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Found 4,691 results

  1. Since death is imaginary and you are me - I will never be giving cookies to myself? But I WILL morph into an Alien Infinity that shits on my carpet Seems odd....:)
  2. Hot take: God is an Infinite Rubik's Cube. Wait to experience Alien Rubik's Cube Consciousness
  3. I guarantee you that if Leo had a wife and kids, he probably would’ve never have access to alien consciousness. If you think you can awaken and keep your normal life, then you’re a fool. Awakening will change you beyond what you can imagine. You can no longer function as human at the highest levels.
  4. Its just a dream. A mental construct. If Consciousness is elevated enough it is realized directly. "Other" is revealed to be within the Mind. This Mind is YOU. Not a human but an Infinite Mind just appearing has a human ego. That's basically it in a nutshell. Everyone makes it so complicated. This infinite Mind is just that - Infinite - thus it is neither human or alien. It IS. You can call it alien like Leo does because it is not human - It is just Infinite which will blow the doors off your finite self.
  5. @Leo Gura Gee Leo, I don't know, severely autistic people shit on carpets just as much as you do in your Alien Consciousness
  6. Alien Consciousness is a very advanced form of God Consciousness. There are human forms of God Consciosness and then alien ones, which put the human ones to shame. No I will ask God to make you a chair in the next incarnation Buddhist bullshit. Is an ant made out of atoms? Is a rat made out of atoms? Is a human made of atoms? Is an alien made of atoms? Yeah. But that says nothing of their consciousness.
  7. Does an ant have Buddha Nature? Does a rat have Buddha Nature? Does a human have Buddha Nature? Does an alien have Buddha Nature? Does an alien (n+1) have Buddha Nature? Exactly. All of these little Koans work if concentrated on long enough... And then: Is the Buddha Nature of the ant different than that of the alien n+1? Not its contents, or the objects or n+1 understandings it is holding within its field of awareness. But its Buddha Nature, its essence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha-nature "Buddha-nature has a wide range of (sometimes conflicting) meanings in Indian and later East Asian and Tibetan Buddhist literature. Broadly speaking, it refers to the belief that the luminous mind,[8][9][10] "the natural and true state of the mind,"[11] which is pure (visuddhi) mind undefiled by kleshas,[8] is inherently present in every sentient being, and is eternal and unchanging.[12][13][14] It will shine forth when it is cleansed of the defilements, that is, when the nature of mind is recognised for what it is." And can that nature of the River (what one IS) be realized multiple times? The always changing n+1 eddies in the River for sure... Selling the same old infinite eternal Water (or rather ageless, since its never touched by time at all) by the River. PS: I made it easy, used Buddhist lingo. So please shoot ahead at the River, will produce some interesting impact-eddies for sure... Have a nice Sunday everyone!
  8. What keeps a very advanced alien from merging with God? I mean once you hit a certain level of consciousness, it would be hard to keep your form, wouldn't it?
  9. Let's say that the range of consciousness is infinite, and being human it is limited, being an ant too, and being an interdimensional alien whose mind encompasses a universe, it will also be limited. only the formless is limitless. So much compared to little is a difference, but when compared to infinity, both are nothing. So, whether an ant or a bacteria or a human or a crocodile, can be in a state of total openness to their true nature, regardless of the breadth that their consciousness encompasses, it encompasses the entirety of another dimension, the depth of what is. This is what matters since it is total, however the amplitude is always partial, that is, nothing compared to infinity
  10. Nonsense. It is possible to have 1000x more consciousness than a typical human. A human's consciousness is like that of an ant from God's perspective. If you accessed Alien Consciousness you would be so amazed and terrified you would shit yourself. I still have shit stains on my carpet from it.
  11. Leo Gura Ego Death & Reality vs. Dream [Part 2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YspFR9JAq3w Introduction to Part 2: The second part of the conversation with Leo Gura continues from where part one ended, exploring the nature of consciousness, and idealism, suggesting that individuals are expressions of God but have forgotten this truth. Curt Jaimungal's role and focus: Curt, a filmmaker with a background in mathematical physics, delves into theories of everything with a focus on the nexus between consciousness and theoretical physics. He shares his intent to examine these subjects with rigor and clarity. Interview dynamics and length: The interview is noted as the longest Curt has had, characterized by reflective pauses and moments of fervor that he chose to retain in the recording for their expressiveness. Recommendation for audience engagement: Curt encourages the audience to engage in deeper conversations on related subjects through the podcast's Discord and subreddit and thanks patrons and sponsors for their support. Sponsors' support for exploration: The support from sponsors like Algo, Brilliant, and Project Transcend is acknowledged, as it enables the podcast to delve into topics such as consciousness and various theories in theoretical physics. Curt's acknowledgments and reflections: He offers thanks to those who introduced him to Leo's content and reviewers who provided analysis of the previous interview, committing to better internalize and communicate Leo's teachings. Discussion approach and self-critique: Curt recognizes his own tendencies during the interviews, such as being overly contentious and neglecting to fully appreciate and convey Leo's points, pledging to improve future discussions by embracing Leo's terminology and ideas more openly. Balancing objections with openness: Curt admits his challenge in balancing skepticism with genuine truth-seeking, aiming to alter his approach by similarly considering what is right about Leo's perspective, not just potential flaws. Comments moderation policy: Curt explains his policy of engagement with audience comments, differentiating between critiques directed at himself versus ad hominem comments toward Leo, aiming to foster constructive discourse. Uniform oneness and fractal reality: The infinite field of consciousness must construct differences to manifest varied experiences, much like the Big Bang transitioning from oneness to a diverse universe. God's desire for exploration: Like a mathematician fascinated by the infinite intricacies of numbers, God explores its own finite aspects, desiring granularity over abstract infinity. Human vs. God imagination: Humans imagine within physical and societal constraints, but from the God perspective, there are no limits to manifesting entire universes or new experiences. Psychosis and societal norms: Those with unbounded imaginations, like individuals experiencing psychosis, often find difficulty adhering to the consensus reality and can face institutionalization or exclusion. Survival and maintaining humanness: The limited scope of human imagination is tethered to the necessity of maintaining a coherent human experience and aligns with societal survival mechanisms. The responsibility to explore: Despite the limitless imagination from the divine viewpoint, humans face the responsibility of staying grounded in consensus reality to function and survive. Imagining new realities: God's boundless imagination can envision anything, including new universes or continents, transcending the limitations of human conceptualization. Constrained human imagination: Humans are limited in what they can imagine, as losing grasp on consensus reality can lead to dysfunction and being labeled as psychotic or schizophrenic. Survival's grip on imagination: The attachment to survival constrains our ability to experience reality beyond the physical; fear of death roots us in this dream life, preventing exploration of infinite possibilities across universes. Disclaimer for at-risk individuals: Leo issues a warning that those with mental instability or contemplating suicide should be cautious with these concepts and anchor themselves in reality to handle survival basics. Life's value amidst non-duality: While reality is a dream and life may seem insignificant from an absolute point of view, Leo urges valuing life as a precious gift, maintaining good health, and not succumbing to harm based on philosophical explorations. Relative vs. absolute perspectives on life and death: Actions like suicide are neither fundamentally wrong nor right, fitting within infinite reality; the decision is relative, with Leo finding reasons such as terminal illness sometimes justifiable, but generally advocating for appreciating life's beauty. Interplay between evidence and definitions of God: Echoing Tyler Goldstein's sentiment, Leo suggests that a lack of evidence for God should inspire a transformation of the definition of God, emphasizing truth-seeking over god-seeking and staying open to surprises on the spiritual journey. Unknown specifics within infinity: Leo distinguishes between general omniscience, realizing the concept of infinity, and specific omniscience, which details exact knowledge of events or entities; he admits many individual aspects of existence remain mysterious even when aware of infinity. Illusions of objective reality: The consensus concept of objective reality is questioned as layers of shared imagination create illusionary objectivity, highlighting the challenge in distinguishing between vivid dreams and waking life cohesion. Differentiating degrees and kinds: Curt explores the question of when differences in degree between entities or phenomena translate into differences of a fundamentally different kind, a notion not fully appreciated in debates like pro-life vs. pro-choice or the analogy between dream states and waking life. Imagination and distinction: Leo addresses the question of difference and imagination, explaining that differences are relative and subject to how they're delineated by the mind, which can alter some boundaries, like the definition of when life begins, while others, like physical separations, are more fixed by universal laws or physics. Cohesion and consistency in reality: He elaborates on why reality feels solid and persistent, contrasting this with the fluidity of dreams. Cohesion and consistency are crucial for constructing a reality indistinguishable from a dream without glitches, which requires a consistent dreaming process. Hallucination and material reality: Psychedelics are discussed as tools that reveal the malleable nature of material reality, challenging materialist perspectives and forcing a reevaluation of the solidity of reality constructs, such as the brain or atoms. Literality of labels: Leo argues that labels like "real" and "unreal" are variable and that reality is an interplay of imagination where even constructs like Santa Claus can be real in the context of consciousness, highlighting the need for a worldview adjustment when we redefine terms. Academic attachment to model of reality: He critiques the academic and scientific tendency to rigidly anchor reality in concepts like materialism, which filter out experiences that don't fit within their paradigm, warning that this approach limits our understanding of an infinite reality. Dissolving physical limitations: Leo explains that through the expansion of consciousness and the use of psychedelics, even seemingly solid physical boundaries can begin to dissolve, similar to experiences in dreams, illustrating the influence of imagination on perception. Permanence of differences: By using the example of one's wife vs. Santa Claus, Leo contends that differences we perceive as permanent are actually variable, subject to change under different conditions, and that materialists err in assuming the fundamental permanence of such distinctions. Literal interpretation of scientific rigor: Scientists often believe in the rigorousness of their fields, like mathematics and logic, but Leo argues that the perceived concreteness is an illusion; even quantum mechanics involves metaphorical explanations. Limitation of the scientific mindset: A rigorous approach to reality creates a self-fulfilling prophecy, where a scientist's expectation of strictness and precision shapes their perception, leading to a reality that reflects these biases, similar to a conspiracy theorist creating a paranoid worldview. Construct awareness: Leo emphasizes a developmental stage called "construct awareness," where individuals realize how their minds construct their perceived reality. Most scientists have not reached this stage, hindering their ability to transcend materialism and fully understand the infinite nature of reality. Ego's defense mechanisms: The mind-scientific or otherwise-constructs a limited reality and defends this model by denying or discrediting experiences that contradict it, creating a hermetically sealed worldview. Problems with logicism and paradoxes: Leo discusses historical attempts, such as Gottlob Frege's, to base all of mathematics on logic, which were undermined by paradoxes like Russell's Paradox. Such endeavors reveal the impossibility of fully capturing infinite truths within finite logical systems. Inadequacy of logical proofs: Proofs depend on the prior existence of truth. Leo criticizes the common assumption that every truth must be provable, suggesting instead the recognition of truths beyond provability and the limitations of reason. Limits of consistency and provability: Gödel's incompleteness theorem, which trades off between consistency and provability, underlines limitations. When discussing logic, Leo points out that accepting contradictions opens up infinite possibilities, which is more reflective of reality's true nature. Contradictions in logic as a pathway to infinity: Leo explains that contradictions allow for the recognition of infinite possibilities beyond what a finite logical system can accommodate, consistent with the infinite nature of reality. Limits of scientific models: Leo argues that scientific methods are useful within restrictions but fail to grasp the full complexity of reality, particularly in the realms of quantum mechanics where classical concepts don't apply. Ontological presuppositions in science: There is a dissonance where scientists claim to avoid ontological assumptions while implicitly operating within them, restricting the scope and limiting the understanding of relational reality versus objectivity. Scientism versus pure investigation: Leo differentiates between science entangled with ontological assumptions and the pure process of investigation free from metaphysical biases, suggesting that the former can hinder the discovery of deeper truths. Ontological assumptions in science: Scientists often unconsciously adopt a certain ontology and may be defensive and unaware of it, which can limit the scope and application of science. Materialist exploratory limitations: The process of debunking supernatural explanations (e.g., fairies, angels) through materialism and logic does not guarantee that this approach can be extended to the entire universe, as reality is infinite and science assumes a finite reality. Infinite versus finite methodologies: Since reality is infinite, using science-a finite method-to grasp all of reality is fundamentally flawed. Science is useful for understanding parts of reality but fails to address questions like "Why is there something rather than nothing?" Identifying limits of scientific inquiry: It's challenging to predetermine which questions science can or cannot answer. This meta-scientific question reveals the testing limits of scientific methods, as fully exploring and applying science to the universe is near-impossible. Science's sneaky ontology: Science often denies inconsistencies within itself and covertly brings in ontological assumptions about separate, discrete objects that it cannot prove-e.g., one's body being distinct from another's. Construct-aware science: Science should become construct-aware, recognizing how it constructs nature in the process of scientific inquiry. Transforming science's foundational philosophy and epistemology can enable groundbreaking research. Confusing models with reality: Science may claim not to make ontological claims and only provides models for predictions. However, Leo asserts science does make ontological claims by denying areas where it is inconsistent, failing to grasp its own construction of reality. Merging East and West knowledge: The integration of Western and Eastern perspectives is key, as Western philosophy and mysticism contain ideas typically associated with Eastern thought, challenging the East versus West dichotomy in understanding reality. Leo's synthesis of Eastern and Western philosophies: Despite the perception that Eastern philosophy is more aligned with his ideas, Leo asserts that his teachings are not novel but are rooted in the wisdom of Western philosophers, Christian mystics, and Sufi and Jewish mystics, advocating for a unified view of wisdom across cultures. The importance of progress: Leo embraces the Western concept of evolution and progress but redefines its purpose as an evolution towards higher consciousness and love. He emphasizes that progress is intrinsic to human and societal development. Compatibility of Leo's ideas with Western values: While acknowledging the material benefits of Western civilization, Leo sees a need to reintegrate the spiritual elements back into Western society to create a balance between material and spiritual development. Reconciling notions of progress with spirituality: Leo explains that understanding evolution from a spiritual perspective gives deeper meaning to Western scientific advancements, suggesting an evolutionary purpose and a target for humanity. Perpetuation of evolution and scientific advancement: Leo expects that future societies will not abandon material advancements like science, politics, and capitalism but will evolve to include mystical understanding. Progress in cognitive and moral development: Highlighting the importance of models from developmental psychology, Leo points to evidence of societal progress in increasing construct awareness and meta-thinking, as well as in fortifying pluralism, reduced discrimination, and an expanding sense of global ethics. Eastern and Western conceptions of reality: Leo finds the Eastern notion of a protean, cyclic reality fashionable, but believes the Western concept of a linear, distinct reality with moral absolutes also holds value, implying the necessity to merge both perspectives for a comprehensive worldview. Retaining Western advancements: Leo asserts that advancements from the Western tradition need not be lost; instead, they should be woven with spiritual understanding, alluding to a harmonious evolution of both material and spiritual dimensions within society. Absolute vs. relative insights: Distinguishing between absolute truths about the nature of existence and relative perspectives on societal matters, Leo acknowledges that his views on the latter may evolve while his understanding of absolutes like God or infinity remain unchanged. Anti-fragile nature of humanity: Leo believes mankind is exceptionally resilient due to selfishness, which paradoxically prevents self-destruction and ensures survival despite causing harm through actions like environmental damage or warfare. Self-correcting mechanism: He views humanity as inherently capable of learning from mistakes, implying that as pain from issues like climate change is felt, society will mobilize and enact change, showing an upward trend in collective conscious awareness. Learning through suffering: Suffering is seen as a key driver of human growth, with Leo suggesting that while wisdom can enable learning without suffering, most of humanity needs painful experiences to evolve. Metaphysical necessity of pain: Though suffering is not deemed metaphysically necessary for AI, Leo views it as vital for human psychological development given current evolutionary constraints. Feasibility of mind uploading: Leo dismisses the materialist pursuit of mind uploading as naive, criticizing figures like Ray Kurzweil for misunderstanding consciousness. He likens the ego, which materialists attempt to upload, to an illusory concept akin to Santa Claus. Exploring consciousness beyond computers: Leo promotes spiritual practices like meditation and psychedelics over technological advancements, suggesting they offer deeper insights into consciousness than computational means. Future consciousness exploration: He envisions a transformative future where genetic understanding of consciousness might create mystic generations capable of evolving human awareness far beyond current limitations. Experiencing versus understanding consciousness: Leo differentiates between the experience of consciousness and the empirical study of its architecture, suggesting a blend of spiritual experience and material study is necessary to truly understand consciousness. Science and metaphysics evolution: Leo and Curt discuss the evolution and integration of scientific understanding