Posts by hiddenpuma75

Joseph Bailey41 said:What do you guys think of this? (No Googling, please. 😳)

1. There is a single Mind, but within it, two opposing forces struggle for control.

2. The Mind allows the light in, followed by the darkness, through their constant interaction; this is how time is created. In the end, the Mind grants victory to the light; time stops, and the Mind reaches completion.

3. He alters appearances to create the illusion that time has actually moved forward.

4. Physical matter is essentially malleable when faced with the power of the mind.

5. One by one, he pulls us away from the material world.

6. The Empire never truly fell.

7. The head of Apollo is on the verge of returning. St. Sophia is set to be reborn; she wasn't deemed worthy before. The Buddha is sitting in the park. Siddhartha is sleeping—though he’s about to wake up. The moment you've been waiting for is finally here.

8. The higher realm holds absolute, sovereign power.

9. He lived ages ago, yet he remains alive today.

10. Apollonius of Tyana, writing under the name Hermes Trismegistus, famously noted, "As above, so below." What he was really trying to explain is that our entire universe functions like a hologram, even if he didn't have the modern terminology to describe it.

I can tell it's Philip K. Dick from a mile away.

He actually penned one of the top ten most significant books ever printed, which is

Exegesis 🙏

It’s basically a massive 20,000-page collection of his personal journals and deep insights. 😲

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ex...Philip_K._Dick

Nikola Tesla

When wireless technology is applied perfectly, the entire planet will be transformed into one massive, interconnected brain.

Eric Schmidt:

The Internet is essentially the first thing humanity has ever constructed without actually understanding how it works. It’s easily the most massive experiment in anarchy we've ever attempted.

bluemason3 said:I mean, does it not speak for itself? Either the guy is useless or he’s lost his mind.

The ego always needs some kind of validation. If you can't actually accomplish anything useful, you tell yourself you're important just because you have a certain "vibe" or whatever.😁

Exactly, bluemason3, because that’s precisely how you and your supposedly "objective" ego operate right now.
You spent about fifteen years trekking through India and came up empty-handed.
Nothing but a string of failures.

So, your ego reached its own conclusion:

"If a brilliant, objective guy like me didn't discover some grand truth, then there's nothing left here—just a giant hole in my resume."
It wasn't that my parents were crazy and I was being condescending by thinking they wouldn't understand spirituality; it was something else entirely.

I guess I'll just pivot back to standard materialistic pursuits:

Focusing on a career, finishing school, paying the rent, getting married—all those things I used to look down on, but now suddenly find quite valuable.
==

Look, bluemason3, I get it, but Aesop covered this ages ago in the fable about the fox and the sour grapes.😉

The reality is simple: you couldn't reach the grapes, so now you're telling everyone the grapes are sour and that it's a waste of time to even try to pick them.

👋

Reading what the "father of the internet" has to say about his child today really brings me back. It makes me reflect on this exact topic that I first brought up years ago—back when I was much younger, much more handsome, and significantly more naive. 🙂

The recent deep dive by *The Economist* regarding the revolving door between Washington’s regulatory agencies and the massive corporations they oversee is honestly a bit sobering. It lays out a pattern that many of us have suspected for years: the lines between the people writing the rules and the people profiting from them are becoming increasingly blurred. It isn't just about a few rogue individuals looking for a payday; it's about a systemic loop where high-level officials move from government roles straight into lucrative lobbying positions at firms like Goldman Sachs or Lockheed Martin, only to circle back into policy advisory roles later. This "insider" culture creates a feedback loop that can prioritize corporate interests over the public good, often without anyone even realizing how much influence is being traded behind closed doors. While it’s easy to get cynical, reading this makes you realize that the issue isn't just "corruption" in the Hollywood sense—it’s more subtle and structural. It’s about how expertise is commodified. When the person regulating an industry is the same person who spent a decade running a division within that industry, can we truly expect impartial oversight? I find myself wondering if there's any realistic way to break this cycle without fundamental legislative reform. We talk a lot about transparency, but knowing that the revolving door exists doesn't necessarily stop the door from spinning. It’s a complex, messy reality of American governance that deserves far more scrutiny than it currently gets.

It’s actually pretty interesting to see that he isn't exactly thrilled with his son—or daughter, for that matter. 🤔 ...or perhaps even some kind of gender-neutral being altogether.

With an abundance of charts that—let’s be honest—probably won't impress anyone else, this is my attempt at diving deep into the massive complications currently facing the website.

How do you all view this whole situation through a philosophical, sociological, and cognitive-behavioral lens? 🙄 It’s all about perspective...

If you ask me, isn't the title of this thread and those first two introductory posts—especially those specific points made by hiddenpuma75 in posts 12 and 15—all pointing toward the same thing?

