Does questioning reality lead you to madness? | Donald Hoffman and Lex Fridman

Lex Fridman Podcast full episode: • Donald Hoffman: Realit...
Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
- Calm: calm.com/lex to get 40% off
- LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/lex to get free sample pack
- InsideTracker: insidetracker.com/lex to get 20% off
- MasterClass: masterclass.com/lex to get 15% off
- Indeed: indeed.com/lex to get $75 credit
GUEST BIO:
Donald Hoffman is a cognitive scientist at UC Irvine and author of The Case Against Reality.
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: lexfridman.com/podcast
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2lwqZIr
Spotify: spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
RSS: lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
Full episodes playlist: • Lex Fridman Podcast
Clips playlist: • Lex Fridman Podcast Clips
SOCIAL:
- Twitter: / lexfridman
- LinkedIn: / lexfridman
- Facebook: / lexfridman
- Instagram: / lexfridman
- Medium: / lexfridman
- Reddit: / lexfridman
- Support on Patreon: / lexfridman

[@canadianwatchmonkey3992]

I’ve never questioned reality up until the last few years. It seems that nothing is right any longer, everything we know seems some how tilted and off center

[@kostar500]

So true… it’s crazy right?

[@luiscampos3348]

Everything is what it always has been, u are just know realizing the absurdity of it all. Its still an amazing journey and opportunity to be alive, we should be grateful for each passing moment cause at the end its all we got. And to me being able to breath is enough to be grateful, blessings ✌️

[@theotormon]

The algorithm is guiding more and more people toward unconventional ideas. The same thing that is happening to ideology is happening to ontology and philosophy.

[@13Doses]

Almost like we're living in the wrong timeline...

[@ARABxINFLUENCE]

This is called the ultimate self delusion. Go ask people all over the world who have been suffering their entire lives, if the world is just starting to seem off. People that say these things live in such comfort compared to the world that when their life gets worse, they still can't grasp the world doesn't revolve around them

[@HolloVVpoint]

Ever since childhood I’ve always had to catch my self when thinking about reality, because not only does it get confusing but can easily slip into nihilism and madness. It’s easy to see how if you’re smart like these guys you can easily slip into insanity. Almost who ever created us doesn’t want us to think about it.

[@user-dc9rf1sy1m]

Life is temporary. Any eggs you put into the baskets of this temporary life will eventually mean nothing. But if you put even 1 egg of hope in the basket of Jesus, you will have a bet on the only thing that will matter forever. If there is a possibility of eternal life in heaven, the smartest thing you could ever do in this temporary existence is try your best to find it. It's the only thing that COULD ever matter to a human being. It is worth more than all the money and power in the world, and deep down, we know it. We know how precious eternal life would be, and to live your whole life and not even put 1 single egg of faith into that basket, is honestly a tragic injustice of man's wisdom... Even if nihilism is true, and we are a cosmic accident, you would STILL be a fool not to put a blind bet on Jesus. Anyone who doesnt make pascals wager is honestly a fool, in my eyes. It's not about proving God. Its about the pure logic of the fact that you have nothing to lose, but everything to gain, and still choose stubborn self righteousness. For what? So you can be high and mighty without God? Taking a risk you think has no chance of losing? What do you win on that position? Literally nothing, except nihilistic misery, or at best, complete apathy. Nihilism is like choosing not to play the game because you might lose. You think fools have faith because an intelligent mind requires proof before they believe something? Nah. A true intelligent mind realizes the gravity of the situation and the fact that proof is irrelevent when making the decision, because there literally is no risk involved. So you accepted Jesus in your heart and prayed, and took a chance at feeling foolish in exchange for a soul satisfying relationship with your creator? Lets play a game. Under these 2 cups are 2 options. 1 cup has nothing, the other cup has eternal life. You say, no, i dont believe you, I'm not wasting my time. Fast forward, we all die and face God, on that .0000000001 chance the nihilist thought was impossible because God didnt "prove himself".. What matters in that moment, huh? So lets use our intelligence and put 1 tiny egg in that basket, just in case. Our future self either thanks us for the best choice we couldve made, or we forget we ever made it. Bet on eternity. It's fundamentally the most intelligent thing a human being could ever do, knowing full well death is inevitable. Look out for your eternal soul. Or, dont? But if you don't, you really cant claim intelligence on anything because youve consciously refused to make the easiest and most logical choice a human can make.

[@cbass4352]

Im currently experiencing this and I find it so sad that we are in this situation out of all the things that could’ve happen. I also just hate that the more you think about it the worse it becomes like we’re being punished for this and being unable to speak to others about it because I truly believe ignorance is bliss. I’ve been losing myself for years not knowing what’s worth caring for and I’ve just been in denial over this situation ever since I got into my 20’s and its not looking too good anymore

[@LovroTruden]

You are god my friend , your god version of you created your human version to experienxe all things on this world you cannot experience on another way

[@k0oLwHiP]

Alan Watts may help you guys

[@markdavid1532]

Yeah its all a big manipulation... we create virtual worlds in witch we play others so probably others that are outside of this world created us and are playing us... so for the their game to continue must be lies lies lies... can something be done? i think not ...as NPCs in video games cant do nothing about their creators... nor us can do nothing about our creators... condemned to never knowing . Who can judge and hold accountable the first creators? nobody... they can torture us with everything forever and we cant do nothing about it because they have all the power...