and metaphysical insights, emphasizing a balance between scientific models and direct spiritual experiences. Distinction between science and psychic realms: Physical reality, like the motion of the moon, appears consistent and deterministic, whereas psychic phenomena resemble uncertain quantum states, producing only probabilistic intuitions that are not guaranteed. Denial of psychic phenomena by materialists: Psychic phenomena have been statistically validated, but materialist scientists deny them to preserve their paradigm. They require paradigm opening before accepting such evidence. Open-mindedness and extraordinary evidence: Extraordinary evidence necessitates an extraordinarily open mind. Materialists mistakenly believe closed-minded scrutiny suffices for understanding extraordinary claims, underestimating the role of mindset in acknowledging evidence. Materialistic standards conflict with non-materialistic phenomena: Materialism's rigid standards fail to accommodate non-materialistic domains like psychic phenomena, hindering recognition of existing evidence. Empirical verification of God through psychedelics: Using psychedelics like 5-MeO-DMT can empirically reveal the existence of God. Materialists reject this method as hallucinatory, but scientific integrity requires practical application of the method before dismissing its validity. Consistency of psychedelic experiences: Leo states all psychedelics lead him to a state of infinite consciousness or love, with the type of psychedelic merely altering the "flavor" of the experience. Transformation through challenges: By directly confronting deep-seated fears like insanity, one gains empathy and a deeper appreciation for sanity and reality, despite potential loss of rationality or functionality. Limitations of language in expressing truth: Leo stresses the importance of experiencing states of consciousness beyond linguistic constructs to understand reality's transformative power, as language and concepts are insufficient in capturing profound realizations. Spiritual and intuitive inquiry: Curt clarifies his pursuit is not solely about building rational models but also involves intuition and judgment, recognizing that meaningful aspects of life transcend strict rationality. Critiques based on worldview differences: Some view Leo's insights as beyond Curt's rational model-focused approach, but Curt emphasizes his broader interest in truth and awakening beyond formal models. Models versus actuality: Leo cautions that a Theory of Everything is a concept, emphasizing the distinction between concepts and the true nature of being, advising truth seekers to focus on fundamental reality. Extraordinary open-mindedness as a prerequisite for insights: The acceptance of unusual phenomena like psychic experiences depends on an open-minded approach, contrasting with the skeptical framework that predetermines outcomes based on existing beliefs. Changeability of the mind: Despite its stubbornness, the human mind can change given sufficient experience, exemplified by Leo's shift from materialism to a belief in God following a profound experience. Experience vs. belief: Direct experience always trumps belief, and individuals will change long-held beliefs when confronted with undeniable evidence, yet the mind resists experiences that could challenge its current worldviews. Materialist perspectives and avoidance: The materialist mind may avoid experiences that challenge its skepticism, such as attending 'hippie-dippy' events associated with psychedelics, due to preconceived notions of what is unscientific or a waste of time. Michael Shermer's openness: Skeptic Michael Shermer surprisingly attends Deepak Chopra's meditation retreats despite apparent ideological differences, indicating an openness to experiences beyond his usual skepticism. Beliefs shaping reality: Leo clarifies that while reality is ultimately imaginary, believing alone doesn't materialize desires like wealth. Imagination is deeper than belief, and while both a chair and Santa Claus are imaginary, Santa is a weaker form of imagination under ego control, unlike the chair which is part of a universal imagination. The ego's control and definition of reality: The ego defines reality based on what it does not control, which is typically outside the individual's influence-what the ego perceives as objective reality. Ego perception and self-bias: The ego perceives reality selfishly, corrupting the understanding of good, love, and reality itself by defining them in terms that benefit it personally. Control, omnipotence, and belief in finitude: Omnipotence implies indistinction between the controller and the controlled, but believing oneself to be a finite form, like a human body, naturally limits control. Skepticism and worldview: Genuine skepticism involves questioning even one's skeptical worldview, recognizing that it often serves as a defense mechanism rooted in fear and not a path to ultimate truth. Fear and its impact on truth-seeking: Fear is antithetical to genuine truth-seeking as it often signifies a rejection of uncomfortable or challenging aspects of reality, whereas genuine pursuit of truth accepts reality no matter the cost. Science and its assumed path to truth: Leo challenges the assumption that science necessarily leads to truth, suggesting that scientists need to be willing to accept that science, as a methodology, could be a delusion if ultimate truth demands it. Leo's perspective on truth and selfishness: Leo discusses the connection between fear and truth, indicating that fear is an avoidance of one's infinite self, which is the truth. All fears are ultimately unfounded since they are based on imagined distinctions that do not exist in a state of infinite consciousness. Fear of losing self in the pursuit of truth: Leo and Curt explore the fear associated with pursuing truth, contemplating the implications of shedding all selfishness as potentially leading to self-destructive actions. This highlights the deep existential concern that without selfishness, one might act in ways that are contrary to personal survival and well-being. Dynamics of fear in relationship to awakening: Truth is equated with infinite love, and falsely perceiving differences in experiences as good or bad breeds fear. An awakened state is characterized by the absence of fear, as one recognizes all experiences as equal manifestations of the infinite self. Balance between love and survival: The conversation touches on the nature of reality as a game, where the avoidance of infinite love equates to a necessary survival mechanism. Leo sees this reluctance to face truth as a fundamental aspect of life and a way to maintain existence. Surrender to truth as equivalent to truth-seeking: Leo defines surrendering as the act of fully accepting reality as it is, which equates to seeking truth. Ego resists this surrender due to its perceived need for control and survival. Metaphor of Satan/Lucifer for ego: The figures of Satan and Lucifer are described as symbols for the ego's illusion of separatism and control-representing the ego's attempt to dominate its own realm contrary to the boundlessness of truth. Dichotomy between philosophical denial of free will and behavior: Atheists like Sam Harris may intellectually deny free will but still behave as if they exercise control, displaying cognitive dissonance. Leo discusses that despite philosophical beliefs, everyday reactions suggest an underlying expectation of control. Cognitive dissonance between belief and behavior: Leo illustrates how the ego creates complex ideologies that obscure the connection between worldview and suffering, culminating in cognitive dissonance where actions contradict proclaimed beliefs. Difficulty of separating concepts and being: Leo explains the challenge of using language that inherently suggests separateness, distinguishing between upper case "You" representing the all-encompassing self and lower case "you" denoting individual identity within the larger universal context. Science creating distinctions: Science relies on distinguishing between what's considered scientific and non-scientific (pseudoscience), upholding a dichotomy that defines science's boundaries. Reality inclusive of non-science: However, science's denial of non-scientific elements, like Santa Claus, is a denial of aspects of reality, as all things are part of reality – even those deemed non-scientific by its standards. Science of conceptual entities: The possibility of a valid scientific exploration of conceptual entities like unicorns exists, which differs from their physical existence, focusing instead on their conceptualization within reality. Encountering worldview contradictions: When faced with ideas that contradict one's worldview, the response may be to embrace contradictions or claim that these contradictions paradoxically support one's existing beliefs. Authority in determining truth: Seeking an external authority for truth is common, but non-duality suggests that truth must come from within as all distinctions, including authority, collapse, leaving only the self as the judge of truth. Self-authority as the ultimate truth: In non-duality, since God (the infinite self) has no outside, it has no external authority; thus, whatever God (the individual) deems true becomes its reality – showcasing the infinite power of self-authority. God's capacity for self-deception: Despite God's infinite authority, it can deceive itself indefinitely, conjuring its own reality based on its imaginations, which for the finite self (lowercase 'u') may be construed as delusions. Lowercase 'u' vs. uppercase 'U': There is a distinction between truth from the finite, individual self (lowercase 'u') and the infinite self (uppercase 'U' or God) with the latter being fully authoritative in its declarations of truth. Hermetically sealed worldviews: Individuals create closed-off systems of belief, mistaking them for the ultimate reality, while non-duality reveals the capacity to construct and deconstruct such systems. Love as the essence of reality: Addressing the nature of God and truth, Leo explains that the essence of reality is infinite love, challenging the constraints of isolationist and finite perspectives. Dynamic of surrender and spiritual growth: The journey towards infinite love involves continuously surrendering finite definitions of self, progressing to a state of peace where all perspectives, even conflicting ones, can be accepted without defense. Self-criticism as an indicator of care: The act of self-criticism implies an underlying sense of care and correct orientation, suggesting a person's conscientiousness despite potential over-seriousness in personal evaluation. Guilt and developmental stages: Guilt is recognized as evolutionarily necessary at lower levels of development to confront ego-driven actions, but higher spiritual realizations require self-acceptance and the cessation of self-judgment. Complexity of guilt dynamics: The spiritual journey involves a paradox where recognizing one's flaws calls for self-love and self-forgiveness, even in the face of egregious missteps, which challenges societal norms and traditional religious precepts. True integration of Christian teachings: Leo explains that fully embracing Christian teachings means loving oneself unconditionally despite one's flaws, yet not using this as justification for harmful actions. Social acceptance vs spiritual honesty: Expressing the philosophy of self-acceptance can be socially threatening, as it seems to offer a carte blanche for sin, which society construes as dangerous for collective thriving. Concept of sin and societal constructs: Leo discusses sin as a societal construct meant to facilitate legal and social order, suggesting that a deeper understanding and release of the concept may paradoxically lead to more virtuous behavior. Karmic consequences of labeling sin: The labeling of actions as 'sinful' sets up a karmic dynamic where one sees reality through a moralistic filter, creating cycles of guilt and self-recrimination. Self-forgiveness amidst serious mistakes: Leo emphasizes the importance of maintaining love for oneself even after serious errors, viewing this acceptance as a pathway toward spiritual growth and evolution. Upholding moral standards while embracing non-duality: Leo acknowledges the difficulty of reconciling the non-dualistic acceptance of all facets of oneself with societal norms that demand moral accountability and condemnation of wrongdoing. Challenging conventional views of divine encounters: Leo redefines typical responses to divine encounters, suggesting one need not apologize or feel sorry to God, as the assumption of sin and the accompanying guilt are unnecessary in the face of divine acceptance. Seeing all as divine, including Jesus and Hitler: Leo states that all beings are divine, including historical figures like Jesus and Hitler, noting that recognizing the divinity in oneself and in all is integral to spiritual awakening. Jungian shadow integration related to God-realization: He links the process of integrating one's shadow with the realization of God, suggesting embracing all aspects of oneself, even those labeled as evil or unwanted, is essential for true love and understanding. Asymptotic process of shadow integration: The full integration of one's shadow is described as an ongoing, asymptotic process that never quite reaches completeness but continuously evolves toward greater wholeness. Spiritual realization as a choice free from compulsion: Leo stresses that the pursuit of truth, awakening, or God should be a voluntary choice motivated by intrinsic desire and not out of obligation or forced reasoning. Personal integration of honesty for spiritual advance: Honesty is underscored as vital for spiritual advancement, with Leo recalling a personal experience where acknowledging his own deceptions was a prerequisite for further development. The foundational role of honesty: Honesty serves as a foundational principle for approaching truth and facilitates a clearer perception of reality, essential for both spiritual and personal growth. Lies, karma, and self-deception: Lies mix selfish intent with truth, and perpetuating them creates suffering and distortion of reality-this karmic dynamic is intrinsic to ego-based deception and is countered by honesty. Weaponization of ideals: Leo illustrates how partial truths can be twisted to fit one's worldview, like a vaping CEO dismissing studies for self-preservation. This self-deception involves first lying to oneself, then others, often unconsciously, and becomes the foundation for a distorted perception of reality. Consequences of deep lies: Living a life built on deep lies one cannot face has profound karmic repercussions, as it forces one to avoid the truth and hold a skewed view of concepts such as science, leading to an ongoing conflict with reality. Survival conflicts with truth: The ego's survival instinct can create a conflict of interest, leading to a denial of facts that threaten one's livelihood or deep-seated beliefs, often resulting in a twisted worldview that rationalizes personal agendas. Self-deception and devilry: The most insidious form of deception is the strategic intertwining of truth with lies, carried out by the ego to justify selfishness under the guise of partial truths, a process Leo defines as "devillery." Finite versus infinite: Leo discusses the sinfulness associated with finiteness, suggesting that conflating the part for the whole leads to problems, akin to the Gnostic view that materiality is sinful. Leo advises recognizing the holographic nature of reality, where each part reflects the whole, thus bridging the apparent gap between the finite and infinite. Holism versus fragmentation: Leo posits that ultimate truth lies in holistic perception, while fragmentation and focusing on parts as complete "wholes" results in falsehood, similar to how science might propose it can understand everything. Lies tied to finiteness: Curt Jaimungal questions the connection between lies (which he associates with finite aspects) and sin, proposing that finite elements and temporality may be intimately linked to what's considered sinful. Leo confirms this, explaining the concept of holography in consciousness, where every part, even something as small as a charger cable, carries infinity within it, challenging the notion that finiteness is inherently profane. Curt's approach to interviews: Curt recognizes the need to focus on what is right about a speaker's points and rephrase them in an agreeable way, rather than just pointing out contradictions. Literal mindedness and scientific attitude: Leo observes that scientifically minded individuals can be overly literal, expecting reality to follow simple binary logic like ones and zeros in a computer, but human minds function in a much looser way. Computational models of reality: In response to computational approaches to theorizing about reality, Leo points to chaos theory's proof that you can't predict systems like weather long-term because of the butterfly effect, supporting computational irreducibility as recognized by Wolfram. Models vs. reality and their limitations: Leo cautions about getting too lost in models to the point of ignoring the actual world. He states that models are crucial, but not infinite, and cannot predict everything or reach infinity. Map vs. territory concept: Leo discusses how models (maps) can become so detailed that people might forget to experience real life (the territory), warning against becoming too absorbed in models to the detriment of engaging with the actual world. Impact of isolation and shallowness of social interactions: Leo admits a preference for deeper engagements with reality over shallow social interactions, explaining why some mystics seek isolation. However, he doesn't advocate total disengagement and values connecting with all types of people. Flip side of isolation: Curt self-reflects on his personal antisocial tendencies, valuing deeper connections with family, and the impacts of projecting onto others, recognizing the potential to push oneself toward social engagements as a spiritual practice. Pressures and temptations for the wealthy: Curt speculates on the additional spiritual challenges faced by the wealthy, noting that material abundance can make spiritual focus more difficult, contradicting the common dismissal of the rich as merely materialistic. Handling ego and spiritual growth alongside everyday life: Both Curt and Leo discuss the challenge of maintaining spiritual growth and applying it in practical aspects like business, family, and politics, without retreating into monk-like isolation. Models, precision, and the trap of detail: Leo advises Curt to balance the big picture with the attention to detail, expressing concern that exclusive focus on conceptual work may hinder personal spiritual awakening. The 'better the model, the bigger the problem' view: Leo introduces the idea that highly refined models can become a hindrance rather than an aid in understanding reality, as they may draw attention away from direct experience and interaction with the world. Effects of fame on Leo Gura's social life: Leo reminisces about a time when he was more publicly recognized, noting a decrease in such occurrences as his content delved into niche subjects. Views on personal vices and habits: Leo discusses his perspective on watching porn and eating meat, explaining that he doesn't see such activities as detrimental to his spirituality and acknowledging the healthy push towards vegetarianism. Spirituality in unconventional spaces: Leo shares experiences of discussing spirituality in places like strip clubs, indicating that profound insights about the divine can emerge even in seemingly unlikely or non-traditional settings. Jailbreaking the mind: The process of spiritual growth and ego death can be likened to jailbreaking a phone, which carries inherent risks and may lead to detrimental outcomes if not done carefully. Fear of negative consequences: Curt expresses a concern that fully surrendering to what he perceives as God's will could result in harmful actions like suicide or harming others, revealing a profound fear of trusting himself and the world. Attachment and prioritization: Curt admits his attachment to his wife and life, suggesting that his reluctance to change or surrender these attachments indicates a prioritization of survival over spiritual truth. Facing physical death and the leap of faith: Leo insists that confronting physical death is essential for experiencing God, and true awakening requires accepting the risk of death and being willing to "jump" into infinite love. Rapid-fire questions and focus on Leo: Despite intentions to discuss more personal aspects of Leo, the conversation delves deeper into his spiritual ideas with rapid-fire questions on his perspective and experiences. Challenges in promoting a Theory of Everything: Leo offers advice to individuals like Steve Scully, who propose theories of everything but struggle to gain recognition, suggesting a long-term commitment to developing and sharing their theories instead of seeking instant validation. Information sorting and fringe theories: The challenge faced by individuals like Curt in deciding which theories to explore, amidst an abundance of both serious and crackpot ideas, is outlined, emphasizing the importance of careful discernment and the evolving ability to recognize valuable theories. Personal examples of