It’s nothing short of genius. 🙂

Ryan Wilson2 said:

hiddenpuma75 As stated by:
Personally, I don't claim membership to either side, as I clearly don't fit neatly into one category or the other—even if I find certain elements of both paths appealing. But calling me a hypocrite? That is a stretch. Simply because I don't belong exclusively to one camp, or because I find myself navigating the space between them, does not make my position insincere. 😁 .

After a few whiskeys and some beers, I start feeling like Jehovah himself—and that’s exactly when I begin passing judgment on everyone else. 🤣

Which path holds more merit? Is it more logical to embrace a state of perpetual inquiry—to remain unattached, to admit my own ignorance, and to relentlessly investigate while maintaining a healthy distrust of everyone I encounter? Or is it simply more honest to admit that I am captivated by the curves and the undeniable vibe of Ms. RHP and Ms. LHP? 😁

Ladies remain universal, regardless of the path one chooses to follow. 🧐

When one takes the time to look at this sociologically, you’re positioning yourself as RHP—but does that logic hold up when we try to dissect every single domain of human existence into a binary of LHP versus RHP? 🤔
Is it truly too harsh to call you a hypocrite? You claim certain principles, yet you aren't an LHP or an independent entrepreneur. Instead, you chose the path of least resistance by conforming to societal norms, taking a corporate job, and remaining RHP-subservient to an employer.

It isn't hypocrisy; I discuss this matter quite openly myself. One simply has to adapt if they intend to survive.

In my estimation, this leans much more toward being an FMP matter—or perhaps even closer to the Flexible Magich Path.

In many respects, Komaj embodies the very essence of LHP, yet he maintains two, three, or perhaps even four wives along with an indeterminate number of children—a reality that, in my estimation, firmly categorizes him as RHP.

Komaja loves women... that would be the KVŽ path. 🤣 It has absolutely nothing to do with LHP. The man just has an insatiable appetite for attention from women, and frankly, that sums up his entire character perfectly.

When exactly did you "consciously" decide to embrace LHP as your sole path? If you could elaborate on that turning point, I would appreciate it.

It is difficult to accept this as the sole path forward. In fact, it is largely impossible—unless, of course, you possess enough wealth to ensure you aren't beholden to the whims of society.

It never occurred to me to consider the connection between LHP and parenthood. In my mind, the primary association with the Left-Hand Path has always been the active, rigorous practice of magic itself—not whether or not one has children. It strikes me as a curious oversight. I find myself genuinely wondering: what is the actual percentage of practitioners within the LHP who are parents? Is there an inherent contradiction there, or am I simply overlooking a fundamental aspect of the lifestyle? 🤔

Kids consume an enormous amount of your daily bandwidth. Is it even feasible to maintain a dedicated magical practice when you have children in the house? Can you honestly tell them, "I am performing various rituals for the next thirty minutes, so please do not disturb me"?

because... Buddhists and Catholics follow the RHP, and they essentially advise those walking that path to avoid having partners or children altogether.🤔

The reality is that nobody actually follows that path to its absolute extreme, so that specific requirement is... well, it's just enough to wedge itself into your psyche and take advantage of your doubts.

I have to disagree when it comes to Smith (George Washington). I don't think it's fair to say he isn't LHP in that sense.
To me, LHP represents a path that weaves together true self-reliance, magic, and a refusal to just follow the herd. It’s about standing against the mainstream, which, at its core, feels like the ultimate hero's journey.
Smith and his little club share quite a few characteristics with the LHP.

Look, they don't really follow classic magic as a strict methodology. Instead, they’ve essentially mashed together various RHP techniques. But if you look at it from a purely political standpoint, George Washington and Smith are pure LHP through and through.
Besides, who exactly is this political bureau deciding what qualifies as "true" magic, or distinguishing between LHP and RHP practices? Honestly, his success across so many different fronts is proof enough—that’s pure magic right there. Sure, maybe it doesn't fit the textbook definition of LHP magic or the usual way people talk about it, but make no mistake: it is magic.

Aleister Crowley does a brilliant job of breaking down how the original Jesus was actually the ultimate embodiment of LHP. He lays it all out perfectly in his masterpiece. I’ve been spending quite a bit of time lately diving deep into the philosophy behind the Left Hand Path, and I feel like there's a lot to unpack regarding how we navigate our own individual sovereignty. It isn't just about rebellion for the sake of being difficult; it’s a much more structured, intentional way of looking at the self versus the divine. When you look at the traditional religious frameworks most people grow up with, the focus is almost always on submission—surrendering your will to God to find peace or salvation. But the Left Hand Path flips that script entirely. Instead of seeking to dissolve the ego into a greater whole, the goal here is to strengthen the ego, to refine it, and eventually to elevate it to a god-like status through sheer willpower and self-knowledge. It’s a heavy concept, I know. I sometimes catch myself overthinking the nuances, wondering if I'm being too analytical when I should just be experiencing the practice. But that's part of the journey, right? Finding that balance between intellectual rigor and raw, lived experience. There is a certain beauty in the idea of becoming your own master. It’s not about chaos; it’s about order—but an order that you define for yourself rather than one imposed upon you by an external authority. It requires a level of discipline that many find uncomfortable, but for those who crave true autonomy, it’s the only path worth walking.

