Unity and interconnectedness: Difference between revisions

(4 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)

Line 7:

Unity and interconnectedness most commonly occurs under the influence of [[psychedelic]] and [[dissociative]] compounds such as [[LSD]], [[DMT]], [[ayahuasca]], [[mescaline]], and [[ketamine]]. However it can also occur during well-practiced [[meditation]], deep states of contemplation, and intense focus.

There are a total of 5 distinct levels of identity which a person can experience during this state. These various altered states of unity have been arranged into a leveling system that orders its different states from least to the most number of concepts that one's identity is currently attributed to. These levels are described ~~and documented~~ below:

There are a total of 5 distinct levels of identity which a person can experience during this state. These various altered states of unity have been arranged into a leveling system that orders its different states from least to the most number of concepts that one's identity is currently attributed to. These levels are described below:

====1. Unity between specific "external" systems====

At the lowest level, this effect can be described as a perceived sense of unity between two or more systems within the external environment which in everyday life are usually perceived as separate from each other. This is the least complex level of ~~this~~ unity, as it is the only level of interconnectedness in which the subjective experience of unity does not involve a state of interconnectedness between the self and the external.

At the lowest level, this effect can be described as a perceived sense of unity between two or more systems within the external environment which in everyday life are usually perceived as separate from each other. This is the least complex level of unity, as it is the only level of interconnectedness in which the subjective experience of unity does not involve a state of interconnectedness between the self and the external.

There are an endless number of ways in which this level can manifest, but common examples of the experience often include:

* A sense of unity between specific living things such as animals or plants and their surrounding ecosystems

* A sense of unity between specific living things such as animals or plants and their surrounding ecosystems.

* A sense of unity between other human beings and the objects they are currently interacting with

* A sense of unity between other human beings and the objects they are currently interacting with.

* A sense of unity between any number of currently perceivable inanimate objects.

* A sense of unity between humanity and nature

* A sense of unity between humanity and nature.

* A sense of unity between literally any combination of perceivable external systems and concepts

* A sense of unity between literally any combination of perceivable external systems and concepts.

====2. Unity between the self and specific "external" systems====

Line 26:

There are an endless number of ways in which this level can manifest itself, but common examples of the experience often include:

* Becoming unified with and identifying with a specific object one is interacting with

* Becoming unified with and identifying with a specific object one is interacting with.

* Becoming unified with and identifying with another person or multiple people (particularly common if engaging in sexual or romantic activities)

* Becoming unified with and identifying with another person or multiple people, particularly common if engaging in sexual or romantic activities.

* Becoming unified with and identifying with the entirety of one's own physical body

* Becoming unified with and identifying with the entirety of one's own physical body.

* Becoming unified with and identifying with large crowds of people (particularly common at raves and music festivals)

* Becoming unified with and identifying with large crowds of people, particularly common at raves and music festivals.

* Becoming unified with and identifying with the external environment, but not the people within it

* Becoming unified with and identifying with the external environment, but not the people within it.

====3. Unity between the self and all perceivable "external" systems====

Line 40:

====4. Unity between the self and all known "external" systems====

At the highest level, this effect can be described as feeling as if one's identity is simultaneously attributed to the entirety of the immediately perceivable external environment and all known concepts that exist outside of it. These known concepts typically include all of humanity, nature, and the universe as it presently stands in its complete entirety. This feeling is commonly interpreted by people as ''becoming one with the universe''.

At the highest level, this effect can be described as feeling as if one's identity is simultaneously attributed to the entirety of the immediately perceivable external environment and all known concepts that exist outside of it. These known concepts typically include all of humanity, nature, and the universe as it presently stands in its complete entirety. This feeling is commonly interpreted by people as "becoming one with the universe".

When experienced, the effect creates the sudden perspective that one is not a separate agent approaching an external reality, but is instead the entire universe as a whole experiencing itself, exploring itself, and performing actions upon itself through the specific point in space and time which this particular body and conscious perception happens to currently reside within. People who undergo this experience consistently interpret it as the removal of a deeply embedded illusion, with the revelation often described as some sort of profound “awakening” or “enlightenment.”

Line 52:

Similar accounts of the experience of unity with the universe and the apparent illusory nature of the self can be found across a surprisingly large variety of independent religious, philosophical, and psychological sources. A number of these have been collected and listed as a set of documented examples below:

*'''[[wikipedia:Egolessness|Egolessness]]''' is a documented emotional state within psychology where one feels no ego (or self) and no distinct sense of self apart from the world around oneself. This is often described as feelings of oneness and being inextricably woven to the fabric of one’s surroundings or environment.