fear and ego management: Curt shares his fears around engaging deeply with spiritual topics, including the concern of self-harm or harming others, as well as the difficulty of managing his ego post-psychedelic experience. Popularizing personal theories: Leo emphasizes that success and recognition in sharing theories require persistent self-promotion and providing value rather than relying on a single influential person to "put you on." He encourages creators to continuously work hard and explore multiple avenues, such as reaching out to various influencers, starting one's own channel, or offering unique value to potential collaborators. Persistence despite rejection: Leo advises those facing rejection not to be discouraged but to persist and increase their efforts in promoting their work, suggesting that the more effort one puts in, the more likely luck will favor them. Offering value for collaboration: When seeking opportunities for collaboration or promotion, Leo highlights the importance of offering something of value in return, whether through bringing subscribers, sending gifts, or other means that can appeal to the potential collaborator's interests. Evolution from indie filmmaking to TOE: Curt reflects on his transition from indie filmmaking, abbreviated as "if TOE," to working on theories of everything ("TOE"), seeing it as symbolic of his growing open-mindedness and readiness to embrace broader understandings. Staying still while recording videos: Leo shares that sitting during recordings helps maintain a still posture and avoids distractions like looking at oneself, which ensures a focused and engaged delivery to the camera. Challenges of non-linear thinking in public speaking: Leo discusses his biggest speaking challenge-maintaining structure in his speeches due to his highly nonlinear and intuitive mind that naturally explores various threads and tangents of thought. Perception of own influence and followers: Leo reveals that the amazement of having a large following fades over time as one gets accustomed to it; he also addresses the dangers of ego inflation from fan admiration and the necessity of balanced feedback. Viewing critics as trolls: Curt considers taking serious criticism as a means of improvement, while Leo suggests that some critics are indeed trolls and that it's necessary to differentiate between constructive criticism and non-helpful negativity. Using spirituality to avoid psychological issues: Spiritual bypassing is discussed as the misuse of spirituality to evade addressing personal problems, implying that genuine spiritual growth requires confronting one's shadow and working through psychological challenges. Questioning the necessity of suffering for spiritual growth: Leo questions the belief that suffering is necessary to attain spiritual heights, warning against self-fulfilling prophecies and encouraging a recognition that spiritual awakening can happen easily for some people. Reinforcement of perception: The way you perceive the world often reinforces itself – difficulties can become self-fulfilling prophecies based on one's mindset, advising caution against negative outlooks. Advice to younger generations: Leo emphasizes the practical value of imparting wisdom to youth so they can avoid repeating historical mistakes and navigate life more effectively, recognizing the importance of learning from elders and ancestral wisdom as crucial. Increasing disregard for wisdom: Discusses the modern cultural decline in the appreciation of wisdom, exacerbated by social media and other influences, making a case for why wisdom, even within academia, is crucial and should not be hastily discarded. Idealized views of spiritual figures: Misconceptions about Jesus and Buddha are likely due to the development of myths over time, with actual historical knowledge quite scant, suggesting that if details of their lives were known, they'd seem less deified and more human. Jesus's special consciousness: While everyone embodies divinity in some sense, Leo speculates that Jesus possibly had a uniquely high baseline consciousness with paranormal abilities, illustrated through variability in human traits such as height and cognition. Thumbnail selection process: Leo actively collects various images online and from stock photo sites, keeping them for future video topics. He occasionally modifies images in Photoshop, aligning with his aesthetic orientation and graphic design experience. Video preparation method: Leo combines both premeditated outline preparation and spontaneous expression during recordings. For technical subjects, he prepares outlines but prefers improv as it yields more organic insights, albeit with the risk of missing key points. Video recording technique: Videos are shot in a single take without edits, a skill developed over time akin to live public speaking. Leo uses a teleprompter-like setup with a two-way mirror for notes, enabling a natural flow. Opinion on UFOs and altered states for contact: Personal lack of experience with UFOs but believes in their existence due to the abundance of reports across time and cultures. Claims the difficulty of capturing fast-moving objects like UFOs on camera should not dismiss their existence. Open to the idea that altered states or specific methodologies like CE5 could potentially facilitate contact with extraterrestrial entities. Spiritual perfection and imperfection: Leo points out that even entities recognized as spiritually elevated, like Jesus or the Buddha, likely had imperfections, and their historical depictions are probably idealized, with actual videos likely showing them as less divine than portrayed. Jesus's unique abilities: Speculates that Jesus had extraordinary conscious and mystical abilities due to genetic makeup, possibly healing certain individuals which contributed to his supernatural reputation. Content creation and selection process: Describes an aesthetic approach to choosing thumbnails for videos, accumulating a collection of images for future use, and personally modifying them to fit video themes. Non-edited recordings: Leo recounts his practice of recording videos without cuts similar to live public speaking, which has improved his articulation over time. Acknowledging the existence of UFOs: Leo believes in the plausibility of UFOs, acknowledging the challenge in capturing them on camera, and suggests personal experiences strongly influence an individual's belief in such phenomena. Riffing vs. outlining for content delivery: Mentions a balance between pre-contemplation and casual delivery of content, with some topics requiring detailed preparation, while others benefit from impromptu speaking for authenticity. Critique of UFO skepticism: Challenges the idea that all UFO evidence is unconvincing or hoaxed, considering the technical difficulties of photographing fast-moving objects and the substantial anecdotal evidence suggesting their reality. Occam's Razor Misapplication: Leo considers the dismissal of UFOs as a misuse of Occam's Razor. He believes that given the vast number of stars and planets, the existence of aliens is highly probable, challenging the simplistic application of this principle by skeptics. Bayesian Reasoning Flaws: Leo criticizes Bayesian reasoning for being susceptible to subjective biases. It assumes starting probabilities that cannot be known and is affected by the reference class problem, making it unreliable for making conclusions about phenomena like UFOs. Probability Assessment Challenge: Discussing the issue of assigning probabilities to unique events, Leo notes the inherent difficulty in determining the chances of occurrences like UFO sightings and points out how personal experiences can drastically alter someone's perceived probability of such events. Intuition as Consciousness Access: Leo describes intuition as an aspect of consciousness that allows for logical leaps without a formal pattern. It's an irreducibly mysterious element he ties to infinite intelligence, and while he believes intuition can be developed, he refrains from recommending specific books on the topic. Role of Arts in Awakening: Leo sees beauty as fundamental to reality and ties art to participating in the creative process of God. He views art, including music, films, and his own work, as expressions of God's creative power and encourages people to treat every aspect of life, from business to cooking, as an art form for a fulfilling existence. Art and Psychedelics: Addressing the appreciation of art under the influence of psychedelics, Leo discusses the ability to perceive beauty in all forms, and the shift in perception that allows even the mundane to appear divine. He suggests that all music, including "left-brain" music, can be experienced as profound under psychedelics. Experiencing Psychedelic-Induced Psychosis: Leo talks about his states of madness during mushroom trips, describing them as humbling and developing empathy for those with mental illnesses. He emphasizes the importance of facing fears of insanity and learning from the experience. Sanity Appreciation: He reflects on the value of sanity, which is often taken for granted until lost. Leo stresses that losing sanity briefly aids in understanding its importance and appreciating the grounding and coherence it provides. Ontology and Epistemology Coupling: In the CTMU, ontology and epistemology are understood to be inseparably coupled, a contrast to their traditional separation. Chris Langan suggests that through truths like Gödel's incompleteness theorem, reality can't fully be explained by reason alone. Language and Non-Language: Leo warns about equating everything with language or reason, as he differentiates between human language and other forms of expression, which can include experiences beyond language. He invites those engaged in logical or conceptual work, like followers of the CTMU, to attain states of consciousness where language doesn't apply, enriching their understanding beyond linguistic constructs. Psychedelics vs. Traditional Enlightenment: Addressing the comparison between psychedelic experiences and traditional forms of enlightenment, Leo clarifies that the core truths of absolute reality are uniform and can be accessed through various means, whether psychedelics or meditation. He emphasizes that while his teachings do not exclusively advocate for psychedelics, they are an accessible tool for those not adept at or committed to profound meditative practices. Relativity of Spiritual Practice: Leo agrees with the premise that attempting to bring the absolute into the relative is somewhat delusional, given the illusory nature of separation. However, he portrays this process as a personal and deliberate choice of delusion for one's own sake – a conscious game rather than a genuine effort to convert others who, from a non-dual standpoint, don't exist separately. Possibility of Perfect Embodiment: Leo is open to the idea that it could be metaphysically possible to embody the absolute perfectly, but pragmatically, he sees this as incredibly challenging due to human limitations. He actively discourages imposing expectations of perfection on oneself or spiritual teachers, recognizing that finite physical and psychological factors inevitably influence one's actions and thoughts. Expectations in Spiritual Teaching: He warns against the trap of using any imperfection in spiritual teachers as evidence to discredit their insights, illustrating the futility and potential ego-serving nature of such critiques. Leo advises a balance between striving for alignment with spiritual truths and exercising compassion towards oneself and others in the face of inevitable human imperfections. Jesus in Modern Times: If Jesus returned to the current era, modern evangelicals might reject him as a communist for advocating to care for the poor. Evolution Beyond Atheism: There's a cognitive development trajectory from fundamentalist Christians, to atheists who question beliefs, to a deeper understanding of God, embodying true Christian values. Sly Answers of Spiritual Figures: Like a Zen master, Jesus avoided affirming or denying claims of being the Son of God, embodying humility and avoiding the egoic pitfalls of explicitly claiming divinity. Teacher-Student Dynamic: Teaching inherently suggests superiority, and some spiritual practitioners may refrain from teaching to avoid these implications and the shortcomings of language in conveying truth. Leo on The Ra Material: Leo finds the core teachings about infinity in The Ra Material aligned with his views, but remains skeptical of its more esoteric claims, such as the construction of the Egyptian pyramids being a manifestation of consciousness rather than built manually. Hypothetical Issue with Leo's Theory: A scenario where a daughter imagines a $100 bill on her desk based on her mother's assertion examines layers of imagination in perception. Leo suggests all parties, including the daughter, mother, and $100 bill, are imagined within imagined layers, challenging the notion of objective reality. Objective Reality and Consensus: The concept of objective reality may relate to multiple layers of mutual imagination. Leo emphasizes reaching an understanding of the absolute, where the distinction between the absolute and notions of objectivity collapses. Leo Gura's Social Manner: Although perceived as serious online, Leo claims to be relaxed and playful in social settings, not always discussing profound topics like God. Social interactions and relatability: In casual social interactions, Leo discusses everyday topics like cat videos instead of deep metaphysical concepts to relate to people on a familiar level, which he finds enjoyable and necessary. Recommendations on psychedelic use to family: Leo has indeed recommended strong psychedelics to his family but does not push them to partake; he respects their individual choices and recognizes his mother's resistance due to traditional views. First-person reality experience: Leo's first-person experience of reality remains visually consistent but has undergone a profound recontextualization; every aspect is now seen as absolute truth, God, and imagination, rather than just a human perception. Perceiving objections as ego defense: When engaging with others, Leo acknowledges valid disagreements and differences in perspective; however, he also recognizes when people's objections stem from ego defenses, though not all objections are seen this way. Navigating arrogance and ego: Leo admits to sometimes feeling arrogant or looking down on others with lower consciousness or wisdom levels; managing this involves cultivating compassion for others' ignorance and recognizing one's own spiritual ego. Approach to justice and punishment: Leo doesn't rule out the death penalty in extreme cases where rehabilitation fails and immediate threat prevention is necessary, but he supports efforts towards rehabilitation consistent with certain Scandinavian models. Distinction between disapproval and condescension: Leo advocates for making survival-based societal decisions, such as imprisonment, without becoming morally superior; he distinguishes between disapproving of someone's actions and condescendingly looking down upon them. Recognizing and overcoming condescension: While truthful judgments about lower levels of consciousness can occur, it's a matter of balance and evolving beyond tendencies to look down on others by empathizing with their circumstances and recognizing the truth in their actions. Admitting personal shortcomings: Leo openly admits to his own shortcomings, recognizing instances where he has unjustly looked down on others and hopes to grow beyond such behavior. Rehabilitation and human error: Leo favors investing in rehabilitation over harsh punishment, understanding human behavior can often be attributed to circumstances beyond one's control, advocating for humane approaches within the justice system. Improvement of mental models: When confronted by others' seemingly poor decisions, rather than assuming superiority, consider updating personal mental models to more empathetically understand their actions. Philosophy of universal goodness: Deepening understanding may lead to the realization that all actions are inherently good, progressing toward the view that everything is absolutely good. Personal standards and self-judgment: Differences in self-regulation are highlighted, with Leo permitting himself occasional "sins" without self-rebuke, trusting in natural outgrowing of such behaviors, while the interviewer maintains tighter self-restraint. Leo's upbringing advantages: A balanced family dysfunction in childhood fostered Leo's independent thinking and work ethic, with his parents not imposing any strict worldviews, aiding in his open-minded development. Cultural perspective from emigration: Moving from Russia to the USA as a child allowed Leo to experience cultural relativism firsthand, understanding American cultural norms as somewhat arbitrary compared to different background. Educational opportunities and challenges: Acknowledges a fortunate upbringing with quality education in Southern California, despite financial challenges, which taught him fiscal responsibility. Attachments to Actualized.org: Leo recognizes his work with Actualized.org as his significant attachment and contemplates the potential need to disengage for further spiritual advancement versus the possibility of expanding his teaching. Treating life purpose as a game: Leo suggests finding fulfillment through engaging in a personal 'art form' that aligns with spiritual development, blending creative endeavors with the pursuit of spirituality. Practicality and spiritual work: Leo admits being practical and grounded in material life benefitted his spiritual work, and it's uncertain whether to pursue a more public teaching role or personal retreat for spiritual advancement. Judging others: Leo still judges others at times, acknowledging it as a work in progress, striving to overcome this behavior as his understanding evolves. He emphasizes that truly comprehensive understanding inherently encompasses empathetic perspectives of universally "good" actions. Leo's perspective on playing life seriously: Leo compares engaging in life to playing a serious game like Dark Souls, advocating for approaching every aspect with intense focus and curiosity. Early involvement in Bioshock Infinite: His initial role in Bioshock Infinite during pre-production was minimal; he contributed to early concept discussions, including proposing the idea of a female companion in the game, inspired by Half-Life 2. Breaking into game design: Leo entered game design through modding, creating a popular mod for Oblivion which he then used as a portfolio to get hired at Irrational Games. Job interview challenges: Sharing his experience with job interviews, particularly one with Todd Howard from Bethesda, Leo reflects on his early lack of interview skills and excitement that hindered his performance. Project development dynamics: Discussing game design processes, Leo describes pre-production stages where a team collaboratively discusses game mechanics, critiques past projects, and ideates future directions around a conference table. Leo's self-acknowledged "vice": Arrogance is identified as Leo's vice, stemming from his quick dismissal of what he perceives as "bullshit" and occasionally looking down on others, citing a developed skill for quickly detecting falsehoods in various domains. Public recognition over time: Leo notes that public recognition has decreased since his content has become more niche and YouTube traffic has grown more competitive; he recalls past experiences of being recognized in public. Personal consumption habits: Leo addresses vices like porn, which he does not view negatively in relation to his spiritual practice, and eating meat, despite a desire to shift toward vegetarianism or veganism for health and ethical reasons. Influence of consumption habits on spirituality: He argues that habits like masturbation do not detract from his consciousness or spiritual practice, and highlights the importance of personal responsibility and genetics in potential addictions. Leo's dietary choices: Due to energy requirements and the physical sensation of cold, Leo's attempts at a vegetarian diet have been unsuccessful. He remains open to alternatives like lab-grown meat but feels technology is not yet advanced enough to adopt fully. Perspectives on the porn industry: Leo has conflicting views on porn; he acknowledges issues in the industry and suggests avoiding it as it might skew perceptions of people as interchangeable. However, he mentions a trend towards user-generated content that reflects genuine relationships, which he views more positively. Preferences for high-quality adult content: Leo considers himself a connoisseur of porn, preferring premium, artistically shot adult content that enhances aesthetic appreciation over typical low-quality material. Finding spirituality in unexpected places: He recounts discussing spirituality and enlightenment with strippers at a Vegas strip club, illustrating his belief that divine understanding can exist in unconventional settings. Leveraging unusual topics to connect with others: Leo finds discussing psychic phenomena and hallucinations to be effective conversation starters, especially with women who are generally open to these topics. Leo's daily routine variability: Health issues cause inconsistency in Leo's routine, leading to days filled with