Someone here

can we explain psychedelics under the materialist paradigm ?

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On 6/3/2020 at 0:29 AM, Someone here said:

we actually can observe the  correlation between what the person  sees under the effect of psychedelics and changes in the responsible parts of the brain (for generating perceptions). it's not completely understood yet but i think we will be able to have a material explanation in the near future as studies on the brain advances further. 

what do you guys think? 

 A chemical, which is material,  can be taken into a person's bloodstream and cause a psychedelic experience.
So what do you mean by "explanation"  other than that? 

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17 minutes ago, Nak Khid said:

 A chemical, which is material,  can be taken into a person's bloodstream and cause a psychedelic experience.
So what do you mean by "explanation"  other than that? 

Does correlation equal causality?. 


"life is not a problem to be solved ..its a mystery to be lived "

-Osho

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2 hours ago, Someone here said:

Does correlation equal causality?. 

Does alcohol cause drunkenness?  
 

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1 hour ago, Nak Khid said:

Does alcohol cause drunkenness?  
 

In this waking state it does. In a dream reality I might drink alcohol and become even more alert and aware.. Who knows? 

Edited by Someone here

"life is not a problem to be solved ..its a mystery to be lived "

-Osho

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15 hours ago, Galyna said:

 I can ultimately only trust my own experience. That is all I know!

Exactly. Is there really an who knows anything, an which trusts my ‘experience’...or perhaps infinity identifying with the finite mind it appears as? “Your” direct experience of “death” is ABSOLUTELY ZERO. The reality of death known, is that of an apparent thought. Simple. Obvious. ‘Third eye’s’ blowing wide open, no room for doubt & the believing of thoughts, awareness of the nature of such arising thought is enough. Remain empty. Nothing need be done, figured out, nor solved. Lovingly laugh ‘with’ such ‘thoughts’ while ‘you’ tell ‘them’, to fuck off. It could be found there are no “thoughts” at all. What’s in a name, a label, really? No thing. 

@Someone here Waking state is a thought. There are no states. 


MEDITATIONS TOOLS  ActualityOfBeing.com  GUIDANCE SESSIONS

NONDUALITY LOA  My Youtube Channel  THE TRUE NATURE

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50 minutes ago, Nahm said:

 

@Someone here Waking state is a thought. There are no states. 

Get used to it.  This forum contains nothing but thoughts;)


"life is not a problem to be solved ..its a mystery to be lived "

-Osho

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5 hours ago, Someone here said:

In this waking state it does. In a dream reality I might drink alcohol and become even more alert and aware.. Who knows? 

This is a ‘dream reality’, obscured from itself by itself as the “thought” waking state. 

There is no reality or existence to a “waking state”. 


MEDITATIONS TOOLS  ActualityOfBeing.com  GUIDANCE SESSIONS

NONDUALITY LOA  My Youtube Channel  THE TRUE NATURE

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1 hour ago, Nahm said:

Is there really an who knows anything

I will try to go as deep as I can. I will describe you, or at least try, how it feels :)

So...feels like a net to me, there is a tapping into the net when knowledge is needed. How knowledge appears? Certain sensation aka thoughts. 

1 hour ago, Nahm said:

“Your” direct experience of “death” is ABSOLUTELY ZERO. The reality of death known, is that of an apparent thought.

  The mind takes and twists this concept as if death is going to happen sometime in the future. Future is a thought :)

1 hour ago, Nahm said:

It could be found there are no “thoughts” at all. What’s in a name, a label, really? No thing. 

Should I contemplate deeper what language is? It feels like there is an inner dialog, I am trying to understand what word is? I am drawing in the semantics and definitions.

A linguistics is "the scientific study of language and its structure..."

A language is "the method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way."

A word is "a single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used with others (or sometimes alone) to form a sentence and typically shown with a space on either side when written or printed."

A speech is "the expression of or the ability to express thoughts and feelings by articulate sounds."

Thoughts are "the action or process of thinking." or "ideas"

Thinking is "the process of using one's mind to consider or reason about something."

A mind is....basically a thought...vicious circle. 

Bunch of an abstract ideas that were built to reinforce more thinking and more confusion. :D

Please guide me, I am stuck...

