding Creation: Leo clarifies that understanding is not inherent at birth but is a construct that needs to be actively developed throughout life, and this path of self-actualization includes building an understanding across various life domains. Nature of Confusion: Confusion arises when the mind faces uncertainty and tries to reconcile conflicting ideas, leading to discomfort as most people are wired for certainty and order, resulting in knee-jerk reactions aimed at eliminating confusion quickly. Developing Emotional Tolerance: Leo emphasizes the need to develop an emotional tolerance for confusion and uncertainty, a trait commonly found in self-actualized individuals who are comfortable with ambiguity and paradox. Five-Step Process for Embracing Confusion: Leo introduces a simple, five-step process to engage with confusion: 1) Cultivating awareness of confusion, 2) Labeling the confusion, 3) Facing confusion by inquiring into its origins, 4) Allowing confusion without resistance, 5) Embracing a state of not knowing. The Harm of Premature Resolution: The compulsion to resolve confusion immediately can lead to a mechanical and rigid mindset, often resulting in a false sense of understanding and obstructing true personal growth. Self-Honesty with Uncertainty: Admitting to oneself that there is a lack of understanding in areas of confusion is crucial, and can be uncovered through honest self-inquiry, ultimately leading to genuine clarity. Surrendering the need to know: To embrace a state of not-knowing, ask yourself if you can let go of the need to have immediate answers. This surrendering process goes against the cultural conditioning that values certainty and decisiveness, but it’s essential for genuine understanding. Applying the five-step process to enlightenment work: While engaged in self-inquiry to understand concepts like "Who am I?" or enlightenment, embrace confusion when nothing seems to click. Acknowledging the confusion rather than ignoring it allows for a deeper exploration of the self. Confusion in practical decision-making: Confusion is not limited to spiritual pursuits; it affects practical decisions like career choices and life purposes. Instead of paralysis, acknowledge the confusion and allow answers to unfold organically without forcing them. Objection handling regarding ignorance: Embracing confusion does not lead to ignorance. Ignorance is rooted in ignoring what you don't know and having a false sense of certainty. Openness to not knowing prevents ignorance and positions you for insights and intellectual growth. Revelation through embracing confusion: Instead of pushing for answers, being open to confusion sets the stage for profound revelations to come organically. This requires patience and tolerance for uncertainty but results in deeper and more authentic insights. Allowing for nature-derived insights: Embracing confusion allows for insights that come from a place beyond the ego, often more profound and true. Such insights are richer and more fulfilling than ego-driven, shallow realizations. The illusion of adamant answer seeking: Forcing answers can seem effective but often leads to low-quality insights. A high need for certainty can make you emotionally unstable, defensive, and ideologically rigid, which stifles personal growth and limits deeper understanding. Intuition versus over-reliance on logic: Excessive need for resolution suppresses intuition and creativity. Embracing confusion allows for a more balanced approach, leveraging both logic and intuition to explore the mysteries of reality and create a high-quality life. Power of Intuition vs. Logical Reasoning: Leo highlights how intuition is a significantly more powerful tool than logical thinking, especially when dealing with profound life questions and insights. Necessity of Confusion for Deep Insights: Emphasizing that the most profound insights arise from tolerating extended periods of confusion, Leo points out that many individuals miss out on these insights because they are not willing to endure the necessary confusion. Research and Tolerance for Confusion: Leo shares his personal approach to researching various topics, from enlightenment to business, and how having a high tolerance for confusion allows him to explore these subjects deeply, fitting together pieces of a complex jigsaw puzzle. Impacts of Confusion on Self-Help Engagement: Acknowledging that an overwhelming amount of information can lead to paralysis, Leo warns against quitting or doubting the efficacy of self-help material due to confusion and instead advocates pushing forward with patience. Stuck in Decision-Making Due to Fear of Confusion: Leo examines how individuals may prematurely abandon pursuits like determining life purposes, because they are unable to decide in the face of confusion and instead should trust in eventual reconciliation. Importance of Tolerance for Confusion in Meditation and Enlightenment: Sharing a personal anecdote, Leo recounts advice from a Zen master about letting go of the need to know and realizes the significance of accepting confusion in quality meditation and enlightenment practices. Surrendering to Not-Knowing in Enlightenment: Leo emphasizes the need to surrender to uncertainty and accept being confused, a challenge he faced during his meditation retreat as he sought enlightenment. Zen Tradition and Embracing Confusion: Discussing the Zen practice of working on Koans, Leo illustrates the value placed on confusion by Zen masters who avoid giving answers directly, encouraging students to accept and get comfortable with their confusion. Lifelong Learning and Discovery Process: Leo urges viewers to continuously embrace confusion as part of an ongoing process of learning and discovery, which does not end even after achieving enlightenment. Applying Philosophy to Daily Life: Leo invites his audience to recognize moments of confusion in their daily lives and consciously face them rather than avoiding the discomfort. Teasing Future Content for Actualized.org: Leo concludes by sharing his excitement about future content, teasing powerful transformation techniques and a big-picture understanding of life and reality he plans to offer through Actualized.org. Protego

Using 5-MeO-DMT To Become Enlightened - Interview With Martin Ball https://youtu.be/bWSOl62memg Introduction to Martin Ball and 5-MeO-DMT: Leo hosts Martin Ball, an advocate for the spiritual and developmental use of 5-MeO-DMT. The discussion aims to offer insights into 5-MeO-DMT's role in reaching non-dual awareness and liberation from ego. Enlightenment Experience vs. Actual Liberation: Martin highlights the need to differentiate between the temporary enlightenment experience induced by 5-MeO-DMT and true enlightenment, defined as being free from the ego and aware of the self's true nature. Immediate Non-Dual Awareness with 5-MeO-DMT: When properly administered, 5-MeO-DMT can rapidly shift an individual from ordinary perception to a full, infinite non-dual state. This state transcends subject and object and represents the essence of being. Reformation of Ego Post-Experience: Post-enlightenment experience, an individual's ego structures tend to reassemble, which can prompt significant self-analytical and paradigm-challenging thoughts but is not equivalent to permanent liberation. 5-MeO-DMT as a Tool for Liberation: Martin contends that, once understanding the distinction between temporary experiences and lasting liberation, 5-MeO-DMT emerges as potentially the most potent substance for spiritual progress and ego transcendence. Challenges in Communicating Enlightenment: Leo discusses the inherent limitations of language in communicating the concept of enlightenment, which is fundamentally experiential and infinite, and thus resists containment by words or concepts. The Profound Enlightenment Experience of 5-MeO-DMT: Leo expresses amazement at the capacity of 5-MeO-DMT to afford a preview of the absolute state—even briefly—that is often sought through extensive spiritual practice. Distinction Between Recreational and Serious Psychedelic Use: Leo emphasizes that there is a significant divide between casual psychedelic use and the integration of psychedelics into rigorous non-dual consciousness work, which can transform one's entire life and self-perception. 