Today’s Nothing Definitive video is called “Challenging Enlightenment” and covers the importance of skepticism when pursuing self improvement. By being too certain with your progress you are actually limiting potential improvements by checking off thoughts as beliefs. It’s explains why this blog is called Nothing Definitive, because even thoughts that seem so obvious and so definitive, are often debunked weeks or months later! I also mention gurus, dualism, and interconnectedness and how trends like these can distract you from true learning and provide nothing but simplification for complex concepts. True learning comes naturally and flows from one topic to the next, whereas teachers can actually hinder your progress by jumping around. You should only ruminate on what you can and be patient for the rest. It will come. And terminology like dualism and interconnectedness often blankets many complex topics while ignoring flaws and distracting from real research. Don’t worry about experiencing these things, or even understanding them, their knowledge will come naturally.
Category: Articles
Adopting Different States of Mind
In today’s episode of Nothing Definitive, I talk about how we adopt different states of mind depending on what we’re doing. And not just in the short-term, but how over a length our mind adjusts to adopt the views and emotion of our surroundings. I give the personal example of how my involvement in eSports has led me to worry about petty and trivial things, even though I had spent 5 months meditating and enlightening my mind. But to my surprise, within 10 minutes of meditating one night I pulled myself back from the clutches of darkness and returned to a happy and content state. But it seems impossible to maintain this once you return to whatever it is you do on a daily basis. And what I realized was that some people may never understand this difference because they go from school, to college, to a full-time job, without ever just taking a moment to calm down, and find real happiness.
UPDATE 2016-02-04: Just to clarify further, the realization here is that, by never fully disengaging from typical societal patterns (or common social expectations), you may never realize that the mental states you’ve adopted, because of your surroundings, are more unhealthy than alternatives that might exist in close proximity if you would simply take the time (and risk) to explore.
Underestimating How Smart You Can Become
In this episode of the Nothing Definitive series, I talk about how important it is to recognize the abundance of information present in the world. From my observations of ordinary people, it seems that the amount of learning they do after college is significantly less and continues sloping downward until they plateau. This is of course is problematic if you consider that you could literally spend every waking moment, until you die, learning about things. You could never read all the books, visit all the websites, watch all the movies and TV shows, etc. This should raise a red flag that makes you ask, “how different would my perception of reality be if I continued learning on a regular basis? How different would I be now had I been doing that over the past year?” Consider how much you changed from high school to college, or even just year to year at your current rate of learning. You’re an entirely different person all the time, with an entirely different understanding of the world. Taking that into consideration, who you’re going to be and who you could be in a year from now, are probably insanely different. And you should be asking yourself, “what about the people out there that are doing this right now? How powerful and knowledgeable will they be? How much are my friends and family learning? Will I fall behind?”
UPDATE 2016-02-04: What I think is most important to stress here is that through learning, and the unpredictable changes that result from new knowledge, you can realize how misguided and ill-informed your life decisions are and have been. This can be an exceedingly painful process to accept (resulting in a true crisis of faith), but ultimately sets you free to make wiser decisions in the future and undoubtedly aids you in identifying and destroying other mental barriers that limit your growth potential.
What is Consciousness and Enlightenment?
Today I published a new video talking about my current theory regarding consciousness and how it relates to enlightenment. The theory arose over the course of a few meditation sessions and really struck me as an interesting way to think about things. Of course I could be wildly misinformed, not being a neuroscientist and all, but I love allowing my mind to just think in different directions and see what it tells me.
This theory talks primarily about “configuration states”, individual states of mind that have stats and attributes attached to them. When you’re sad or happy, a variety of different configurations are available that implement that emotional state, load related memories, and as a result alters your consciousness. There would undoubtedly be millions of these configurations with varying levels of intensity, illustrating why people react differently to the same stimuli. I would also imagine there are other factors involved too, like genetics and any chemicals currently inside your body (food, drugs, etc.).