Jesus combined magic into his life; he didn't have a partner because he was LHP. 😁 He was a true hero who stood up against the establishment and the Matrix of that era, which is exactly why they had to take him out.

Politics, organized religion, and two millennia of sheer momentum have stripped him down. They’ve taken what was once an authentic, raw LHP figure and turned him into this pathetic, mainstream version of Jesus—just another face in the crowd, stuck in Sunday services and watered-down rituals. It feels like he's been diluted from being 90% LHP into nothing more than a standard, RHP caricature.

Ryan Wilson2 said:I am not quite sure how to explain this to you gently.

One cannot simply be "a little bit left" and "a little bit right." In my view, that is nothing short of hypocritical.
It would be like deciding to be a Buddhist one day, a Telematist the next, then a Wiccan, then a partisan, then a fascist... essentially, just drifting according to whatever whim takes hold in the moment.

In my estimation, the right-hand path is "easier" because it allows you to conform to society. No one practicing LHP can maintain a relationship with a woman for whom childbearing and family life are the ultimate purpose. And let’s be honest—that is the reality for almost everyone.

So, there it is... I won't dwell on it any further.😁

Personally, I don't really claim a side. It’s not that I’m strictly one or the other, even though I can definitely appreciate certain aspects of both paths. Calling me a hypocrite feels like a bit of a stretch just because I haven't picked a camp or because I'm still wandering around somewhere in between. 😁 Is it more logical to embrace being an outsider—someone who admits they don't have all the answers, keeps searching, stays skeptical of everyone, and digs deep into the truth? Or is it more sensible to just admit that I’m completely distracted by the curves and the vibe of Ms. RHP and Ms. LHP? 😁

It’s pretty obvious to me now that because I worked for myself for so long, I was essentially a "sociological LHP." Being a freelancer meant I was always my own boss, but it also meant I was an outsider looking in—a bit of a loner navigating life on my own terms. Even today, I still carry that same sociological mindset, though I’ve actually added a new pursuit, let's call it activity X, which feels very similar to where my journey first began. On a spiritual level, however, I’ve been blending both paths together. Though, I have to admit—and I'll say it again—I honestly haven't the slightest clue which part of my experience qualifies as RHP and which is LHP.

Imagine if you had just been an employee at some big corporation instead of striking out on your own as an entrepreneur.
If we take a sociological look at things, you’re clearly coming from an RHP perspective here. But it makes me wonder—can we really slice every single aspect of life into this LHP versus RHP dichotomy? 🤔
Is it too harsh of me to call you a hypocrite? You aren't exactly an LHP or an independent entrepreneur; instead, you’ve conformed to society by working a corporate job and being RHP-subservient to an employer.
==

So, I take it you're a strict Catholic then? 😁 And monogamy? You’re implying that I can't be in a relationship where I love both the Buddhist lady (RHP) and the free spirit (LHP). It sounds like you're suggesting an open marriage or an open relationship is some kind of oxymoron.

In many ways, Komaj is clearly an LHP, but given that he’s got two, three, or even four wives—not to mention I can't even keep track of how many kids he has—I suppose that puts him firmly in the RHP category in your eyes.

I was wondering if you could elaborate a bit on when exactly you made the "conscious" decision to embrace LHP as your sole path? I'd love to hear more about that transition.

If you ask me, following the RHP path is definitely the easier route because you’re actually playing by the rules of society. It’s much smoother. Honestly, someone who identifies as LHP just can't sustain a long-term relationship with a woman whose entire world revolves around having kids and starting a family. I know, I know—forgive my bluntness here—but it’s just the reality of the situation. Almost every time, it's the same story.