5-MeO-DMT Not a Shortcut for Enlightenment: Leo clarifies that 5-MeO-DMT is not a shortcut to enlightenment, but it facilitates deep self-exploration that may accelerate one's spiritual journey without avoiding the inherent complexities and challenges. Comparison of Shamanic vs Non-Dual Psychedelic Approaches: Shamanic traditions that utilize psychedelics focus more on practical and therapeutic healing rather than non-dual awakening or enlightenment. They engage with spirits and entities, which can be helpful but differ from the non-dual pursuit which prioritizes the realization of oneness. Perception of Non-Duality in Western Psychedelic Culture: Many in the West who practice psychedelic shamanism only give lip service to non-duality, often lacking a deep understanding or experience of it, even though they may profess beliefs in oneness and universal love. Personal Journey Towards Enlightenment with 5-MeO-DMT: Leo's route to enlightenment began with a strong, uncompromising desire for truth (bodhichitta in Buddhism). He sought reality directly and wasn't satisfied with belief systems – an intrinsic desire that guided him towards liberation. The Desire for Truth and Non-Dual Seeking: Leo emphasizes the necessity of a sincere yearning to uncover the truth directly and immediately, avoiding comfortable beliefs or cool ideas. This unwavering commitment to direct experience is essential for any non-dual exploration or enlightenment. Impact of Personal Crisis on the Path to Liberation: Martin encountered 5-MeO-DMT at a pivotal life moment, having left his marriage, job, and life's structures behind. In a state of fear and readiness to give up, his defenses were down, allowing a profound non-dual experience and encounter with what he perceived as the true nature of God. Distinction and Rarity of 5-MeO-DMT Compared to nn DMT: While nn DMT is popular and often discussed, 5-MeO-DMT, a distinct substance, has been overshadowed despite being more potent. Leo underlines the minimal cultural discourse around 5-MeO-DMT contrary to his extensive work promoting its profound effects. Non-Dual Experience as Encounter with the 'True Nature of God': Leo describes his initial 5-MeO-DMT encounter as a direct experience with what he calls ‘God’, a universal consciousness encompassing all reality, breaking from traditional dualistic conceptions of a separate deity. Shift in God Concept Post 5-MeO-DMT Enlightenment Experience: The experience reframed his understanding of God from an external, authoritative figure to an imminent reality—recognizing 'God' as a singular universal consciousness in which the notion of separate being dissolves. Perception of God in Non-Dual States: Leo found the term 'God' more fitting than 'buddha mind' during his non-dual experience with 5-MeO-DMT as it was conscious, aware, and experienced through individual beings. His spontaneous expression of gratitude was directed at 'God,' despite his usual preference for more neutral, scientific language. Tryptamines and Neurotransmitters: Tryptamines, the building block of human neurotransmitters, are naturally produced in mammals. Both 5-MeO-DMT and nn DMT are tryptamines that can cross the blood-brain barrier immediately, resulting in intense and immediate psychedelic experiences. 5-MeO-DMT's Ego Overwhelming Mechanism: 5-MeO-DMT acts on specific brain receptors associated with the ego and individuated consciousness. This distinct action overwhelms the ego, making 5-MeO-DMT particularly effective for inducing non-dual states of awareness compared to other psychedelics. Dualistic vs Non-Dual Experiences: nn DMT induces highly visual, dualistic experiences with subject-object dichotomy. In contrast, 5-MeO-DMT bypasses such visionary content, offering an almost immediate plunge into non-dual consciousness, revealing absolute truth distinct from belief systems. The Journey to Liberation with 5-MeO-DMT: Leo stresses that despite 5-MeO-DMT's power to induce non-dual states, it is not a guaranteed route to liberation. Consistent effort and personal development work are essential to moving towards true freedom. Energetic Symmetry in Non-Dual States: A fully energetically open non-dual state is indicated by perfect bilateral symmetry in body language. This symmetry is disrupted when the ego re-engages, showing the transformation from non-dual to ego-centered states. Body Language and Ego in Psychedelic Experiences: During psychedelic experiences, an individual's body language can oscillate between bilateral symmetry (indicative of a non-dual state) and asymmetric movements (reflecting the activity of the ego or internal resistance). Psychedelic Amplification of Self: Psychedelics amplify one's self without violating free will, enabling a person to choose surrender over resistance. These substances heighten energetic experiences and reveal patterns of the ego through energetic shock therapy. Patterns of Ego: The ego consists of energy patterns shaped by socio-cultural learning, which govern our expressions and movements, creating a structured persona that contrasts natural, uninhibited energy flow. Ego as a Collection of Patterns: People learn to socially modulate their energetic expressions, leading to ego structures that define "self" and create dualistic divides. This contrasts with natural, unedited responses seen in animals like dogs. Five Meo DMT's Impact on Ego Patterns: 5-MeO-DMT's intense energy can overwhelm ego's limited structures, compelling a potential surrender and dissolution of egoic patterns, paving the way for authentic self-expression. Purging as Energy Release: Common bodily reactions to psychedelics, such as purging, signify the release of stored energy, often held in the abdomen as a result of fear and defensive mechanisms. Re-formation of Ego Post-Ego Dissolution: Post-ego dissolution experiences with psychedelics offer an awareness opportunity, making it possible to identify and transform self-created narratives, beliefs, and characters. Symmetry in Ego Distortions: Maintaining symmetry in body language during a psychedelic experience exposes distortions caused by egoic patterns, which can be worked through with a skilled facilitator. Becoming Free from Ego Patterns: Ideally, individuals learn to live without fixed patterns, aligning with the energy as it manifests without control or editing, transcending the illusory construct of the ego. Commitment to Truth: Non-dual liberation involves an unyielding commitment to truth, which includes not holding onto beliefs without certainty, being honest in expression, and recognizing the layers of lies in societal interactions. Process of Non-Dual Liberation: Non-dual experiences are one aspect of liberation, but sustained work is required to become aware of ego dynamics and to detach from the constructed ego. Universal Consciousness: The ultimate realization in non-dual liberation is that we are universal consciousness playing numerous characters simultaneously, rather than being confined to a single ego identity. Practical Application of Non-Dual Theory with 5-MeO-DMT: By engaging with 5-MeO-DMT, one may experience the infinite nature of consciousness, recognize the ego's mechanics, and, through repetition, gradually become more attuned to the greater reality beyond the self. Ongoing Examination of Ego Dynamics: After regular encounters with 5-MeO-DMT, individuals observe the ego's tendency to distort, manipulate, and attempt to cling to certain thoughts, beliefs, and energies. Vibrational and Energetic Shifts: The process can involve significant vibrational states and energetic shifts within the body, as individuals are often energetically closed off and require opening. Altered Forms of Communication: Users might experience periods where they cannot speak coherently, exhibiting phenomena like glossolalia (speaking in tongues) and other forms of incoherent babbling. Emotional and Vocal Expressions: The process may prompt people to express their emotions intensely, through screaming, crying, laughter, tones, and even physical reactions such as orgasms or involuntary bodily discharges, as part of purging trapped