Consciousness is the experiential quality of existence. It's whatever feels to be us. Consciousness operates with sensory inputs (images, sounds etc) ... but ultimately is a black box form a scientific point of view. But since each of this experience is fundamentally personal we can not build on it. What we do is equate existence with what we can explain with words, abstract concepts and so on. These are important but they are not an accurate representation of existence.

Consciousness is LIGHTS ON

We live with the delusion we are the authors of our thoughts. That there is a small dictator in our brain thinking stuff. However upon investigation thoughts seem to come up independent of a self. Subjectively though just emerge. "You don't pick your thought or opinions"Meditation & psychedelics (LSD etc) are tools to break this spell. With consistence practice it become clear that the real freedom begins once these attachment to identify with our thoughts is let go. You are not the originator of consciousness, you are consciousness. Consciousness is a mediator between "us" and the reality.

Breaking the spell of self with meditation & psychedelics

At the extremes consciousness can be a side-effect of information processing (neurons firing in our brain causing this feeling of "being me") or panpsychism, the idea that consciousness is fundamental to the structure of the universe (atoms are conscious).Sam Harris is agnostic on the scientific issue. However while the scientific approach has merits, he thinks our methodology is wrong. We tend to break reality into mind and matter, a Western division that (upon investigation) does not match our lived experience.

The sources of consciousness

Sam Harris didn't try DMT, mainly because he does look at its effects as psychotic. After ingestion (usually through smoking) people are "teleported" to the center of the universe where they claim to meet aliens or angels. This fundamentally different than an "acid trip" (LSD) where your openness to reality heightens.

Psychedelics vs psychotic drugs

Sam Harris's problem with general AI is that it might get to a level where a robot behaves like a conscious being. And since conscious is a scientific mystery still we will have no other option but to believe them. Because consciousness is an experience more than an explanation. Life is not a something that can be explained but something that needs to be experienced. So we might have perfect imitations of conscious behaviour but we have no way of knowing if that's real or not.

AI and Conscious Robots

Sam Harris thinks free will is an illusion. He combined scientific materialism or Buddhism non-dualism to reach this conclusion. The practical element is just that hate stops making sense: "If we cannot assign blame to the workings of the universe, how can evil people be held responsible for their actions? In the deepest sense, it seems, they can’t be. But in a practical sense, they must be. I see no contradiction in this." Harris argues that once we accept the truth of determinism, we’ll be less concerned about assigning blame and seeking retribution via punishment.

The illusion of free will & the futility of hate

2 slow talking people discussing deep topics 

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Psychedelics

Sam Harris @ Lex Fridman: Consciousness, Free Will & Psychedelics

It could be said, I'm a psychonaut. After 35 years of learning about methods of exploring the universe, why, how and when it occurs, I believe it's a title I've earned. It's not all sitting around taking acid and frying your brain. It actually involves very little use of mind altering substances and the kind of indepth learning you would undertake in a top university. It was 30 years of learning and introspection, self evaluation adjustment of values and hard work before I was fully ready to partake of what's known as "the spirit molecule".

You can't buy facetime with God.

Why go to all the effort? Instead tread the path cut by colonialists. With the mighty dollar, trample through the remote Amazonian rain forest, where 80% of the world's biodiversity precariously exists, introducing the countless dangers to a people, ecosystem and culture totally unprepared for it? Without all the years of learning, the possibility of completely losing ones mind, taking powerful halluciogens in an unprepared situation, is entirely understandable.Those isolated tribes that survived rubber tappers, colonialists and loggers face a new threat.

The short cut

Wealthy westerners seek a short cut to enlightenment, flocking to retreats that make a mockery of the complex spirituality being culturally appropriated. Increasing reports of disappearances and deaths emerge. No mention of the loss of life, from disease, the distancing of a people with their identity and the damage to the delicate balance within the region that is to the Earth, what a heart is to a human.Profiteers allege that it affords the tribes luxuries. Perhaps like giving a starving child a Fabergé egg.Eco tourism of this kind must end.

There's no winners in war.

The right to enlightenment must be earned.

Ayahuasca was a sacred medicine. Now it's a global 'it' drug, and the trendiness is threatening the source.

Millennials on Spirit Quests Are Ruining Everything About Ayahuasca

MDMA (Extasy) is usually associated with loud music, partying etc. But taken as a couple, Katie Anderson shows, it has some very beneficial long term effects:<ul><li>It offers a clean state for the relationship. The warmth of the experience and the honest discussions clears up all the emotional build-up and refreshes the relationship.</li><li>It makes partners (especially men) more emotionally open. Which is quote meaningful, considering male emotional opaqueness is one of the major reasons for divorce.</li></ul>

Couples & MDMA

You feel like you are floating in warm goo. You feel totally protected and you can say anything. And no matter what she says, it makes me love her even more. It's the deepest level of connection you will ever have with someone.