And that’s pretty much where I'll leave it... I won't go on about it any further. 😁

I see where you're coming from... if you want to look at it sociologically, RHP...
I’ve honestly never given much thought to the connection between LHP and having children. For me, the primary association with the Left Hand Path is the active, intentional practice of magic itself—it doesn't immediately strike me as being tied to whether someone has kids or not. I’d actually be quite curious to know what the percentage of parents looks like within LHP circles. Is there a significant overlap, or is it more of a contradiction? 🤔
So, walking the LHP path while also deciding to have kids... that's quite the balancing act, isn't it? 🤔

I mean, look at it this way... Buddhists and Catholics are both essentially following the RHP, yet they’re out here telling people on that path that they shouldn't even bother with a partner or having kids. It's a bit of a contradiction, isn't it? 🤔

Joseph Bailey41 said:I get it now. A person has two hands, and it would be pretty foolish to only use one while keeping the other just for wiping your ass. 🤣

An inflated ego needs to perceive something as being "difficult" just so it can feel like it’s actually accomplishing something meaningful. 😁

You're just messing with me.
But honestly, war is just such a heavy thing to wrap your head around. It’s truly difficult.

So, Buddha RHP says that spirituality is actually a war. A WAR!!!

Nineteen out of twenty people—myself included, on occasion—tend to fall into the trap of thinking spirituality is something purely beautiful and fluffy, much like the feeling of being head over heels in love.
I mean, there’s just something about that certain... vibe. Go ahead, feel free. I’m being sensible here—unlike those old-fashioned Catholics who just sit around talking nonsense.

Spirituality can be such a mixed bag. Take the Komaj family, for example—it’s all this eclectic, free-flowing conversation that feels really welcoming and friendly. And then, wouldn't you know it, they throw some excitement and sex into the mix too. Hurrah!
Well, I don't know about you all, but if you ask Dragan and Franja - Komaj, they’ll tell you it isn't exactly a "sex rat" situation. 😁

It looks like Dragan and Franja - Komaj actually took things to court, suing Catholics just to prove they aren't Satanists! 🤣 Man, they really have declared total war on them. 😛

According to the LHP perspective, Komaj is actually considered LHP and "Satanism" itself.
Of course, I’m not suggesting that the Komaj group is "satanic" in the casual, everyday sense of the word. However, let's be clear: the Komaj association is strictly LHP.

I’m only bringing up Komaj to point out that when people join this group, the last thing on their minds is heading off to some battlefield. They don't realize that, at its core, Komaj is essentially an LHP community. Instead, 99% of the members seem to think they're embarking on a path that promises nothing but the absolute best—as if they're getting a little bonus package of spiritual enlightenment and great sex on top of it all. 😁 It’s not like we’re talking about some rigid Catholic standard or that typical RHP sense of chastity...

===

There’s just no war, no blood, no sweat, and no tears in spirituality anymore—at least according to what people call "modern spirituality" or even the way things seem to be going on this forum lately.

Let’s be honest, does Buddha RHP actually resort to hate speech? Because if he did, he’d be facing an immediate spiritual banishment right here and now. 😉

War? Please. If you ask any twenty out of twenty postmodern spiritualists or "new age" gurus—Joseph Bailey41 included—they’ll tell you that spirituality isn't about conflict at all. 🙂

Andrew White6 said:Is it really everyone? Does this whole individualistic, subjective doctrine pull people in simply because they all feel exactly the same?

I'm being completely serious here. I once had this online correspondent who I’d just spin fairy tales to, and in return, he’d spend all his time regaling me with stories about all these shadowy, dangerous organizations he used to run around with.

Joining typically dangerous or obscure organizations seems to be the standard operating procedure for the "spiritual right." In reality, it’s often the only way they feel they can authentically walk that path.

"Quote:"

It’s all just a bunch of trapezoids, floor tiles, Egyptian deities, dragons, and whatnot.

Anti-nominalism tends to manifest in all sorts of different ways, really shifting based on the individual practitioner and whatever specific needs they're facing in any given moment.

He’s a sweet guy, an American man in his sixties. I used to mess with him every once in a while just to keep him on his toes, but honestly, I eventually just got bored of it. 🤣

What one person considers to be LHP doesn't necessarily mean it holds that same label for everyone else.

I still haven't quite cracked the code on how one actually achieves immortality through self-isolation. It sounds like an intriguing prospect on paper... maybe. But honestly? I think even that would start to feel pretty repetitive after about 900 years, tops.

The idea of relative or subjective immortality feels like a much more grounded goal than the afterlife promised by traditional religions—especially when you take those literal interpretations, like the concept of a "physical resurrection," at face value. To me, it all comes down to one fundamental distinction: objective time and our internal perception of time are two entirely different beasts.

Could we please get a bit more specific here?
Give me an example.

Is meditation considered LHP or RHP?

The RHP famous Michael Aquino http://www.the600club.com/dir/ubbthr.../view/0/page/1

as a pure LHPa, claims he’s never meditated because he finds it boring. He gave it a shot and quickly moved on. (The link won't automatically show you his posts like it does for me since I'm logged in, but with a little digging, you can find his insights on just about everything. Literally. He's written on everything from comic books and cars to his favorite music, to deep explanations of consciousness and what happens when we leave this physical body... It's incredibly instructive and valuable stuff coming from a top LHPa exponent 👍)

On the other hand, Buddha teaches that without meditation, nothing can truly be realized. Without achieving self-realization through meditation, all the LHP and RHP talk is basically like a chicken sitting in an egg wondering what the world looks like outside the shell.