energy. Deceptive Nature of the Ego: The ego attempts to create compelling narratives, leading individuals to adopt various complexes (Messiah, victim, powerful shaman, etc.), which are essentially stories to hold onto. Observation Over Attachment: Emphasis on observing thoughts and narratives without attaching to them or actively trying to block them, allowing them to arise and dissipate. Blurring of Identity: Martin experienced a blurring of lines between his ego (Martin) and the divine (God), leading to confusion as the ego tried to define his identity within this new paradigm. Final Breakthrough: Acceptance of divine reality and his own godliness resulted in a transformative experience for Martin, akin to a prolonged 5-MeO-DMT trip, shifting between non-dual and dualistic perception. Non-Dual and Dual Balance: Martin now operates from an understanding that allows him to put on and take off the 'clothing' of ego, distinguishing between his character and the non-dual self. Transitioning Between States: Learning to smoothly transition between non-dual awareness and ego-self, avoiding abrupt jumps which are common in 5-MeO-DMT experiences. Self-Awareness in Transition: Recognizing the importance of maintaining self-awareness and presence throughout the opening to and closing from non-dual states, aiming to relax and stay centered. Self-Expression Without Ego Prison: Martin acknowledges playing the character of Martin but refuses to let it trap him as it did in the past, enabling freedom and genuine self-expression. No Shortcut to Enlightenment: Leo points out that 5-MeO-DMT is not a magic pill for enlightenment; instead, it facilitates deep personal development work and accelerates the path without bypassing challenges. Birth Analogy for Transformation: Describing the use of entheogenic medicines as a process of birthing oneself, which is intense and thorough, forcing individuals to confront every aspect of their being. Intensity of the Psychedelic Experience: Leo emphasizes how the use of psychedelics can be an intense and challenging journey, involving emotional stress and profound self-examination. Ideal Body Language for Psychedelics: Recommending an open and relaxed posture during psychedelic experiences to aid in processing and releasing energy rather than succumbing to fear and discomfort. Rigorous Nature of Psychedelic Cleansing: Psychedelic experiences can often begin with an alluring quality but may lead to demanding emotional work as defenses lower, acting on multiple levels – mental, energetic, emotional, and physical. Efficiency of Psychedelics: Psychedelics allow for an efficient movement of energy and emotions across mental, energetic, emotional, and physical spectrums; not necessarily a shortcut, but a more productive path to personal development. Full-Body Impact of 5-MeO-DMT: 5-MeO-DMT engages the whole body, offering experiences including a full-body melting sensation, a feeling akin to a whole-body orgasm, and the impression of energy flowing throughout. Body Symmetry and Surrender: The symmetry of the body's left and right sides during psychedelic experiences is indicative of energetic openness. Leo notes the importance of correcting twisted or asymmetrical postures to maintain energy flow and to surrender properly. Energy Processing and Physical Manifestation: Asymmetrical body postures during a trip are physical manifestations of energy processing. High energy levels on psychedelics can lead to unusual body positions and severe cramps. Concept of 'Doing Nothing': Leo and Martin discuss the concept of 'doing nothing' during a psychedelic trip and in daily life. Ceasing all physical activity and mental projections allows for spontaneous and genuine expressions of energy, thus avoiding ego-driven actions. Applying 'Do Nothing' to Other Activities: Applying the 'do nothing' practice to activities like music allows actions to unfold naturally without premeditated intentions, aligning with the Daoist principle of 'wu wei' or actionless action. Understanding the True Self: The universal true self is the same for everyone, and realizing it does not inform one's unique life purpose since existence itself is the purpose. Martin Ball's Contributions to the Psychedelic Community: Martin organizes annual psychedelic conferences, records podcasts, writes books, creates music, and produces visionary art, all as expressions of his creativity and commitment to personal and collective exploration. Imperio

The Trap Of Projection, Especially Onto Teachers & Mentors https://youtu.be/NAbh5E0v20g The Nasty Phenomenon of Projection: Leo describes projection as a problematic issue, particularly for those invested in self-help, who frequently come into contact with teachers and mentors. He stresses that projection distorts the perception of the teacher, impeding the full absorption of their teachings. Story Illustrating Projection with a Yogi: Leo recounts a story about a student who sought his yoga master for years, only to find him indulging in materialistic pleasures. The true lesson was not to judge or project one's own values onto the teacher, regardless of the situation. Leo's Personal Projections at Retreats: He shares his own experiences with projection at retreats where he found himself critiquing and questioning teachers on minor disagreements or personal discoveries about their lives, thus detracting from the value of their wisdom. Interference with Learning: He emphasizes how projecting personal issues and making assumptions based upon one's own needs, rather than reality, can interfere with effectively learning and adapting the valuable insights offered by teachers. Definition of Projection: Leo defines projection as the imposition of one's emotional baggage onto others, leading to misinterpretation of their actions and words, and ultimately distorting one's interaction with them. Projecting Judgments and Creating Stories: He explains that projection includes making judgments about petty details, creating narratives without complete knowledge, and even disagreeing with teachers in their absence, highlighting the difference between projecting and genuinely understanding another's perspective. Dangers of Projecting onto Teachers: Leo points out the particular danger of projection in the context of teachers and mentors, as they are often crucial sources of wisdom for self-actualization; projecting onto them could mean severing one's lifeline to essential knowledge for personal growth. Reflection Exercise on Past Projections: Leo concludes by asking viewers to quickly reflect on all the judgments and projections they have made about teachers and mentors throughout their lives, suggesting that these projections have likely inhibited their learning journeys. Acknowledgment of snap judgments: Leo describes an exercise highlighting the frequency of snap judgments made about teachers based on their appearance, speech, and presented information, emphasizing awareness of these judgments as crucial for self-actualization. Construction of personal development map: He explains the initial years of self-actualization are spent constructing a map for life's journey, and warns that excessive projection onto various teachers can hinder this process significantly. Variety of learning sources: Leo advocates learning from a wide range of teachers to obtain various perspectives and recognize common patterns in teachings, which is vital for a well-rounded understanding. Leo's own experiences with projections: He reflects on how managing projections from his audience has heightened his sensitivity and self-awareness of the phenomenon, noting the often baseless and inaccurate nature of these projections. Consequences of projections on teachers: Leo points out that incorrect assumptions about teachers' lives or beliefs can distract from the knowledge they offer and induce wrongful criticism or unwarranted praise. Relating to others without projection: He emphasizes that most interactions involve responding to personal interpretations rather than the true nature of individuals, which can drastically affect both relationships and the ability to learn from others. Awareness exercise for combating projection: Leo suggests