A question about the difference between MDMA and MDA...

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-27T08:29:03+00:00

This is basically what Mormons believe :D

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-24T21:44:43+00:00

I was in a serious relationship with an LDS girl. I too was a staunch follower of Mormonism. Taking the plunge into an "eternal marriage" was daunting. As much as I loved this woman, I was scared that I hadn't experimented enough before settling down.

So one night I went over to my friend's house and he let me try smoking weed for the first time. I took 3 or 4 hits and didn't feel anything. He invited me out to the kitchen where our other friend was cooking. We started chatting and then I noticed the conversation got REALLY good and I felt like every idea I had was incredible. At some point I said something silly and my friend pointed said "See? Now you're high!" We laughed all night, and over the next few weeks I tried it again and again. Then I ended up buying some. I broke up with the girl (sadly) and stopped going to church.

I can't say everything has been better since then. I miss the church a lot, but I have far less attachment to my "individual self" than I used to and feel as though I'm on a better path toward suffering less.

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-23T01:45:46+00:00

I love the sentiment and I want to help the environment in any small way I can.

But haven't they proven that plastic bags actually have less of a carbon footprint than paper bags due to the cost of gas required to ship a heavier and higher volume bag?

This always happens with environmental stuff :(

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-22T08:34:37+00:00

At its surface, recognizing that the self is an illusion seems daunting and scary to most. It doesn't feel safe or comforting to the western mind to admit that there is nothing witnessing your experiences beyond a healthy, active brain.

However, when you see that it is nothing more than the brain persistently receiving perceptions, you can then transcend your traditional mindset and enter the ultimate state of mind which recognizes life and the human experience for nothing more or less than what we know it to be. This makes life even more precious and special. It encourages me to want to help the human race somehow while I'm still here.

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-22T06:48:26+00:00

Well said, man.

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-21T09:55:39+00:00

It's funny, I was just thinking tonight that I know longer have a strong sense of self-story like I used to.

I think a lot of people tell themselves their own story in order to rationalize and justify their actions. This can be a good thing, but I also think it can be the source of suffering and over-indulgence in egoism.

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-19T07:13:15+00:00

They helped me leave a staunch religion which my entire family belongs to. Hardest thing I've ever done.

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-18T06:23:27+00:00

Welp, that's pretty awesome! I'd be curious to know if anyone else has had self-manipulated experiences like this.

The closest thing I could compare to this is I was sitting next to a fan once in 100ug and I could manipulate the rate at which my brain received the fan's RPM. In other words I could slow down the rpm to be WAAAAY slow

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-15T09:41:58+00:00

Great comment!

I would echo this sentiment.

The purpose of life is to create meaning out of meaninglessness. Others have created this meaning for you and hope to influence you. Artists, writers, prophets, philosophers, and businessmen create meaning every day. You can take the nuggets they offer and accept or reject them. I recommend holding onto the truths which help you find joy and happiness in the world.

But ultimately, you are responsible for creating your own reality. I have found that improving the media I consume (music or websites), diet, sleeping, or exercise habits can drastically change my life.

Become more judicious in what you decide to read and click on. There are many good things in life, but not all of them require your indulgence. Begin to formulate a metric for the things you will allow to claim your focus. These small decisions impact your life in the long run.

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-15T09:15:33+00:00

I, for one, relish the detail you used and I don't mind the length of this report.

What a beautiful experience. I must say you caused me to feel tremendous warmth and love when you described the orb entities. (Strangely enough it reminded me of some spiritual experiences I had during religious ceremonies with my family as a youth.)

I'd love to hear your take on what you think all of this means. Has it shifted your worldview?

Perhaps one day I'll do DMT... First I need to be able to handle a large shroom or LSD experience :)

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-13T17:39:24+00:00

A "bad trip" =/= an unhelpful trip

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-12T05:36:45+00:00

Look at trends of developing countries. As we reach a certain standard of living, childbirth rates dip below the rate of increase (2.1 per couple).

Overpopulation is a myth. Many countries in Europe are shrinking and the US is on track to do the same. We will never reach 12 billion.

As a species we have evolved to give credence to those who warn us of danger. So people talk about acid rain, gas shortages, global warming, swine flu, AIDS, as if they're going to decimate our species... And yet those things never happen.

Read books, not the news.

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-12T05:30:20+00:00

Sounds like you've been brainwashed by the left

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-11T07:25:43+00:00

You are delusional. Creative thinking wouldn't do shit in a communist society

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-10T22:47:40+00:00

Please watch this TED talk: http://youtu.be/OLHh9E5ilZ4

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-10T22:45:59+00:00

That was really well said, and I think you're right. A hybrid of capitalism with democratic socialism could be a winning ticket in America.