[@scruffydelilah1186]

When dealing with this, I came to the conclusion that I just want to make people around me happy, feeling loved and laughing hysterically. That’s the impact I want to make. That’s my purpose.

[@cilliankeane251]

Facts

[@drugsta]

All I think about now is "how can I make this simulation as cool as possible for my son and wife and make some cool art"

[@barbarakane9887]

Right on!

[@danieraye30]

Same!

[@dmo848]

Well u put a smile on my face😊. Cheers to you

[@ridarza]

everyone’s comments in here r so beautiful. the fact that there’s so many likeminded individuals who had js the same thoughts as idid. love to all of us awakening and questioning reality. we’re all helping &assisting the world, universe, to awaken to its truest essence

[@HM-eg9hv]

I shat in no less than 4 pairs of pants within these 15 minutes. That includes clean up, disposal eand wardrobe change.

[@humaminho]

​@@HM-eg9hv thats crazy

[@djsurferdude]

Is it just me or does the interview seem to be high af? lol

[@excalibur9768]

I've always felt like something 'isn't quite right' with the world. It's difficult to articulate and it makes you feel very isolated when everyone you attempt to engage about this subject just looks at you blankly.

[@mauz3617]

soo true, same here nothing here feels real at all

[@ayasolaris4971]

what do you mean? what do you say to people that leaves them staring blankly?

[@dirtluverluveruvdirt7009]

It may be that the people that stare blankly have the same thoughts on reality but they don’t want to risk embarrassment.

[@excalibur9768]

@@dirtluverluveruvdirt7009 I don't think so, unfortunately. It's more of a vacant stare like they just can't comprehend what I'm saying but the vast majority of people are the same in my experience. It's not their fault, we are all heavily indoctrinated by the system from an early age; we are told life is about having a family and working to obtain all that shiny materialistic crap that will make us feel fulfilled and happy. Most people, except those like us, have completely lost the inquisitiveness and curiosity that we all came into this world with - without that we are just drones procreating and working to pay taxes and supply more humans to keep the system alive.

[@dirtluverluveruvdirt7009]

@@excalibur9768 It’s definitely a dichotomy that is difficult to contemplate. Living in this reality we perceive then basically questioning everything about it when it. It’s something I have to try to compartmentalize in my day to day. I have to admit that even though I’ve known of these studies on the nature of reality I never took them too seriously, beyond a theory, until recently. It’s been messing with my thought process. It’s like the Pandora’s box parallel, once you really consider it a possibility it’s very hard to not consider it.

[@TheDlockett1]

One thing that broke my mind as a kid is that we all have different brains to see each other and experience the same moments but in completely different ways and the fact that I can NEVER see from their literal POV is crazyyy how there’s literally billions of brains and thoughts along with their vision and life experiences.

[@seancunningham-cx8bf]

That's a good level of awareness to have. People often have issues realizing others don't see the world as they do myself included.

[@landcruiserfan4206]

Same here!

[@jallen911]

Yet, the feeling “I am” is the same “I am” for everyone

[@David-we3sb]

That's why I love the notion of the Forms in Plato, and all of the philosophy that has followed that notion. There are REAL things that are not visible but we can all connect to and know is real and objective and seek to find together through dialogue and reasoning and sharing our experiences.

[@clementej03]

Hello, I suggest reading up on biology and evolutionary theory for why that is, once you understand that we're al unique attempts at life to dictate what structures of scocial behavior and genetic predisposition we should keep perpetuating as a species, life becomes quite beautiful. Were all unique participants in the contest of life. Hopefully I was able to convey my thoughts and sorry for the complicated words :)

[@mikerotonda6264]

The deeper you dive into finding the knowledge of our reality, the father you move away from it.. That's been my experience at least

[@jahniers.7835]

Agreed

[@UndyingEDM]

You just described the process of finding out how much we truly don't know about the world. Becoming aware of what you don't know is overwhelming. Out of all the unknowns, there's the knowable unknowns and the unknowable unknowns. Just imagine.

[@macaria5144]

Yes, I don’t think we are supposed to find out in this state.

[@coreymckay5202]

That's the whole point, there is so much to know and so much more that we don't. The key is to formulate a framework that can consider all the known unknowns to lead you to a happy life without bias and reactivity.

[@guillermo5095]

Stoicism helps

[@back-engineered]

My existential crisis started when I was 10. It hit me like a freight train. I was laying in bed and I suddenly jumped up in a panic and balled my eyes out to my parents, unable to explain what I was experiencing. My parents didn't understand what was wrong with me. I went through many years of therapy and every shrink I saw was just as oblivious as my parents were. I truly thought I was the only person in the world who was actually aware of their own existence. It was an extremely lonely, depressing and terrifying experience. I finally discovered philosophy in my early 20s and went down a massive rabit hole until my late 20s. This existential crisis has completely consumed and controlled my life. I have pondered and solved some of the most complex questions a person could ask and what I've come to realize is that no matter how big or how deep the question is, once you solve it, a bigger and much deeper question arises. I'm 31 now. I've concluded that there's no longer any point in pondering these extremely complex questions. After 21 years of pure internal torture, I now finally feel great relief knowing that I no longer have the capacity to solve these questions. I know enough. Now, I'm focused on just enjoying life and working on my hobbies. The trauma still lingers, but it's getting better with time. For anyone going through the same, I promise it gets better. Just relax and know you're not alone.