The example I give to try and explain this view is: there are two identical androids with the exact same brains and memories, and operate indistinguishably from humans (at least from the abstract). With all their senses turned off, they are each asked the exact same question in the exact same way. Both retrieve the same answer because they are each within the exact same configuration state and thus the memory retrieved is identical. But then the scientist allows one of them to receive tactile feedback or turns on their eyes, and now their configuration state is altering rapidly to adjust to the new information. Their consciousness changes and now they retrieve a different answer (or memory) to the question.
The point I’m trying to make is that with this theory in mind, enlightenment is probably just the discovery of specific configurations. Enlightenment isn’t actually anything at all, it’s just the subjective best possible configurations you can find and maintain. If true, then you can begin to systematically figure out how to achieve enlightenment states by understanding what the configuration is comprised of. For instance, 10/10 happy, 8/10 contentment, 0/10 sadness, 2/10 patience, 4/10 energy, etc. And you could begin to detail what thoughts and activities allow you to reach your maximum potential.
UPDATE 2016-02-04: I wanted to quickly point out that X/10 is a simplistic way of expressing this idea and that in reality the complexity of configurations are probably beyond human comprehension. Instead you must rely on approximations and an acute awareness of self to predict and maintain mental states that positively impact your psyche (note ‘positive’ being a relative definition and not ’emotional positivity’ as that may not always be the most beneficial state of mind). This is undoubtedly a daunting task however and could require a lifetime of analysis and practice to achieve, if it’s even possible at all.
The Three Levels of Truth
Today’s upload talks about a recent realization I had in regards to handling decisions and how it can help lead you to a more enlightened and happy life. The idea is that there are three levels of opinion or truth that you can hold about something. The first level is your initial assumption or observation that forms your opinion or belief. This could be the worldview you held when you were younger. As you grow up you begin to realize the world works in a much different way than you first suspected and thus are forced to update your beliefs. This often results in an emotional response because it unravels something you thought was a foundation in your life. It forces you to ask questions like, “how could I have been so wrong? What does this mean? Does this change anything else? What else in my life is wrong?” It can be a very difficult to deal with questions like these, and thus many people will simply ignore them. I consider these two viewpoints to be extremes. One is naivety, the other an emotional reaction that pushes you to the other end of the spectrum. But there exists a third level, and it’s the realization that there is “middle ground”. It isn’t that gay marriage should be banned or legalized, it’s that it doesn’t exist in the first place. There is no such thing is gay or straight, there is only attraction. It’s not that guns should be legal or illegal, that’s not really the problem. The problem is why those people feel compelled to kill in the first place.
In my personal life, I experienced this with money. I used to dream about being rich and famous when I was young, but as I grew older I realized that those dreams were not my own. They were instilled in me through media and this urge to compete and prove myself. So I moved to the other spectrum and found myself rebelling against the system and hating money and all it stood for. But eventually the realization hit me that there is middle ground. Money can exist simply as a tool, not a necessity. Another example might be confidence and how that evolves with age. When we’re young, we’re insecure and scared of being judged. We blush and feel embarrassed, and we fear public speaking. As we grow older these fears diminish and we gain confidence. But even this is only the second level, for confidence itself is still a metric and limiting factor. The enlightened mind would realize that the act of simply measuring it, creates it, and thus you will be servant to it. Instead, realize that it is a mere fabrication of your mind and you can exist without it. There is always a third level you can move to. Seek it and adopt its views. For I once read that if you know the solution, or how you’ll think in the end, then you’re already there, and it would be foolish to think any other way.
Lecture Presentation: The Game
Over the past year I’ve been learning more and more about human behavior and rationality. And as the lessons began to build on one another and clarify my vision of the world, I began to notice that this knowledge opened interesting doors. Doors that can be used to implement strategy or detect it. Every person moving about this world is playing a game. Some are managing pieces and controlling the battlefield, while others are simply being used by them. We are all playing regardless of whether you want to. This is “the game,” a complex and mysterious web of social interactions and manipulation that bring both order and chaos into our world.
Today’s upload attempts to cover the basics of this game and how to play it. It also brings up the ethics of manipulation and how important it is to be cautious with these tools. I can’t hope to cover everything in a single upload, but this should get you started.