varying activities-including work, relaxation, or coping with poor health-depending on his physical state. Balancing hard work with self-compassion: While Leo has a natural drive to work, he has learned the importance of self-care and compassion, especially regarding health-related limitations. Attachment to work and spiritual depth: Leo acknowledges that his conceptual work and recording videos can hinder deeper spiritual practices, as they involve analytical thinking which needs to be put aside for profound personal development. Embracing intuition alongside rigor: He attributes much of his insight to an intuitive understanding that helps him quickly discern the essence of ideas without getting lost in details, suggesting a balance between holistic intuition and focused study. Leo's perspective on intellectual rigor: Leo debates the merits of intellectual rigor, cautioning that getting lost in the minutiae may prevent one from seeing the bigger picture and reaching the highest level of understanding. Trade-off between details and the big picture: Leo expresses a preference for the big picture rather than getting bogged down in technical details, arguing that you can miss fundamental truths by focusing too much on specificity. Allocating energy between theories and truth: Leo advises Curt to develop a method for managing time and mental resources, warning that an obsession with theories and models can hinder the path to awakening. Curt's dilemma between rigorous study and awakening: Curt expresses concern that his meticulous nature and focus on developing a Theory of Everything could impede personal spiritual growth, potentially perpetuating the intellectual journey without reaching absolute truth. Existential decision on channel focus: Curt considers removing his name from his channel's title to underscore its goal-oriented nature and his role in contributing to the quest for a Theory of Everything, reflecting on whether he'll be the one to achieve it or pass the baton to another. Awakening's impact on Curt's work: Leo conveys that achieving awakening would significantly empower Curt's work, providing a unique perspective valuable to the scientific community, and marking not an end but a renaissance for his personal endeavors. Negative feedback and personal transformation: Leo shares experiences of negative feedback from personal development, highlighting the resistance to change by family, friends, and the community. He stresses the significance of pursuing authenticity over maintaining a "happy" facade. Curt's serious demeanor in interviews: Curt explains his seriousness during podcasts as an effort to remain engaged and authentic, avoiding superficiality and inviting genuine, in-depth conversation. Seriousness in online content: Leo advises Curt to focus on authenticity in his videos rather than modifying content due to seeming overly serious, as it's important for genuine engagement. Spiritual figures claiming godliness: Leo addresses the question by saying that many spiritual figures do indeed identify with God, but often use subtler language to avoid misinterpretation and the perception of arrogance. The danger of proclaiming divinity: Claiming to be God can be life-threatening, and throughout history, individuals like Mansur Al-Halaj have been executed for such proclamations. The suppression of these truths is linked to survival, as they can undermine societal structures and beliefs. Difficulty in articulating profound insights: Leo notes that some of his deepest insights are challenging to communicate due to the limitations of language, and he encourages listeners to see the convergence in spiritual teachings toward the concept of oneness. Information manipulation strategies: Leo warns about individuals or groups who deliberately spread misleading information to confuse people and push selfish agendas, exemplified by Steve Bannon's strategy of "flooding the zone with bullshit." Leo's message of love: When addressing humanity, Leo would convey that reality is fundamentally love, questioning why existence would be anything but infinitely loving. Advice for growing influence: Leo suggests maintaining energy and passion, not allowing critical feedback to affect self-perception, avoiding burnout, and combining intellectual pursuit with spirituality for a significant impact. Blurring lines between concepts and being: In constructing a Theory of Everything, Leo cautions against confusing concepts with actuality, emphasizing the need to base theories on primary and absolute truths. Navigating strangeness and awe in reality: Leo reflects on life's beautiful strangeness and the need for a constant sense of wonder, recognizing reality's intrinsic mystery. Final word to Curt's audience: Leo advises TOE enthusiasts to discern between being and concept, emphasizing the primary nature of direct experience and actuality over secondary conceptual understanding. Experiencing the Alien Nature of Reality: Leo expresses wonder at ordinary objects like dinner forks, encouraging a perspective where everything is seen as alien-that is, seen for the first time without assuming familiarity or taking it for granted. Gratitude Towards Existence: Leo experiences intense gratitude for life, appreciating everyday experiences and even the chance to have the conversation he's having, acknowledging the feeling as undeservedly lucky. Appropriateness of the Term 'God': When directly confronting the concept of God, Leo argues that the most fitting response is one of profound awe, exclaiming "Oh my God" or "Oh my fucking God" to express the grandeur and profundity of the experience. Personal Invitation from Leo Gura: In a friendly offer, Leo invites the host to hang out with him for deeper conversation and connection, moving beyond the confines of an interview setting. Matthew Phillips and the Transcend App: Matthew Phillips shares the inspiration for creating Transcend, a platform designed to facilitate deep, meaningful communication, spurred by personal loss and the desire to preserve the essence of loved ones. Holistic Purpose of Transcend: The app aims to enable users to share important life stories and advice with a focus on intimacy and authenticity, without being driven by superficial engagement metrics commonly seen on other social platforms. We Transcend Initiative: Transcend introduces a program to donate app subscriptions to individuals facing end-of-life situations or terminal illnesses, allowing them to preserve their legacies and stories for loved ones. Helping to Preserve Memories for the Elderly: The app is typically used by caregivers who assist those with Alzheimer's or dementia, acting as a memory care tool to safeguard their narratives for future generations. Legacy as Elevation of the Human Condition: Concluding the section, Matthew Phillips articulates his belief in the power of legacy to improve the human experience, viewing it as a critical yet overlooked element of life. Mission of Transcend app: Transcend aims to empower everyone to capture and pass on their life story, with the belief that everyone's story matters and has the potential to make progress easier for future generations. Fulfilling a sacred obligation: The creator of Transcend feels that the app allows him to honor predecessors while also fulfilling a duty to future generations by preserving knowledge and wisdom. Early access to Transcend: The app is near its beta release, with invitations extended to users who sign up at projecttranscend.com, aiming to facilitate meaningful family connections and legacy preservation. Utilizing Transcend with family members: Curt Jaimungal expresses interest in using the app to capture and preserve interactions with his parents, highlighting its personal significance. Leo Gura as a content contributor: Transcend considers Leo Gura an ideal candidate to create engaging prompts for the app, providing value to users and enriching experiences. Creating meaningful conversation with prompt cards: Transcend plans to include "starter packs" with themed prompts meant to enhance conversations by raising thought-provoking questions, much like physical relationship cards currently used by some couples. Intrinsic reward system within Transcend: Instead of relying on likes or hearts, Transcend focuses on intrinsic rewards such as the satisfaction of creating permanent and meaningful content. Transcend differentiating from social media: The app avoids typical social media engagement metrics, promoting authenticity and purposefulness by facilitating content creation motivated by meaning rather than external validation. Ego management post-psychedelic experience: Leo is asked for suggestions on how to maintain the perspective of ego dissolution experienced during psychedelic use on a day-to-day basis without recurring use. Navigating spiritual growth amidst relationships: Leo is asked for advice on balancing profound spiritual experiences with maintaining connections to loved ones who may not be on the same spiritual journey. Dealing with the paradox of ego death: The paradox arises after an ego death experience, where one gains new wisdom but must manage the ego's return; Curt reflects on how to handle this dichotomy. Ferula
  12. Leo Gura Infinite Consciousness, God Realization [PART 1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-w8k4smC74 Leo Gura's introduction: Leo Gura is the founder of Actualized.org, a psychonaut, mystic, and proponent of idealism, believing consciousness is fundamental. He views his audience as aspects of God who have forgotten their true nature, aligning somewhat with Rupert Spira, yet with distinct differences. Curt Jaimungal's introduction: Host of the podcast, Curt, is a filmmaker with a background in mathematical physics, interested in the connection between consciousness and fundamental laws. Need for repeated viewing: The episode encourages viewers to watch more than once for better understanding, especially due to initial skepticism towards Leo's certainty in his views. Humanizing skepticism: Leo displays humanizing skepticism around the four-hour mark, making his propositions more relatable and helping to untangle biases. Part two announcement: A follow-up part focused on Leo Gura's personal experiences is planned due to the extensive discussion only partially covered. Leo Gura's disclaimers: Leo issues disclaimers highlighting the potential psychological impact of exploring deep existential questions, especially for those with mental health concerns. He discourages turning his ideas into ideologies or cults. Alien intelligence analogy: Considering his radically different worldview, Leo asks to be treated as if he were an alien intelligence to bridge communication gaps between his and conventional worldviews. Open-mindedness and truth-seeking: He commends Curt for modeling radical open-mindedness, essential for understanding profound existential questions, showcasing Curt's intellectual approach. Truth's merciless nature and worldview development: Leo states that truth can be merciless, challenging casual speculative pursuits of reality. He contrasts his definitive answers with academic theoretical speculations, advocating for direct experience as the foundation for truth. Embodiment of philosophy: Leo questions whether adopting principles equates to embodying a philosophy. He emphasizes living according to ideals like truthfulness and intellectual honesty but suggests that this is only a surface-level understanding of embodying philosophy. Intellectual beliefs versus living reality: Differentiating between intellectually knowing something and living it, Leo explains minds can hold beliefs, such as atheism, while behaving contradictorily as if higher principles or entities exist. Self-deceptive nature of the mind: The mind is adept at constructing elaborate self-images and identities based on beliefs or perceived worldviews. These can often be misaligned with reality and actions, particularly in terms of professing certain spiritual or moral ideals while behaving contrary to them in practical life. Distinctions between identity and ideals: There's a common disconnect where individuals espouse virtues like selflessness and honesty, but actions reveal inherent selfishness. Leo highlights the importance of introspection and aligning one's behavior with their proclaimed values and beliefs. Hypocrisy in religious and scientific communities: Leo observes hypocrisy both within religious adherents, who may not mirror the selflessness of figures they idolize (e.g., Jesus), and scientists, who claim open-mindedness yet are resistant to non-traditional ideas or concepts they deem "woo-woo." Leo's "non-worldview" and God-realization: He insists that his teachings are not a worldview but a direct path to recognizing absolute truth 듮hat there's only one existent entity, infinite consciousness, which individuals are a part of; everyone is an aspect of God dreaming the entire universe into existence, equating daily life to hallucinations akin to nightly dreams. Technical definition of "hallucination": Leo provides a technical definition, framing it as perception without external input. This aligns with his view that the physical body and experiences are appearances with nothing behind them; reality and hallucination are not distinct, but a matter of persistence and consistency in one's perceptions. Critique of the concept of reality as an intersection of observers: He partly agrees with Chris Langan's ideas but emphasizes the human capacity to erase and redefine perceptual boundaries, asserting that all distinctions are imaginary and can be created or dissolved by the mind. Critique of Chris Langan's model of consciousness: Leo appreciates Langan's intellect but distinguishes between conceptual models and direct realization of God consciousness. He argues that Langan's work, while academically rigorous, is conceptual and cannot substitute for the experiential realization of being God. Reality's lack of constraints: Ultimately, Leo concludes that reality is boundless and unrestricted, leading to mind-shattering paradoxes beyond current conceptual and academic models. Arrogance and assumptions in defining paradoxes: He suggests that while models like Langan's might address the existence of paradoxes in the non-physical realm, there remain deeper layers to be understood, and the ultimate level of consciousness reveals a reality that is truly unconstrained and paradoxical. Dream analogy for awakening: The analogy comparing awakening and dreaming asserts that ordinary reality is akin to a dream, and so-called awakened individuals have realized this, transitioning to a higher state of consciousness. The persistence of people and the world after someone awakens is due to others still dreaming, not the analogy being flawed. Shared Dream Reality: Leo insists that the perception of a shared dream is a personal illusion. Since each person is God, the awakening of any individual causes their unique dream world and its inhabitants to cease within their perspective. Falsifiability of the dream state: The notion that reality is a dream-like experience cannot be falsified, according to Leo. He argues that the concept of falsifiability, a critical principle in scientific methodology, has a fundamental flaw when applied to absolute truth. Skeptical investigation of truth: Leo recounts his shift from extreme skepticism and atheism to deeper inquiry into the nature of knowledge, questioning even his skepticism and realizing that reality is limited to personal experiences. Science within the dream of consciousness: Leo expresses that science and its proofs are confined within the dream of consciousness, cease to exist upon death, and are illusions within the current experience bubble. Falsifiability and absolute reality: Leo critiques the reliance on falsifiability in science by stating that absolute truth encompasses all dreams, self-deception, and potential wrongs, making it unfalsifiable as it includes the concept of falsifiability itself. Infinity and levels of consciousness: Discussing infinite consciousness, Leo claims that there is an ultimate level of consciousness that infinitely expands in all directions, imagining all possibilities, which cannot be surpassed or invalidated by a higher state. Skepticism about skepticism: Leo encourages skeptics to doubt their skepticism, logic, and even the workings of their own minds, advocating for a deeper questioning that includes these meta-criticisms. Tautological nature of reality: The conversation converges on the idea that reality, at its pinnacle, is a tautology, simply existing as it is, similar to the logical truth that one equals one, without additional explanatory power. Introduction of Matthew Phillips and the Transcend app: Matthew Phillips describes Transcend as a mobile app allowing users to capture and preserve their personal stories for posterity, highlighting the importance of one's legacy and providing tools for deeper connections with loved ones. G漆el's influence on truth and provability: G漆el's Incompleteness Theorem demonstrates that truth transcends provability; not all truths can be proven within a formal system, highlighting the limits of proof in understanding absolute reality. Conception of infinite consciousness: Leo clarifies that one's finite conception of infinite consciousness is not truly infinite. True infinite consciousness encompasses all possible existences, leaving nothing external to it. Limitations of language regarding infinity: The discussion acknowledges linguistic shortcomings in conveying the concept of infinity, distinguishing between conceptual orders of infinity and the notion of absolute infinity. Georg Cantor's Absolute Infinity: Cantor's development of set theory and the idea of different orders of infinity lead to the recognition of an "absolute infinity," which he symbolized with omega and equated with God. Leo emphasizes that even this concept is limited compared to the true nature of absolute infinity. Absolute Infinity beyond all imaginations: Leo explains absolute infinity as extending infinitely beyond all human constructs like mathematics, physics, or film, encapsulating literally every possibility. Debating the bounds of consciousness: Leo challenges the idea of anything existing beyond consciousness, arguing for a state where consciousness is all-encompassing, thereby negating any notion of external entities or realms. Transcendence of consciousness: Leo posits that consciousness is transcendental, not limited by physical laws or logical constraints, and underlies the existence of everything. Infinite regress of skepticism: Leo demonstrates that skepticism itself is part of consciousness and cannot escape it, leading to an infinite regress of possible doubt. Recognition and limits of finite consciousness: Leo draws an analogy to a donkey's inability to recognize itself in a mirror to illustrate the difficulty in explaining consciousness to someone not at an infinitely conscious state. He suggests that finite beings invent hypothetical entities beyond consciousness out of scepticism, not realizing everything they imagine is contained within consciousness. Platonic hat argument: Leo uses a playful analogy, equating claims of an even higher state beyond consciousness to a conceptual one-upmanship that doesn't address the inherent nature of consciousness and truth. Infinite Regress of Self-Deception: Infinite regress of self-deception showcases that any claim of truth can be met with an infinite chain of counterclaims, illustrating that truth can't be fully captured by arguments or models. God-realization as Meta Awareness: Being God-realized means being aware of the infinite regress and acknowledging that every description of God is just a finite aspect of an incomprehensibly meta and endless reality. The Tautology of 'One Equals One': The self-evidency of tautologies, like "one equals one," underlines their unfalsifiability and hints at infinite truths that are beyond standard logical proofs like reductio ad absurdum. Relativity of Absurdity: The notion of what is considered absurd is relative and cannot form a stable basis for dismissing claims, as what may be seen as absurd in one context might be accepted in another. Unfalsifiability of Truth: Truth is inherently unfalsifiable; the most difficult propositions to falsify or prove wrong are precisely those that might actually be true, thereby confronting the limits of proof and falsifiability in epistemology. Impact of Social Media on Meaningful Living: Social media breeds disconnection and competition contradicting meaningful living principles such as being present, loving, non-judgmental, and time-conscious. Project Transcend's Approach to Legacy: Project Transcend enables users to document their legacy, emphasizing a private, data-controlled approach for sharing beliefs and life experiences with future generations, unlike standard social media. Endurance of Truth: Once aware of the truth, an individual remains unshakable in that knowledge. Yet, the acknowledgment of potential self-deception is crucial, as one must deeply investigate truth for oneself over years. Skepticism and Nested Self-Deception: The self-deception of skepticism is pivotal, where nested layers of deception obscure the truth even further, making self-awareness a critical part of epistemology. Distinction Between Nescience and Ignorance: Nescience simply means not knowing, devoid of the wilful choice implied by ignorance, but the true problem