[@theonlynull]

❤

[@etaylor8028]

If you’re talking about solipsism, take comfort in this: if you were god, omnipotent and all powerful, you would have the ability to make everyone else just as sentient as you, so as not to be alone.

[@oliverjackson258]

Thank you

[@oliverjackson258]

@@etaylor8028geez wow

[@user-sm1ol5kj6o]

Needed to hear this. Brain hurt I’m tired n plagued w this incessant need to “know”

[@Schnippen_Schnappen1]

I was really into this inter-dimensional stuff,aliens,reality,simulation,psychedelics,etc. reading and watching stuff like that every day until i got a panic attack. It was too much! Ignorance really is bliss lol

[@canonaler]

That's probably because you went into it too fast without being prepared for how vast and abstract that world can get

[@damianbligh820]

Felt like this after an intense Ayahuasca experience, it took months to shake off. I had no joy in eating, ready, watching tv etc.....until one day it clicked. None of it makes sense, it's all for fun!! Just enjoy it for what it is.

[@BecomingYourIdeal]

@@damianbligh820 that’s the conclusion I came to also what I can’t understand is why can’t we readily do what ever we want like fly considering our foundation doesn’t make sense

[@skyreach669]

yeah i've thought about it so much for the past 10 years that I feel like I'm losing it

[@damianbligh820]

@@skyreach669 Try not to man, as whatever it is..it is. Just enjoy it as you would a good film but this one you get to play a part in.

[@takeuchi5760]

That bit towards the end where they talk about the conundrum of having to deal with the transcendent while still being attached to the local is so relatable, it feels like you're crazy to think of these things but then you realize that they're not false. So cool that someone else talks about it and so many of us can relate.

[@matrix2297]

Right?! This has been so difficult for me to navigate - having one foot in the cosmic abyss and the other on planet earth. It almost feels physically painful...I can barely remember my life pre what I can only define as spiritual awakening. Everything, on every level of existence is markedly different. There have been times where I've wanted to 'go back'. I would see other people so immersed in the material and resented that I could no longer live that way.

[@cbass4352]

⁠@@matrix2297same thing is happening to me and I just feel so helpless because I fear that if I talk about it with people I’m gonna just gonna make them rethink their whole existence also. It just sucks that ignorance really is bliss and I just can’t get my head around it

[@almasakic1148]

i'm right there with you buddy@@matrix2297

[@angryherbalgerbil]

Discerning the trans-mudane of your experiences is essential. Every moment is a vehicle towards awakening out of the iron chains... But then the golden chains arrive, and that can get very dry. I so wish I could return to being a psychadelic materialist again, and sat with a bunch of ego-hipsters chatting about the wonders of everything "unknown" to that level of consciousness. That's where the true wonder resides! Once you've integrated to a point of recognising your prophetic dreams, synchronicities, and have a metaphysical lexicon to draw from, then it all just becomes part of your day-to-day experience. Being guided by intuition and not rationality is then just how you live. No psychadelics needed, no hippy clothes. Just the continual inner work and looking for the next key towards merging with the divine and letting go of what's no longer needed. The early awakening journey is the best part, watching the concrete world morph into the abstract and surreal, then seeing that tapestry is also observing you morphing with it. Some run from it screaming, others run into it with a wide eyed grin whilst being devoured by it. Fun times! 😂

[@UN4LL0C473D]

I'd say there's trauma behind questioning reality. When I was in elementary and middle school, my subconscious mind was trying to understand space and time. I would have night terrors about the sun consuming us, or I'd be trapped in an infinite void after watching everything in reality disappear (besides me and white light). I would be awake enough to know I'm awake, but not enough to control my body. My dreams would overlay reality, and I couldn't distinguish the difference until my mom would make me look at myself in the mirror and splash my face with water to bring me back to "reality." It was like walking sleep paralysis. I believe these moments were the catalyst to me thinking about the nature of the universe so often as a teenager. Doing so led to a lot of uncertainty and depression. Now: I'm 23, I don't fear death, I'm comfortable with uncertainty, and I'm happy about life.

[@RyanQuinlan420]

Mix of de personalized and de realization it sound like

[@shaunphillips6160]

Of course it would because it blows all of you perceived notions of what reality is out of the water.

[@IncoGnito-ji5du]

Have you ever felt like after a certain point of reality-pondering, its as if something understands your intrusion, and things start not being so random? Like actively being mocked? By not so random randomness?

[@taylorwilliams4779]

Absolutely

[@user-ew3ow3eh5u]

You mean synchronicity and signs

[@SquaresBaby]

Oh man all the time, so wierd

[@bking1634]

Whoa

[@julianverdugo5957]

When one stares at the void long enough the void tends to stare back.