Thanks for helping to osmose these things. 

 

 

 

 


"All that we know is limited, something we don't - is infinite"

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9 minutes ago, Nahm said:

This is a ‘dream reality’, obscured from itself by itself as the “thought” waking state. 

There is no reality or existence to a “waking state”. 

Cool thought story.

Let it go. There is no such things in direct experience. All that exists Is this.  And this is not a "dream reality". A "Dream reality" is a limited and relative notion appearing within this. 

Seriously though.. How many times do we have to repeat this point?  All concepts are  concepts but this is not a concept. This is this. However some concepts are relatively correct and accurate in describing this.  We have a thought story called " gravity exists and you can't just  jump and fly". In actuality there is no such thing as "gravity".   There is what there is. But that conceptual statement is not a bunch of BS just because of the fact that it is a conceptual statement!! There is no saying you can jump and fly. Try it and see. 

It's not rocket science. Let's talk about something less obvious lol. 

And btw saying reality is a Dream doesn't mean anything unless you explain to me what exactly do you mean.  Reality is real. It's not an illusion. Because here it is.  Even if it's a dream there must be a dreamer. If it's an illusion there must be someone that's being deluded. All these are relative notions and they don't mean anything as absolutes. They require their opposite. 

And again I think all that is off-topic. I would rather like to discuss the original topic of this thread. 


"life is not a problem to be solved ..its a mystery to be lived "

-Osho

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@Nahm I’m curious about your impressions on a couple of things:

— Can the relationship change such that thoughts aren’t “thoughts”? A sense of one inter-related happening arising. Feelings, thoughts, intuition, dog barks are all swirling around, prior to thoughts being distinguished as “thoughts”.

— There are times I’m having a conversation with someone in which there is simply listening and speaking. There is no internal thought dialog in the mind. Words are simply coming out of my mouth. If we look back on it, it would seem like I was sharing “thoughts”. Yet that’s not what the relationship was at the time. There was simply speaking words happening, similar to blinking eyes happening and moving fingers happening. 

— In some ways, the appearances of images seem more like thoughts than thoughts. There are periods in which there are no linguistic thoughts, just images. Then there is an awareness shift and it seems like I was thinking. Yet it also seems like it was thoughtless imagination. Again, it seems prior to categorizing as “thought”.  

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4 minutes ago, Someone here said:

All concepts are  concepts but this is not a concept. This is this. 

Notice that we can not move any further, with regards how you define it.

It sounds as an absurd, but we should not be too pedantic, thus languages is needed at some point to lead you to that spot where you must drop it. 


"All that we know is limited, something we don't - is infinite"

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10 minutes ago, Serotoninluv said:

In some ways, the appearances of images seem more like thoughts than thoughts. There are periods in which there are no linguistic thoughts, just images. Then there is an awareness shift and it seems like I was thinking. Yet it also seems like it was thoughtless imagination. Again, it seems prior to categorizing as “thought”.  

Wow, thank you for a nice interpretation, you put it way better and plausible. It is exactly how it feels to me from time to time.

I wonder about it myself. If you try to use scientific methods to define it, they would say that perception is always late and occurs after any event has happened. But again, I am not in a position to tell you this since I am not a scientist. 


"All that we know is limited, something we don't - is infinite"

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11 minutes ago, Galyna said:

Notice that we can not move any further, with regards how you define it.

It sounds as an absurd, but we should not be too pedantic, thus languages is needed at some point to lead you to that spot where you must drop it. 

I'm well aware of the limitations of thoughts and concepts.  I don't have a problem with that. But imagine how would you function in life if you respond to anything that's being said to you by " these are just meaningless thoughts they don't exist in reality". That's the extreme on the opposite end of the spectrum. If there's people who mistake their thoughts for reality on one side.. On the other side there are people who are very attached to distinguish their thoughts from reality to the point they can't see reality anymore and they just see thoughts. 


"life is not a problem to be solved ..its a mystery to be lived "

-Osho

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11 minutes ago, Someone here said:

But imagine how would you function in life if you respond to anything that's being said to you by " these are just meaningless thoughts they don't exist in reality".

