Insofar as one pays attention to one's own attention during and after one "trips", the grip (habit) of ego-other (self-morethanself) duality reflectively loosens. Recollections from old posts ...Does anyone find that drugs have led them to greater philosophical insights or clarity? Any epiphanies? If so, what were they? (Both the insights and the drugs.) — Xtrix
I spent several years in the 1980s in a purple haze of hallucinogens such as LSD & mushrooms, to name two of the best known, that deconstructed the unity of my self-conscious identity and flirted a little too closely at the time with a schizoid-like break (-down? -through?) which finally scared me back from the (l)edge. Whatever I'd "perceived" in various altered states had not really fascinated me nearly as much as how memories of those "perceptions" assaulted – began to rewire – my ordinary conscious states. I'd become conditioned, I guess, to conceive of 'my self' in different tenses (i.e. a non-unitary past self – present self – future self simultaneously) rather than in the clinically schizoid manner of 'different personalities'. That was/has been quite liberating for me both philosophically and psychologically. — 180 Proof
So, for me, psychoactive-induced [out-of-body experiences] had showed me that, without psychoactives, [suspending the ego] is not only possible to self-induce but more preferable and more holistic. As far as I've discerned, the (intrinsic) benefit of intermitten [suspense of the ego] has been gradually gaining a non-egoic understanding of others' lives and one's life, livelihoods and life-worlds. — 180 Proof
Does anyone find that drugs have led them to greater philosophical insights or clarity? Any epiphanies? — Xtrix
zombified on drugs, especially alcohol. — Jack Cummins
Insofar as one pays attention to one's own attention during and after one "trips", the grip (habit) of ego-other (self-morethanself) duality reflectively loosens. — 180 Proof
I have found that caffeine helps with clear rational thinking and, this was initially through taking caffeine tablets when I was a student. I sometimes took more than the recommended dose and my thoughts were racing. I was using it like a form of speed and it was during this time that I stopped going to church and questioned religion. — Jack Cummins
But, swallowing morning glory seeds was great in the sense that I could see images on the door but was not completely stoned and was able to sketch the images. The biggest problem with morning glory seeds is that they are coated in poison to deter people from eating them. I had stomach ache during the night after taking them and, perhaps, 2 packets of seeds are somewhere inside me still. — Jack Cummins
Absinthe is a bit tempting to try but I am not sure that it such a good idea.. — Jack Cummins
I did find heroin and morphine to provide the best experience of overall wellbeing and peace I've every felt, but there was no concomitant insight or clarity. — Tom Storm
I have one high-CBD strain that seems to facilitate hyper-focus, great for reading and writing. I find I read a little slower, but I really squeeze every last drop of meaning out of every sentence; often I'll anticipate upcoming developments in the text. — Pantagruel
Listening to music (classical) is the only experience that's ever felt transcendent or epiphanic — Tom Storm
listening to music (jazz) — 180 Proof
I also have the music going constantly. Renaissance classical or instrumental jazz. — Pantagruel
Mostly though, for the last +two decades, sober clarity via vigorous activity (e.g. daily walks, frequent hikes, less frequent bike rides) has been the thing that really does it for my head. — 180 Proof
Strong black coffee in the morning, usually half a pot. An IPA or two in the evening. Both paired with a book. Larger amounts of alcohol make me sleepy and irritable. — _db
9/10 times marijuana will give me a panic attack. I experienced a terrifying sort of ego death one time with a concentrate, but it might have been spiked with something else; it was kind of a stupid decision on my part to take it. I'm curious about acid and mushrooms, but I don't know how I would handle it based on my previous experiences. — _db
As far as music goes while under the infleunce, I once was on ecstasy and high on marijuana, and listened to one of Bach's fugues; nearly lost my mind. — Xtrix
Really? Ah, I still love the Beatles. It's cliched, because of all that's been written about them and their general iconic stature, but it's true. Glad you were able to appreciate them at least once. — Xtrix
and Carl Jung is even there in the group picture. — Jack Cummins
I don't hate them, they just never moved me. But I'm not fan of pop or rock music in general. I know almost nothing of my own generation's music except what I was exposed to by osmosis (films, advertisements, etc). — Tom Storm
Does anyone find that drugs have led them to greater philosophical insights or clarity? — Xtrix
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