lies in holding false beliefs, underscoring the importance of properly engaging with epistemology before metaphysics. Imaginary Nature of Hierarchies: At an absolute level, hierarchies are seen to be imaginary, with consciousness realizing its oneness to the extent that all distinctions dissolve, leaving a formless unity. Substance of Reality: The true substance of reality is nothing, as all perceived substances are distinctions within consciousness instead of being something tangible like atoms or energy. Limitations of Language in Grasping Reality: Language, by nature, is dualistic and cannot capture the essence of reality, which requires understanding beyond spoken or conceptual distinction like that between a chicken and a coffee table. Nature of distinctions: Distinctions such as those between a chicken and a coffee table are imaginary constructs of the mind. Without them, all things would merge into a single entity, which would essentially be nothing, and this nothing is what Leo considers infinity. Language and its limitations: Language was not intended for philosophical undertakings and is rooted in practicality, much like classical Newtonian mechanics, which are useful despite their known inaccuracies in representing absolute reality. Length as a relative measure: Leo challenges the concept of length as an absolute measure, highlighting its dependence on relative points of reference and suggesting that, at a fundamental level, distinctions like length are imagined. Ontological relativity: Leo introduces the notion of ontological relativity, suggesting that the distinction between objects like a chicken and a coffee table only exists within our perception and that without this distinction, they would become indistinguishable, merging into a single entity which is effectively nothing. Instrumentalism and science: Differentiating between the notion of science as instrumentalism, which focuses on practical predictions and measurements, and his own view, which is that even the distinctions used in science are not truly conscious understandings but rather conceptual tools that ultimately fail to capture the essence of reality. Existence and consciousness: Discussing the relationship between existence, consciousness, and love, Leo implies that these concepts are entwined at a metaphysical level and are present in all things, overturning materialistic assumptions that limit love to emotional experiences of advanced organisms. Emergence of scientific acceptance: Leo admits that some ideas that once seemed radical, like panpsychism or integrated information theory, are gaining more acceptance within the scientific community, suggesting that truth will eventually become more widely recognized. Concept of love: Leo explores the metaphysical meaning of saying "you love bacon," connecting it to a phenomenological experience of tastes and textures that consciousness biases towards, comparing it to less desirable experiences like eating a cricket. Biased vs unbiased love: He proposes that at the level of God consciousness, all distinctions between experiences collapse, leading to an unbiased love for all experiences. This contrast is made against human consciousness, which has preferences and biases necessary for survival. Definition of metaphysical love: Leo offers a technical definition of metaphysical love as the realization of no difference between anything, equating this realization with falling in love with oneself and all reality infinitely. Symmetry of the universe: He theorizes that the universe is perfectly symmetrical and unbiased, questioning why it would prioritize anything, such as particular human actions, at a universal scale. Problems of discussing existence with language: Both Leo and the interviewer, named Curt, acknowledge the challenge of discussing reality with language, as it can degrade or complicate the understanding, referencing Wittgenstein's philosophy on talking about the ineffable. Role of life experiences in awakening: Leo asserts that every life event, good or bad, is necessary for one's realization as God듮his realization encompasses everything one encounters, including mundane or seemingly negative experiences. Precision in language and public dialogue: The conversation transitions into the limits of language and how precise communication is vital to prevent misconceptions and misinterpretations in discussions about complex concepts like love and consciousness. Child's Concept of Energy: Children can be conditioned to associate specific objects, such as ducks, with concepts such as energy through reinforced learning, similar to how society conditions individuals to have selective biases about what or who is appropriate to love. Challenging Cultural Notions of Love: Leo argues against the culturally ingrained biases that determine acceptable objects of love, advocating for a universal application of the term 'love' to everything, mirroring the interconnectedness found in physics where all phenomena are forms of energy. Language's Limitations and Rehabilitation: The limitation of language in conveying complex ideas is discussed, with suggestions of either dismantling language's structure or refining it for greater precision. Leo insists on rehabilitating corrupted words like 'love', 'truth', and 'God' to their purer, more profound meanings. Resistance to 'God' and 'Love' Labels: Leo observes resistance to using terms like 'God' and 'love' and interprets this as an avoidance of a deeper realization that everything is an embodiment of these concepts. He underscores the need to recognize arbitrary biases in love and stresses the importance of connecting these biases with the concept of absolute love. Finite Nature of Hate: Hate, seen as a reaction to aspects of reality, is argued to be finite in nature, contrasting with the infinitude of love. Leo differentiates between relative love, which can include hate, and absolute love, which fully encompasses hate, likening it to the totality of the yin-yang symbol. Free Will as a Duality: Leo addresses the concept of free will as being perceived in opposition to determinism, highlighting nature's tendency to incorporate both aspects of any duality. He distinguishes different answers to the existence of free will based on one's level of consciousness. Infinite Nature of God's Will: At the highest level of consciousness, God is described as an infinite mind with no external restrictions, implying that any limitations are self-imposed through imagination and self-deception. This leads to the notion that limits are illusory, and omnipotence is God's true state. Self-Deception in Limitation: The paradox of omnipotence is discussed, suggesting that God can only experience limitation through an illusory belief in finitude, such as imagining oneself to be a limited human instead of an unlimited entity. This self-deception is essential for God to experience anything less than omnipotence. Concept of Absolute Good: Everything in the universe, even actions that are typically seen as negative or evil, are manifestations of absolute good because they arise from a state of selflessness inherent in the totality of existence. Potential of Omniscience: Leo Gura opens up the possibility for oneself to attain a state of complete knowledge or omniscience, challenging the idea that it is impossible and encouraging an openness to the potential of becoming all-knowing. God Realization After Death: The concept discussed suggests that upon death, an individual's self dissolves into God, achieving unity with the omniscient being. This realization implies a reunification with the absolute essence of all that is. Theory of Everything (TOE) Definition: Gura contends that a true TOE must satisfactorily address not just physical phenomena but also answer the fundamental question of why anything exists at all, encompassing both the physical universe and existence with a capital "U." Exploring Belief Limitations: Gura indicates that a self-fulfilling belief in the impossibility of achieving omniscience during one's lifetime acts as a barrier to the realization of that potential, similar to how preconceived notions can obstruct the discovery of new knowledge like the existence of a platypus. Investment in Truth: Truth-seeking is presented as requiring active engagement and investment, akin to the dedication exemplified in the construction of the Large Hadron Collider to discover the Higgs boson, suggesting that deep truths and profound TOEs are discovered through committed effort, not passive contemplation. Sharing of God's Creativity: The reason for existence according to Leo is rooted in God's creativity, where God, as an infinitely loving and selfless being, creates all possibilities and shares that infinite beauty with finite forms that can later reunify with the infinite source. God's Nature of Love and Creativity: An intricate link is drawn between love, creativity, omnipotence, intelligence, and consciousness. The essence of God is depicted as endless creativity and the act of creating everything conceivable듯nderstood not as an action of love but as the fundamental state of love itself. Reflection of Love in Creation: Casting God's act of creation as an expression of its very nature, Gura suggests that the manifestation of infinite forms is an ultimate act of sharing and a reflection of love, defying anthropomorphized conceptions of God and embracing creativity as intrinsic to the essence of love. Multiverse and Anthropic Principle Critique: The multiverse theory and anthropic principle are critiqued as insufficient explanations for the fine-tuning of the universe's physical laws, with the assertion that the true explanation for existence lies in the creation of everything simultaneously. Creation and destruction dichotomy: Creation and destruction are intrinsically linked, exemplified in ecosystems where life and death support one another in a continuous cycle, refuting the naive dichotomy that creation is solely good and death is inherently bad. Finite Creation: All human-made creations are finite by necessity, delineated by excluding all other possibilities, forming a reality defined by limitations and distinctions. Memory and Consciousness: Just as working memory limits how many thoughts can be simultaneously held, finite creation and imagination are constrained, unable to encompass infinity without transitioning into nothingness or undefined potential. Superposition and Reality: In imagining all possible animals merged into one, a perfect superposition represents infinity or nothingness듯ndefined until distinctions are made, illustrating the paradoxical nature of creation as both defining and limiting reality. Paradoxes in Universal Concepts: Discussing set paradoxes and properties of imagined universes, highlighting issues of considering individual components versus a collective understanding and the elasticity of the concept of reality. Reality as Singular Existence: The exercise illustrates that reality must be a singular entity, as even the notion of separation among multiple realities would itself be part of one encompassing reality, eliminating the distinction between what's real and unreal. Material and Immaterial Boundaries: Challenges the distinction between reality and unreality, suggesting that boundaries are illusory and recognizing all as part of one reality leads to an infinite understanding of existence. Personal Growth and Variability in Psychedelic Experiences: Leo emphasizes his personal commitment to growth and understanding reality, recognizing individual differences in responses to psychedelic substances and their potential influence on consciousness expansion. Existence beyond concepts: Leo challenges the notion that edges of existence are within our reach, proposing that one could theoretically see everything in the universe simultaneously, thereby negating the possibility of unseen or non-existent aspects. Understanding existence: Leo contends that it's possible to fully understand what it means to exist beyond particular forms and that awakening means realizing non-existence as a concept, not a reality. Absolute existence: In Leo's view, existence is absolute, suggesting that concepts of non-existence and beyond infinity are merely thoughts within the infinite framework of consciousness. Qualia as absolute truth: Leo describes the profound nature of existence, inviting contemplation on the immediate experience of one's hands as an example of undeniable truth, untouched by constructs like time, space, or matter. Meditative exercise for realizing consciousness: Leo guides through an exercise aiming to illustrate the immediacy of consciousness and reality, emphasizing the importance of direct experience over intellectual pondering. Infinite consciousness and imagination: Leo discusses the elasticity of infinity, which by its nature, includes all things든ven concepts of what lies beyond it, and concludes that what seems like physical reality is ultimately based on an act of imagination. Donald Hoffman's Interface Theory: Leo critiques Donald Hoffman's Interface Theory, which suggests that human perception does not depict reality truthfully due to natural selection. He argues that Hoffman's theory is flawed because perception itself is the truest form of reality든verything perceived is absolutely real. Scientific Reductionism Criticized: Leo vehemently opposes scientific reductionism, the view that phenomena can be explained by reducing them to their constituent parts. He posits that being is fundamental and cannot be reduced to concepts, which biases scientific inquiry away from direct contact with reality. Qualia as Reality: Leo asserts that qualia, or personal experiences of phenomena, define reality. He disputes the idea of an independent world beyond experience and challenges scientific paradigms that differentiate between qualia and objective reality. Misconception of Representation: He highlights an epistemological issue in how science relies on symbols, which are not the things they represent. This leads to an endless chain of concepts never grasping the tangible essence they aim to describe. Existence of Concepts: Discussing the nature of concepts, Leo suggests that everything, including abstract notions like Santa Claus or quarks, exists at least as a concept but that doesn't infer their material existence. Substance and Concept: He differentiates between the substance of things (reality) and our concepts of them. He emphasizes that concepts, such as atoms or strings, developed after the tangible reality they attempt to describe, indicating a misinterpretation by science of the order of reality. Fallacy of Discovering Quarks: Leo challenges the notion that scientists discover particles like quarks, stating that they merely invent the concept to represent what they believe to be the foundational elements of reality. Qualia Realness Inquiry: Leo confronts materialistic views by asking for evidence of anything existing outside of qualia, thereby arguing that everyday experiences and sensations are as real as they are perceived. Tautology of Experience: He points out the tautology in questioning the reality of experience, indicating that asking for proof beyond personal experience is like requesting an experience that isn't an experience. Realness and Unreality Buttons: Utilizing an analogy of hypothetical buttons that trigger certain experiences or realizations, Leo illustrates the problem of distinguishing between perceptions of reality and unreality, emphasizing the subjective nature of experience. Neuromodulators and Transcendence: Leo discusses how future brain imaging and neurochemistry might interpret transcendent experiences, like God realization, as biological events, and questions the validity of such materialistic reductions. Confusion between concept and reality: Leo points out that while symbols and words, like 'duck,' help us conceptualize reality, they are not reality itself. He criticizes mathematician Max Tegmark's view that the universe is fundamentally mathematical, arguing that while mathematics can describe reality, it is not synonymous with being. Projection of belief onto reality: Leo suggests that people see reality through the lens of their beliefs, much like how a Christian might perceive Christ in everyday objects. He connects this to the idea that an individual's experience of reality, whether atheist, materialist, or spiritual, is unique and deeply influenced by their belief systems. Existence of God as a matter of perspective: Leo argues that for an atheist, God does not exist; however, this is simply what God듪r infinite consciousness들s imagining for that person. He suggests that one's belief about material reality is a temporary state and that experiences, like those induced by psychedelics, can shift these beliefs. Subjectivity and variety in beliefs: Gura discusses the diversity of sincere beliefs held by people throughout history and questions why intelligent individuals, such as Isaac Newton, believed in God. He attributes this not to a lack of intelligence but to the sincerity and depth of their personal reality. Finite conception of free will: Leo views the ego as a finite state of consciousness that believes it controls reality, a necessary illusion for survival. He differentiates 'will,' which exists in humans in limited form, from 'infinite will,' the latter of which he aligns with God and its materials manifestations. Challenge of future prediction: When discussing consciousness at the highest levels, Leo explains that the concepts of a predictable future and material reality dissolve, complicating notions of prediction and verification of truth. Limitations and possibilities of mystical abilities: Leo acknowledges his ongoing exploration of consciousness and considers the potential future development of abilities like clairvoyance, despite not currently claiming them. Trade-off between absolute consciousness and finite details: Gura describes a trade-off when accessing higher states of consciousness, where one gains a view of totality at the expense of losing sight of detailed aspects of the earthly domain. Acknowledgment of personal self-deception: Despite his insights into infinite consciousness, Leo admits to being susceptible to self-deception in the relative, material world and recognizes the need to update his beliefs when proven otherwise. Leo's skepticism and humility: While having strong convictions, Leo expresses skepticism about his worldview, showing a level of humility that humanizes his assertions about consciousness and God. Experience with Paranormal Healing: Leo sought non-traditional healing for his persistent stomach issues, consulting with healers and fortune tellers from a variety of backgrounds. Skepticism and Desperation: Despite his skepticism, health problems led Leo to consult various paranormal practitioners, revealing the impact of desperation on openness to alternative methods. Testing Paranormal Claims: Leo devised a strategy to test the reliability of different healers' insights by comparing their independent diagnoses of his health issue. Inconclusive Results and Self-deception: The conflicting diagnoses from paranormal healers led Leo to a deeper understanding of self-deception and reinforced his skepticism. Discrepancy in Paranormal Healing Experiences: Leo observed that different healers, despite their sincerity, provided dissimilar explanations for his condition, which did not lead to lasting relief. Personal Bubbles of Reality: Leo's worldviews suggest that individuals live within their own subjective reality bubbles, which may intersect but are not entirely aligned with those of others. Relativity of Delusion: Delusional experiences can be real for the person experiencing them, due to the flexible boundary between dreams and physical reality as seen through psychedelic experiences. Skepticism's Limitations: Leo discusses how excessive skepticism can block the acknowledgement of certain experiences or phenomena, such as the ability to read, and equates ultimate skepticism with the ability to doubt any aspect of reality. Denial of consciousness: Gura argues that atheists may be denying their own consciousness by rejecting or hating existence, equating atheism to a denial of oneself as God. Evil's relationship with existence and consciousness: Leo converses about the idea that evil is tied to acts against existence and consciousness, emphasizing that evil is a form of selfishness arising from a lack of consciousness. Understanding evil through consciousness: He asserts that a lower level of consciousness is associated with deriving pleasure from suffering, and uses examples from cruel behavior and political schadenfreude to illustrate different consciousness levels. Political consciousness and bias: Discussing political bias, Leo shares his observation that both sides of the political spectrum can exhibit tribalism, but notes a specific unwillingness by some to acknowledge any positive actions from opposing figures like Trump. Criticism of Sam Harris's 'Moral Landscape': Leo criticizes Harris's concept of objective morality and suggests that relative human concepts of good are tied to egoistic perspectives and can't define what is good for humanity as a whole. Sam Harris's level of awakening: Gura questions the depth of Sam Harris's understanding of no-self and awakening, indicating Harris lacks realization of higher states of consciousness and God-realization. Sam Harris's limited psychedelic experiences: Leo