Alternated States Of Consciousness

[Shakazulu]

I want to share a realization that surprised me after years of deep inner work, therapy, and altered-state exploration.

Altered states of consciousness (psychedelics, mystical states, peak experiences, non-dual insights, ego dissolution, etc.) do not equate to success 

They can be valuable, but they are often over-credited. Here’s what I mean: 

Altered states can:

Surface unconscious material

Break rigid identity structures

Create insight, perspective, and emotional access

Temporarily reduce ego defenses

Reveal what’s possible psychologically

That’s access. Access is not embodiment. Insight is not integration. A peak state is not a stable baseline.

A hard truth I didn’t expect:

Many people (including my past self) unconsciously chase altered states as a shortcut to:

Healing

Freedom

Confidence

Meaning

Transformation

But altered states don’t bypass integration.

 

 

 

[Ramasta9]

Yeah, we gotta do the work, its like reading a book and not applying the teachings, the knowledge then only becomes a burden and weight on your soul, in a sense.

The role of the shaman, seeker, student, yogi is to practice and master the altered-state to the point where one can no longer notice a difference between states, rather, one gains the same insights yet is crystal clear and does not hallucinate. This is the primordial self / state/ true nature. This supersedes all.

The medicines are like supporters and assists on the sideline of the marathon who give you bottles of water and cheer you up, but you are the runner doing all the running and you have to run the marathon, they can only do so much to remind and support you. 

If you need a bottle of water, there's nothing wrong with that, just remember to breathe ~

 

Edited yesterday at 08:00 AM by Ramasta9

[glassfire]

the baseline is an illusion. Altered states are just states of consciousness. That you are writing a post in this state does not mean it's the baseline.
We have about 1.5 to 2 hours per night: https://chatgpt.com/share/69a18724-ee2c-8010-8bbd-3a6062e2bb3a
When I am practicing a dream recall, it is my baseline, when meditation with hypnagogic visions it's too.