Of course, for an LHP-ist, Buddha is just RHP, so where does that leave us? 🤷

Ryan Wilson2 said:It all sounds wonderful, absolutely idyllic... in theory. I know, because I’ve been studying this for over twenty years.

The Left Hand Path is an incredibly grueling journey. You are essentially condemned to solitude unless you happen to stumble upon a partner who actually understands what you're doing (which, in America, is a near impossibility).
In your twenties, this whole concept feels convenient. You go out, you act cool, you have a little job and some decent hair 🤣.

It feels magnificent, right? It’s trendy, it’s profound, and you feel quite proud of being "detached" from society—feeling independent and unique.

But then, suddenly, your forties hit. By then, you’ve truly grasped the reality of things. You’ve experienced that profound detachment from the universe, and as you observe the people around you, you see them moving like puppets on strings. And yet... you haven't had the luck of finding a partner.
You end up on a forum and read people posting about various topics; you want to believe they are being sincere, but... this is a forum. Everyone acts like a genius, living their lives as if they were mere side characters in some video game, offering opinions on the entire cosmos while being as empty as... interstellar space. 😁

Are you truly prepared to dive into life carrying that specific philosophy? 😉

Could you be a bit more specific?

For instance, throughout my own life, I've walked both paths—left and right—even if, at the time, I didn't consciously realize I was navigating them that way. I just explored everything...

It wasn't until much later that I realized there was a "theoretical distinction" between the two, and that certain practices, actions, and ideas of mine were firmly on the "Left-Hand Path," while others aligned with the "Right-Hand Path."

What really stands out to me in your post is your comment about it being an "incredibly difficult path..."

Because, from where I'm sitting, there shouldn't be a distinction in difficulty; any spiritual path should be challenging by its very nature.

Am I missing something here? It feels like you might be implying that the "Right-Hand Path" is inherently easier than the "Left-Hand Path" by default.

quietfox384 said:Have you actually even bothered to read this subforum lately?

Well, I’ve been lurking around here for 18 years now, and if my impression holds true, most of the time—the appeal just gets denied.

Morgan Rodriguez57 said:I’ve actually had my appeals approved a few times now, literally. 😍

Could you be a bit more specific? I'd love to hear about the case or two, or even just a link if you have one. How would you estimate your success rate 😁? .
Just curious—roughly how many appeals have you filed versus how many were actually granted?

1. I’ve been contributing to this community for 18 years now, and I've started quite a few threads over that time.
(way to go hiddenpuma75 :clap🙂

2. To be honest, I don't think I've ever actually had a grievance upheld here regarding the site's policies.😲 (Like when threads get locked or other administrative actions take place.)

3. It honestly feels like 99.98% of user complaints are just brushed off with some formal excuse—it seems like there isn't much genuine effort to help because sticking to the rules is just easier for them.

4. I’d love it if you guys could use this thread to report any instances where a complaint was actually taken seriously and resolved in your favor. I’m trying to figure out if my impression is right and if these successes are actually rare. How many times have you filed a complaint, and what’s your success rate?

5. By the way, I do remember one time where a complaint was actually upheld, but it was such a specific situation that I still ended up feeling slighted in a different way.

6. Back then, moderator druid closed and deleted a thread in a way that prevented the admins from even reconstructing it. (I’m not entirely sure what the mods' technical permissions are, but that’s how it went down.)

7. The admins eventually apologized to me, and moderator druid was removed from his position, but the thread itself was gone for good.😢

ruggedraven36 said:What does it even matter what the most important thing in quantum physics is?

Well, it matters because if you could actually pinpoint the single most important interpretation of quantum mechanics,
you’d have to explain how urbanwalker72 finds it all so clear when even a Nobel laureate like Feynman famously claimed that nobody truly understands quantum physics.🤔

Our learned colleague urbanwalker72 offered a subtle, pedagogical nudge to hiddenpuma75—something he likely didn't realize was actually quite profound.

urbanwalker72 said:You're losing your edge and starting to entertain nonsense. I don't see how interpretations have anything to do with theory. Interpretations are just philosophy; physics itself is straightforward.

Well, hiddenpuma75 fired back, and his response serves as the perfect gateway to this massive topic.
==

Honestly, this question is so vital it deserves its own dedicated thread. My fingers are practically itching to start one myself, even though I’m currently lagging behind on my actual paid writing assignments.

To me—and hopefully to many others who aren't quite seeing what you see—could you please walk us through your logic?

Look, if physics is so "straightforward," then why does that very clarity come with about a dozen different interpretations? 🤔
If it were truly settled, there would be one single, clear interpretation.

=====

Could someone—anyone else besides me—please post that diagram showing all the various quantum physics interpretations? A single image really does say more than a thousand forum posts... 🙂

For instance, here is my little illustration of that famous quantum concept known as
Schrödinger's cat (the one stuck in a box where we can't tell if it's alive or dead).



And now, hiddenpuma75 is calling on urbanwalker72 to finally reveal the long-held secret.

1)
I’ve been a regular on this forum for 17 years now.

2) For the first time ever, I’ve had an obsessive follower—someone who seems dedicated to shutting down my threads and posts (specifically moderator Bill Belichick)—penalize one of my posts in the "PDF Magic and Mysticism" section, even though he doesn't actually moderate that area.😲

3) I was actually under a ban for a little while starting this morning, but it looks like that’s been lifted.

4) The problem is, there hasn't been any explanation or apology offered; just total silence...

5) On a psychological level, I think I understand what's happening, but from a bureaucratic standpoint, I’m confused. Does a moderator really have the right to harass a user across different sections of the forum just because of some personal grudge?

1) I’d like to point out that the administrator hasn't even bothered to respond to my appeal. All we got was a comment from a moderator, but if you actually read what I wrote, you'll see there wasn't even a mention of prayer in there at all.

2. Why is the administrator staying silent?

3) If you ask me, it's because they don't want to admit the moderator made a blatant mistake, so they're choosing to stay quiet... which is a pretty "wise" move on their part, I suppose.

4) I should also mention that this is now the third time a thread I've put a lot of effort into has been shut down by a moderator. It feels less like rule enforcement and more like personal bias against the author—essentially a classic case of the big bad wolf picking on the little lamb.

feralranger said:...so you're suggesting this is nothing more than a hallucination...

Is there actually a coherent—meaning logical, substantive, and worthy of serious contemplation—argument to be made that experiences of this nature represent something "more" than just a simple hallucination?

(I'm in a huge rush, so I'll keep this brief and a bit surface-level.)

Yes.
I tried explaining this in my previous post, but you didn't quite catch my drift and are still stuck on your own perspective.
The proof that these aren't hallucinations was actually developed by Monroe.
If two people encounter the exact same phenomenon—one that is consistently new every single time—completely independent of one another,
and they both provide detailed descriptions of the "entities" they met,
then clearly, we aren't talking about hallucinations.
It’s not like they just smoked some weed and started feeling good.

Monroe actually measured this.
He looked at: a) whether they both entered the state,
b) if he interviewed them separately to see what they encountered,
c) and if they independently reported meeting someone like Louis,
who then told them that consciousness possesses seven distinct abilities, then obviously, acting like a detective, you have to draw a conclusion.

d) Now, if one person meets Louis and the other meets Hegel, who keeps repeating the thesis + antithesis = synthesis formula, then we can't be certain.

But if they both describe the exact same encounter to a detective like Sisyphus, then Sisyphus has to conclude:

a) either they are both incredibly convincing liars, in which case you'd have to figure out their motive,
b) or there really is an entity named Louis that they encountered, who repeatedly claims consciousness has seven abilities, and this isn't just some hallucination triggered by weed or LSD...

If a hallucination starts talking back to you and communicating, it isn't a hallucination anymore.

For instance, I have a hallucination right now, and I'm communicating with an entity named Sisyphus.

IS SISYPHUS REAL OR IS HE A HALLUCINATION?🤔 😛

HOW DO I PROVE THIS ISN'T A DREAM AND THAT SISYPHUS IS ACTUALLY REAL?
What kind of arguments would Sisyphus, the Wandas, and everyone in every country actually accept?

Besides,
WHAT EVEN IS REALITY, SISYPHUS?
WHAT IS YOUR PROOF?
And why do people write petitions instead of "petitions" for miracles?

🤔

In keeping with our good old tradition, let’s dive into a bit of a digression within a digression.
It’s easy to get lost in a topic as massive as this—trying to pin down what actually matters, why it carries weight, and where that essence is hiding in the first place. It's a lot to unpack.
Here I’ve been thinking quite a bit about our recent discussions regarding the nature of reality and whether we are truly "awake" or just drifting through a carefully constructed dream. It’s a heavy topic, I know, but one that keeps coming back to me. I was reading some older thoughts from hiddenpuma75, and it really got my gears turning. There is this persistent idea that we are all essentially performing a cosmic dance without knowing the music. It’s a bit humbling, isn't it? To think that everything we perceive—the streets of Chicago, the skyline of New York, even the very ground beneath our feet—might just be a projection of a much deeper, more complex consciousness. I sometimes feel like Sisyphus, pushing the boulder of understanding up a hill, only to have it roll right back down the moment I think I've grasped a fundamental truth. It’s frustrating, sure, but there’s a certain beauty in the struggle itself. If we aren't meant to solve the puzzle entirely, then perhaps the point is simply to enjoy the process of trying. I'd love to hear what the rest of you think. Are we players in a grand simulation, or is there something more organic, more "real," happening behind the curtain? Don't be shy—I promise my theories aren't *too* out there... usually.
It looks like we’ve finally arrived at the heart of the matter: consciousness.