[@mr.a5803]

Questioning reality actually puts me at peace, knowing that reality is so fragile and personal to each individual made me let go of so many things I stressed over. Reality is what you make it, enjoy it until we continue our journey on the other side

[@twinsoultarot473]

Understanding the other side helps us get this side!

[@laylamedel2722]

Love you

[@meechie9z]

Same

[@Mizzle420420]

Yup

[@80mbeats]

@@odenoki9571 You act as if you understand consciousness when nobody really does. The buddhists think our consciousness is recycled and that could be the case. You could be right or the truth could be something else completely.

[@ChristAliveForevermore]

This man was so focused on math that he didn't have his first existential crisis until 30.

[@macdougdoug]

I thought that was the correct age for it - same as Jesus and Kurt Cobain 🤪

[@nikakevkhishvili4785]

Whats the normal age for existential Crisis in your opinion?

[@julius43461]

​@Kevin Eriksson DRe I was obsessed with death and the nature of reality as far back as I can remember. I always thought I had my first real crisis when I was 8 or 9, but seeing my 5 year old obsessing over death really surprised me, and now I know these things can happen even earlier than I ever expected.

[@SithSolomon]

33 . The age of pure enlightenment for most

[@nikakevkhishvili4785]

@@SithSolomon enlightenment is bullshit .

[@Harry-jz1dn]

Over ten years ago i took a very serious psychotic break, it took years to get over and i still have mental issues to this day. Before i snapped, i had been OVER meditating. I was really good at it and loved the detachment from self. I could do it for hours at a time, nightly... Sometimes twice daily. But then... I became completely detached from daily life, from relationships, material things, my job, etc. i was hyper vigilant. I was noticing patterns in mundane things. Was obsessed with numbers and arithmetic. Some of it was nonsense, but didnt seem that way at the time. Other parts tho just pushed me further into madness. As this video title asks, I was constantly looking for the meaning of reality... Compulsively. Id be convinced one day it was a simulation due to the way i noticed my physical and environments AND the way i observed how everyone went about life (literally like The Sims). The next day tho id believe in a more spiritual answer. Sadly, i was very easily swayed by conspiracies lime illuminati, satanists, aliens and went down a paranoid rabbit hole which was terrifying. All that aside tho, the only thing to tbis day that i still can't get my head around where my dreams. I had a dream journal and youd be shocked how often id write down dreams that played out flawlessly the next day. Not mundane things, but scenes in new movies id never watched. Celebrity deaths. Paris terrorist attacks. Interactions with people, strangers in the ecact random places id dreamt. Things that COULD NOT be coincidence and to all those psychologists wholl reply with a, "its just...", im sorry, but youd be basing it on reading this comment and just making assumptions.

[@dhdhdhdhhdhdhdgdgd]

I went down the same rabbit hole with my psychosis

[@ochmus]

Growing up my mothers had dreams of things happening and they ended up happening not too soon after. We’d chalk it up to her just subconsciously thinking about things and all kind of brushed it off. That was until I recently last year I had three dreams in a row that happened in sequence one day after the next. First I dreamt of a big storm washing people away and pulling them into the sea. Turns out that same day there was a storm like that just on a different part of the sea not so far away but far away enough that it wasn’t influenced by me seeing it outside. Second dream, I dreamt my father saying something to me, I woke up and shortly after read his text with the exact words he said. It freaked me out. Third I dreamt of visiting an old home that looked like a prison and kind of creepy. Next day I went on a tour and saw basically the same home, flooring, walls that I saw. Anyways it’s crazy I never really believed my mother 100%, but once it happened to me it became more strange and believable.

[@bound6172]

It’s called Deja vu Everybody gets it. You’re just crazy.

[@Harry-jz1dn]

@@bound6172 yawn

[@bound6172]

@@Harry-jz1dn Ignorance is bliss. Stay crazy.

[@loki3836]

I used to be heavily into spirituality, but events led me away from it. A month or so after I stepped away from it, I had a night where it was like my consciousness was expanded. it's a strange feeling I can't describe. I was in my front room and put some meditation music on for some reason and asked myself, "Who am I without all I consume?" I kept asking it over and over until it felt like my consciousness was leaving my flesh, and in my mind saw some strange things. The thing that stopped me was when I had to let go of everyone and everything, my family, my friends, everything. It reminded me of when I did dmt and almost had an ego death, but this was different in ways I cant describe. Before I could get any further, my ego shut everything down, basically. Suddenly, it was like I was in a dream. I looked down, and I was standing on an ocean, and in the distance was a beach with a jungle behind it. When I realized I was on water, I fell under and it was like a current dragged my to the shore. There I saw a man who looked old, but he felt more like a man but I cant describe it. He said "You were really onto something there, I really thought you were about to do it". I dont know why, but I said "I dont want to die, Im not ready," and he replied back by saying, "Yeah, no one is ever ready." I asked one more thing, where would I have gone if I had continued? And he replied, "Over the horizon." After he said that, it was like my body jumped up, and everything was just silent, more than silent. Everything felt very real, but my consciousness no longer felt expanded. I remember it very vividly, and I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I didn't stop myself.

