Enlightenment
 

I’m semi reluctant to post this one as much piss taking is on the cards!

Anyone had any “quasi spiritual” experiences, be it assisted on drugs or otherwise? If so, what was it like, and what perceptual conclusions do you draw from it?

In March 2007, I had a profound experience, if only for a fortnight or so. I don’t understand it, I can’t recreate it, it didn't fix anything in the longterm, it’s not rational and sounds idiotic, yet it still cuts deep with me years later. Some kind of shift occurred, the depression was gone, I…understood. It remains the most stunning thing that has ever happened to me.

Now I consider myself a rational, atheist, even cynically analytical kinda guy, so looking back I’m inclined to think it was a trick of the brain, a reset mechanism of some sort designed to rescue the host from psychological stress. In other words I went a bit mental and it just so happened to help not hurt. But others have had these experiences and written of them better than I ever could, and there is always that suggestion that maybe, just maybe it was a glimpse of something we're all capable of perceiving at times.

Tolle talks about it, Tyler even talks about it toward the end of the Blueprint I notice. Anyway, I've told all of 2 people (plus you lot) about this, 1 of whom was a shrink who gave me the customary blank look!

PS

Yes, it was reet good.

On a handful of occasions in the past ive had what i and others term as a Moment of Absolute Clarity.

Its a feeling of knowing absolutly everything about everything and feeling intouch with every life form in the world, some people call it a glimpse of God,
it only happens for an instant and apart from knowing its just happened you lose all memory of it.

I recall having them at the most random times, never when drunk or using any form of drugs

Can i explain it.. no

Just googles it here are others examples
http://www.inwardquest.com/questions...solute-clarity

Had a bunch from drugs and some from reading stuff and thinking about it a bit more. Really used to buy into that whole 'enlightenment' bollocks up until a few months ago. For me any kind of enlightenment/satori whatever you wanna call it is just a state or a high and like any state its impermanent and like any high it comes with the inevitable lows. With them your always searching for the next big secret to reveal itself to you or you find yourself searching for the next guru to kiss arse when really everything you ever need to know is in you!

Your here right now living life and thats all you need to do. Who cares if you fuck 2000 women, have kids, become a millionnaire, get super rich and own a speedboat. In 1000 years no one will remember you, and if they do your long dead so what difference does it make.

I dont think theres anything wrong with this kind of thing dude, just dont dwell on it too much and definitley dont consider it 'enlightening'. You were in a bad place and managed to get yourself out of it somehow, massive props to you dude, pat yourself on the back and carry on with your life.

Just consider yourself a guy and leave it at that.

Theres much much much cooler people that talk about it much better too man.

Never had a nano-second of enlightenment.

I sometimes on the other hand (this is gonna sound weird and whenever I try to explain it to someone they dont get it so I just leave it) feel for a very short time that I am disconnected from myself, as if I am looking through my eyes from the view point of someone unfamiliar with who I am. Actually it has not happened for ages but it always used to scare me.

I've had glimpses of it. I'm a keen follower of Tolle's teaching myself. I feel I'm slowly evolving into a new person and I know certainly my closest family members are raising eyebrows about how I am changing.

I had a near death experience from a track motorcycle accident many years back. Long tunnel, bright light, voices, the works.

It really fucked up my atheist world view for a few years. It was incredibly vivid and real. I can still picture and hear it all perfectly to this day, had I not been had a defib before I got to the end of that tunnel I genuinely think I would have died..

I personally think that phenomenon is just a side effect of the brain shutting down due to loss of blood flow etc. It really messed me up for a while though.

Philosophy/drugs have definitely inspired me to use my brain more, and as such I have found changes in the way I think, for the better and occasionally worse. Philosophy guides you to think logically, and question every single axiom of thought we move around on, and drugs similarly aid this by juxtaposing different states of consciousness besides one another.

I have periods when I see clearly, as in I just 'get' life, but all these 'knowing everything' sensations strike me as hallucinations, unless they can be properly translated to something more coherent, like 'self' knowledge etc.

..well, I'm going to struggle with language here to explain it in a relatable way, but it's more like you somehow perceive your own internal tendencies in real time, pulling your strings in a predictable manner, and in perceiving this, they dissolve. You then identify externally out into the world, rather than to your own thoughts. It's not knowledge, it's more like context, you feel your place in nature and relax into that so all concerns cease to exist. The nearest word that captures a flavour of it, is: faith. Simple things become ecstatic, like the falling rain or walking with the ground under your feet. Vapid things like brands and media, lose all of their value because you see the thing, not the ideas overlaid onto the thing. All very weird in retrospect and difficult to explain, but very moving and whether it was in my head or not and whilst life moves on and I'm no longer on a mission to understand it, it will always be with me.