suggests that Harris has not deeply experimented with psychedelics and is restricted by materialistic and intellectual attachments. Ideological entrenchment limiting psychedelic insights: Gura explains how entrenched worldviews can prevent psychedelics from significantly expanding one's consciousness, requiring an open mind and dealing with psychological baggage for deeper realizations. Individual variability in psychedelic experiences: Psychedelic experiences differ greatly among people due to unique psychological baggage, trauma, and personal openness, which can influence the nature and intensity of their trips. Personal anecdote on psychedelic experience: Matthew shares his own encounter with psychedelics, which challenged his understanding of consciousness but not his atheism, and contrasts this with a friend who had no profound insights even at higher doses, highlighting the role of one's mindset and openness in determining the impact of psychedelics. Impact of philosophical curiosity: Leo emphasizes that an individual's interest in understanding existence profoundly influences their responses to psychedelics; those genuinely curious about metaphysical topics may have more significant revelations than those who are indifferent. Diverse responses to psychedelics: People react differently to the same doses of psychedelics due to varying physiological sensitivities. Leo notes personal sensitivity and how some individuals can handle larger doses without significant effects. Different aims with psychedelics: While some people are mainly interested in visual effects, Leo seeks insights and understanding, explaining that even low doses can lead him to experiences of infinite consciousness, sometimes with overwhelming bliss. Guidance for avoiding negative trip outcomes: Leo advises cautious dosing and respect for psychedelics. He criticizes the notion of "heroic doses," noting that overconfidence can lead to adverse effects, including egotistical rebound post-trip. Mental stability and personal history: Leo attributes his psychological resilience to a relatively positive upbringing, advising those with challenging pasts or mental health issues to be careful with psychedelics and to lay a foundational self-help groundwork first. Nuanced views on God realization and awakening: Leo distinguishes between accessing infinite truth and fully embodying it, admitting his own ongoing work in integrating the absolute with the relative and that spiritual teachers can have personal flaws despite deep insights. Insecurities and authenticity: Despite projecting wisdom, Leo acknowledges his own egoic tendencies and the complexities of living up to spiritual insights, indicating that genuine self-reflection and vulnerability are part of his journey. Self-improvement and accessing truth: Accessing infinite truth doesn't automatically resolve personal issues like addictions or conflicts; the mind's structure with its attachments, biases, and beliefs remains largely intact. Deconstruction of the mind continues even after accessing infinity. Attachment and life goals: Whether to eliminate attachment hinges on individual life goals. Removing attachments can increase one's capacity for love, as love is characterized by a lack of bias and attachment inherently introduces suffering. Impermanence and suffering: All attachments are temporary due to the principle of impermanence, which states that all forms in the universe cannot remain constant. Attachment to any form, tangible or conceptual, guarantees future loss and subsequent suffering. Attachment weighing happiness against suffering: While attachments may bring happiness, they also ensure future suffering when they end. This is likened to taking a loan of happiness that must be paid back with suffering when the attachment is lost. Thomas Campbell's astral perspective: Leo aligns with Campbell on the idea that consciousness and love are fundamental but disputes Campbell's view on the finite nature of reality and the idea that time and units of reality are fundamental. Learning from Campbell's dream analysis: Leo appreciates Campbell's insights on how recurring dreams can reveal unresolved traumas and psychic baggage and can be used for self-therapy to integrate these lessons and cease recurring dreams. Bernardo Kastrup's agreement and critique: Leo concurs with Kastrup's arguments against materialism but contends that Kastrup hasn't fully realized that he is God imagining all existence. Kastrup's rejection of solipsism and his concept of a dissociative boundary between consciousnesses are areas of discord. Understanding Infinity through division: Reality is viewed as capable of infinite division, with no foundational unit. Infinity allows for continuous fractal division, debunking the notion of a limit within reality such as the Planck length. Attachment to ideas and beliefs: Even being attached to seemingly positive ideas, like the concept of God, can lead to suffering due to the impermanent nature of all attachments and forms. Infinite probe of consciousness: Consciousness is not limited by conceptual structures like the Planck length; it has the potential to delve infinitely within or beyond, exploring realms beyond current scientific understanding. Divergence from Frank Yang: Leo is familiar with Frank Yang but has limited knowledge of his worldview. He acknowledges Yang's critique of psychedelics and preference for enlightenment through meditation, notably the Buddhist concept of cessation. Cessation and temporality: The state of cessation is described as the universe ceasing to exist, then rebooting드n atemporal state adjacent to our temporal reality. Leo views this abrupt transition akin to a computer restart, bridging eternity and the observable world. Equality of conscious states: Leo does not single out cessation as a superior state, considering all states of consciousness equal듡orm, formlessness, or cessation. Reintegrating form and formlessness: The spiritual path typically progresses from realizing no-self to formlessness, and eventually to recognizing form as nothingness. True non-duality emerges when all states, including the material, are seen as manifestations of the absolute. Dogmatism in non-dualist communities: Leo observes a tendency among early non-dualist students to recite beliefs about non-duality and infinity as truths, possibly fooling themselves about the extent of their awakening due to the radical nature of initial realizations. Spiritual defensiveness and compassion: Commenting on the spiritual community's defensive stance towards science, Leo admits his own past lack of compassion towards figures like Richard Dawkins, recognizing now that all opposition stems from ignorance. Awakening's selectivity and attachments: Leo stresses that awakening is radical and not suitable for everyone. He suggests not trying to force it upon unwilling individuals and emphasizes managing attachments responsibly rather than completely detaching. Persona adoption in spiritual communities: Leo notes an affected happiness among some followers in the spiritual community, potentially signifying inauthentic behavior. He admits to enhancing excitement in his videos for engagement but questions whether he should credit his audience with greater understanding of complex topics. Cessation visualization: Leo imagines cessation as a nonsequential reemergence of consciousness rather than a gradual return, accentuating the dissonance between atemporal and temporal states and their inexplicable coexistence. Conceptual non-duality vs. actual experiences of awakening: Leo differentiates between intellectually accepted ideas of non-duality and the actual expansive experiences of awakening, noting that each state of consciousness, including cessation, is equally an expression of the absolute. Perceived dogmatism in the pursuit of inner peace: Leo addresses apparent dogmatic repetition within non-dualist communities, recognizing it as potentially misleading and a form of self-deception. Authenticity and truth realizations: Despite noting superficiality in some spiritual practitioners, Leo champions true non-dual teachers for their authenticity, which he attributes to their pursuit of truth. Assumptions about the audience's intelligence: Leo sometimes underestimates his audience's intelligence, assuming they won't grasp complex ideas. He acknowledges this may not give them enough credit for their understanding. Steel manning vs. straw man arguments: While Leo tries to make debates humorous by considering absurd objections, he believes he could benefit from taking a more rigorous steel man approach to strengthen his arguments rather than ridiculing counterpoints. Precision in pursuit of truth: Emphasizes precision and stretching analogies to their limits as means to gain insight and understands truth, suggesting traditional media may underestimate the audience's capacity to grasp complex concepts. Free will and God's identity: Leo engages with a complex dialogue about free will and identity with God, discussing how finite minds grapple with infinite concepts, leading to paradoxes and the eventual realization that one is fully divine. Realization of God's nature: Leo's personal journey reflects a gradual realization from recognizing God as external, to questioning God's nature, to ultimately recognizing oneself as God, which comes with immense humility and selflessness. Understanding God as infinite love: The realization of God's true identity as an act of infinite love is described as transformative and life-changing, leading to the understanding of why everything exists as it does. Acceptance of ultimate reality: Leo shares the view that recognizing oneself as God results in the understanding that the physical universe would cease to exist from his perspective because all perspectives are ultimately imagined within one's own consciousness. Problem of solipsism in understanding unity: Solipsism is critiqued as not being radical enough; the ultimate truth is realizing a unique type of unity where one is not alone because of separateness but because everything merges into a singular consciousness. Finality of realizing ultimate truth: God realization is so intense that if fully accepted, it would mean the dissolution of the universe, highlighting the notion that true awareness can obliterate finite constructs. Discussion on finite perspectives: A conversation unfolds about the seeming paradox of other perspectives ending if one individual reaches the ultimate realization of God, leading to the idea that, at the highest level of understanding, no other separate perspectives actually exist. Convergence of Conscious Perspectives: As consciousness rises, distinctions between selves, objects, and concepts dissolve, leading to a convergence or "coning" effect where all become one. This realization of oneness is likened to the deepest physical and emotional fusion between beings, transcending individuality into eternal, undifferentiated unity. Definition of God Realization: Leo defines God realization as a state beyond simply experiencing nothingness or physical objects; it is conscious self-creation, where individuals are aware they are imaginatively composing all of reality, including their own bodies. This state transcends all limitations, constantly self-creates, and embodies infinite creativity, and is appropriately termed "God." Critique of Spiral Dynamics: Leo critiques the hierarchical nature of spiral dynamics, suggesting it fails to represent the highest states of consciousness where hierarchies become meaningless, and direct experience does not rely on ranked stages or development directions. Impermanence Paradox: Addressing the paradox of permanence in impermanence, Leo states that at basic levels of consciousness, impermanence is evident, but at the highest levels, one might view everything, including love, as eternally existing, eluding the notion of impermanence. Free Will as a Fragment of Divine Will: He argues free will is inherited from God's self-determined nature, allowing humans to create and influence their world in a finite manner, experiencing the divine act of creation to various degrees. God as Creator and Destroyer: Both creation and destruction are integral aspects of God, yet intuitively, God is more akin to a creator, even though destruction is necessary for new creation. Life's intention is framed as facilitating more life rather than death, with life perpetually supported by death in a never-ending cycle. Intentions and Perceived Good: Every action, even seemingly negative ones, is considered good, with figures like Hitler believing they were doing the greatest good from their perspective. Leo elaborates on how lower states of consciousness can corrupt the perception of what is good, while higher states embrace a purer, selfless understanding. Hate as Distorted Love: The concept of hate is discussed as a manifestation of insufficient love, with individuals expressing hate as a means to cope with their own lack of love and striving to eliminate what they perceive as evil, which ironically can create more evil. Audience Participation and App Introduction: Audience questions are anticipated and Matthew introduces the Transcend app, emphasizing the uniqueness in purpose compared to common social platforms, prioritizing privacy and meaningful interaction over superficial connectivity. Twisted nature of hate: Hate is a contorted form of love that stems from loving something else in opposition to the thing one hates, as was the case with Hitler hating Jews due to his intense love for the purity of Germany. Hatred as a response to insufficient love: People become hateful primarily because they were denied proper love, often leading them to reject love towards others out of a sense of deprivation or as a reactionary mechanism. Origins of evil and division: The original act of partitioning infinite love, which could be seen as the first form of evil, occurred when God divided itself to share love with others, making any finite form inherently less than everything. Removal of moral judgment and free will: In Leo's model, moral judgment is removed. Without free will, there's no basis for worst or evil since everything, even divisions, is part of absolute perfection as expressions of infinite love or perfection. Concept of Absolute Good: Gura suggests that everyone acts from a stance of absolute good; when fully awakened, one perceives everything and everyone as fundamentally good, challenging conventional definitions of good and evil. Logic's limitations in reaching the Absolute: Logic, being finite, cannot arrive at an absolute understanding; it's only applicable after directly experiencing the absolute, which is beyond logic's capabilities. Matthew Phillips and the Transcend app: Matthew Phillips introduces the Transcend app, inspired by his life experiences and near-death realization about the importance of legacy. The app is designed to document and pass on one's personal legacy and preserves users' privacy and data ownership with insight prompts to encourage meaningful entries. Origins of Transcend: The idea for the Transcend app was inspired by Leo Gura's approach to sharing wisdom through videos, contemplating how to document important life lessons. Documenting Personal Legacy: Transcend is designed as a private platform for individuals to document and pass on their personal experiences, beliefs, and wisdom, contrasting with the transient and public nature of traditional social media. Privacy and Data Ownership: A key feature of Transcend is its commitment to user privacy. It operates on a subscription model, ensuring users have full ownership of their data, with the app serving as a secure repository for a personal legacy. Transcend's User Experience: Users are guided to annotate their content, explaining its significance and setting permissions for who can access it. The app currently focuses on intuitive use but plans to evolve into immersive and interactive experiences. Intelligence and Personal Relevance of Content: Transcend differentiates itself by prioritizing the quality and personal relevance of content over traditional metadata used by other platforms, aiming to present memories and moments to the right person at the right time. Tools for Connection: The app includes prompts and tools designed to facilitate deeper connections and meaningful interactions between users and their loved ones, adapting to various situations and relationships. Furnunculus
  13. I see a realm of purple blue and red light. I was moving my body but I couldnt see my body. When I moved my arms and legs I could see I was moving them cause it looked like a blanket and my legs and arms looked like they were under a blanket. I was walking around fazing in and out of this dimension. It was like rows of waving purple blue and red. And I went to another one right after it was like the background came into the foreground and reality was just 2 dimension. I lost all contact with my body and I was just watching. It was yellow and reality crystallized and then it looked like a mayan board game. I was doing things on the game but I have no idea what was happening. It felt like a video game that an ai was playing. And another was like reality was a 1 dimensional cube and it was purple. it was like an infinite string of rooms that just moved left to right. I saw an alien doctor and the alien doctor started a machine that felt like it was mind wiping me.
  14. Ok, this one is just an exaggeration of something more subtle and nuanced that anyone can see in our everyday lifes. The tendency to rush,rush,rush, get out of my way!! Many times when there in no need of rush at all. This post will not stop people with their Fast Cars to be impatient with the people with their slow microcars. This behavior is for me is just a physical representation of the lack of respect for the diferences of life choices people have the rigth to have. the rigth to chosse your own pace. If I, for whatsoever reason was able to have a fast car, this is my life choice, so I need to be aware that the world will not and dont need to adapt to my speed, driver licences are supposed to be given to mature adults who know the world is diverse. Anyway, I using the road just as a metaphor here. This apply not only to the road but to respecting different levels of development among people, children, elders and all. For example ,there some sort of information that if is delivered for a child that is able to disrupt and even affect negatively the normal development of her normal cognitive growth. In our urge to rush we may forget that we share this planet with other peoples that are not able to follow up with our rushness, animals that have their own evolutionary rhythm. For the ones who watched the Tv Series Star Trek, may rememeber the "Prime Directive also known as "Starfleet General Order1"non-interference directive" is a guiding principle of Starfleet that prohibits its members from interfering with the natural development of alien civilizations. Its stated aim is to protect unprepared civilizations from the danger of starship crews introducing advanced technology, knowledge, and values before they are ready. interfering is impossible in this interwoven universe we are participating, so the only way is to do it with care and consideration, with respect with those that are not to fast dealing with the fast change. No need to rush, we all know our destination, do we want to get there faster than others? Thougths?
  15. I like Bashar and Daryl Anka and some of his teachings. Don't know about the permission slips though what are we back in high school? And why would a so-called hybrid human-alien from another parallel Earth in the future need to teach the likes of Abraham- hicks?
  16. In was drinking in the waters of Formscapes these days, combining with reading a book of Thomas S.Kuhn called ", Incommensurability in Science and reflecting in two concepts of Rudolf Steiner " Ahriman spirit" and "Luciferian spirit" the first is a tendency to materialism,physical explanations and the second is the sort of vibe you get in a hippie community where everything is spiritual and there is no grounding, is all about estatic and satisfaction of senses. The Christ or Christ-Consciouness is the balance way or the middle path where you can connect science and the ordinary life. For me is always a question of not going to extremes. Our nature have a sort of duality, one part connected with primitive animality and the other connected with cosmos,stars etc.. Infinity.. Some say that this duality is because we have Alien DNA, Annunakis,Nephilins gave us our physical body using the Apes from.this earth to geneticaly creating us as slaves for gold mining and our essence came from more advanced beings of ligth. So this would be the reason we have tendencies of colonialism,domination, slave others and war, and our angelic tendencies come from dimentions higher than our materiality. Well, unless one have direct exeperiences of this is useless to carry this stuff, but the questions still keep in my mind " Why there are very ancient abandoned mines around the world? Why Apes had suddenly a desire to dig for minerals like gold,copper,iron etc.. and how came they know how to combine this metals? There is some bit of truth in all this Gilgamesh Epic and old Myths? We think was ways of explaning natural phenomena. But what if this shit was actually historical descriptions? We are vla very strange kind of Ape anyway.
