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Yes, I've also had very powerful demonstrations of the rules no longer applying. And the more my mind tried to fight it, the more explicit and painstaking the d

Yes, I've also had very powerful demonstrations of the rules no longer applying. And the more my mind tried to fight it, the more explicit and painstaking the demonstrations became, until I was forced to submit to a shocking realization (roughly: that I do not, and cannot, know what reality "really" is, and shame on me for having the hubris to so confidently insist otherwise). It would have been very easy for me to ascribe this to something like advanced alien technology, or the simulation hypothesis, or other extraordinarily strange possibilities. From the Buddhist perspective, it is the very nature of mind to demonstrate and teach -- in whatever ways the sentient being requires -- the infinite flexibility and unlimited potential of experience. If one is receptive to it, it can be integrated in a healthy way (much unlike the alien or simulation explanations, IMHO). In my experience, that is why psychedelics are not necessarily appropriate for all people at all times. Would love to hear more about your story, if you feel like sharing.

gavinray 6y ago
> The more my mind tried to fight it, the more explicit and painstaking the demonstrations became, until I was forced to submit to a shocking realization Exact same experience as well. It was like a Gordian Knot -- the worse I struggled, the tighter it squeezed. It's kind of eerie how similar all the variants of this experience I've read online are. > Would love to hear more about your story, if you feel like sharing. Sure. I think it's useful to share things like this so other people don't think they've gone insane/are the only one. Had a long discussion and went into detail on it before here: Initial comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22991744 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22991744 Background story: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22993060 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22993060
- ta1234567890 6y ago
  > Sure. I think it's useful to share things like this so other people don't think they've gone insane/are the only one. The weird/crazy/interesting and scary thing about it, is that many of these things can happen to people without taking any psychedelics. Some people do think they've gone crazy. Related research about persistent non-symbolic experience: https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1031&context=conscjournal https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=...

gavinray 6y ago

> The more my mind tried to fight it, the more explicit and painstaking the demonstrations became, until I was forced to submit to a shocking realization Exact same experience as well. It was like a Gordian Knot -- the worse I struggled, the tighter it squeezed. It's kind of eerie how similar all the variants of this experience I've read online are. > Would love to hear more about your story, if you feel like sharing. Sure. I think it's useful to share things like this so other people don't think they've gone insane/are the only one. Had a long discussion and went into detail on it before here: Initial comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22991744 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22991744 Background story: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22993060 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22993060

ta1234567890 6y ago
> Sure. I think it's useful to share things like this so other people don't think they've gone insane/are the only one. The weird/crazy/interesting and scary thing about it, is that many of these things can happen to people without taking any psychedelics. Some people do think they've gone crazy. Related research about persistent non-symbolic experience: https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1031&context=conscjournal https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=...