Sure, you are absolutely have a right to say this. However, I think he is just trying to be as direct as possible to lead us to this realization - to strip away any idea, notion, concept...to basically undress your mind and leave it naked. When the mind is naked, it will collapse and your awareness will turn inward.

 

11 minutes ago, Someone here said:

That's the extreme on the opposite end of the spectrum. If there's people who mistake their thoughts for reality on one side.. On the other side there are people who are very attached to distinguish their thoughts from reality to the point they can't see reality anymore and they just see thoughts. 

And that is fine. An Ego needs to balance in the dual world, otherwise this illusion is not possible. 

Please let me know if I've understood your idea correctly. 

 

Edited by Galyna

"All that we know is limited, something we don't - is infinite"

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1 minute ago, Galyna said:

Sure, you are absolutely have a right to say this. However, I think he is just trying to be as direct as possible to lead us to this realization - to strip away any idea, notion, concept...to basically undress your mind and leave it naked. When the mind is naked, it will collapse and your awareness will turn inward.

 

And that is fine. An Ego needs to balance in the dual world, otherwise this illusion is not possible. 

Please let me know if I understand your idea correctly. 

 

My main point is this.. Reality is not a thought construct. Thought constructs are inevitable parts of reality.  Don't think that if you lose your language and all your conceptual thoughts that reality as a whole will collapse.. That's simply not true. You will still have other perceptions. Expect they won't be labeled as such anymore. But nonetheless they will be there. Because reality is prior to thoughts. Thoughts appear after the fact to describe it. To make sense of it. It can't ofcourse make sense of it as a whole because it's itself part of the whole. However it can make sense of parts from the whole. 

Reality is not a thought construct. Thought constructs are reality. 

Again this isn't rocket science but I don't know why some people just don't get it. 


"life is not a problem to be solved ..its a mystery to be lived "

-Osho

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3 hours ago, Someone here said:
3 hours ago, Galyna said:

 

My main point is this.. Reality is not a thought construct

Are you referring to my words, I don’t think I said this, or you are referring to Nahm?

Edited by Galyna

"All that we know is limited, something we don't - is infinite"

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5 minutes ago, Galyna said:

Are you referring to my words, I don’t think I said this, or you are referring to Nalm?

Yes! 


"life is not a problem to be solved ..its a mystery to be lived "

-Osho

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https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/275795.php

Medical News Today

What is the link between love and oxytocin?

Oxytocin is a hormone and a neurotransmitter that is involved in childbirth and breast-feeding. It is also associated with empathy, trust, sexual activity, and relationship-building.

It is sometimes referred to as the "love hormone," because levels of oxytocin increase during hugging and orgasm. It may also have benefits as a treatment for a number of conditions, including depression, anxiety, and intestinal problems.

Oxytocin is produced in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain. Females usually have higher levelsTrusted Source than males.

Fast facts on oxytocin

Here are some key points about oxytocin. More detail is in the main article.

Oxytocin is produced in the hypothalamus and released during sex, childbirth, and lactation to aid reproductive functions.

It has physical and psychological effects, including influencing social behavior and emotion.

Oxytocin is prescribed as a drug for obstetric and gynecological reasons and can help in childbirth.

Research shows that it may benefit people with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), anxiety, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

What is oxytocin?

Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter and a hormone that is produced inTrusted Source the hypothalamus. From there, it is transported to and secreted by the pituitary gland, at the base of the brain.

It plays a roleTrusted Source in the female reproductive functions, from sexual activity to childbirth and breast feeding. Stimulation of the nipples triggers its release.

During labor, oxytocin increases uterine motility, causing contractions in the muscles of the uterus, or womb. As the cervix and vagina start to widen for labor, oxytocin is released. This widening increases as further contractions occur.

Oxytocin also has social functions. It impactsTrusted Source bonding behavior, the creation of group memories, social recognition, and other social functions.

Oxytocin as a drug

Oxytocin is used as a prescription drug under the brand name Pitocin. Under medical supervision, an oxytocin injection is sometimes used to start birth contractions or strengthen them during labor, and it helps reduce bleeding after delivery. Side effects include a rapid heartbeat and unusual bleeding.