*'''[[wikipedia:Egolessness|Egolessness]]''' is a documented emotional state within psychology where one feels no ego, or self, and no distinct sense of self apart from the world around oneself. This is often described as feelings of oneness and being inextricably woven to the fabric of one’s surroundings or environment.

*'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oneness_(metaphysics) Monism]''' is a philosophical position which argues that there is only one thing which all things are not separate from and it works together as a unified system of behavior.

Line 63:

*'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Watts Alan Watts]''' is a philosopher who spoke extensively about the illusory nature of the self. His lectures can be found for free on the [http://www.proxybay.de/torrent/7154827/Alan_Watts-_Out_of_Your_Mind_(The_Essential_Lectures) Pirate Bay] and in parts within many videos across [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXmz605GAnc YouTube]. His book “The Book on the Taboo of Knowing Who You Are” is dedicated to a formal explanation of the philosophies and logic behind this perspective and can be found within the form of a [http://psychonautwiki.org/w/images/d/da/The-book-on-the-taboo-against-knowing-who-you-are-by-Alan-Watts.pdf free PDF.]

*'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interconnectedness Interconnectedness]''' is a philosophical concept which defines itself as part of the terminology of a world view which sees a oneness in all things. This is based on the idea that all things are of a single underlying substance or reality and that there is no true separation deeper than appearances.

*'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam%C4%81dhi Samadhi]''' is a Buddhist concept described as a state of mind in which the consciousness of the experiencing subject becomes one with the experienced object.

Line 74:

Line 72:

*'''[http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/04/13/474071268/how-lsd-makes-your-brain-one-with-the-universe How LSD Makes Your Brain One With The Universe (NPR.org)]'''

*'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fajfkO_X0l0 Sam Harris: The self is an illusion (YouTube)]'''

*'''[http://beingtheuniverse.tumblr.com/ Being The Universe (tumblr)]'''

===Experience reports===

Line 89:

Line 86:

*[[Deliriants#Subjective_effects|Deliriants - Subjective effects]]

[[Category:Cognitive]] [[Category:Transpersonal]] [[Category:Effect]]

==External links==

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nondualism Nondualism (Wikipedia)]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panpsychism Panpsychism (Wikipedia)]

{{#set:Featured=true

|Belongs to=Cognitive effects

}}

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 Unity and interconnectedness most commonly occurs under the influence of [[psychedelic]] and [[dissociative]] compounds such as [[LSD]], [[DMT]], [[ayahuasca]], [[mescaline]], and [[ketamine]]. However it can also occur during well-practiced [[meditation]], deep states of contemplation, and intense focus.
-There are a total of 5 distinct levels of identity which a person can experience during this state. These various altered states of unity have been arranged into a leveling system that orders its different states from least to the most number of concepts that one's identity is currently attributed to. These levels are described and documented below:
+There are a total of 5 distinct levels of identity which a person can experience during this state. These various altered states of unity have been arranged into a leveling system that orders its different states from least to the most number of concepts that one's identity is currently attributed to. These levels are described below:
 ====1. Unity between specific "external" systems====
-At the lowest level, this effect can be described as a perceived sense of unity between two or more systems within the external environment which in everyday life are usually perceived as separate from each other. This is the least complex level of this unity, as it is the only level of interconnectedness in which the subjective experience of unity does not involve a state of interconnectedness between the self and the external.
+At the lowest level, this effect can be described as a perceived sense of unity between two or more systems within the external environment which in everyday life are usually perceived as separate from each other. This is the least complex level of unity, as it is the only level of interconnectedness in which the subjective experience of unity does not involve a state of interconnectedness between the self and the external.
 There are an endless number of ways in which this level can manifest, but common examples of the experience often include:
-* A sense of unity between specific living things such as animals or plants and their surrounding ecosystems
+* A sense of unity between specific living things such as animals or plants and their surrounding ecosystems.
-* A sense of unity between other human beings and the objects they are currently interacting with
+* A sense of unity between other human beings and the objects they are currently interacting with.
 * A sense of unity between any number of currently perceivable inanimate objects.
-* A sense of unity between humanity and nature
+* A sense of unity between humanity and nature.
-* A sense of unity between literally any combination of perceivable external systems and concepts
+* A sense of unity between literally any combination of perceivable external systems and concepts.
 ====2. Unity between the self and specific "external" systems====
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 There are an endless number of ways in which this level can manifest itself, but common examples of the experience often include:
-* Becoming unified with and identifying with a specific object one is interacting with
+* Becoming unified with and identifying with a specific object one is interacting with.
-* Becoming unified with and identifying with another person or multiple people (particularly common if engaging in sexual or romantic activities)
+* Becoming unified with and identifying with another person or multiple people, particularly common if engaging in sexual or romantic activities.
-* Becoming unified with and identifying with the entirety of one's own physical body
+* Becoming unified with and identifying with the entirety of one's own physical body.
-* Becoming unified with and identifying with large crowds of people (particularly common at raves and music festivals)
+* Becoming unified with and identifying with large crowds of people, particularly common at raves and music festivals.
-* Becoming unified with and identifying with the external environment, but not the people within it
+* Becoming unified with and identifying with the external environment, but not the people within it.
 ====3. Unity between the self and all perceivable "external" systems====
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 ====4. Unity between the self and all known "external" systems====
-At the highest level, this effect can be described as feeling as if one's identity is simultaneously attributed to the entirety of the immediately perceivable external environment and all known concepts that exist outside of it. These known concepts typically include all of humanity, nature, and the universe as it presently stands in its complete entirety. This feeling is commonly interpreted by people as ''becoming one with the universe''.
+At the highest level, this effect can be described as feeling as if one's identity is simultaneously attributed to the entirety of the immediately perceivable external environment and all known concepts that exist outside of it. These known concepts typically include all of humanity, nature, and the universe as it presently stands in its complete entirety. This feeling is commonly interpreted by people as "becoming one with the universe".
 When experienced, the effect creates the sudden perspective that one is not a separate agent approaching an external reality, but is instead the entire universe as a whole experiencing itself, exploring itself, and performing actions upon itself through the specific point in space and time which this particular body and conscious perception happens to currently reside within. People who undergo this experience consistently interpret it as the removal of a deeply embedded illusion, with the revelation often described as some sort of profound “awakening” or “enlightenment.”
@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 Similar accounts of the experience of unity with the universe and the apparent illusory nature of the self can be found across a surprisingly large variety of independent religious, philosophical, and psychological sources. A number of these have been collected and listed as a set of documented examples below:
-*'''[[wikipedia:Egolessness|Egolessness]]''' is a documented emotional state within psychology where one feels no ego (or self) and no distinct sense of self apart from the world around oneself. This is often described as feelings of oneness and being inextricably woven to the fabric of one’s surroundings or environment.
+*'''[[wikipedia:Egolessness|Egolessness]]''' is a documented emotional state within psychology where one feels no ego, or self, and no distinct sense of self apart from the world around oneself. This is often described as feelings of oneness and being inextricably woven to the fabric of one’s surroundings or environment.
 *'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oneness_(metaphysics) Monism]''' is a philosophical position which argues that there is only one thing which all things are not separate from and it works together as a unified system of behavior.
@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 *'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Watts Alan Watts]''' is a philosopher who spoke extensively about the illusory nature of the self. His lectures can be found for free on the [http://www.proxybay.de/torrent/7154827/Alan_Watts-_Out_of_Your_Mind_(The_Essential_Lectures) Pirate Bay] and in parts within many videos across [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXmz605GAnc YouTube]. His book “The Book on the Taboo of Knowing Who You Are” is dedicated to a formal explanation of the philosophies and logic behind this perspective and can be found within the form of a [http://psychonautwiki.org/w/images/d/da/The-book-on-the-taboo-against-knowing-who-you-are-by-Alan-Watts.pdf free PDF.]
-*'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interconnectedness Interconnectedness]''' is a philosophical concept which defines itself as part of the terminology of a world view which sees a oneness in all things. This is based on the idea that all things are of a single underlying substance or reality and that there is no true separation deeper than appearances.
 *'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam%C4%81dhi Samadhi]''' is a Buddhist concept described as a state of mind in which the consciousness of the experiencing subject becomes one with the experienced object.
@@ Line 74: / Line 72: @@
 *'''[http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/04/13/474071268/how-lsd-makes-your-brain-one-with-the-universe How LSD Makes Your Brain One With The Universe (NPR.org)]'''
 *'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fajfkO_X0l0 Sam Harris: The self is an illusion (YouTube)]'''
-*'''[http://beingtheuniverse.tumblr.com/ Being The Universe (tumblr)]'''
 ===Experience reports===
@@ Line 89: / Line 86: @@
 *[[Deliriants#Subjective_effects|Deliriants - Subjective effects]]
 [[Category:Cognitive]] [[Category:Transpersonal]] [[Category:Effect]]
+==External links==
+*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nondualism Nondualism (Wikipedia)]
+*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panpsychism Panpsychism (Wikipedia)]
 {{#set:Featured=true
 |Belongs to=Cognitive effects
 }}