  17. What It's Like To Smoke Salvia Divinorum https://www.actualized.org/insights/what-its-like-to-smoke-salvia Preparation and disclaimer for salvia use: With extensive personal experience in psychedelics, Leo tried a small dose of salvia divinorum, emphasizing the disorienting potency and danger of the substance. Salvia can completely replace one's sense of reality with another, triggering dangerous reactions without any recollection of taking a drug. Leo insists on the importance of a trip sitter and advises against use by inexperienced individuals or without supervision due to the potential for harm. Unique dissociative effects of salvia: Unlike other psychedelics that may result in ego death while retaining some biographical memory, salvia can disrupt the entire stream of consciousness, leading to a complete loss of identity and context. Leo's left side of the visual field and cognitive perception became consumed by what he describes as a "roiling infinity," an experience of pure infinite potential that was highly dissociative and unfamiliar when compared to other psychedelic experiences like 5-MeO-DMT 'God Mode'. Dangers of loss of self and reality: The visual and self-perception effects induced by salvia triggered a sense of panic and terror in Leo, who managed to remain relatively grounded thanks to an unaffected right side. This asymmetric impact on consciousness raised concerns about the potential for complete detachment from reality and the need for careful monitoring during the experience. Depth of psychedelic experiences: Salvia unveiled an even deeper layer of consciousness that traditional psychedelics hadn't reached, opening a new, alien and strange dimension that extends beyond the more predictable experiences of other substances. Multiple uses of salvia highlighted how each trip can uniquely affect consciousness in unpredictable ways. Ego loss and memory: Beyond the transformation of the concept of death, salvia experiences led to a deeper understanding of ego loss-challenging the idea of being selfless. A complete loss of self would mean not even knowing basic biographical information, a state that could potentially disorient even those who are spiritually advanced and are supposedly beyond ego. Misconceptions about mental health: Leo's trips deepened his empathy for mental health challenges. He discusses how easily the brain can tip into a state of disorder, debunking the dismissive attitudes towards mental illness and urging greater compassion and understanding. Complexity of consciousness work: Spiritual practice is misrepresented as a linear journey by many teachers. They often lack comprehension of the multi-dimensional aspects of the journey, which can include experiences misinterpreted as mental disorders. Salvia experiences reinforce the view that spiritual work has far more dimensions than commonly portrayed. Human dependency on a stable consciousness: The stability of consciousness is vital for everyday human function and survival. The difficulty in transcending this stability underscores both its necessity for living and the challenges of achieving spiritual awakening. The rigid nature of consciousness is both a constraint and a life-preserving mechanism. Reliance on Consistent Consciousness: Our survival deeply depends on a stable consciousness and a consistent sense of self and memory. Losing these can disconnect us from reality with dangerous consequences; it underlines the paradox of survival and awakening where one cannot simply forsake survival to achieve an awakened state. Approach to Psychedelic Experimentation: A cautious and respectful approach is highlighted for exploring psychedelics like salvia. Initial small doses are recommended to gauge sensitivity; a breakthrough dose could result in completely leaving material reality, which may be traumatic and lead to a rejection of future psychedelic use. Individual Sensitivity Variations: Sensitivity to psychedelics significantly varies across individuals, making it crucial to personalize dosages through trial and experience. Leo acknowledges being particularly sensitive, experiencing profound effects at lower doses than an average person. Potential Realities Induced by Salvia: Salvia can induce experiences that are completely detached from recognizable reality, transforming a person's sense of identity into inanimate or conceptual entities, such as becoming 'one' with a Ferris wheel, or entering chaotic and nonsensical dimensions. Caution and Respect for Psychedelics: Treating psychedelics with the same caution as handling dangerous tools is advised, given their potential to radically alter consciousness. Careful research and the use of a trip sitter are emphasized to mitigate the risks associated with psychedelic experiences. Recommendation Against Casual Use of Salvia: The intense and unpredictable nature of salvia is stressed, with a discouragement from its use for most people. It is suggested that salvia is more suited to highly experienced psychonauts and even then, only with the presence of a trip sitter and a high degree of caution. Crucio
  18. Rethinking Human History https://www.actualized.org/insights/rethinking-human-history Three generational framework of humanity: At any point in human history, only three generations are contemporaneously alive: the youth, middle-aged, and the elderly. The youngest (0-25 years) are often uninformed or misinformed, heavily influenced by the middle-aged (25-55 years), who hold most societal control and experience, while the eldest generation (60+ years) contains individuals who, despite sometimes possessing significant influence, are generally seen as the outgoing generation whose role in society is diminishing. Epistemic implications of generational limits: The limited generational overlap has profound implications on our collective knowledge. No living person today has experienced life without modern amenities like electricity, leading to a generational disconnection that impacts our understanding of past human experiences. Consequently, this contributes to a history that is often simplified or whitewashed, failing to convey the struggle of survival in eras gone by. Impact of technology on historical understanding: Advancements in technology create a chasm between generations. For instance, the current generation cannot fully grasp a pre-internet era, similar to how we can't imagine life without cars or modern conveniences. This evolution can lead to a loss of historical understanding and appreciation, with modern life's complexities taken for granted due to the rapid changes in technology and society. Impact of environment on worldviews: Our worldview is heavily tied to our environment and survival within it. The historical context of our ancestors, defined by manual labor and simple tools, shaped their perspectives and lives significantly. Today's world, filled with advanced technology and global connectivity, leads to fundamentally different life experiences and worldviews. Generational relay of reality: Individuals are born into an existing narrative about reality, learning about life from previous generations. This relay of information shapes our sense of self and understanding of our place in time. If this narrative were absent, individuals would face existential crises due to uncertainties about existence and purpose. Bias in historical education: The history conveyed in educational systems is inherently biased, focusing on nationalistic narratives over a global understanding. Even with the things we are taught, the full breadth of human history is often left unexplored, leaving us with a skewed sense of the past that influences our current worldview and knowledge. Resistance to change in history: Throughout history, resistance to change has been a constant, with innovations often met with suspicion or outright opposition. Over time, radical ideas that were initially resisted became integral parts of society, illustrating the importance of reexamining resistance in the context of progressive change. Increased comfort and conformity: With technological advancements making life more convenient, there's a tendency to believe that our current understanding of society and reality has reached its peak. This comfort leads to conformity and impedes the exploration of alternate societal structures and ways of living that could be more adaptable to future changes. Science as a narrative: Science, though often considered as factual, serves the same narrative function as religion in providing stories to understand our existence. These narratives simplify the complexity of reality into understandable chunks, which are embraced and rarely questioned, much like religious texts. Limitations of historical perspective: Our limited access to the perspectives of past generations confines our worldview, preventing us from fully appreciating the breadth of human experience. The lack of interaction with generations long gone and the inability to dialogue with non-human entities means that mankind's perception of reality is constrained to the brief overlap between three living generations. Influence of upbringing on personal worldview: The environment in which we are raised and the historical context provided by our parents profoundly influence our belief system, morality, and sense of self. For example, ideas that seem alien in one era, such as the wrongness of slavery, could be considered absolute truths in another, just as today's concepts might be unthinkably radical in the distant past. Personal history as the foundation for understanding: Individuals are born into an unknown world and rely on their immediate predecessors to shape their conception of reality. Generations inherit and pass on their understanding of the world, and without this continuum, people might find themselves in an existential crisis due to lack of historical context. Educational bias and its relation to personal identity: The narratives we learn in school are heavily influenced by cultural and national bias, significantly affecting our worldview and identity. The limited scope of history taught reflects the selective priorities of each society, often neglecting the broader historical context that could offer a more diverse and realistic perspective. Fragility and bias of human culture and knowledge: Our collective knowledge and culture consist of stories from just three generations, subjectively shaped by each era's dominant forces. This narrative-driven understanding of history and reality reveals the precarious and biased nature of what we accept as truth. Historical gaps in religious understanding: Despite Christianity being a significant part of many people's lives, there is a general failure to recognize that human history extends far back beyond the last 2000 years of Christian teachings. This oversight ignores the fact that humans existed and thrived for hundreds of thousands of years without organized religions like Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, or Hinduism, all of which are modern constructs in the grand timeline of humanity. Science as a constructed narrative: Just as religion provided stories for understanding the world, modern science similarly offers narratives that structure our reality-stories about atoms, molecules, cells, and galaxies-yet remains a constructed story. These scientific explanations are essentially contemporary myths that fill in the gaps in our understanding, much like the genealogies in religious texts, giving a false impression of continuity and comprehensive understanding. Temporal perspective and materialism: Materialism, the belief that only physical matter is real, is relatively new and does not reflect the diversity of philosophical perspectives throughout history. The limited generational span of human life means that we're unable to appreciate the depth of past philosophical thought, with materialism being a current "fad" rather than enduring truth, demonstrating that our grasp of reality is shaped by the fads and ideas prevalent in the short-lived generations we can interact with. Relativity of normalcy and implications on worldview: What is considered "normal" is entirely relative to the era and environment someone is born into. The lack of a true baseline for normalcy leads to a highly adaptable sense of reality that is easily molded by those in control of the narrative, as illustrated by the thought experiment of raising a child in isolation with manipulated information-it highlights the profound impact environment and narrative control have on an individual's perception of reality. Ignorance reinforced by generational transmission: The pervasive nature of ignorance can be attributed to the fact that a majority of what individuals know is passed down without questioning. This uninhibited transfer includes all aspects of knowledge, such as science, religion, culture, and societal norms, underlining the fact that control over this process is an illusion, with each generation simply perpetuating the programming received from previous ones stretching back millennia. No single origin of human knowledge: The vast chain of human evolution spans millions of years beyond the mythological Adam and Eve, implicating that our collected knowledge and existence began long before recorded history. The narrative of reality as we understand it is not the work of a single entity but an accumulation of generational transfer of beliefs and conjectures. Ubiquitous ignorance and unverified beliefs: Individuals, including experts, philosophers, and religious leaders, are engulfed in the same narratives and beliefs as everyone else. Consequently, they can't provide definitive answers about reality-they only believe they understand based on the inherited worldviews, which explains the defensive posture when their beliefs are questioned. Resistance to inquiry stems from fear: Those who discourage questioning often project their own insecurities and reliance on established systems for survival. For example, challenging a parent's employment ethics can threaten their livelihood and stability, illustrating how survival pressures enforce conformity and acceptance of the status quo. Worldview and epistemology beyond science: While scientific knowledge advances, it does not encompass the entirety of reality understanding. Worldview, ethics, morality, and even societal attractions and repulsions are subject to change and require critical examination beyond what traditional scientific inquiry addresses. Irrecoverable historical wisdom and invention: Countless ideas, insights, and inventions throughout history have been completely lost or suppressed due to lack of adoption, destruction, or obfuscation. Past thinkers potentially had profound knowledge that never survived through the ages, suggesting that modern humanity may not be at the peak of wisdom or knowledge. Cultural and societal indoctrination limits future visioning: The societal emphasis on fitting in and conforming squanders the potential for radical reimagining of future societies. By transcending past and present preconceptions, humans can brainstorm entirely new social structures that could redefine work, relationships, governance, and existence itself. Inherent bias in perceptions of history: Our understanding of ancient structures or historical figures is often clouded by modern biases and ideologies. For example, archaeologists may misinterpret the pyramids' purpose through a materialistic lens or Christians may misrepresent Jesus to align with contemporary political beliefs instead of historical contexts. Optimistic challenge to traditional education and conformity: Embracing flexibility and creativity in thinking about the future requires questioning deeply ingrained societal norms shaped by traditional education. By contemplating past human existence, we can prepare to construct envisioned futures unconstrained by current practices and beliefs. Deconstruction of societal norms: Beyond personal self-inquiry, Leo emphasizes the need to deconstruct and critically examine societal structures, political systems, and cultural norms. With the rapid advancement of technology, the environment, and consequently, survival strategies are changing, requiring a departure from traditional ideas and increased flexibility and adaptability in all aspects of society. The inevitable evolution of societal structures: Leo points out that societal progress often hinges upon the generational shift, with older, more traditional generations passing away and making room for new perspectives. He uses the example of resistance to universal healthcare in the U.S. to illustrate the conflict between ingrained habits and the need for change, challenging the tendency to cling to tradition and emphasizing the necessity of radical flexibility. Lack of overarching control in historical progression: Dispelling notions of a controlling elite, Leo argues that humanity's progression is marked by collective ignorance; no single group masters the direction of societal development. Even conspiracies cannot grasp the full trajectory of human evolution, which might lead to a future where humanity is vastly different from its current state. Thought experiment on temporal dislocation: Leo presents a thought experiment where Socrates is brought into modern New York City, then returned to ancient Athens, illustrating the dissonance between historical periods and the challenges of integrating radically different realities, thereby highlighting how past, present, and future may be unimaginably distinct and unrecognizable from each other's viewpoints. Dissendium
  19. What It Means To Go Meta https://youtu.be/Egjw71k10Rc Explaining the Meta Concept: Leo introduces the concept of going meta as a recurring theme essential for deeply understanding life, science, religion, spirituality, and personal development. He recognizes that even though the term 'meta' is popularly used, its profound implications are often not fully grasped by those who should ideally understand it, including scientists and programmers. Dictionary Definition of Meta: The Merriam-Webster dictionary's definition of meta includes notions of self-awareness, self-reference, and transcending or being situated beyond. Leo highlights these aspects as deeply ingrained in the fabric of reality, with significance not fully acknowledged by science and philosophy. Image 1 Characteristics of Going Meta: Going meta involves stepping outside, zooming out, or transcending a situation, leading to self-awareness and reflection. This requires a conscious effort to observe oneself while engaged in an activity, like recognizing the use of language during communication, and unearthing a deeper understanding of otherwise mundane actions. Breaking the Fourth Wall Example: Leo uses cinema's fourth wall concept to describe meta, where characters become aware they're part of a fictional world and directly address the audience, illustrating self-awareness that transcends the movie's frame. Meta as Higher Level Abstraction: To illustrate going one level up in abstraction, Leo imagines a video game character like Super Mario gaining self-awareness and discussing his existence with the player. This example serves to demonstrate the transformative power of going meta, likening it to the discovery of a new dimension in reality. Misconceptions and Ignorance: Leo emphasizes that most people, including professionals in scientific fields, fail to realize the power of going meta. They remain confined to single dimensions of thought, which limits their ability to solve existential problems and understand the enigma of life. Examples of Going Meta in Art and Communication: He provides examples like René Magritte's painting "The Treachery of Images" and the concept of email and physical mail metadata. By highlighting how explicit and implicit information coexist, Leo suggests that unraveling reality's subtleties is key to mastering various domains. Image 2 Implicit Reality Elements: Leo notes the importance of recognizing the implicit elements in reality, which are often overshadowed by the explicit. The ability to read those elements is essential for mastering diverse disciplines like business, philosophy, and spirituality. Significance of Meta Understanding: Leo's introduction sets up the significance of the meta concept, laying the groundwork for discussing its applications in various fields and the limitations people face in comprehending and utilizing its potential for profound insights into reality. Cultural Bias in Science: There's an assumption in science that truth should be explicit; implicit knowledge is undervalued. This paradigm is challenged by Kurt Gödel's incompleteness theorem and the inherent limitations of explicit knowledge. Video Game Meta Elements: Elements like HUDs, score points, and cheat codes represent meta aspects within video games, offering players god-like abilities and reflecting on the nature of the game itself. Significance of Cheat Codes: Cheat codes in video games symbolize the power of meta knowledge, allowing characters to transcend the pre-programmed rules of their world with seemingly magical abilities. Computer Hacking as Meta Thinking: Black hat hackers engage in meta thinking by exploiting code loopholes, revealing a continual battle between maintaining software integrity and the hacker's ability to subvert it. Self-Referential Humor: Meta humor, or humor about humor, works by acknowledging a joke's failure, transforming the original, unfunny joke into a successful meta joke about the situation. Lucid Dreaming: Lucid dreaming, recognizing you're dreaming within a dream, allows individuals to consciously manipulate their dreams, showcasing meta-awareness as a form of power. Meta Learning: Learning how to learn—meta learning—enhances the ability to acquire knowledge by reflecting on the learning process itself, forming a key component of being an effective learner. Influence of Language: Language shapes thoughts and worldviews. Paying attention to language usage can reveal deep interconnections, influencing what is considered reality. Limitations of Language: Language simultaneously empowers and limits our understanding of the world through the distinctions and biases it introduces. Multiplicity of Linguistic Frameworks: Exploring various languages, including the possibility of alien languages, can significantly expand one's perception of reality. Meta Science: Traditional science operates without questioning its own assumptions or methods. Meta science involves a deep examination of science itself, its foundations, and its validity. Complexity of Reality in Science: Reality is infinitely complex, and scientists must transcend their own frameworks and embrace meta-level thinking to understand its endless layers. Meta Approaches in Political Debates: Rather than focusing on content-level disagreements, going meta in political debates entails recognizing underlying biases and ego-driven defenses, opening the door to higher-level understanding and resolution. Recognition of Biases in Debate: Acknowledging personal biases and the influence of upbringing on one's views allows for higher-level reflection within and beyond political discussions. Power of Going Meta in Debates: Acknowledging both your own and your opponent's biases and survival agendas during an argument can collapse the entire confrontational dynamic, illustrating how going meta can resolve what seem like irresolvable issues in political debates and beyond. Meta Moves in Wars and Relationships: Encourages questioning the fundamental causes of wars and interpersonal conflicts, advocating for meta-level solutions that transcend ingrained patterns of engagement in favor of higher-dimensional approaches to peace and harmony. Meta Perspective on Religion: Experiencing a shift from viewing one's inherited religion as the singular correct perspective to recognizing it as only one among many, realizing all are subject to similar biases and recognizing their own religious upbringing as an attachment. Creating and Stopping Fights with Meta Awareness: In the midst of an argument, becoming self-aware of one’s role in perpetuating the conflict. This