Originally posted by Denny Crane
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So the more phenomenologically powerful experience the better for them in their minds. Add to this the tendency people have to conflate "powerful" as a description of an experience and "powerful" as having a significant long term effect and it can doubtless lead some to continuously chase experiences which they believe will free them, but then go about the rest of their lives with the same habit patterns which create their self and experiences of the world to begin with.
I do believe there is a route towards that freedom which consists of something breaking in a flash, but it appears to be extremely rare. The idea is very seductive though, especially for ideal seekers given to fantasy lives.
I think I would advise such a person to drop every ounce of bullshit they have, all their thoughts about themselves and the world, idealisations, narcissism, fantasies etc. and get into the body and start from the grounded reality in there. That's the beginning of a path which will work in the long run, rather than trying to catch moonbeams.
A lot of the people in the Western Buddhist tradition I practise in were psychonauts in the 60's/70's, but didn't think it gave them much. The founder called psychedelics "spiritual baby food".
I would also suggest there's no progress without living an ethical life. The mind will be too conflicted and agitated.
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