Opium Den

befee says:
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Nothing worth having comes through some slow, "natural," and "safe" process (especially NOT safe???) If you want actual consciousness expansion, you have to be at 100% risk. You only outgrow your old self when you’re ready to sacrifice everything. This isn't knitting socks...

Look, if you honestly believe sexual abuse, near-death experiences, emotional trauma, existential dread, or psychological shock are "safe," "natural," or easy—and totally risk-free compared to the trips you get from, say, mushrooms, LSD, or heroin—then fine. Whatever.

All I'm saying is that whatever high you hit on drugs, someone else can experience just by living. You just live your life and observe yourself within it. If you actually have the balls for that.
A chance to confront your own emotions and face the dark basement of your psyche can happen while you're just standing in line at the DMV paying your bills😁.
Opportunities to settle scores with yourself pop up every single day.

P.S. A lot of people think I'm likable, but don't let that fool you. And that has nothing to do with this topic. 😉

Paul Campbell3 said:befee says:

P.S. A lot of people think I'm pretty likable, but don't let that fool you. And honestly, this has nothing to do with what we were talking about. 😉

I'm a bit confused why you're replying to my comment meant for Parsifal...

...everything you're saying makes sense, but it's not exactly groundbreaking...
you're trying to be both sincere and "too cool to care"—which is understandable, but those two things rarely go together. Plus, again, it's totally off-topic...

If you really are as charming as you say, then suddenly you're a little less charming to me...😉 (Oops... clearly I won't be winning any awards for being the most enlightened person on this forum...😁

Paul Campbell3 said:-anything that can be achieved through chemical means can also be attained through spiritual techniques!!

I would humbly request that you share whatever specific technique you possess for feeling high without using Ganja, because I would quite dearly love to experience that euphoria without actually having to smoke, thereby enjoying the sensation while completely bypassing all those unpleasant side effects...

...everything you’re saying is fine, I guess, but nothing special...
You want to be honest but also "cool"? Good luck with that—those two things don't exactly play nice together. Besides, that has absolutely zero to do with what we're talking about here.

I could say the exact same thing about everything you just wrote—nothing special. It sounds just like every other story from people who have experimented with drugs.

Look, I'm not trying to be difficult; I'm just trying to offer a different perspective. Because clearly, everyone who has messed around with drugs treats it like this massive, once-in-a-lifetime thing that sets them apart from the rest of us "normal" people. (Maybe I misread you, but that's honestly the vibe I get from your posts on this topic).

But seriously, explain one thing to me: why does every single user defend their experiences with such insane intensity?
What's even the point?

It really makes me wonder...

Paul Campbell3 said:You just live your life and observe yourself going through it. Provided you actually have the balls to do it.

Well, I’ve got two balls, does that count?

Paul Campbell3 said:The urge to confront your own emotions and the darker, basement-dwelling parts of your soul can hit you anytime—even while you're just standing in line at Chase Bank to pay your bills😁.
Opportunities to face who you really are pop up every single day.

I can't even start confronting myself because I haven't figured out which part is "me" and which part is "myself"...

Paul Campbell3 said:Look, help me wrap my head around something: why is it that every single user I meet defends their experiences with such insane intensity?
I mean, what’s actually the point of all that defensiveness?

It’s honestly making me curious...

It's because we're basically outcasts, totally isolated and looked down upon by everyone else in society...😁

Seriously, man; you helped me out way more than you realize. Thanks.😉

Paul Campbell3 said:No way; you’ve actually helped me out more than you realize. Thanks.😉

😁 Are you serious?... did you maybe take that the wrong way?😁 😁 Seriously though... I meant it twice.

One of the most profound lessons I have gleaned from Ganja is that there is absolutely no necessity to maintain constant control over every single aspect of existence.

When one forgets this fundamental truth, Ganja tends to remind you through a method that is as blunt as it is unforgiving: paranoia.
😁

How 😲 could anyone possibly dazzle the eyes of the Lahorka and the Paul Campbell3 types who lack true experience with it... regardless of how many joints they manage to smoke through...