meta awareness can halt the escalation and open the opportunity to engage at a more constructive level. Meta Chess as a Concept: Illustrates a variation of chess where each move allows a player to alter the rules of the game, introducing a meta-level strategy that impacts the progress and outcome in unforeseen ways. Meta in Art, Movies, and Meetings: Discusses various forms of meta in creative expression and organizational structures, such as art that critiques or changes art forms, movies and TV shows that self-reference, and meetings about improving meeting structures. Meta Analysis in Research: Describes a meta-analysis as a study that synthesizes the data from multiple studies on a topic, potentially providing more powerful insights than any individual study. Worldview Exploration and Meta Worldview: Urges exploring and understanding multiple worldviews without attachment, and introduces the concept of a meta worldview — a higher perspective on all worldviews that examines their relative truths. Rewards and Challenges of Going Meta: Emphasizes the significant benefits of adopting a meta perspective but acknowledges the emotional labor and difficulty in doing so due to our tendency to become attached to specific frames of reference. Meta Debate on Valid Arguments: Points out the circularity and groundlessness that can occur in debates on what constitutes a valid argument, highlighting the importance of examining the basis of the logics used in arguments. Meta in Various Domains: Provides examples of going meta in different domains like writing, gaming, forums, humor, and television, illustrating how the concept can be applied across diverse areas of human activity. Intrinsic effectiveness of pickup principles: When pickup principles are deeply internalized, they become honest signals of attractiveness, and they can still attract a woman even when you explicitly describe them during the pickup process. Confidence and authenticity in attraction: Attraction is not about tricks or deception. Women are attracted to men who are confident, authentic, and upfront about their intentions, even to the point of owning being a "player." Story of attracting a copywriter: Leo shares an anecdote about attracting a woman who worked as a copywriter for Tony Robbins, using honesty about his knowledge of pickup techniques and building a deep connection over shared interests in personal development and self-help. The meta approach in pickup: Leo describes how being meta by openly discussing his pickup techniques as he used them on the woman made her more attracted to him, because it displayed confidence, the ability to hold his frame, and a sense of humor. Logistical challenges and principles in pickup: Leo recounts a specific instance where he could have physically escalated the interaction with the woman but didn't due to his principle of not spending money, highlighting the practical logistics involved in pickup and the potential downside of sticking rigidly to personal rules. Implicit communication as key to attraction: The main takeaway is that verbal content is less important than the implicit, honest signals such as displaying masculine authenticity, confidence, humor, and detachment from the outcome. Meta authenticity and self-disclosure: Being open about uncertainties and negative aspects of oneself can be very effective because it sub-communicates honesty and confidence. Deception and self-deception: Deception often has a meta aspect; successful deceivers not only lie to others but also deny to themselves that they're lying, creating layers of self-deception. Selfishness and its meta recognition: Accusing someone else of selfishness often reveals the accuser's own selfishness. Resolving this involves recognizing the multi-layered nature of the accusation and one's own selfishness. Meta lying and the complexity of deception: Understanding and escaping self-deception and denial requires recognizing the multiple levels at which one can deceive oneself and deny the truth. The nature of selfishness and nirvana: Leo points out that one's aversion to selfishness in others is a reflection of selfishness within oneself. True selflessness or the path to nirvana requires internal eradication of selfishness, as it is the individual's own selfishness that bothers them, not others. Neti Neti method of self-inquiry: The method involves transcending identification with physicality through meta cognition, continuously negating all material identifications (such as "I am not the body" statements) until one achieves spiritual awakening. Zen analogy of the finger pointing to the moon: This classic Zen teaching demonstrates a meta understanding; it's not the finger but the moon that is the point of focus, symbolizing the need to look beyond the obvious or literal for true comprehension. Applicability of meta concepts across disciplines: Leo underscores the wide applicability of meta concepts. From metaphysics and meta-science to metapolitics and metalogic, each field can incorporate a meta perspective, which involves examining and transcending its foundational aspects. Infinite nature of logic and reality: Explaining that logic requires a meta level of examination, Leo says logicians have found that there's an infinite number of logical systems and each requires a meta logic for grounding, mirroring reality’s groundless nature. Meta philosophy: Leo describes meta philosophy as the pursuit of understanding how to conduct philosophy rather than adhering to a single philosophical school, stressing that all academic philosophical pursuits are ultimately relative and groundless. Meta politics: Different from conventional politics that focus on tribal disputes, metapolitics emphasizes raising collective consciousness, moving beyond bias, and fostering love and spiritual growth in societies. Meta science: This encompasses a deep and critical examination of scientific foundations, questioning and deconstructing empirical methods to improve their understanding and practice. Meta business: Goes beyond conventional profit-centric business practices to consider wider societal and environmental impacts, advocating for a more conscious and eco-friendly approach. Meta relationships: Focuses on uniting the individuals in a relationship and the relationship itself as a third entity, which allows for more mutual understanding and surrender to the collective good. Meta spirituality: This involves a broad and eclectic study of various spiritual traditions, seeking to understand their essence and align their best teachings, moving beyond disagreements among different schools of thought. Other Meta Concepts: Leo notes there are even more meta concepts like meta art, meta media, meta sex, and meta work, which are ways to improve functionality and quality through critical evaluation and continuous improvement. Importance of Going Meta: He emphasizes that going meta is crucial for solving complex problems as it requires moving to a higher level of understanding, thereby transcending content differences and scrutinizing the methods, which could otherwise be corrupted or suboptimal. Adoption of Meta Perspective: Adopting a meta approach helps identify personal biases and limitations, enabling individuals to move beyond these and achieve more profound insights. It requires detachment from solidly held beliefs and ideologies, often a challenging but necessary process for growth. Limitations in Scrutinizing Established Methods: Gura asserts that whether in spirituality, science, medicine, or other fields, there is widespread reluctance to critically examine established methods due to a fear of uncovering pervasive corruption. Attachment Leading to Bias: He explains how attachment, such as identifying with one's nationality or career, results in biased behaviors and suffering, and emphasizes the importance of detachment through the 'neti method' or 'meta moves' for personal transcendence. Conflict Arising from Reality Construction Denial: Gura discusses how the active denial of constructing one's reality causes defensiveness and conflict, as people struggle to maintain their constructed reality, which inherently indicates its fragility and artificiality. Science's Limitations within its Frame: He criticizes the limitation of science as it operates within its own frame and cannot recognize or address the larger, infinite context of existence. Rationale for Reality's Infinite Meta Nature: Leo elaborates that reality's infinite meta nature implies there are always additional layers beyond what is currently perceivable, leading to an ever-expanding understanding of existence. Challenges Faced by Rational and Scientific Minds: Gura points out that highly rational and scientific individuals often fail to grasp the deeper nature of existence due to their confinement within the finite frames of their disciplines. Accessing Absolute Truth: Absolute truth can only be accessed by stepping outside of every frame of reference and avoiding attachment to any particular framework. Each frame, whether it be religion, science, mathematics, or logic, is a temporary construct that can limit one's understanding. Frames as Mental Constructs: Every framework like religion, science, or logic is seen as an imaginary construct. To awaken fully, one must transcend each frame progressively, coming to the realization that the content doesn't matter since it's all incomplete. Life as the Final Frame to Transcend: The culmination of transcending frames is the realization that one's life itself is a frame to be moved beyond. Awakening happens when you let go of the attachment to life as you know it. Mind's Resistance to 'Going Meta': The human mind has defense mechanisms that resist the process of 'going meta' due to fear of the consequences—like the loss of one's current life and identity—that may come from fully embracing this perspective. Role of Fear in Sticking to Frames: The level of fear one has determines the frame they are stuck in. Lower levels of fear might keep someone within scientific or atheistic views, while higher levels of fear could trap someone in religious dogma. Intellectual and Real-World Payoffs of Frames: Frames offer payoffs—intellectual satisfaction, money, ego boosts, etc.—that make them appealing to cling to. Letting go of these payoffs can be difficult due to personal investments like relationships or careers. Incremental Growth and Personal Readiness: Spiritual growth and the process of going meta cannot be rushed; they depend on one's readiness and willingness to let go of attachments gradually. Gura uses the analogy of a student not ready to jump from fourth-grade math to calculus to emphasize that growth takes time. Recognizing and Planning for Detachment: It's important to be self-aware of one's current attachments and lay the groundwork for future growth, even if one is not ready to detach immediately. Planning ahead is essential for significant progress. Thrill of Meta Recognition: There is a unique delight and thrill in realizing something implicit in a given situation. This meta recognition, akin to understanding an inside joke, can lead to awakening and touching the divine. Combining Intellect with Spirituality: For those who enjoy intellectual challenges and complex topics, the process of going 'meta' in spirituality can offer a similar or even greater sense of whimsy and artistry, as hinted by the delight found in the works of Douglas Hofstadter. Whimsical Nature of Logic and Spiritual Work: Spiritual work provides an expansion of the whimsical and artistic experience found in exploring logical and scientific concepts, leading to clarity, beauty, and a profound appreciation of existence. Common Ground between Science and Spirituality: Leo suggests that serious scientists are fundamentally seeking the same awe and mystery in their work that spirituality offers, aiming to connect science with soul and spirit. Meta Perspective on Communication: During the talk, Leo points out the meta nature of using language to communicate concepts, and how his words trigger thoughts in the listener, showing a meta understanding of the communication process. Self-Realization and the Universe: Leo emphasizes that listeners, as part of the universe, are not separate from his message; they are the universe speaking to itself, using the medium of a video to become conscious of itself. Infinite Mind Concept: The notion of an 'infinite mind' is introduced as a mind that can go infinitely meta, becoming self-aware and able to contemplate any finite aspect of its existence. Building Core Concepts: Leo discusses the importance of building core concepts to make sense of reality and life, as opposed to adopting belief systems; these core concepts serve as a foundation for exploring various life domains. Critique of Educational System: He criticizes the educational system for not imparting core concepts needed for a deeper understanding of reality, recognizing the role of his videos in providing this knowledge. Making Sense of Life: Leo underscores that making sense of life is possible through personal effort and exploration and that his work lays out tools and direction for this journey toward significant growth and understanding. Aparecium
  20. Okay, so I'm shook. I was talking with my dad and he told us at the dinner table about how he had a dream last night. In his dream, it was about aliens and it was our family (and others? idk) standing in a field, and we were waiting to be sucked up I guess, and he did. Then he told us that they weren't bad aliens, but that they wanted to make us more intelligent! Guys, this is crazy Months back I was reading "The three waves of volunteers and the new earth," and "The custodians," by dolores cannon, who channeled many many people and heard the same stories over and over again about things like this. And the story was basically that. Before, I didn't fully believe in this. Now my mind is set in that there's definitely more to the story. Any insights?? this is so cool.
  21. All Understanding Is Metaphoric https://www.actualized.org/insights/all-understanding-is-metaphoric Literalism as a cognitive trap: Literalism is a cognitive trap where individuals interpret myths and religious stories as factual events. This occurs at different stages of human development, notably within stage blue orthodoxy, where there is a lack of openness to the metaphorical and symbolic meanings of these narratives. Such literal beliefs are steadfast among Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and other religious groups, leading to defensiveness when these beliefs are challenged by empirical evidence. Defensive mechanisms of literalists: When faced with contradictions to their literal beliefs, such as scientific discoveries that refute aspects of their myths, literalists engage in mental gymnastics and denial to preserve their faith. This is exemplified by creationists who must defend every outdated and anachronistic element in the Bible, as admitting a single error can shake their entire belief system and their identity as adherents of their faith. Literalism in science: A similar pattern of literalism is observed in the scientific community (stage orange), where scientists dismiss religious myths as false but then fall into the trap of regarding their own empirical findings and mathematical models as literal truth. Influential figures like Sean Carroll and Max Tegmark can become overly invested in their theories, asserting that the universe is fundamentally mathematical, an attitude mirroring that of religious literalists. Science and the misconception of universality: The notion that mathematics is a universal language and that scientific understanding is independent of human cognition is challenged by Leo. He suggests that science and mathematics could be incomprehensible to other forms of intelligence, just as they might be to animals or an alien race. This calls into question the belief held by many scientists that their models are universally applicable and by extension, superior to religious understanding. Literalism's block to integral thinking: Literal interpretation closes off the mind to the potential exploration of metaphysical questions and broader understandings. Literalist thinking in religion and science hinders the development of more sophisticated, nuanced cognition that recognizes teachings as metaphoric and symbolic, not factual reports to be taken at face value. Carlos Castaneda's work and literal criticism: Criticisms of Carlos Castaneda's writings-assertions of plagiarism and lack of scientific validity-demonstrate a literalist mindset. This distracts from the profound wisdom contained within the texts, further emphasizing the importance of looking beyond literal imperfections to grasp the essential insights offered. Literalism in interpreting teachings and contradictions: Literalism creates difficulties when encountering contradictions within teachings, such as in religious texts. When teachings are interpreted metaphorically rather than literally, apparent contradictions become less problematic, as the focus shifts to the wisdom or insights being pointed to, rather than the literal content. Literalism restricts integration of diverse knowledge: By adopting a figurative viewpoint over a literal one, individuals can integrate diverse perspectives and teachings more effectively. Literalism leads to isolation within specific paradigms or ideologies, restricting cognitive development and the ability to embrace a more holistic and integral approach to understanding complex topics. Criticism based on literalism: Critics who condemn Carlos Castaneda's work for lack of scientific rigor miss the point-literal accuracy matters less than the wisdom gained from the teachings. Similar to misconceptions about religious texts, literal interpretation obscures the broader lessons and insights teachings aim to impart. Embracing the big picture: Focusing on the big picture allows for holistic understanding and growth. Being concerned with technical precision in teachings risks missing out on valuable insights. Acknowledging imperfection in teachings: Expecting flawlessness in teachings from any source is unrealistic. Teachings should act as guides leading to individual, experiential understanding rather than being accepted as infallible truths. Prioritizing holistic understanding over technical details: An excessive focus on details can lead to missing the essence of the lesson. Leo stresses the importance of pattern recognition and big-picture thinking over technical perfection. Intuition and abstract understanding: Profound insights often come intuitively and resist linear articulation, contrasting with the literalist expectation of concrete, systematic proof. These intuitive truths offer a different, valid form of knowing. Interpretation as an unavoidable aspect of cognition: Denying the interpretive nature of human understanding is a mistake; acknowledging it can reduce the risk of delusion. Leo argues that interpretations, rather than factual claims, shape our perceptions of reality. Dangers of failing to acknowledge interpretation: Misinterpreting scientific data or theoretical models as objective truths rather than interpretations can lead to misunderstanding and misuse, as demonstrated by figures like Sam Harris and Jordan Peterson. Recognizing that many aspects of reality, including societal constructs, are interpretations informed by context can lead to a more nuanced worldview. Gender as a social construction: Gender is a socially and culturally constructed category, and resistance to non-traditional gender concepts often stems from the discomfort people feel when such long-standing constructions are challenged, potentially leading to a sense of chaos and societal destabilization. Western intellectual tradition against deconstruction: Western tradition, from philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, has focused on building up constructs and systems that form the basis of our legal and social order, making it resistant to the idea of deconstruction which exposes these constructs as mere fictions designed for survival. Societal dependence on fictions: Leo argues that society and culture are built on collective fictions like values, norms, laws, and customs, created out of necessity for survival and cohesion, despite being ultimately based on interpretative constructs that aren't "true" in a literal sense. Concept of nations as mental constructions: Nations and borders are highlighted as mental constructs that, while useful, are not inherently real. Recognizing them as such helps to fight for their preservation without over-attachment, allowing for a healthier, more open response to change. Attachment to constructs limits scientific progress: A literal belief in scientific theories impedes the advancement of science, as attachment to current paradigms prevents openness to new ideas and reevaluation. Embracing science metaphorically allows for a continual expansion of understanding. Literalism clashing with faith and historical context: The literal interpretation of religious texts or the actions of historical figures without considering cultural and historical context offers a limited and flawed perspective. Understanding the overarching messages and wisdom, rather than focusing on specific actions or statements, is encouraged for a more integrative view. Detachment from literalism for integral thinking: Moving away from literalism and embracing a more figurative, integral approach avoids the pitfalls of over-attachment to constructs and supports a more expansive and flexible understanding of teachings, beliefs, and concepts. Crucio
  22. Chapter Dysfunctions of the 3rd-Tier Structure-Views, Violet Meta-Mind: "One can step deeply enough into thetimeless Now to step into another dimension altogether—just step right here, and push hard. It’s easy to get lost in those worlds, which are, at bottom, simply different dimensions and perspectives of one’s own (violet) consciousness (although, as noted, from another angle, they are all real, ontologically different realms because they are each genuinely co-enacted by a different perspective in consciousness). Given that this stage is the first great transition from “earthly” realms to “heavenly” realms (as a permanent structural enaction), getting lost in these “higher worlds” is indeed one of the most common dysfunctions of this level. The deeply transcendental, otherworldly, electrically visionary nature of consciousness at this altitude makes fixation to this side of the street an incredibly inviting and alluring venture. This is likely to couple with the dysfunction, discussed earlier, of standing in heaven and giving a blistering critique of life here on earth, with all the semiprophetic pomp and pomposity that comes with it. One of the things that often happens with these specific dysfunctions is that, after making some initial discovery of a timeless Now or pure Present (either in 3rd-tier structures or higher states), one can step into that Present and then step right through it into what seem to be endless, “deeper,” “higher” realms altogether, a kaleidoscopic cascade of universes upon universes that at one point seem to be nothing but a slight wiggle in this moment’s timeless Now, and then at the next explode into almost infinitely extending real realms that are all alive and invite exploration—with a sign on the door that says “Welcome to Heaven!” This is extremely common in high subtle and low causal states, but if it happens with structures, it tends to happen right here, with the violet meta-mind (due largely to its visionary nature). ... But this problem is simply the living result of the enactive nature of the real world and the fact that consciousness can co-create an almost endless number of universes, any number of which one can become fixated or semiaddicted to, with straightforwardly dysfunctional results." An alien or two belong to the package.
  23. These are mainly “victories” linked to difficulties suffered more than real goals. My long term goal is to duplicate my neuron count with experimental pharmaceuticals and become an alien consciousness. 🗿