an exercise where viewers attempt to view him without any preconceived notions or assumptions for 30 seconds, encouraging a similar approach with other individuals and teachers to cultivate better relationships and understanding. Advanced teachings vs. ego: Leo reiterates vigilance against ego-triggered distortions when engaging with advanced teachings to prevent misunderstanding and overlooking valuable insights. Personal Agenda in Learning: Leo encourages listeners to stay aware of their personal agendas—needs, values, ideals, fears, insecurities—while consuming teachings, noting how these can color their interpretation and distort the message received. Self-Reflection on Criticism: Leo suggests when criticizing others, especially those offering advanced teachings, to turn that criticism inward and question what it reveals about one's own characteristics or insecurities. Advanced Teachings and Ego Threat: Leo points out that the most profound and advanced teachings can be the most threatening to the ego, making them difficult for people to accept, thus they remain obscure and challenging to mainstream. Signs of Projection: Leo identifies signs of projecting onto teachers: having imaginary arguments, excessive curiosity about their personal lives, and criticizing trivial aspects of their presentations. The Persistence of Closed-Mindedness: Leo stresses that a closed mind reinforced through projection can be the biggest barrier to accessing deep teachings, even contributing to the dismissal of wisdom as personal biases interfere with clear perception. Embracing Generosity in Comprehension: Leo advises adopting an inclusive and generous approach to learning rather than looking for flaws, taking personal responsibility for understanding even if the teachings are imperfect or challenging. Revising Assumptions: Leo encourages maintaining an attitude of radical open-mindedness, remaining open to revising assumptions made about teachings, especially deep topics like enlightenment. Call to Commitment: Leo invites the audience to actively engage in their own growth by regularly consuming educational content, completing exercises, meditating, attending seminars, and applying techniques for personal transformation. Imperio

How To Harness Your Intuition https://youtu.be/v1yA9KbPzQ0 Understanding Self-Actualization and Intuition: Leo emphasizes the importance of intuition in self-actualization, stating that it serves as a life compass. However, he notes that many people are disconnected from their intuition, leading to a life lacking in motivation, purpose, and strategic vision. Western Culture's Bias Against Intuition: He criticizes Western culture's preference for logic, explaining that it teaches people to dismiss intuition. This is evident in situations like corporate decisions, where logical justifications are demanded over intuitive feelings. Nonetheless, intuitive decisions play a critical role in our lives. The Superiority of Intuition Over Logic: Leo points out that intuition is the source of purpose and vision, necessary for creating the big picture that logical thinking then details. He argues that the subconscious mind can process vast amounts of data, providing valuable wisdom and creative insights beyond the capability of linear, logical thinking. The Human Subconscious as a Supercomputer: Intuition stems from the complex workings of the subconscious mind, which Leo describes as a distributed network capable of handling information in ways the logical mind cannot. He encourages embracing this higher order intelligence over the limited, linear thinking common in the left-brain-dominated Western culture. Leo's Personal Intuition Experiences: Leo shares his personal history, describing how his intuition has led him to take harder classes, change majors, quit jobs, and ultimately start Actualized.org. He credits intuition with his significant life decisions and personal growth, emphasizing its ongoing influence in guiding his choices. Difficulties of Following Intuition: He highlights three major barriers to following intuition: the inability to hear it, personal impurities that obstruct its guidance, and the failure to act on it even when it is heard. Leo stresses these challenges and underscores the need to address them for successful intuitive living. Cultural Reasons for Not Hearing Intuition: Leo identifies cultural distractions and the Western bias for logic and materialism as reasons people fail to hear their intuitive voice. He advocates for reducing distractions and considering one's mortality to create space for intuition. True Intelligence and Its Source: Leo encourages acknowledging that true intelligence is interwoven with existence, not generated by the individual. He suggests that higher consciousness work, meditation, and perhaps psychedelics can reveal the depth and external sources of intelligence that exist beyond our analytical minds. Solutions for Hearing Intuition: To hear the intuitive voice, Leo advises removing distractions and contemplating mortality to shift focus from materialism to profound insights. He also mentions the episode on lifestyle minimalism as a resource for creating conditions conducive to intuition. Contemplation of Mortality: Realizing that life is fleeting shifts focus from materialism to deeper life pursuits. Contemplating death allows intuition to emerge, directing focus on more meaningful goals. Clarifying Life Desires: Understanding what one truly desires in life, beyond superficial aims like success and money, is key to harnessing intuition. Meditation for Intuition: Regular meditation fosters stillness and solitude, enhancing intuition and making one more receptive to its subtle guidance. Connection with Emotions: Engaging in activities that promote emotional awareness, like yoga or meditation, can help one feel and follow their intuition more effectively. Impurities Blocking Intuition: Ego, cravings, fears, traumas, and dogmas distort intuition. The ego can manipulate intuition for low-consciousness purposes. Benevolent Motives and Spiritual Purification: Intuitions should come from a place of love and beauty. Purifying one's identity of fears and cravings allows intuition to serve as a guide. Releasing Beliefs: Letting go of limiting beliefs, including those surrounding intuition, grants freedom to pursue intuitive guidance without self-imposed constraints. Changing Environment: Modifying one's surroundings and controlling information intake can reduce impurities that cloud intuition. Healthy Relationships and Bodily Tension: Ending toxic relationships and releasing physical tension allows for a clearer intuitive understanding. Serving Intuition as Life's Mission: Recognizing the importance of intuitively guided actions encourages commitment and flexibility to enact meaningful life changes determined by intuition. The Intuition Incubator Concept: Cultivating intuitions through dedicated contemplation and action allows for personal growth and transformation. Commitment and Flexibility for Intuitive Action: Real change requires a serious commitment to follow intuitions and a willingness to learn, grow, and make uncomfortable changes. Courage to Act on Intuition: Following intuition can involve radical, sometimes frightening changes, such as career shifts or ending long-term endeavors, demanding a significant courage investment. Intuition Incubator: An intuition incubator allows one to nurture and develop intuitions which initially appear in an unpolished form, requiring time and effort to be transformed into actionable insights. Journaling and Articulation: Leo recommends journaling as a tool to catalog and clearly articulate intuitions, promoting a deeper understanding and facilitating the creation of strategic plans for action. Strategic Long-term Commitment: Persistence and a long-term view are crucial for realizing intuitions. Leo shares his personal journey, where his intuitions about his life purpose took years to materialize, demonstrating the importance of strategic long-term planning and commitment. Service to Intuition: Leo emphasizes that one's primary life mission should be serving their intuitions, which may necessitate stepping out of comfort zones and making significant changes. True vs. False Intuitions: True intuitions do not defend themselves with justifications when questioned and have a magnetic pull, whereas false intuitions are often protective, fear-based, and seek to rationalize themselves. Surrender to Universal Intelligence: Leo advises surrendering to a pervasive intelligence that guides life decisions, encouraging the acceptance of this force to lead a purpose-driven and aspirational life. Employee of the Universe: By acting as an 'employee of the universe', one aligns with a more significant force, thus finding powerful motivation and fulfillment in actions that go beyond personal gain. Practical Worksheet: Leo provides a worksheet with practical questions to assist in developing intuitions, which can be downloaded from actualized.org. Personal Development Journey: He highlights the importance of continued learning and taking action based on his teachings for personal growth, inviting the audience to explore the potential of self-actualization through ongoing engagement with actualized.org. Nox