[@underdogpsychosis2841]

I've experienced something very similar.

[@dougwilson318]

Into light... i had an experience somewhat similar... I got to a point where I observed a singular atom... my awareness identified it as the last thing I was holding onto... I let it go... my whole experience evaporated into vibrationless clear/white light... that light later split into streams of reality... i could dip in and out of them feeling as if they were infinite timelines... when the experience stopped I came to on my bed shaking... the energy was so intense in my nervous system...

[@aurum1235]

Wow, incredible, thanks for sharing

[@Chrysaetos11]

Well done. If you experience stuff like that you take mainstream conventional knowledge with a grain of salt. ''True'' from earthly points of view and indeed observable scientifically, but it's only a fraction of actual reality. ''Madness''? Thinking the world we're presented with as all there is, IS being in a slumbering madness.

[@silento6633]

@loki3836 Was this in a dream or on DMT???

[@ThaTurdBurglar]

As maddening as "true" reality seems, it gives me tremendous hope and joy knowing that all who have come before, and will come, seem to pass through this place and journey on to the next.. no one is alone in that

[@zer0k4ge]

It’s just another stage, just how everyone lost their first set of baby teeth, went through puberty etc, we all have to go through death. It’s something everyone has to experience and I mean when you think about the fact we have no recollection of anything prior to our existence and we were all at one point microorganisms in someone’s nutsack, it makes death seem a lot less intimidating.

[@cristianm7097]

We all who ? No one chose to be born.

[@wesleyvinal9801]

​@@zer0k4ge I find solace in that viewpoint 😅

[@stop7556]

Yes but you're assuming every person before you and after you is a real entity and being. The movie everywhere everyplace all at once is also a play on the inverse. What your current experience is just the person you're viewing it through. It's always be you and will always be you.

[@ccisthesekxs]

@@cristianm7097 some people believe that we did, or that some are given the option depending on different factors. We don’t know either way with certainty.

[@doc2590]

I'm 56 now, and when I can just look, listen and feel without thoughts this is the only time I can feel real bliss, peace and contentment. and it is so true, that you have to make a conscious effort to do this, if not then we are trapped in the story and game of life which sadly for me at least is mostly depressing.

[@MK-ih6wp]

Isn't this meditation? Do you do it daily?

[@doc2590]

@@MK-ih6wp Eckhart Tolle calls it getting present. I had to do a 5hr drive today by myself, everytime I became aware that my mind was drifting off, or I was having a fantasy conversation with someone in my head, I would simply return to the present moment. Most people shower at least once a day, and I bet they are not present, their mind would be on all sorts of things while doing this simple task. A simple shower is actually very enjoyable but most people miss it because they are trapped in thought. So to answer your question, yes I do it daily as much as I can, wherever and whenever I can. Is this meditation? I don't know, perhaps a form of meditation I guess.

[@stevesmith9404]

Well said my friend.

[@astrovicis]

I think it happens when our existing organism feels it doesn’t need to try any harder to survive. When we’re safe and our environment ceases to change past our ability to recognize that it’s changing, we entertain ourselves with our own fabricated realities in our heads. This is why I think art can be such a powerful spiritual agent of catharsis. It gives us a means to direct our reality from within instead of from the outside; Flow state doesn’t always necessitate an outside influence to be entered.

[@doc2590]

@@astrovicis yes, I believe writing or journaling does the same thing. It brings the stuff rattling around in the head out into the real world. Very relaxing and cathartic..

[@yaboyjuice102]

Ive had a couple of episodes of high anxiety on this thinking process. Ive come to the realization that we as human beings are so bent on finding reasons for everything like existence. Ive just come to my own conclusion, that not everything needs to have an answer, and that our current existence on this world should be spent in celebration, rather than chaotic curiosity of infinite questions. We don’t need an answer for everything.

[@sebastiandearco2776]

We do need answers but it’s up to each individual if you want to spend your reality looking for answers you might never find. It’s about understanding that we are worthless, but really rare at the same time.

[@Jasondurgen]

@@sebastiandearco2776but you don’t need the answers. Everyone can live without them

[@streetj3sus]

We are living in a hell realm where humans believe this is real life

[@Noah-pr2or]

Can and won't are very different from person to person. ​@@Jasondurgen

[@foundprospect2604]

I experienced severe existential ocd with panic disorder 6 months ago, and it sent me spiralling into major depression. I didn’t want to die because I was so scared of what happened afterwards but I didn’t want to live either, more of like a “I wish I’d never been born”. I struggled to explain or comprehend things about existence but then I changed my thinking. I started focusing on how I FELT rather than what I THOUGHT. Not everything can be put into words and I imagine that if there is something after we die it’s not likely something that could even begin to be expressed in this life. But what I do know is that I have people I love, hobbies I love, and just appreciating the things around me such as nature and interesting natural phenomenon. I think that there’s nothing wrong with being a “physicalist” when we are literally in a physical world. Yes it’s good to tend to our “spirit” and make sure we try to heal our mind, but at the end of the day life is a physical experience and there’s nothing wrong with enjoying it that way :)

[@brovix5393]

I would like to invite you to read the Quran it gives clear answers to all of your questions… it will truly put your mind at ease.