Principles and Morality, an update regarding belief
Today I present a short followup article to two previous articles mentioning my lack of beliefs (Challenging Your Beliefs and Belief, or a lack thereof). I’m writing this because I wanted to clarify that a lack of belief doesn’t mean a lack of principle, morality, or ethics. In fact, it means quite the opposite. It serves to strengthen your fundamental convictions by drawing attention to them.
I preach a lack of belief because belief can be a dangerous tool. Throughout history we’ve seen all sorts of atrocities done in the name of religions, institutions, governments, ideologies, and more. All based around an individual or group of people that share at least one powerful and alienating belief. Often formed during a time of struggle or hardship. The belief explains all sorts of things, not through logic or rational, but through emotion. It appeals to what we want to believe rather than what really is. And we see in our daily lives how it affects people. People form strong opinions and argue with those that disagree. They judge others harshly and criticize their appearance, behavior, and attitude without fully understanding their situation. They discriminate and profile and will spread their prejudice. All these things are futile acts done in the name of some belief the person has never honestly assessed. It is because they are not awake. They do not see reality as it really is and thus cannot grasp the concept of a life different from their own. I so often see this in ordinary people and it saddens me to know that they do not know what they speak or think. They will do these things whether or not they want to, and whether or not they will admit to it. They are the sum of their programming and having never questioned it and cannot see passed it. Belief must be deconstructed before you can ever hope to reach enlightenment.
There is a counter argument I’ve heard before to this line of thinking: “if we believe nothing, then we cannot be held responsible for our actions, and thus people will do whatever they want.” They argue that religion provides a framework of morality and helps people determine what is good and bad. There are numerous problems with this, although funnily enough, the core argument is probably accurate. Unaware, robotic minds probably do need institutions to instruct them. It provides a basic framework for society to lay consistent morality among a nation. This isn’t a bad idea, it’s statistics. The problem is that people use this argument to discourage people from thinking for themselves. They say, or at least imply, that leaving the Church will result in a society that will become immoral and unpredictable heathens. They ask, “where does it end? how can we have society without belief? Won’t it all come crashing down?” Well it is true that much of our system is based on belief and as a consequence, would weaken because of a society questioning it. Our money would lose value, our economy would falter, and our government and leaders would lose power. But it would not crumble because to use that argument exposes a flaw in your thinking. You live in a happy equilibrium between belief and an appropriate level of upholding those beliefs. You do not uphold your beliefs to the maximum attainable level, just as non-religious people don’t fall into chaos. We find an equilibrium that is most content and peaceful because that is what we want. The only difference between the two is that the individual holding a lack of belief is free to question and understand the world. They do not form opinions shaped by their preexisting beliefs and thus purely experience reality. They are free of the afflictions I mentioned above and accept others openly and warmly. This is why a lack of belief is so powerful, because it doesn’t destroy your fundamental convictions, it frees your mind and allows you to strengthen them.
And that’s what I want to share today. That it is not religion or Atheism that gives you power or direction. It is yourself and your ability to understand what it is you believe in. Do not be religious, do not be Atheist, do not uphold opinions or beliefs, let it go and free your mind from these obstructions. Go out and formally acknowledge what it is you believe in. Do not ask others. Do not remember what others told you. Choose for yourself and what you’ll find is that this recognition will make you happier, more confident, and prepared for whatever comes your way.
Don’t forget the lessons I’ve taught earlier in the previously mentioned articles. We’re talking about fundamental beliefs, not societal opinions. Those are still completely useless and create a framework that warps your view of reality. A person who properly holds beliefs is able to constantly shape and mold their framework.
Lastly, I want to stress that until you formally recognize your principles, you cannot be trusted to make good decisions. The Stanford Prison experiment and others over the past decades, have found that a surprisingly high rate of people will comply with authority, regardless of whether the task is unethical. This, I believe, could be mitigated simply by choosing what you believe is right and wrong. In fact, there’s an opportunity for an experiment here by doing a similar task and telling people to update their convictions by writing them down before hand. If they had written, “it’s NEVER OK to physically harm people”, they may not have pressed the electrical shock button. Just a thought.