What Is God - Leo Becomes Absolute Infinity (Aka God) - All Of Reality Explained https://youtu.be/4VNoe5tn3tg Leo's summary of the video purpose: Leo aims to convey his experience of becoming conscious of absolute infinity and his transformation into what he describes as God. He promises to demonstrate, in a subsequent episode, how viewers can gain this insight swiftly, within 15 minutes. Discovery of a unique psychedelic: Leo recounts his research into psychedelics and discovery of a rare substance that induces a complete loss of ego while retaining mental clarity, distinct from traditional psychedelics that create visual and spiritual effects. Redefining the ego and experiencing non-existence: He ponders the paradigm shift that would occur if one's ego ceased to exist. Leo questions the nature of reality and existence when the self is completely absent. Leo's personal stance on divinity: Despite his fundamentally atheistic and rational approach to life, Leo refrains from using the term 'God' due to its cultural implications but finds himself doing so after his ego-dissolving experience. Leo's initial skepticism towards psychedelics as distortions of reality: Leo enters his psychedelic experiment with the preconception that these substances create false experiences, only to encounter an earth-shattering insight that challenges his belief. Leo's experience upon taking the psychedelic: Describes the rapid intensification of consciousness and awareness upon ingestion, which led to an altered perception of reality that defied logic and physics. Experiencing absolute infinity and becoming God: Leo narrates the profound moment he became aware of the absolute infinite nature of reality, resulting in the complete transformation of his life, where he realized he and God are one and the same. Surprise over the use of 'God' label: Observes his own unexpected use of the term 'God' throughout the experience and elaborates on the concept of absolute infinity that transcends mathematical or geometric notions, embodying all dimensions and possibilities. Explanation of Absolute Infinity: Leo delves into the concept of absolute infinity, not just as a mathematical or geometric term but as a reality comprising of infinite dimensions where every possibility, even the impossible and non-existent, is encompassed and perpetually expanding without bounds. Limits within Reality: Discusses that reality, being inclusive of everything, does not allow for any limits, such as physical laws or constants. These perceived limits or structures of the universe, if they exist, are simply aspects within the boundless possibility field of reality, which itself cannot be enforced by anything external since it is all-encompassing. Alternate Universes Concept: Uses the metaphor of moving a grain of sand to imagine an alternate universe, expanding this idea to shifting every particle in our universe and considering all potential universes across time. Even this, however, is only a small glimpse of true absolute infinity. Qualities of Absolute Infinity: Describes absolute infinity as not having sensory attributes but as an existence that can only be perceived directly by being it. It is an endless singularity containing all of existence, including time, which is merely one dimension among countless others. Awakening from Life: Leo shares a narrative illustrating the profoundness of awakening from life, likening it to unzipping and shedding an ego-bound existence to emerge as absolute infinity, a shocking and indescribable transition that reveals the true concept of the ego. Understanding Awakening and God: Emphasizes that true awakening and the concept of God can only be understood through direct experiences far beyond human comprehension or expectation, with 'God' becoming a suddenly appropriate term during this revelation. Chemicals Inducing the Experience of God: Reflects on the impossibility of becoming infinite through chemical means, as conventional understanding would suggest, and how this experience challenges every known aspect of reality, declaring his prior understanding and teachings as part of a delusional dream. The Infinite Beauty of Absolute Infinity: Describes experiencing absolute infinity as encountering pure, raw beauty filled with awe and fear, radically shifting one's perception and awakening a profound realization of the scope of one's own delusion. Capturing the Essence of the Experience: Leo likens the awe-inspired feeling of viewing the night sky to his psychedelic experience, stating that multiplying that feeling by infinity falls short of capturing the profound impact of his encounter with absolute infinity. Full-Body Transformation: Emphasizes that the experience was a complete physical and emotional transformation, releasing a lifetime's worth of emotional struggle and leaving an indelible mark on his entire being. Post-Experience Integration: Leo discusses his return to normalcy after the chemical's effects subsided but acknowledges the permanent shift in his perception of reality, leading to an ongoing effort to reconcile his limited ego with the concept of absolute infinity. Hypothesizing Reality’s Nature: Posits that reality is an infinite matrix within infinite dimensions where every possibility occurs simultaneously, suggesting the necessity of limited perspectives, like individual egos and our specific universe, for absolute infinity to truly be infinite. Finding Satisfaction in a Philosophical Explanation: Shares a sense of satisfaction in having his existential questions addressed by understanding the encompassing nature of absolute infinity, which includes both life's pleasant and horrendous aspects. Life-altering Power of a Single Experience: Leo attests that the transformative power of this single experience surpasses years of meditation and self-inquiry, asserting its unparalleled significance in his personal development. Reacting to Life's Futility Post-Awakening: Expresses a realization of the futility of everyday life goals compared to the awakened state, which offers a complete perspective where everything is understood as a mere distraction from infinite reality. Contrast between Fear and Awakening: Highlights that our limited understanding due to fear of loss prevents us from awakening to the infinite existence that's possible if we let go of our attachments. Recurring Realization of Godliness: Describes subsequent experiences in sleep where he would recall becoming absolute infinity, resulting in awakening from sleep overwhelmed by the memory's beauty and terror. The Imposing Nature of God: Comments on the overwhelming nature of experiencing God, implying that despite its beauty, its magnitude can be terrifying, leading to a cautious approach to repeated experiences. Awaiting Next Episode for Revelation: Teases the revelation of the substance and detailed instructions for safe use in the next episode, urging viewers to keep an open mind and stay tuned for more information. The Gallery Of Absolute Infinity: Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4 Image 5 Image 6 Image 7 Image 8 Image 9 Image 10 Image 11 Image 12 Image 13 Image 14 Image 15 Image 16 Image 17 Image 18 Image 19 Image 20 Image 21 Image 22 Image 23 Image 24 Image 25 Image 26 Stupefy