[@RyanQuinlan420]

That's de personalization

[@Radbiker33357]

You know, I think this comment really hit a chord for me. I think I was in the exact same boat and was on antidepressants until I got out of the rut. Took me months to get on them. I was in the same situation of realizing life is almost meaningless, I wanted to see what happens when we do: are the religious thoughts real? Do we reincarnate? Is it pitch black? It was purely existential, but I love this life on earth and the family and friends I share, that I got stuck and spiraled. Was not a very fun time.

[@johannaschatzle6344]

Dpdr?

[@idnintel]

@@brovix5393 I would also invite him to listen to some alan watts on youtube, he had an enormous overview of eastern and western traditions and most importantly he was able to relate to people effortlessly in expressing these complicated ideas in a simple, elegant and effective way that was above all entertaining.

[@burrrrrr3585]

This is why this podcast is one of the greatest ever - the questioning of self, the world, what makes up the world and the possibilities of the world 😎

[@chaosdweller]

Yeah I like it when people give other concepts a chance he and Jre does that.

[@chaosdweller]

I'm starting to like this show.

[@benwherlock9869]

It's like JRE but a couple of levels deeper, without all the dick jokes and stuff.

[@Eric-tj3tg]

Fascinating indeed. Beware, as the title indicates, as the rabbit-holes are deep and many. This is why practicing such inquiry within a lineage holding community seems wise. These pitfalls have all been seen by good teachers. For us secular seekers, this can become troublesome, I have found.

[@astonesthrow]

These questions are, in fact, what the world is made of.

[@sisterseeth]

It's hard for me to understand how someone manages to NOT question reality. Toddlers do this constantly, with a pure passion driven from the desire to refine themselves. Intelligence is no marker for it, as some of the most incredibly brilliant people I've ever known believe what the glowing box tells them without question and think it preposterous when it's suggested that the easier it is to obtain information, the less nutritious it tends to be. When truth is masticated and pre-digested, allowing you to absorb without effort, the truth has been processed beyond recognition and is provided for free, with a smile, for the purpose of extracting the value from your beliefs. Truth is refined over a period of time. It's an ongoing process and gives meaning to life, shaping our character founded in virtue, and acts as the support beams of self-esteem. It's never too late to lend consideration toward an oppositional point of view and in the process, uncover entire unknown worlds that lacked exposure, and find empathy for the ideas of others whose passion for beliefs you refused to examine, hold just as much value as your own. If someone is bothered by being wrong, they care more for being right than they do about becoming better.

[@UnlimitlesslyFunnyDude]

how someone manages to NOT question reality. Toddlers do this constantly, with a pure passion driven from the desire to refine themselves.

[@George-mr8ix]

Society tells them not to

[@UnlimitlesslyFunnyDude]

@@George-mr8ix environment just want to make as money workers so society tell us not to indulge in other unuseful things that consume lot's of time and can't generate money fast For them questioning reality is not worth it, they just want to secure financial insecurity for survival.

[@Owbly]

It's not about questioning reality, but beware of unearned wisdom

[@UnlimitlesslyFunnyDude]

@@Owbly by only through questioning anything we become aware of unearned wisdom

[@Poem22LoveNotestoSoul-jw4nv]

This is wonderful. I appreciate this conversation deeply. Quiet the mind.. and then you’ll see..truly…

[@Joefest99]

Years ago, my mind had tortured me so much with constant negative thinking and emotion, that I decided I was going to lie down and turn it off. I said to myself, “What if I could stop all thoughts, all emotion and all sensation for just a moment, completely?” I laid there trying and felt I kept getting close, but would have to start over, until I eventually fell asleep. I woke up that night in a panic. Everything was dark, but I could still see the objects in my room, however everything was without label. I saw the fan, but it was just a lableless object - not “fan”. I saw the object that I knew as a tv without the label TV. Everything looked foreign. I started to panic and I had an intense sensation that I was about to die. All of a sudden, a hole began to open in mid air, in my room. It started off as a pinhole of light, and slowly began growing. With the light came a sound, like the humming of a soft motor. The whole event was shocking yet familiar. I knew what was happening. I knew I was dying. I immediately put my pillow over my head and started repeating, “Think, think, think of anything”. And tried to put the label back onto the fan. I tried to conceptualize again. Eventually, the light closed and I fell on my back in my bed with relief. Ive been carrying that story for fifteen years and have only told one person when I was drunk. I’ve always wondered what would have happened if I would have surrendered to the light.

[@Rem_NL]

in short i had a similar experience, but more drawn out over maybe a few months years. In an attempt to silence the overly negative inner voice, I resorted to meditation. I got to explore life through a lens where you look at the world through childlike eyes (not seeing labels but objects) Found a deeper connection with the what my human brain coined as "the universal over soul" Fascinating but even that I could see as an interface in itself. A construct that might have been designed with a deeper level of control. Plato's cave, the matrix etc. I'm not sure if we are meant to be shadow walkers, or at least not for an extended period, but to dive in the deep sea on a pitch black night, having no idea what is beneath the surface requires some courage i don't poses.