My answer is simple: mystery.
It takes time to truly uncover the essence... provided we are genuinely drawn to that specific... hmmm... "path."
The vast majority of people simply mess it up. That is an undeniable fact. It happens everywhere.

And I pose this question: Is it really so?

Furthermore, what is the underlying emotion that compels a person to insist on keeping everything under tight, rigid control 🙂?

As for other substances, I have only ever dealt with them on a very superficial level.

I want to take this opportunity to debunk one particularly idiotic, hippie-inspired, flowery superstition:

Drugs cannot open your chakras, grant you enlightenment, or awaken your kundalini.

What they *can* do is induce a specific type of altered state of consciousness, where you might eventually be able to attempt those things... but it won’t be any easier than doing it without them, let alone providing an "instant" fix 😂.
And honestly, the risk of just completely messing everything up increases slightly...

Consider the simple fact that even sober people—no matter how much they claim to be "working on themselves"—frequently fall into patterns of alienation from their own true selves, or find themselves desperately trying to shield themselves from the sheer absurdity of their own behavior.
And no, it doesn't require any wild, acrobatic mental gymnastics to see that truth.

I really want to thank Ganja for teaching me several wonderful things along the way.
I certainly forgive her for those unpleasant moments; I take full responsibility for my part in them...

It has been months since we last saw one another, and I truly look forward to our occasional encounters in the future.🙂 🙂

So, what kind of emotion actually drives someone to just blow up and completely lose their sense of direction?
Is it just that raw fear of having to face who they really are... and everything else out there? 😛

Paul Campbell3 said:...I don't have any other agenda here besides trying to offer a different perspective on the whole thing. It just seems like everyone who's actually used drugs treats their experiences like this huge, unrepeatable thing compared to "normal" people who haven't gone through it (maybe I misread you, but that’s honestly the vibe I get from your posts on this thread).

But seriously, help me out here—can you explain one thing to me? Why does every single user defend their experiences with such insane intensity?
What's even the point of all that?
...

Man, it's really not like that. Look, I was pretty clear about what I meant—and honestly, most of your argument falls apart there—I said it was helpful because I was being way too intense back then, and it helped me chill out a bit. So, drugs aren't some necessity for everyone. They were just for idiots like me.

Larry Hayes5 said:Think about it... even without any substances involved, people constantly lose touch with who they really are. They go down these paths of total alienation from their own sense of self, just trying to build up these walls to protect themselves from the absolute circus they create for their own lives.

So what? Everyone's out there living life, and everyone makes mistakes along the way... 😁

Jack Harris3 said:facing oneself and the world at large? 😛

😂😂😂

Can we get an actual definition here???

In other words... people just ramble on whatever nonsense comes to mind.

If I could remember the exact link right now, I’d share it: It was a video of two yoga practitioners struggling through their poses while some cats just sit there judging them:

"Who-knows-how-many years of yoga and they still can't even lick their own behinds."

Now, I have absolutely no intention of discrediting yoga itself... but from a "feline hygiene perspective," that assessment is quite accurate for many of the local "self-help gurus" 🙄 I run into in real life.

mistyfox812 said:Well, I have to disagree with that assessment. To be perfectly clear—and this applies to everyone mentioned in your argument—I found the experience quite beneficial simply because I had been far too rigid in my ways; it helped me loosen up significantly. Therefore, I certainly wouldn't claim that drugs are a necessity for everyone. They were merely useful for someone as stubborn as I used to be.

🙂

See, I’m telling you, yoga doesn't do a damn thing for you... 😁
But then again, if "licking your own backside" was actually the goal, the target would probably be a lot easier to reach... 😁

Jack Harris3 said:What kind of emotion actually drives someone to lose their temper and just lose themselves?
Fear of facing who they really are, or the world around them? 😛

It’s the same instinct driving him to drink... or stay sober... or practice yoga... different methods, same underlying reason.😉

shadowgardener12 said:It’s really just that same primal instinct driving everything... whether it’s reaching for a drink... or finding peace through yoga... it’s all coming from the exact same place, just different ways to get there 😉

Not being able to even take a step without relying on sticks. 😁
Just pure Klecovix... 🙄😁

No. Just some narrow-minded, assertive blathering.