Why is Meditation so Important for Enlightenment?
In my previous article, I mentioned the main benefits of meditation: relaxation, a clear and energetic mind, heightened awareness, sensitivity to positive and negative energy, calmness and peace, the ability to detect states of consciousness, discovering and resolving internal conflict, and increased productivity. Today I want to talk about my latest findings and why meditation is becoming an even more important part of my daily life.
The first lesson, and one that proved very profound, was the importance of reinforcing positive thinking. The old adage, “you are what you eat” and the Buddhist quote, “what you think, you become”, perfectly express the idea that: you alone determine who you are. This is something I’ve been pondering for quite some time and the realization I met with, was that I alone, stand in my way. That my happiness, contentment, and purpose in life, is clouded by my own mind. And this realization reveals that while it may be difficult to always see, you alone determine whether or not the external world can affect you. Even when bills are due and work is stressful, only you determine whether or not they upset you. It is a difficult realization to apply, but through meditation you can successfully achieve it.
So with this thinking comes the idea that reinforcing positive thinking is the obvious path. If we get to choose how to experience life, than why not experience it content and happy? And the importance of this lesson escaped me until very recently. I was meditating to my new favorite song on YouTube and it resulted in this incredibly intense and uplifting wave of positive energy. I literally teared up as I felt myself letting go of all my emotional and psychological burdens. Warmth and contentment, like I had never experienced before, filled my body and I felt at peace with the universe. It was so powerful that I felt unconditional love for all life on this planet. Anyone could have approached me, friend, family, or stranger, and I would have hugged them lovingly and done anything I could to help them. It was both strange and wonderful, and it was this moment when I realized the importance of the lesson above. That if, through meditation, one could recall this feeling, you would spend the rest of your days happy and content. Willing and excited to lend a hand to anyone in need.
Note: reinforcement is based on the theory that through consistent practice, one will weaken the neurons of your past self and strengthen new, positive ones. I explain this in more detail here. Also, vary your meditation times, locations, rituals, etc. Sometimes a minor change can result in a totally different meditative experience. Exs. before sleep, after a nap, with and without tea/coffee, wearing different clothes, listening to different music and sounds, etc.
There is one problem with positive thinking though, and it’s something I’ve personally worried about and observed. It’s this idea that the best creativity comes from suffering. I’ve noticed that when I feel depressed and lonely, I channel my darkness into whatever I happen to be working on. And you see this best in music. Bands will produce brilliant works of art in their early albums and the moment they get famous, their future albums dive. It’s like a switch gets flipped and the motivation to end your suffering kills your creativity. Joe Rogan and friends have also mentioned it as comedians. They admit to a superstition where any alteration or improvement in their routines may destroy their ability to write new and compelling content. It is a real concern because so much brilliance seems to come from those dark times. I’ve even wondered what will happen upon becoming enlightened. Will the urge and ability to unravel the mysteries of the universe end?
Another retrospective element of meditation comes from the successful integration of practice into your daily life. Often times I will hear individuals complaining about their life and the many stressors we find within. And I always think to myself, “wow, that would be awful to experience all that negativity without meditation, especially when you believe so ardently that it is real.” So much pain and suffering could be mitigated simply by meditating, yet so many do not heed its relevance. I urge you, reader, to carefully consider what it is you may be missing.
So, the title of the this post asks, “why is meditation so important for enlightenment?” I cannot possibly provide a complete and articulate answer that will convince you one way or another. I doubt it’s even possible to adequately describe it without writing an entire book. But I will at least provide this: meditation is a tool that provides a distracted mind with a moment of calmness in which they can hopefully glimpse reality. It is a statistical thing, like loot drops in World of Warcraft. You raid week after week with the hope that your gear drops, and it takes much time for it to happen (unless you’re lucky). Meditation is similar. You will meditate day after day, perhaps frustrated with the results, but eventually your loot will drop and realization will form within your mind. And when it does all the rewards of enlightenment will begin to stream within. And once you have it, it will all seem so obvious, and you will wonder how you never saw it before. A surreal and wondrous world will open up before you and your journey will begin. But be wary, because the path is dark and uncertain, and even if you begin it, you may never reach the end. There are distractions and obstacles that will fight you mercilessly and without rest. But the tool of meditation will always remain with you, ready to conquer whatever comes its way.