[@Rem_NL]

none taken, its expected actually@@JustinWilliams-ed2ug

[@raniamaldrie4479]

@@Rem_NL only even thinking about swimming in the deep see when you cant see shit makes my bones shiver.

[@DHendo214]

“With the light came a sound, like the humming of a soft motor” That’s very interesting. When my grandmother was in the nursing home right before she was about to pass away she said she kept hearing bees in her ear. There are a lot of theories/information/interest in frequencies and vibration in the world as far as it relates to life, our spirit etc. Very interesting to hear that you experienced something similar.

[@nathanbell6962]

Sounds like having a bad trip. There's a technique to overcoming it. Don't fight it. Remembering the good things in life and being safe helps

[@ridgegillespie2934]

I've questiond my reality from a young age,had a few unsure depressing moments but learned that I can only control so much and to focus on what I can control

[@04dram04]

There is so much more you can control, than you think. Because waking reality is a dream projected from your subconscious. Because its your subconscious, you have the power to influence the dream

[@guidedmeditation2396]

That sounds a lot like the prayer "God Grant Me The Serenity To Accept The Things I Cannot Change, The Courage To Change The Things I Can, And The Wisdom To Know The Difference".

[@societyrunsbackwards1059]

Try not to digest everything to fast… have a desire to learn but don’t get lost in the abyss

[@lindy_noskyline1848]

And remember the Beetles.. All You Need is Love.. It's an important comfort when all this relativity can boil down to a purpose you can't find, and can't create by control features.. ✌️

[@StephenAndersonSACreate]

Wow. Doctor Hoffman can be hard to follow sometimes, but his clear explanations on how these 100% proven theories clash with his own material reality of desires, fears, possessions, hopes etc and how difficult they are to integrate is incredibly refreshing and inspiring. He truly and honourably represents the scientific model that holds truth at all costs as its highest ideal, regardless of how one dislikes or fears what the truth reveals. We so need more scientists that have the same integrity and courage as this man. Thank you for these interviews Lex.

[@pielily]

seriously one of the most impactful podcasts i've ever listened to. i imagine most people who hear this won't give this more than a passing thought, even though most people that will listen to this are relatively high on the IQ bell curve. but i thank lex for giving actual important concepts like this a platform, even if most of his audience may not appreciate it. it's not about pronouns or gun control or abortion or CRT. it's inherently apolitical - and unfortunately that doesn't sell well these days.

[@simonmasters3295]

This is not as good as many of you are saying. I had more things to say, but I discarded my comment accidentally. I will summarise by summarising Hoffman on Fridman thus: Scientist has existential crisis, Interviewer is far from challenging, Audience is far too polite.

[@akmonra]

It is not 100% proven. "Fact creation" from observation is an assumption he's making, based on the Copenhagen interpretation. The number of assumptions you have to make to account for the Copenhagen Interpretation is far greater than the Many Worlds Interpretation. But old physicists don't want to give up on old theories.

[@rondoespsych5901]

@@akmonra I cam here to say the same thing. It's an injustice for him to speak factual about his theories and surprising how many people know it's a theory and consider it fact.

[@jaso7839]

@@simonmasters3295 such a shallow interpretation

[@paulchen7628]

When you realize every person started out as a baby, and that all the “bad” people just were put through bad situations you really start to feel sadness for people instead of anger. Especially with everything that’s happening right now. I also ask myself why people can’t step back to look at the bigger picture and think about others. Cause everyone can just help each other instead of hurting (unlike the politicians of this world)

[@stevej.7926]

Amen

[@etiennedodge]

Yes. I'm experiencing this right now. I'm trying to focus on just what is in front of me but it is a difficult task.

[@stevejones371]

Reading through a lot of these comments- it’s refreshing to see mostly positive discussion/replies for once on KZbin. This channel is a beacon of light in the dark world of social media. Thank you Lex for being born, human, on THIS earth.

[@liam4210]

Factssss

[@dannyx498]

Only incels hate social media

[@OverRule1]

​@Internet Explorer Everything is real including virtual reality. Our understanding of reality and virtual reality is not developed enough to see the answer right in front of us.

[@Bradleyey]

I’ve seen this so many times with individuals on the verge of enlightenment. He’s right on the edge and he understands the choice. At a certain point, if you dig enough for knowledge and insight, you realize that what you are digging for is perhaps more than you bargained for. Because at a certain point you have to let go of what you used to hold on to in order to move forward. The idea of letting go can be the most frightening thing some of us ever face. And you get to choose whether to move forward or not, but within that choice is the knowledge you’ve already gained, and can never forget. So really there isn’t a choice, there’s just moving forward or succumbing to fear. It isn’t easy to let go and move beyond fear, and there’s no one way to do it, but nobody has to do it alone.

[@brbuche]

Having a glimpse of realization is always the first step. Smart analytical people do not realize the level of conditioning that is worked into their shadow self. All of his emotional responses have to go through a fair period of disentanglement, he will find a fair amount of that conditioned response (anger frustration competition) is related to childhood conditioning. Once you see the emotion is creating tension in your body, then you can let go of physical tension, which then you can easily detach from that false person response (shadow person) you are carrying around.

