Supramundane experiences

[Nehru]

I understand that as leftists, one must be against organized religion, superstitions etc. etc., but what if a guy feels tired of experiencing the same things over and over - and therefore wants an experience beyond the realm of mind and senses? Call it supramundane, if you will.

The point is not whether such a thing exists, so please don't start a debate on that and derail the thread. I am just wondering about such a person: he may not be religious in the orthodox sense, but he still has the desire to have the otherworldly experience.

So in a sense, he's anti-religious. But in the sense of seeking the supramundane and shunning the ordinary life, he's religious.

Do leftists even consider such people, or must everything conform to strict materialism?

[GPDP]

it's called LSD bro

[Blackscare]

GDPD took the words right out of my mouth. Although I have to say, those people who take hallucinogenic experiences as some sort of path to enlightenment (claim they can talk to dolphins or some such nonsense) are more than a little annoying.


Don't get me wrong, what I love about LSD, DMT, shrooms, etc, is the feeling of total cosmic shemp, but I try to remember that it's just a really cool experience brought on by a chemical.

[ComradeMan]

GDPD took the words right out of my mouth. Although I have to say, those people who take hallucinogenic experiences as some sort of path to enlightenment (claim they can talk to dolphins or some such nonsense) are more than a little annoying.


Don't get me wrong, what I love about LSD, DMT, shrooms, etc, is the feeling of total cosmic shemp, but I try to remember that it's just a really cool experience brought on by a chemical.

How do you know it is? I mean, how do you know that the chemical does not allow you to enter into an altered state of consciousness like the shamans and medicine men of tribal societies?

[Blackscare]

How do you know it is? I mean, how do you know that the chemical does not allow you to enter into an altered state of consciousness like the shamans and medicine men of tribal societies?

Because I'm of the mind that Shamans and medicine men were in fact just high.

I don't think the fact that Shamanism is an ancient practice, or that it predates more "mundane" religions, means that we should pay it any special deference. And yes, they did "enter into an altered state of consciousness", because they were high.

I see no reason to assume that, by virtue of the arcane nature of their practices, Shamans are capable of anything other than getting high and misinterpreting a trip as some sort of cosmic transmission of knowledge. Granted, such things can make you wicked introspective and thus give you insight, but there's nothing inherently mystical about it.

[ComradeMan]

Because I'm of the mind that Shamans and medicine men were in fact just high..

Fair enough, but that's just your opinion- can you prove it?

[Nehru]

And yes, they did "enter into an altered state of consciousness", because they were high.


So there's an altered state of consciousness?

[piet11111]

So there's an altered state of consciousness?

I remember standing at the top of the staircase drunk thinking it a really good idea to go get some more beer so i just sat on my ass and went down the stairs that way because i knew if i tried walking i would fall down.

To me that definitely qualify's as an "altered state of consciousness" but you probably should not have been asking me about life's big questions then :laugh:

[Revolution starts with U]

Fair enough, but that's just your opinion- can you prove it?

lol yes, easily. I take the same drugs and either just get high, or get high and experience God. Not everyone who takes a shamanic drug has a spiritual experience. I think that's a fair amount of proof that the shamans were just high and making shit up.

[ComradeMan]

lol yes, easily. I take the same drugs and either just get high, or get high and experience God. Not everyone who takes a shamanic drug has a spiritual experience. I think that's a fair amount of proof that the shamans were just high and making shit up.

Come on- you study anthropology if I recall correctly. There's a big difference between an Amazonian shaman using say ayahuasca as part of a rite or peyote in Native American traditions and two "dudes" tripping out in front of the play station. :lol:

In addition to this, not everyone who has a spiritual experience has used entheogens either.

[piet11111]

And here i was sharing some profound insights of human existence (booze is good go get some but don't fall down stairs) but i get thoroughly ignored :crying: