PsychonautWiki Archive

Identity alteration: Difference between revisions

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>Josikins
finished proofreading/overhauling level 4
>Josikins
overhauled level 5 identity alteration
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[[File:Artistic_depiction_of_unity.png|thumb|right|upright|200px| This symbol depicts the universe as a "self-excited circuit". It was originally created by the late theoretical physicist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Archibald_Wheeler John Archibald Wheeler] in his 1983 paper [http://psychonautwiki.org/w/images/3/30/Wheeler_law_without_law.pdf Law Without Law].]]
[[File:Artistic_depiction_of_unity.png|thumb|right|upright|200px| This symbol depicts the universe as a "self-excited circuit". It was originally created by the late theoretical physicist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Archibald_Wheeler John Archibald Wheeler] in his 1983 paper [http://psychonautwiki.org/w/images/3/30/Wheeler_law_without_law.pdf Law Without Law].]]
{{Main|Unity and interconnectedness}}
{{Main|Unity and interconnectedness}}
The fifth of these differing levels of identity can be referred to as "''identifying with all known "external" systems''." It is defined as the experience of a loss of perceived boundaries between a person's sense of self, the perceivable external environment, and all which they know to currently exist outside of this through their internally stored model of reality. This feels as if one's sense of self has become attributed to not just the external environment but all of humanity, nature, and the universe as it presently stands in its complete entirety. The experience of this is commonly interpreted by people as “''becoming one with the universe''.”
The fourth level of identity alteration can be defined as feeling as if one's identity is simultaneously attributed to the entirety of their 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, this 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. At this point, a number of commonly reported conclusions of a religious and metaphysical nature often begin to manifest themselves as profound realizations. These are described and listed below:
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. Many people who undergo this experience consistently interpret it as the removal of a deeply embedded illusion with its destruction often described as some sort of profound “awakening” or “enlightenment.”


* A perspective which feels personally responsible for the [[feelings of self-design|self-designing]], planning, and implementation of every single specific detail and plot element of one's personal life, the history of humanity, and the universe as a whole. This naturally includes personal responsibility for humanity's sufferings and its flaws, but also includes its acts of love and achievements.
Although they are not necessarily correct in any way, it's worth noting that at this point, a number of commonly reported conclusions of a religious and metaphysical nature often begin to manifest themselves as profound realizations. These are described and listed below:
* The sudden and total acceptance of death as a fundamental component of one's life. This is because death is no longer felt to be the destruction of oneself but simply the end of this specific point of conscious awareness, the vast majority of which has always existed and will continue to exist and live on through everything else in which it resides.
* The realization that one's preconceived notions behind the definition of their concept of “god” or “god-hood” can now be felt as identical to the nature of existence and to that of one's self.


Many people who undergo this experience consistently interpret it as the removal of a deeply embedded illusion with its destruction often described as some sort of profound “awakening” or “enlightenment.”
* The sudden and total acceptance of death as a fundamental component of life. This is because death is no longer felt to be the destruction of oneself but simply the end of this specific point of a greater whole, the vast majority of which has always existed and will continue to exist and live on through everything else in which it resides.
* The subjective perspective that one's preconceived notions of "god" or deities can be felt as identical to the nature of existence and its contents, including oneself. This typically entails feelings that if the universe is the all powerful, all knowing sustainer and creator of existence then on either a semantic or literal level the universe and its contents could be viewed as god
* The subjective perspective that one is personally responsible for the [[feelings of self-design|self-designing]], planning, and implementation of every single specific detail and plot element of one's personal life, the history of humanity, and the universe as a whole. This naturally includes personal responsibility for humanity's sufferings and its flaws but also includes its acts of love and achievements.


This state most commonly occurs during intense states of focus, [[meditation]] or under the influence of [[hallucinogen]]s such as [[psychedelic]]s.
This state most commonly occurs during intense states of well-practiced [[meditation]] or under the influence of [[hallucinogen]]s such as [[psychedelic]]s.
====='''Similar concepts'''=====
====='''Similar concepts'''=====
Similar accounts of the experience of unity and the apparent illusory nature of the self can be found across a surprisingly large variety of independent religious, philosophical, and psychological sources. These have been collected and listed as a set of documented examples below:
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 behaviour.
*'''[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.


*'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanic_feeling Oceanic feeling]''' is a state within psychology which is described as a sensation of an indissoluble bond of being connected with the external world in its integral form.
*'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanic_feeling Oceanic feeling]''' is a state within psychology which is described as a sensation of an indissoluble bond of being connected with the external world in its integral form.
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*'''[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.
*'''[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.


*'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_Consciousness Cosmic Consciousness: A Study in the Evolution of the Human Mind]''' is a 1901 book by Richard Maurice Bucke, a Canadian psychiatrist. In this book, he explored the concept of Cosmic Consciousness, which he defined as "a higher form of consciousness than that possessed by the ordinary man."
*'''[http://xenopraxis.net/readings/metzinger_egotunnel.pdf The Ego-Tunnel: The science of the mind and the myth of the self]''' is a scientific book which discusses the concept of an illusory self from the perspective of modern neuroscience and psychology.


*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overview_effect Overview effect]''' is a cognitive shift in awareness reported by some astronauts and cosmonauts during space flight, often while viewing the Earth from orbit or from the lunar surface.
*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overview_effect Overview effect]''' is a cognitive shift in awareness reported by some astronauts and cosmonauts during space flight, often while viewing the Earth from orbit or from the lunar surface.
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