bit_pattern
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- Apr 22, 2010
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What does 'potential for phenomena such as psychic ability' mean?
Is there more potential for these phenomena than there is for the existence of leprechauns?
What if "leprachauns" or other paranormal/anthropomorphic beings were a phenomenon caused by neurochemistry? And if this reality that you believe so fervently in is also a result of neurochemistry then wouldn't the potential accessibility to other realms of experience be interesting and worthy of investigation?
No. A more sceptical and rational starting point is to demonstrate that these paranormal experiences exist.
How do you propose that one demonstrate something that is purely subjective? As I said, I'm not trying to prove anything to anyone else, just mentioning what it was that changed my view of things. How you want to interpret that is up to you, it's no skin off my nose. But for me, on a personal and subjective level, I've already demonstrated to myself that such paranormal experiences can exist. I guess that the only way to make some demonstration is to try it for yourself, you won't convince anyone but yourself either way. But, to me, the possibility that such widely reported phenomenon such as psychic ability can be tested by anyone with the balls to subject themselves to something as powerful as DMT is well worth further investigation. At the very least, it should spur further and rigorous empirical research into whether such experiences are meaningful or whether they are the product of a deluded mind. Either or, such investigation would yield fascinating results and insights into the nature of experiential reality.
A million bucks says this part can't be done, so looking for whatever enables them seems a bit premature.
Maybe, but I still say that an experience as profound as to alter the very nature of reality as we know it is worthy of consideration and further investigation. For me, it was a deeply personal experience, and as I've said a few times now I don't expect my anecdotal experience to mean anything much whatsoever, but for me it was a subjective experience powerful enough for me to question the primacy of our current view of reality and the nature of mind.
What experiences? Drug-induced hallucinations may be kind of interesting, but they aren't 'psychic phenomena'.
Well, they're not if they don't yield any "psychic" results but, for me personally, they have. There could be any number of 'rational' and 'logical' explanations why my experience might not have been 'psychic' but I am yet to come across a reasonable explanation for my experience. That's not to say there isn't such an explanation but, so far, the idea of compounds such as DMT to trigger a 'psychic' experience is as good as any other rationalisation. But I still say, regardless of the veracity of any such experiences, the fact that the human mind - which is fundamentally based on neurological mechanisms to interpret reality - is capable of shifting into new and undiscovered forms of experience when its neurochemistry is adjusted to me is a fascinating concept that really draws into question the nature of reality as we experience it in our everyday waking consciousness. What evidence do you have that your current perception of reality is not, in fact, "drug induced"? DMT is a neurotransmitter, no different to the chemicals (ie "drugs") in your brain which construct your perception of reality as you experience it here and now.
Might it? Good-oh.
Yes. It might. Your entire experience of reality, in this thread, on this forum, in this waking life, is based on neurochemical reactions. Is it such a huge leap top assume that changing that neurochemical reaction might alter reality itself?
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