Productivity Tips: Realisitic Expectations, Taking Breaks, and Gaining Momentum
Today’s upload shares two little productivity tips to help you accomplish more in life. The first is having realistic expectations by researching new tasks, jobs, and hobbies before diving in. I stand by my “7 day rule” which says, wait 7 days before committing to anything. You can plan, dream, draw out, research, discuss, etc. all you want, but don’t spend any money or make any permanent commitments for 7 days. Because I’ve found that after 7 days you have a pretty good idea of whether or not this new project or hobby is a good idea. The reason this is important is because after 7 days you’ve returned from the elated, excited, non-regular mindset, to the mindset that you have 90%+ days of the year. Sometimes we get so caught up in the moment we neglect to realize that how we feel now, doesn’t reflect how we normally feel. And when it wears off is when we say, “oops, what did I get myself into?” Of course I should also mention that this can be good sometimes because we need to get out of our comfort zones to really experience life. But generally it’s best to be in control of these things and make rational, responsible decisions.
I also bring up the discouragement we feel when we’ve failed to achieve something. For example, for a few weeks you decide to begin learning a new language and you’re excited and diligent about keeping up with your studies. Then life interferes by dumping extra work on you or distracting you in some way. Suddenly it’s three weeks later and you haven’t studied at all. A feeling of disappointment sets in and you sigh, shrugging off the feeling and telling yourself, “damn if only I would have found time to keep studying. Oh well, I guess it’s not a big deal.” And your language studies cease. But here’s the kicker. It didn’t cease those three weeks ago, it ceased in that moment, because that sort of situation is nothing more than a reminder. Instead of shrugging it off, restart your studies. It doesn’t matter if you have to relearn things or start over. That’s like sending you message saying, “hey remember that language you were trying to learn? Go learn it now, you have some time.” Don’t get discouraged and quit, just do it again. Because ultimately it’s not even about whether or not you learned the language, it’s about maintaining a level of productivity that keeps your mind active and excited about life. So when these moments pop up, when you’re reminded of something you used to do, just start doing it again.
The last point I make in this video is that if you’re a content producer like myself (making videos, blog posts, etc.), don’t worry about quality at first. I know it seems incredibly important to only put out your best work, but the problem is that you’re going to struggle remaining consistent. Instead focus on producing regularly, regardless of quality. Get into a groove by releasing 1 video per whatever. No matter what. Consider all your content right now practice for future content that’s going to blow people away. Because I promise you that however you envision your content now, it’s going to suck and be rejected for years, until it finally reaches this magical place that people respect. And this applies to basically everything. Our perception of success grossly underestimates what it actually takes to be good. Take that into account when pursuing a project.
The 3 Types of Awareness
Today’s video talks about 3 different types of awareness. The first is environmental or situational awareness, which opens your eyes and mind to your physical surroundings. Where are you? What people and objects are here? What past, present, and future actions are here?
The second is social or emotional awareness, which is the subtle art of detecting the thoughts and feelings of others. While this may be a difficult subject to master, it is incredibly useful in determining intention, someone’s next move, how they feel about you, etc. I personally call this “the game” and whether you want to play or not, whether you’re aware you’re playing or not, you ARE playing. So understanding it, and at least protecting yourself, is a must. Learn more here.
And last is self awareness, the ability to detect your own subtle thoughts and emotions. It may surprise you that most people don’t fully know themselves, and this most likely includes you. Your brain is a complex organ and does much more than your consciousness is aware of (at least at first), and understanding it is not a guarantee, nor is it necessary to live. You must take time and effort to reveal this hidden world inside your mind before you can ever hope to fully understand yourself and the world around you.