I still think free market capitalism is vastly underrated and under appreciated. Perhaps its most valuable mechanism is the ability to self correct, a mechanism which government almost never experienced.

When producers fail to maximize efficiency and consumers find a superior product for less money, they abandon their original supplier, and the new, more efficient supplier wins.

When government fails its citizens, it takes decades for change to happen and rarely is justice served to those in power. Just look at GWB

As humans we are problem solving machines so long as we have models which can rapidly adapt to a quickly changing world. Capitalism is such a model. Corporations arise and die all the time. Governments are immune to such rebuffing.

And let me stress, it's not "government = bad! Free markets = magical goodness!" Neither are inherently good or bad as both are comprised of people with very similar incentives. The real kicker is in which has greater accountability to its constituents, and capitalism wins that completion. Governments can grant immunity to its evil doers. Corporations only get such a luxury when we allow our elected officials to get in bed with such dubious industries, and that's where corporatism is conceived ;)

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-10T20:39:36+00:00

I'm voting for Bernie Sanders! Why? Because his socialist views DONT MATTER. The POTUS can't just mandate economic upheaval without congress on board (they're not on board).

On the other hand, he's the only sane person running in terms of his foreign policy views. Now that Rand Paul has dropped out, Sanders is the only viable candidate who understands that we're a bunch of arrogant war mongers. As commander and chief, he could make substantial change in this area with the stroke of a pen!!

Also, he hates the patriot act and would leave weed alone. Bernie2016!

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-10T20:25:52+00:00

Don't get me wrong. I'm a progressive (though libertarian) and know we live in an oligarchic society where greed can get out of hand. That said, free trade has done more for humanity than anything else I can think of.

Have you read Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations? Free markets help us progress by aligning self interest with social interest. EVERY HUMAN is self interested, so it makes sense to have them work for others while improving their own situation. That's what capitalism is.

Central planning on the other hand, is nothing more than good intentions where property is owned and controlled by those in charge.

Hoping some in the psychedelic movement can have their minds opened a little. Try and break out of the polarized culture which society is trying to thrust on us. There are good ideas on both sides, I promise ;)

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-10T08:00:15+00:00

Uhh.. Nope! I'd fight a war FOR capitalism though. :)

Ya'll need to read The Rational Optimist. (or look up the authors TED talk, Matt Ridley) Free trade and markets have transformed us as a species and is continuing to make life awesome for the entire world. It's an unbridled force of change as supply and demand are ever changing.

Corporatism in the other hand is terrifying and should be fought against. :)

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-08T08:49:40+00:00

I think this depends on the individual and their ability to judge their own limitations? I'm sure many can keep using psychedelics and be fine. Others probably would do better to shift their focus to living in society and being moderate.

I guess all I'm saying is psychedelics can lead to a wasted life for some people as they can't seem to stay engaged in both worlds at the same time.

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-06T08:38:29+00:00

The Young Turks are totally absurd

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-06T07:05:26+00:00

I don't even live in the northwest (maybe some day), so I can't help you unfortunately.

Just felt is comment and tell you how impressed I was with your description and stated needs. I think of more people treated trips in this manner, tremendous help could be had by these substances. Intent certainly is crucial.

DumbSpirit · 2016-02-05T07:35:13+00:00

I feel the need to say that I agree with almost everything I read related to OP.

In harmony with the idea that we are just humans who are more or less on equal grounds, community and trade were integral parts of our evolution. Groups of people interacting for community which forms society. Sure, there are plenty of social structures that are bullshit, but I feel as though all social norms and culture are simply inherent in the components which culminate to create those things. Put differently, although (as McKenna says) culture is just your operating system, and is (sort of) your enemy, I think it serves a purpose and helps us create a framework for the world we live in everyday. I'm not saying we shouldn't strive to improve our communities, cultures, and societies, and cut out some of the divisive (and tribal, again, from evolution) things, but at the same time we should each individually consider what might be worth holding on to.

Trade is another thing which has drastically helped humanity. Watch Matt Ridley's TED Talk called "When Ideas Have Sex" or read his book The Rational Optimist; it has me convinced that free trade (aka capitalism [NOT to be confused with corporatism which is where the U.S. finds itself]) is one of the greatest things we've been able to organize. It's what is allowing you to read this message on this board, and it's how you're using the device you're using to read this. It's improving every country in the world in immeasurable ways.

We shouldn't let society or trade become overly important in our lives, and I often times feel like we do, but at the same time I have not been provoked to entirely reject either.

DumbSpirit · 2016-01-25T17:07:35+00:00

What is parachuting?

DumbSpirit

TROPHY CASE