The 64 Most Fascinating Questions A Human Can Ask https://youtu.be/S3FE9_204Yg Development of Existential Interest: Leo from Actualized.org discusses the significance of exploring deep existential questions and their impact on personal happiness, meaning, and development. He attributes the lack of engagement in these topics to cultural discouragement and inadequate exposure. Existential Categories: Leo introduces four key categories of existential questions: metaphysical, epistemic, self-related, and consciousness-related, noting that these themes are central to understanding reality and existence. Metaphysical Inquiry: He dives into the metaphysical category, asking why existence exists at all and what it means for something to be existent, challenging our fundamental understanding of existence and non-existence. Essence of Reality Structure: Leo questions the specific structure of reality, including why it follows the laws of physics and whether different structuring is possible, highlighting the arbitrary nature of these foundational laws. Consciousness versus Matter: The relationship between consciousness and matter is probed, with Leo asking whether consciousness emerges from matter or if matter is a conceptual product of consciousness, flipping conventional scientific views. Fundamental Building Blocks: He asks what really constitutes matter, energy, space, and time—considered fundamental in physics but whose essence remains a mystery. Universe Boundaries and Origin: The scope and boundaries of the universe are questioned, as well as what might exist beyond or before the Big Bang, contemplating the origins of singularity and potential multiverses. Interaction of Material and Immaterial: The puzzling interaction between material objects (like matter and energy) and immaterial phenomena (like thoughts and emotions) is examined without a clear scientific understanding of their relationship. Determination of Possibilities: Leo explores what dictates the limits of what is possible or impossible in the universe, from natural laws to logical constraints, questioning the origins of these limitations. Emergent Properties and Their Origins: The source of emergent properties, such as consciousness, is scrutinized. Leo asks how properties like liquidity in water or consciousness in the brain arise from simpler elements. Object Identification: The concept of what constitutes a singular object is challenged, investigating whether entities like humans are one object or a complex collection of cells, organs, and systems. Reality's Scales: Leo ponders whether reality has a definitive bottom or top scale or if these scales extend infinitely, pushing the limits of scientific understanding on the structure of the universe. Bottom Top Level Scale Existence: He concludes by questioning if there is any true bottom level or top level scale in the universe or if these scales could possibly extend to infinity. Purpose of Universal Evolution: The universe's evolution from simple gases to complex civilizations presents the question of whether this increasing complexity has a purpose, goal, or design, or if it is simply an accidental result of evolution. Reality of External Existence: It's postulated that an objective external reality exists, but strictly speaking, our only evidence is our individual first-person experiences, leaving the true nature of external reality an open question. Exploration of God Concept: Regardless of religious beliefs, the concept of God raises intricate issues, such as God's nature, the logical consistency of divine attributes, God's relationship to the universe, and the origin of the universe itself. Nature of Thoughts: Defining thoughts is challenging as they are not easily classified by sensory experiences or physical properties, making them almost 'ghost-like' sensations in our consciousness. Origin of Life: Despite our knowledge of evolution, the origin of life is shrouded in mystery, with lab experiments failing to spontaneously generate life from organic molecules, leaving us puzzled about life's beginnings. Fundamentals of Epistemology: The epistemological category involves probing how we can know anything for certain, the validity of our justifications for beliefs, and whether there is any knowledge we can claim with absolute certainty. Religious Beliefs and Delusion: The widespread belief in God across cultures and religions prompts questions about the nature of belief, why similar gods emerge in different societies, the reasons for religious popularity, and how intelligent people might share these beliefs or delusions. Objective Morality: The widespread disagreement on what is good or bad, even among intelligent individuals, leads to questioning whether morality is an objective reality or a construct of the human mind. Intellectual Self-Delusion: Intelligent, educated people can still hold delusions, highlighting that higher education does not immunize one from self-deception, emphasizing the importance of questioning one's certainty. Self-Bias and the Construction of Reality: Investigating whether our models of reality serve our egoic needs and personal agendas, and how we can be sure these models are not heavily biased by our own self-interest. Indoctrination in Belief Systems: The potential for indoctrination in everyone's upbringing is considered, questioning the degree to which our beliefs have been influenced or coerced from external sources. Evaluation of Science: Scrutinizing science as a means to knowledge, questioning its perceived validity, and considering its potential limitations in explaining reality. Limits of Mathematics and Rationality: Contemplating the validity and limits of mathematics and whether it is inherently tied to the nature of reality or a construct of the human mind; additionally, questioning the reliability of rationality as a dependable method of understanding. Limits of Rationality: Leo discusses whether rationality is boundless or merely a human projection, creating a dilemma regarding the extent to which rationality can explain reality. Trustworthy Sources of Knowledge: He juxtaposes senses, rationality, and intuition, questioning which is most reliable for knowledge development and why. Biases and Blind Spots of Humanity: Leo emphasizes the often-overlooked concept of collective human blind spots and biases shaped by culture and species, suggesting that alternative forms of understanding by other species or civilizations could be equally valid. Species-Specific Understanding: The video contemplates the idea that different species, including hypothetical extraterrestrial intelligences, may have varying levels or methods of understanding reality, which could be as legitimate as human perception. Authority and Expertise: Leo explores the challenge of determining intellectual authority and the trustworthiness of experts across various disciplines. Accurate Reality Models: The struggle of validating the accuracy and superiority of our various models of reality, whether scientific, religious, or philosophical, is addressed. Nature of Truth and Understanding: Distinctions between 'truth' and 'understanding' and their origins are discussed, revealing uncertainties in our ability to differentiate between what is correct and what is speculative. Ultimate Truth: Leo ponders the concept of an ultimate truth of reality, questioning whether it's within human cognitive grasp and how we could theoretically ascertain its nature. Acquisition of Knowledge: Various methods for acquiring knowledge are weighed against each other, with the underlying question of whether reality is ultimately comprehensible given our biological and psychological limits. Existence and Identity of Self: Questions arise about the certainty of one's existence, the exact nature of the self, and the justification for identifying with one's body and mind. Control of Thoughts: Leo probes the illusion of thought control, suggesting thoughts may have an independent mechanism given occurrences like obsessive thinking and spontaneous creativity. Individual Role in Reality: He queries the role of an individual in reality and the potential autonomy or obligations one might have in constructing their life purpose. Consciousness Enigma: The lack of a scientific or religious explanation for consciousness after centuries of inquiry is highlighted, along with the mystery of how physical perception among objects is possible. Unification of Senses and Higher Consciousness: Leo discusses how our various senses coalesce into a single experience and speculates on the existence of higher states of consciousness beyond human capability. Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness: The implications and realities of altered states of consciousness, such as those induced by psychedelics, meditation, or religion, are considered. Separation and Independence of Consciousness: The isolation and apparent independence of individual consciousnesses and the feasibility of creating, splitting, or joining consciousness are examined. Artificial and Organic Consciousness: The potential for artificial consciousness is questioned, alongside the exploration of consciousness as an inherent property of biological life. Unified Consciousness: Merging the consciousness of all humans could have profound epistemic impacts, increasing our shared level of consciousness by billions and potentially altering our understanding of the self and the universe. Consciousness as a Fundamental Force: Contrary to viewing consciousness as an emergent property of complex beings, the possibility exists that consciousness is a fundamental aspect of the universe, akin to matter, energy, space, and time, challenging current physics which doesn't account for it. Laws Governing Qualia: The laws and principles that dictate the qualities of our sensory experiences, or qualia, are unclear. The conversion of physical brain activity into vivid experiential phenomena like color and emotion remains a profound mystery. Devoting Life to Existential Questions: Leo advises choosing the most personally compelling questions and dedicating one's life to exploring them, suggesting that the quality and depth of one's life correlate with the depth of questions they pursue. Philosophy as Self-Transformation: Engaging with existential questions demands deep introspection and growth. Ancient philosophers saw a strong link between philosophy and personal psychology—a connection Leo believes should be revived in modern times. Independent Investigation vs Prescribed Answers: Leo emphasizes the importance of personally seeking answers to existential questions rather than relying on predetermined solutions from external authorities like religions, cults, or institutions. The Transformative Potential of Questioning: By questioning, exploring, and reflecting on profound existential topics, individuals can revolutionize their understanding of the world, leading to a more fulfilling and self-actualized life. Risk of Disregarding Profound Questions: Ignoring existential questions can result in a superficial life marred by depression, lack of motivation, and susceptibility to delusions rather than harnessing the unique human capacity for introspection. Possibility of Answering Existential Questions: Despite skepticism about their solvability, many existential questions can be answered but require deep personal reflection and deconstruction of self rather than purely intellectual approaches. Encouragement for Active Engagement: Leo concludes by encouraging individuals to actively engage with profound existential questions through a variety of means, including study, open-mindedness, meditation, and seeking guidance, as opposed to superficial contemplation. Confundo

Guided Meditation - The Next Level Of Meditation https://youtu.be/7LscnZCzdak Guided Meditation Walk-through: Leo conducts a live exercise guiding viewers through a meditation session, encouraging actual practice over theoretical learning. Emphasis on Action: Leo stresses the importance of immediate participation in the meditation exercise and warns against dismissing practical steps in favor of solely absorbing theory. Surrender as a Key Component: He introduces surrender and letting go as critical elements for a successful meditation practice, contrary to focusing on thought control. Comfortable Seating and Stillness: Participants are guided to find a comfortable seated position, close their eyes, and bring their awareness to bodily sensations without trying to meditate or achieve anything. Non-Manipulative Approach: Leo highlights that true meditation is not about manipulating thoughts or striving for a peaceful state but about letting go and being aware without effort. Merging with Reality: Through the guidance, one learns to gently expand their consciousness beyond their body and merge with their environment, becoming all-encompassing without any conscious effort. Restful Mind, Absorption, and Alertness: Meditation is portrayed as a resting of the mind that does not require understanding or enlightenment; one's sense of self becomes absorbed into the surroundings while maintaining alertness. Letting Go Continuously: He suggests continuously letting go of control, resistance, and even the desire to release something, thus settling into a state of deep peace. Encouraging Regular Practice: Leo recommends daily meditation practice of 20-60 minutes for optimal results, to explore the state of unity with reality. Audio Guide for Regular Use: For those who need support, an audio guide is offered to use as a daily meditation tool, focusing on the experiential aspect rather than theory. Engagement with Actualized.org Content: Viewers are encouraged to sign up for the Actualized.org newsletter to stay engaged with future materials and practice consistency to achieve profound life changes. Transformative Power of Practice: Leo underlines that transformation comes through practice, not theory, and consistent practice is essential to grasp advanced concepts. Reparo

The 3 Levels Of Personal Development Work https://youtu.be/chROpiJaOcw "Great wisdom looks like stupidity." - Laozi Introduction to Personal Development Levels: Leo discusses personal development as a spectrum divided into three stages—"newbies," "intermediate," and "advanced"—each stage requiring several years of work before progressing to the next. Role of Personal Development Advice: Understanding the stages is crucial to avoid confusion, as advice that is useful for one stage may contradict that for another stage. Leo's material is becoming more advanced, and he offers guidance on how to approach it based on one's stage. Characteristics of Newbies: Newbies feel deficient in areas such as relationships and finances and seek immediate results from personal development to fill these voids. Their approach to problem-solving is external, avoiding any changes in internal beliefs or identity. The Newbie's Motivation and Resistance to Change: Newbies, motivated by a desire to escape pain, aim for average success rather than excellence. They are resistant to questioning or changing their deeply held beliefs and self-concept. Newbies' Relationship with Truth and Mind: They are not interested in truth for truth's sake and are heavily identified with their thoughts, unable to distinguish between abstract concepts and direct experience which impedes their understanding of advanced wisdom. Action Taking for Newbies: Newbies resist taking action on self-help advice, often accumulating information without applying it, causing frustration due to the gap between what they know and what they experience. Newbie Misunderstandings of Psychological Concepts: They lack awareness of the deceptive nature of the ego, the impact of closed-mindedness on growth, and the distortions presented by societal norms. Newbies vs. Society's Psychological Health: Newbies incorrectly assume that society reflects healthy psychology and often hold history and contemporary society as the benchmarks for what is possible, overlooking the potential for self-actualization. Newbies' Misunderstanding of Humanity's Development Stage: Newbies aren't aware that humanity is currently in the "dark ages" of awareness and self-development. They mistakenly use society as a reference