That’s why I’ve decided to start a dedicated thread—let’s call it a workspace of sorts.

Does astral projection actually prove mind-body dualism?
Well, let's move the conversation over here. 🙂

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To get us started, I’ll share one of my own posts—one that I like to think was written with a certain level of grace, backed by solid facts, and infused with a genuinely good sense of style.

hiddenpuma75 said:What if neuroscience eventually hits a wall where it's forced to confront truths that simply don't fit its current models? It’s a nagging thought of mine—what happens when the data starts pointing toward realities that the entire field is fundamentally unwilling to acknowledge? There might come a point where the science itself needs to hear things that make everyone uncomfortable, yet right now, it feels like there's a collective reluctance to even listen.

If you gave me the chance to run a simple little experiment on myself—one where the duration depended entirely on my own willpower and interest—I’d be tempted to dive in. Depending on how I felt, it could last five minutes, an hour, a full day, or even an entire lifetime.

Since you’re a scientist and a thinker, I’m sure you’re just as captivated by the ultimate mystery of existence as I am—consciousness. I’m betting you won't mind diving into this one with me.

Alright, let’s get things moving with some links.

3) This is the wiki dedicated to Robert Monroe.

If you haven't spent much time looking into the life and work of Robert Monroe, you’re missing out on one of the most fascinating figures in modern American consciousness studies. He wasn't just some guy interested in the "unexplained"; he was a pioneer who turned subjective experiences into a structured field of study. Most people know him through his books, which dive deep into the mechanics of out-of-body experiences and altered states. What I find most compelling about his journey is how he moved from being a successful, pragmatic businessman to someone who could navigate the most profound reaches of the human psyche. It wasn't just "woo-woo" mysticism for him—he approached it with a certain level of rigor that felt almost scientific, despite how unconventional the subject matter was. He essentially mapped out a territory that most of us are too afraid or too distracted to even look at. His work suggests that our physical reality is just one layer of a much larger, much more complex existence. Whether you believe his theories or view them as pure speculation, there's no denying that he provided a vocabulary for experiences that, until he came along, people struggled to describe without sounding completely lost. It’s worth taking the time to dig into his legacy. Even if you approach it with a healthy dose of skepticism, the sheer depth of his exploration is genuinely impressive.

Here he is over on YouTube. I’ve been sitting here thinking about that video, and I have to admit, it really stirred something up in me. It’s one of those pieces that sticks to your ribs, isn't it? There’s a certain weight to the ideas being presented—a gravity that makes you want to pause, take a breath, and just process everything. I found myself leaning in, trying to wrap my head around the implications of what was being said. It wasn't just information; it felt more like an invitation to look at things from a completely different angle, perhaps even a slightly uncomfortable one. I know I might be overthinking this (classic me, right?), but there’s something profoundly moving about the way the narrative unfolds. It challenges the usual assumptions we carry around like heavy luggage. Instead of just accepting the surface level, the video pushes you to dig a little deeper, to ask the "why" behind the "what." It’s definitely not something you just watch and forget while grabbing a coffee. You have to sit with it. I’m curious to hear what the rest of you think—did it hit you as hard as it hit me, or am I just being overly dramatic today?

5) This is his discovery, distilled down to its absolute essence.

He was a businessman through and through, but in the eyes of the world, he was this strange cocktail of hiddeneagle98 and Apemant. He was that classic type—someone who was incredibly sharp and driven by material reality, yet carried himself with the skeptical, agnostic air of a true intellectual.
I’ve had a few spontaneous astral projections happen in a row over the last several evenings. Essentially, an astral projection is that experience where your spirit—or maybe your soul, or even just your consciousness—detaches from your physical body, whether you intended for it to happen or not.

So, he spent the night wandering—or rather, drifting through the astral plane. 😲 It was like I was hovering somewhere nearby, yet at the exact same moment, I could look straight down and see my own body just lying there, deep in a peaceful sleep. 😲

Of course, he was absolutely floored by it. 😲

Of course, people are going to be skeptical when they hear about things like wands or apemantis in America—it’s only natural. So, I have to ask: what’s your gut reaction while you're reading this? Does it all sound like pure science fiction or just complete nonsense to you? And honestly, have you ever even heard of anything like this before?