PS

I've heard the old magic mushrooms can provide a very intense and lasting experience. I dug this out on Wikipedia - obviously not a cast iron source but still some interesting warts-and-all info.

I obviously wouldn't recommend this for people with pre existing conditions relating to to depression or other mental health issues as it could likely make them worse.

If you think back 1000s of years ago when we were cavemen, I guess when we got hungry and there were no animals to eat, we would eat these mushrooms wild? Imagine how that would impact civilisation?

I personally have never had one of these experiences, when I think back, I have had highly emotional phases, depression, anxious, immensely happy, even days when I feel kinda fresh, like nothing in the world could phase me. I've had one of those days where you just feel the rain and enjoy the moment (I was a lot younger though). But I don't feel enlightened, and I do wonder what it would feel like. (I Think Jacob in Lost seems like this)

Enlightenment comes from understanding that your entire reality is formed in your brain.

I think you should all just go wash your bowl.

Eye eye, just found your December post about the exact same thing! You're right, I'm riding the Ox whilst looking for the Ox again, so easy to fall into that trap.

PS

I did mushrooms twice never enlightening just felt totally weird like awake but dreaming at the same time.
the second time we went to my mates dads place who'd done a few in his time.
he was painting a picture when I asked him what it was he said "I'm painting my soul"
the funny thing was it actually looked like it could be his soul ;)

wut?


I think these 'moments of clarity' are largely bollocks. No-one here knows the answers to any of the 'big questions', and no-one here has reached nirvana. The little realisations you are all talking about are part of growing up and becoming a more balanced person. Realising that you have to take responsibility for yourself, realising that it's not all going to 'fall into place', realising that that girl isn't going to come over and jumpy your bones etc etc, and then also realising that it's up to you, and no-one else to make these things happen.

So in summary: we're all idiots, liars and children? Well that's a relief, there was me thinking this was something scholars and seekers have grappled with for thousands of years. That Buddha chap must have been a right cunt.

PS

I have to say, there is a big difference. On one hand you have masculine realisation which involves all of the above. You take control of your life and you can do a lot of great things.

On the other you get moments of clarity, where there is no internal dialogue in your mind, you only think in terms only that which is around you

No, I didn't say that at all - strong misinterpretation. I'm just saying that true enlightment comes after a lifetime of meditation and truly being at one with oneself (eg - Gautama Buddha). These little 'moments' that y'all are talking about are just realisations about life - which is good, but come on, "enlightment?" - that's going a little too far don't you think? This is a website for picking up women - I can't imagine there are many even moderate ascetics on here. You yourself suffer from bouts of depression...is that really the hallmark of an enlightened mind?

Sure you did, you came from a charmingly condescending frame. Plus you are projecting the falsehood that I said I am an enlightened mind, just to rubbish that projection with the depression comment, which is a transparent, although likely unconscious method of spin to reinforce your own perspective. Clearly if I still enjoyed the state, I would not be having this conversation which I am already regretting allowing to continue. I just raised that something temporary happened to me for two weeks, which was interesting and suggestive, and which others have experienced too for a very long time, including people involved in self development and on this forum. Had you experienced it you wouldn't put it in remotely the same box as the things you mention, it's not a "nuts and bolts of life with growing pains" type thing...as I say we're not naive just because it sounds a bit spiritual and flighty.

PS

OK maybe we're just arguing over simple terminology. Plus you're reading too much into my posts. i'm simply debating that these 'moments' that people are talking of are examples of 'enlightment'. I, along with everyone else have moments of clarity...but actual 'enlightment' is something totally different - I'm not nearly pretentious enough to considered myself 'enlightened' at all.

I'm not going to suggest a book that you probably won't read, but this bit from wikipedia gives a very quick overview of what 'enlightment' was for the Buddha....it just seems very different from these little moments that people on here seem to be talking about.

Gautama Buddha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

OK so we're climbing out of our entrenched positions, phew. There is room for compromise here. I don't entirely disagree actually, some of these things do not reflect enlightenment although they are still of value, but some truly do reflect a glimpse of it. Just not the permanent article else we wouldn't be having this discussion obviously! But just because you can't relate to it from personal experience, doesn't mean the other is trying to be pretentious or arrogant by describing something that happened to them, that's kind of a projection as people's experiences differ.

PS

Yes I've had this a few times. I look at my hands and it's almost as if they're someone elses.