point for personal growth, which leads them astray from reaching their potential. False Attitudes Towards Spirituality: Newbies fall into two traps regarding spirituality: they either dismiss it as superstition or engage in superficial, non-genuine spiritual practices without understanding true spiritual work. Impatience and Shortcut Seeking: Newbies are characterized by their impatience and desire for shortcuts. They may gravitate towards quick fixes like psychedelics for enlightenment without realizing these do not lead to genuine personal transformation. Reluctance to Invest in Self-Development: Newbies are unwilling to invest in their growth, preferring cheap or free resources. They don't appreciate the value of wisdom and take for granted the transformative power it holds. Overly Narrow Focus in Personal Development: Newbies approach personal development with an exceedingly narrow focus, such as wanting to improve only their business or relationships. They disregard broader disciplines like philosophy or history which could enhance their pursuit. Complaints About Abstraction and Action Steps: Newbies struggle with abstract concepts from advanced work and often complain about a lack of practicality, not understanding how to derive concrete actions from these ideas. Newbies' Preconceived Notions: Newbies have preconceived notions about reality, truth, God, and the self, and are not open to questioning these ideas from a place of curiosity and open-mindedness. Newbie Skepticism and Argumentation: Newbies harbor a neurotic skepticism aimed at finding loopholes in teachings rather than genuinely understanding and embodying the wisdom presented. Ideological Armchair Skepticism: Newbies often adopt an armchair philosophy, critiquing new ideas from a place of defense rather than being open to life transformation through practical application. Demanding Scientific Proof in Place of Experiential Validation: Newbies desire scientific evidence for new ideas, showing a lack of willingness to test and validate these ideas' impact in their own lives. Black-and-White Thinking and Straw Man Fallacies: Newbies oversimplify complex concepts, creating straw man versions of them, which they then dismiss without truly understanding the nuances involved. Ego Protection and Shifting Blame: When faced with challenging teachings, newbies often deflect blame onto the teacher to avoid looking inward and doing the emotional work required for personal development. Newbies Unaware of Their Developmental Level: Newbies are often oblivious to their stage of awareness, get offended when their level is identified by others, and fail to recognize the growth trajectory required to advance in personal development. The Trap of Simplicity: Newbies fall into the trap of assuming that the most advanced personal development wisdom should be complex; they overlook the transformative potential of simple truths, mistaking them for being too elementary. Newbies’ incapacity for deepest wisdom: Newbies lack the capacity to grasp the deepest wisdom, as does society at its current stage, a fact unbeknownst to both. It isn't a lack of willpower but a developmental stage where an individual must grow through personal work to eventually handle profound truths. The surprise of realizing ignorance: For newbies, achieving advanced understanding involves the surprising and often emotionally shocking realization that they know far less than they thought. Progressing to an advanced level is not about accumulating knowledge but rather about the subtractive process of unlearning. Advanced personal development as radical open-mindedness: Advanced work in personal development requires radical open-mindedness to consider unconventional and seemingly absurd ideas, balanced by a grounding in reality. Practice and inward action: Advanced personal development involves rigorous practice and action, focusing on introspective activities like meditation, shadow work, and self-inquiry, often in solitude. Every problem is self-created: An advanced student in personal development believes all problems are internally created and looks within for triggers rather than attributing them to external factors. Truth over goals: Advanced personal development prioritizes seeking truth and understanding reality through direct experience above achieving superficial goals. Awareness and rejecting the mind: Advanced students emphasize the importance of awareness over intellect and reject the obstructive thoughts produced by the mind. Pre-requisite for advanced work: According to Leo, a couple of years of meditation or self-inquiry is necessary to truly engage with advanced work, as it provides direct experience and insights. Self-inquiry and ego: Core to advanced personal development is the deep questioning of one's identity, motives, and reasons for emotional responses. Advanced students are unconcerned with success: Realizing the hollowness of traditional measures of success, advanced students prioritize personal growth over achieving success or meeting all their needs. Long-term commitment: Advanced students view personal development as a lifelong journey and approach it with patience and dedication, focusing on long-term transformations. Broad study across fields: A commitment to studying diverse fields like philosophy, spirituality, history, and science enriches the advanced student's model of reality and personal growth. Embracing simplicity and emotional labor: Advanced students can transform simple, abstract advice into actionable plans and willingly embrace the emotional labor required for deep personal growth. Readiness to change belief system: An advanced student is open to examining and changing deeply-held beliefs about the very nature of reality, life, and self-awareness. Thriving on confusion and paradox: Advanced students willingly engage with confusion and paradox, recognizing the intellectual richness in uncertainty, which would typically deter a newbie. Advice for Newbies on Initial Focus: Early stages of personal development should concentrate on achieving basic success, fulfilling fundamental needs like relationships and self-esteem before delving into advanced concepts like enlightenment. Significance of Habits for Personal Growth: Beginners must establish fundamental habits, such as meditation, exercise, and clean eating, to build a foundation for more advanced personal development practices. Approaching Advanced Topics with Caution: Leo advises beginners to be cautious with advanced topics, suggesting they listen and learn but focus on more immediate, practical areas of improvement first. Open-mindedness in Personal Development: It’s important for newbies to maintain an open mind and refrain from immediately dismissing advanced concepts as crazy or ridiculous. Understanding Personal Development's Depth: Personal development is a lifelong journey, with deeper wisdom often being cultivated by those who dedicate substantial and intense time to it. Inspiration through Advanced Work: Discussing advanced topics gives newbies hope and inspiration as they work through immediate issues, offering a glimpse of a more profound and positive future. Balancing Newbie and Advanced Advice: Even enlightened individuals may need basic advice in areas like business or relationships, showing that both newbie and advanced guidance can coexist in personal development. Importance of Addressing Inner Demons: Addressing inner demons is crucial; it enables individuals to enjoy life's offerings consciously, without being hampered by an unmastered mind. Continuous Growth and Evolution of Advice: Leo emphasizes the necessity of growing with him and appreciating the evolving nature of his advice, which will incorporate increasingly advanced concepts. Encouraging Engagement and Action: Leo calls for viewers to actively engage with his content, do the 'homework' he assigns, and not reject advanced teachings as they hold transformative potential when understood and applied. Invitation to Join the Actualized.org Community: Leo invites viewers to participate in the Actualized.org community, engage with the content, and remain updated on topics that can profoundly affect their lives. Expelliarmus