If too much oxytocin is delivered too rapidly, it can lead to a rupture of the uterus.

Oxytocin can also be given to make the uterus contract and control bleeding after a delivery or a termination.

It can be usedTrusted Source medically to induce a termination or complete a miscarriage.

The love hormone?

In 2012, researchers reportedTrusted Source that people in the first stages of romantic attachment had higher levels of oxytocin, compared with non-attached single people. These levels persisted for at least 6 months.

Sexual activity has been found to stimulate the release of oxytocin, and it appears to have a role in erection and orgasm. The reason for this is not fully understood, but, in women, it may be that the increased uterine motility may help sperm to reach their destination. Some have proposed a correlation between the concentration of oxytocin and the intensity of orgasm.

Oxytocin and emotion

When oxytocin enters the bloodstream, it affects the uterus and lactation, but when it is released into certain parts of the brain, it can impact emotional, cognitive, and social behaviors.

One review of research into oxytocin states that the hormone's impact on "pro-social behaviors" and emotional responses contributes to relaxation, trust, and psychological stability.

Brain oxytocin also appears to reduce stress responses, including anxiety. These effects have been seen in a number of species.

The hormone has been described asTrusted Source "an important component of a complex neurochemical system that allows the body to adapt to highly emotive situations."

Is it that simple?

In 2006, investigators reportedTrusted Source finding higher levels of oxytocin and cortisol among women who had "gaps in their social relationships" and more negative relations with their primary partner. The participants were all receiving hormone therapy (HT) following menopause.

Animal studies have found high levels of both stress and oxytocin in voles that were separated from other voles. However, when the voles were given doses of oxytocin, their levels of anxiety, cardiac stress, and depression fell, suggesting that stress increases internal production of the hormone, while externally supplied doses can help reduce stress.

Clearly, the action of oxytocin is not straightforward.

A review published in 2013 cautionsTrusted Source that oxytocin is likely to have general rather than specific effects, and that oxytocin alone is unlikely to affect "complex, high-order mental processes that are specific to social cognition." The authors also point out that a willingness to collaborate is likely to be driven by anxiety in the first place.

Nevertheless, oxytocin does appear to be associated with social behavior, including maternal care, bonding between couples, sexual behavior, social memory, and trust.

Behavioral effects

Delivering oxytocin through a nasal spray has allowed researchers to observe its effects on behavior.

In 2011, research published in Psychopharmacology foundTrusted Source that intranasal oxytocin improved self-perception in social situations and increased personality traits such as warmth, trust, altruism, and openness.

In 2013, a study published in PNAS suggested that oxytocin may help keep men faithful to their partners, by activating the reward centers in the brain.

In 2014, researchers published findings in the journal Emotion suggestingTrusted Source that people saw facial expression of emotions in others more intensely after receiving oxytocin through a nasal spray.

Psychiatric therapy

Oxytocin has been proposed as a possible treatment for social phobia, autism, and postpartum depression.

Scientists have proposed that it might help improve interpersonal and individual wellbeing, and that it could have applications for people with some neuropsychiatric disorders.

They believe it could help people who avoid social interaction, and those who experience persistent fear and an inability to trust others.

Children with autism could benefit from oxytocin, say some researchers. In 2013, a small study suggested that oxytocin levels in the brain affected how 17 children perceived a series of social and non-social images.

Oxytocin may also play a role in anger management. Research has indicated that certain polymorphisms of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene are associated with an increased tendency to react angrily to situations.

In particular, differences in OXTR gene expression appear toTrusted Source affect the regulation of the relationship between alcohol and aggressive behavior.

Uses

Oxytocin appears to increase the release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in cells lining the intestine. This helps to encourage the repair of intestinal injury and to protect against such injury.

If this is confirmed, oxytocin could beTrusted Source a useful therapy for preventing chemo-radiotherapy-induced intestine injury, and it could be used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Edited by Nak Khid

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4 hours ago, Someone here said:

Reality is not a thought construct.

So you were upset that reality was NOT a thought construct... how about present moment does not exist? Lol . :DThis forum has made my day!!!!


"All that we know is limited, something we don't - is infinite"

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