He’s essentially the quintessential skeptical entrepreneur—someone who just couldn't ignore his own firsthand experiences. He ended up founding his own institute, which has since evolved over the years into a legitimate research center dedicated to studying astral projection phenomena.

9) She actually touched on that recently—both her and Quinn—but honestly, I doubt anyone else even noticed. It probably just went right over everyone's heads, myself included, given how much I tend to miss the subtle stuff.

Look, at the end of the day, his work—and the research conducted by his colleagues—serves as rock-solid, scientifically documented proof. It completely dismantles the hypothesis that a mere two pounds of meat (the brain) is solely responsible for the phenomenon we call consciousness. Your theory just doesn't hold up against the data.

Of course, the brain serves as that essential interface—the bridge connecting our visible reality to the invisible dimensions of existence.
So, I’d say your materialistic take is actually partially correct.

The idea that the brain is solely responsible for everything—that this two-pound mass of biological tissue acts as the sole engine producing what we call consciousness—is a flawed hypothesis. It just doesn't hold up when you look at how convincingly and verifiably Robert Monroe demonstrates otherwise.

Louis claims that during his astral projection experiences, he actually made contact with certain "entities" that helped clarify some things for him.

12) Even Wand and Apemant weigh in, claiming they don't buy it and dismissing the whole thing as pure fantasy.

13) And honestly, fair enough—even Robert Monroe didn't claim to be a true believer himself.

14) He actually designed those isolated isolation tanks (the equipment) specifically to test what happens when two people undergo an astral projection at the same time.
He would monitor whether they were truly in an astral state and then interview them separately to see if they encountered the exact same things.

15) If two people, completely independent of one another, encounter the same beings and phenomena, then there has to be a reality (a dimension or a field) that exists entirely INDEPENDENTLY of our 3D world.
That’s how Robert Monroe managed to satisfy the skepticism of folks like Kren and Apemant within his own research.

16) There was actually a scientist working at the institute (a NASA physicist) who held a view very similar to yours.

You can check out his video right here:

And he wrote this absolutely fascinating 824-page book 😲 about his work at the Monroe Institute—which, naturally, I happen to own.🙂

https://www.amazon.com/My-Big-TOE-Co.../dp/0972509461

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At any rate, astral projection provides compelling, verifiable evidence that our body and brain act like a car, where the driver is both "outside" (non-local, or as Sheldrake calls it, the morphogenetic field) and "inside" the brain (local).😉

Your argument is the exact opposite: you're saying the car (the brain/body) drives itself—that it's both the vehicle and the driver, we just haven't figured out the mechanics yet.

You're suggesting that once the car breaks down (the body dies), everything simply stops because there is no driver left.

But the work from Robert Monroe and his institute suggests that when the car breaks down, the car stops and gets scrapped, but the driver "unplugs" and moves into a different car to start driving all over again.😉

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So, it's really up to you how you want to look at it.
You can spend five minutes pondering this while you read, or you can spend a day, or even your whole life on it.

Your choice.

👋

For anyone from the future stumbling upon this thread, I'll just say this topic is linked to the discussion on

why certain things matter, and you can find it here:

And so, our posts regarding astral projection begin on this day, May 18, 2017.

Before we dive into the movie, I really feel like we should talk about the book it’s based on!

I recently finished reading "The Shack," which has gone on to sell over 20 million copies worldwide.
The author is an American, William P. Young, who is a father of six. He even traveled to Washington, D.C. as part of his book tour. 🙂

What’s truly fascinating is that he originally wrote this just for his friends, printing only about 15 copies because he simply wanted to share his personal vision of God with his children.
They absolutely loved it and were actually the ones who convinced him to try and get it published.
Believe it or not, 26 different publishers turned him down! 😲

In the end, he decided to publish it himself, and the success was unlike anything anyone could have predicted.
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Now, some might roll their eyes and say, "Oh, great, just another bestseller."

But honestly, in my opinion, this is one of the most profound books ever written regarding God and the problem of suffering. It uses such simple, compelling language to explore the encounter between humanity and the Divine, revealing what God is actually like.

The story tackles the ultimate question: where is God when we are suffering? The protagonist is grappling with the violent loss of his daughter, and in his deep disappointment, he encounters God in a very unconventional way and finds solace.
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Have any of you read this book?
What kind of impact did it leave on you or your worldview?
Even if you identify as an atheist or an agnostic, did the story change your perspective in any way
regarding suffering, the existence of evil, or the nature of God?

(To be continued...
I'll share my thoughts on the film next time!)