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When he talks about the default mode network that sort of matches with my intuitive understanding of what the experience of taking psychedelics is like. People

When he talks about the default mode network that sort of matches with my intuitive understanding of what the experience of taking psychedelics is like. People do things in loops— they go to work every day, come back home every day, hang out with the same people, engage in the same hobbies, think the same thoughts. It’s just our natural mode of being to repeat ourselves, and psychedelics seem to just shut all of that down. You’re no longer a person who does these things or has those habits. You’re barely a person at all— just purely living in the moment, without any feeling of separation from the rest of the world. And as you come back from that, you engage in the reconstruction of your personality— and if you’re careful about how you do it, you can change it — in both positive and negative ways.

oceanghost 9y ago
I have used drugs extensively-- good ones and bad. I'd be happy to answer any questions, but you're on the right track here except for the ineffable. Drugs distort the pattern matching systems in your brain. You see patterns that are there, patterns that aren't, patterns of patterns, patterns of patterns of patterns. You make connections that you should and shouldn't. If I could describe my phsycelidc experinces--of which I've had dozens--It would be--"psychadelics break your brain intro a thousand pieces, hand you thebroken shard and say, "have fun putting this back together." Genericaly, amphetmainish things tie you to the real world. Disscocitiaves the spiritual world. Psychadelics-- the self reflective at moderate doses and at high doses the "other side" (if that makes any sense at all). I would not trade my expereinces for ANYTHING, but I wouldn't recommend it either. The spiritual experiences I've had on drugs have been profound enough to change me from an stone cold atheist to, well a guy who believes in what he's seen himself. I've floated through space and time, I've received vissions, advice, knowledge of the future. I've been shown some of the secrets of the universe... but the most improtant message of all was simply "learn as much as you can and be as kind as you can to others." There are some things that are indescribable-- ineffiable. Any description of the religious experneices ive had would be, inadequate. You've either had one, or they're complete fucking nonsense. What im saying is--the world of faith is beyond that of experience. It may, or may not be real, but it sure as hell feels like it is.
- fsloth 9y ago
  "Any description of the religious experneices ive had would be, inadequate. You've either had one, or they're complete fucking nonsense." I've never used drugs, but based on my experience I totally understand the statement that the purely analytic mode of thought does not encompass the whole of human experience. I had a deeply profound sense of being one with the universe as a teenager after a regular session of meditation. I would not say it did anything for my atheism. I believe humans are complex and deep creatures with enormous hidden potential, and these mystical experiences just bring it to the surface. Drugs are not the only way to access mystical experiences, but I certainly don't begrudge their use.
  - gerbilly 9y ago
    >I've never used drugs, but based on my experience I totally understand the statement that the purely analytic mode of thought does not encompass the whole of human experience. That's for sure. It's impossible to explain to someone something as mundane how you know how to ride a bike using analytical thought.[1] [1] Witness the endless counter-steering threads on HN.
    - chillwaves 9y ago
      I want to understand counter steering so badly... I think I do on an intuitive level, as I have ridden a motorcycle for years but I just can't wrap my head around the concept.
  - oceanghost 9y ago
    For sure. I think there's a lot of evidence that certain meditative states overlap with some psychedelic states. But, have you ever had a fully immersive meditative state? Is that possible?
    - fsloth 8y ago
      I have no idea. I've never had anything 'mystical' happen to me after that.
spiralx 9y ago
> People do things in loops— they go to work every day, come back home every day, hang out with the same people, engage in the same hobbies, think the same thoughts. And bad trips are people stuck in a loop, unable to break out. Which is why the best thing you can do with someone is change their set and setting - move them elsewhere, not take it too seriously, remind them it's just drugs and will be over soon, get them to do something else etc.

oceanghost 9y ago

I have used drugs extensively-- good ones and bad. I'd be happy to answer any questions, but you're on the right track here except for the ineffable. Drugs distort the pattern matching systems in your brain. You see patterns that are there, patterns that aren't, patterns of patterns, patterns of patterns of patterns. You make connections that you should and shouldn't. If I could describe my phsycelidc experinces--of which I've had dozens--It would be--"psychadelics break your brain intro a thousand pieces, hand you thebroken shard and say, "have fun putting this back together." Genericaly, amphetmainish things tie you to the real world. Disscocitiaves the spiritual world. Psychadelics-- the self reflective at moderate doses and at high doses the "other side" (if that makes any sense at all). I would not trade my expereinces for ANYTHING, but I wouldn't recommend it either. The spiritual experiences I've had on drugs have been profound enough to change me from an stone cold atheist to, well a guy who believes in what he's seen himself. I've floated through space and time, I've received vissions, advice, knowledge of the future. I've been shown some of the secrets of the universe... but the most improtant message of all was simply "learn as much as you can and be as kind as you can to others." There are some things that are indescribable-- ineffiable. Any description of the religious experneices ive had would be, inadequate. You've either had one, or they're complete fucking nonsense. What im saying is--the world of faith is beyond that of experience. It may, or may not be real, but it sure as hell feels like it is.

fsloth 9y ago
"Any description of the religious experneices ive had would be, inadequate. You've either had one, or they're complete fucking nonsense." I've never used drugs, but based on my experience I totally understand the statement that the purely analytic mode of thought does not encompass the whole of human experience. I had a deeply profound sense of being one with the universe as a teenager after a regular session of meditation. I would not say it did anything for my atheism. I believe humans are complex and deep creatures with enormous hidden potential, and these mystical experiences just bring it to the surface. Drugs are not the only way to access mystical experiences, but I certainly don't begrudge their use.
- gerbilly 9y ago
  >I've never used drugs, but based on my experience I totally understand the statement that the purely analytic mode of thought does not encompass the whole of human experience. That's for sure. It's impossible to explain to someone something as mundane how you know how to ride a bike using analytical thought.[1] [1] Witness the endless counter-steering threads on HN.
  - chillwaves 9y ago
    I want to understand counter steering so badly... I think I do on an intuitive level, as I have ridden a motorcycle for years but I just can't wrap my head around the concept.
- oceanghost 9y ago
  For sure. I think there's a lot of evidence that certain meditative states overlap with some psychedelic states. But, have you ever had a fully immersive meditative state? Is that possible?
  - fsloth 8y ago
    I have no idea. I've never had anything 'mystical' happen to me after that.

spiralx 9y ago

> People do things in loops— they go to work every day, come back home every day, hang out with the same people, engage in the same hobbies, think the same thoughts. And bad trips are people stuck in a loop, unable to break out. Which is why the best thing you can do with someone is change their set and setting - move them elsewhere, not take it too seriously, remind them it's just drugs and will be over soon, get them to do something else etc.