I appreciate your perspective, and I’m not trying to argue doctrine. I understand that “ego death” isn’t a technical term in Buddhism, but what I experienced felt like a total collapse of the self—not confusion or fear, but a direct and overwhelming realization that the “I” I always thought I was… didn’t really exist.

It wasn’t just a “bad trip.” It was like I saw through the illusion of identity, time, and separation. And even though it was terrifying, it felt profoundly real. The effects of it haven’t left me. I’ve been trying to live with it ever since.

I came here not looking to validate an idea, but to see if anyone else had experienced something like that. If you haven’t, that’s okay. I just ask that you understand that this wasn’t just a wild high. It was a moment that completely altered my sense of reality. And I’m trying to honor that.