Most of the research on MDMA is on PTSD. But it can be a powerful emotional lubricant for couples. 

MDMA (‘ecstasy’) is well-known for its pro-social effects including heightened empathy and openness. These effects seem to facilitate closeness yet there has been limited research looking at MDMA’s impact on romantic relationships. Research question: How do shared MDMA experiences influence a romantic relationship? Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 couples using a pluralistic approach. Results: Couples’ emotional environments were transformed: communication changed from knowing something on a rational, cognitive level to a deep, felt understanding; a protective bubble was formed around the couple: free from existing fears/judgments and an emotional sense of self was brought to the fore. Conclusion: The study opens up new understandings of the role of MDMA in romantic relationships through an appreciation of how emotional experience can be transformed by MDMA. It also points to a reconsideration of the therapeutic use of MDMA for couples. Biography Katie Anderson is a PhD student researching couples who take MDMA together and how they feel these ecstasy experiences have influenced their relationship. The research is qualitative and supervised by Professor Paula Reavey and Dr Zoë Boden. She completed her MSc Psychology at the University of East London in 2013, where her dissertation explored the meaning of MDMA experiences to users, and has a BA in Philosophy from the University of Cambridge.

MDMA for Couples

From the beginning of time humanity connected to a collective sense of meaning through myths & stories. In the West, a lot of our identity is shaped by Christian stories. With the advent of technology, we moved away from superstition and embraced rationality & technology. SF in a way is plucking that hole, discussing the philosophy of science. Dune, for example, shares a lot of its narrative ark with Jesus's hero journey but replaces the historical background of Ancient Rome with space feudal lords.

SF is about the mythos of science

SF, the good SF at lest, is working on the same big questions we keep asking as human beings, but from a place of scientific understanding rather than assuming everything is God-made:<ul><li>What is our purpose in an infinite universe that does not seem to care about us?</li><li>Are we alone or there are other consciousness we can interact with?</li><li>Can we make our own path using technology?&nbsp;</li><li>Can we escape death? Can we become Gods?</li><li>What makes us human in materialistic universe?</li><li>What is good and evil if there is no ultimate judge?</li><li>How do we know what's real?</li><li>etc...</li></ul>

The big questions of a scientific world

Most SF starts with the assumption progress is going to be fully technological. 2001, the Stanley Kubrick movie, explores the idea that technology can only take us so far, &amp; altering our consciousness is the real way fwd.In 2001, the rise of the human from the apes happens through the obelisk, an awakening event. And while humans evolve their tech to the point of creating a general AI, HAL9000, it turns out that the AI will inherit our human flaws.&nbsp;The ending of the movie, the psychedelic scene, is a statement that we have to upgrade our consciousness to go to the next stage.

Psychological Progress: 2001: A Space Odyssey

Dune explores the rise of a Messiah. We go from prince Paul Atrides to Muad'Dib. But his ark is not a traditional hero ark, as described by Cambell.Paul's abilities are transformed by the spice. he becomes a God only after taking on drugs.The book appeared during the Hippie Generation and while it's unclear whether Frank Herbert experienced LSD, it is a product of that culture. Paul goes on a drug-induced trip while the houses went to battle, just as the US students discovered LSD during the Vietnam war.&nbsp;

The psychedelic element in Dune

Dune, the movie, gave me a thirst for deep SF. I am so happy I discovered Damien, a SF nerd with a very philosophical analysis of SF. I stashed a few ideas that stuck with me.

The new Sci Fi epic Dune is one of the year's biggest releases, and one of the most anticipated science fiction films in years. At Rebel Wisdom we are taking this opportunity to ask some deeper questions, including what is the meaning of Sci Fi? And what are the stories we are choosing to tell saying about us, who we are, and who we want to be? This is a discussion delving into these questions with the host of the Sci Fi podcast, and big fan of Rebel Wisdom, Damien Walter. He talks about how sci fi reworks the timeless stories of our core mythologies, reworking spiritual and religious truths for new secular audiences. We will be hosting a conversation on Sci Fi and more with Damien in our Digital Campfire on Monday 1st November, so if you'd like to join that, sign up as a Rebel Wisdom member: https://rebelwisdom.co.uk/plans

Dune & SF with Damien Walter

CBD can help reduce stress and anxiety if you are a little too high even when tripping.

MÏndfulness Ïllusions #4

This is my spiritual journey and experience. I'm 21 and shall open my mind to you all. Call me (Ded-ra) Dedra   ⁴²⁰   Psychedelics. MÏndfulness. Life. Follow and share. Let's connect together 🥺

Sam Harris @ Lex Fridman: Consciousness, Free Will & Psychedelics

Millennials on Spirit Quests Are Ruining Everything About Ayahuasca

MDMA for Couples

Dune & SF with Damien Walter

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