[@davidhughes6]

Yes Bradley you have absolutely nailed it right there. His choice is succumbing to the fear or spiritual enlightenment

[@BusinessWolf1]

Jesus christ stop overintellectualizing flawed human understanding of reality pushed to its breaking point.

[@Channel-xy2wj]

Normal person here. I was wondering, is it possible to become enlightened but not have any associations to it with a higher power? Are you aware of any people who are like this?

[@Kisbigga]

I have never seen this explained as clear cut as you do here, wow. What you wrote really hit me like a truck, and I understand every single sentence and what you are trying to convey by it, truley fascinating. Ive been in the phase you describe for long, as a long time meditator and "knowledge seeker" who at some point simply stopped meditating. I now understand why I quit.. Thank you for taking your time to write that out, it inspired me to start meditating again and it will inspire others, too.

[@__Fat__Joey_Crack__1998]

I started questioning reality a lot through my teen years ( from 15 to 18), but it was a fun and thrilling experience, then i stopped questioning, and i thought i found the right way of thinking, i thought i was very smart ( i do have a above average IQ 113) , but then, at the age of 21, i started realizing that everything i thought, everything i did, everything i said and everything i experienced had no meaning at all, BUT, at the same time it had a lot of meaning. Throughout this whole year (2023) , i went through a really bad period of my life, literally nothing made sense , but at the same time everything made sense, it was a weird loop that i couldn’t get out of. I am now, recently, starting to give meaning to life again, even though , i deeply know, it has no meaning at all. You could have all the money in the world, get all the things you want, that at the end of the day, you will still be an animal that poops, pisses, eats, farts, and secretes liquids from your body, very similarly to other animals.

[@the.gr8est]

I like to think there’s a higher state or form of energy/matter that exists. That’s able to look back upon all things in creation. Almost like the game designer of gta. Do any of the characters matter technically yes technically no. All of them make up gta. So your apart of something way bigger than you’d know.

[@xSayPleasex]

Your comment made me think about a feeling I've have had lately. An overwhelming sense that I'm basically a passenger in my own body (as all people are)... with 99% of everything it does being outside my control. Nearly every action we take is resultant from what our body tells us to do...we do not understand nearly any of the complex chemical/hormonal processes our body carries out constantly yet they happen an unfathomable amount of times every millisecond. Even our thoughts and memories which, if anything can be sacredly "us", are barely our own and mostly subconscious as well.

[@ochmus]

I can kind of see where you are coming from. After Highschool all my classmates were off to good universities a new what they wanted to do for the rest of their lives. Me personally I didn’t want to do anything but do what I wanted, however to appease my parents I went to a community college. Still I would do bad, fell into 🪴 and 🍺 heavily, couldn’t get myself out of that hole for a few years. I realized now the only reason I did that was cause when I was not sober, it felt as if I was disconnected from reality of “life” and was not really alive. If that makes any sense. But luckily I’m sober now, and I just find meaning in trying to learn about my surroundings I call life, and try to give as much love to people and not hurt others, and be grateful for the sacrifices of my parents and others that helped me.

[@1ordCh0]

underrated komment

[@Noah-pr2or]

Crazy humanity has gotten to a point that you and I can question reality itself. Insane how far our species has come.

[@mae8211]

This is why i find myself dissociating most of the time. I sit and observe without a single thought in my head. And i feel like i'm faking my way through the societal interface everyday. Its tough bc i want to cling to some form of grounding But the grounding seems too materialistic and knowing its not permanent. I feel like i float around from day to day and it scares me sometimes.

[@CarbonsHDTuts]

Can’t tell you how glad I am to see these two men talking about this, and the comments section too. Thought I was alone in craziness all along. Thought the paradoxical thoughts in my mind were a unique mess that I made. I guess not. It really is all beautiful and scary huh.

[@leonstenutz6003]

@@dr.donnabee4057 Great comments!

[@bernardobachino15]

waking up is a b*tch but wonderful all at the same time

[@kaibuchan]

sure is my friend. hang in there.

[@julius43461]

I used to think I am unfortunate to have to live with thoughts like that since early age. Hell I was obsessed with questions like that at least since I was 7(can't remember before that). But now I realize that most people are yet to go through existential crisis and all that comes along with it. As that is my normal for a long time I am used to it, but I've seen people hit with such thoughts recently who are in their 30's or 50's and they have little chance to recover.

[@rasmusolofsson6060]

Why would they have little chance to recover?

[@gregoryedwards9097]

Something similar happened to me in 7th grade. It started off as a mere thought “what if everyone was fake?” It wasn’t serious, but since I introduced the thought, slowly I began to think about it more, until I always thought about it. Literally as the year went on it was all I thought about. I eventually wanted to kill myself by the time of 9th grade. I was severely depressed failing classes because I thought I’d kill myself one day. And honestly, what kind of broke that whole thing was me getting my first girlfriend in 10th grade. The mind is powerful and can be hella dangerous man. It’s scary to see where a wandering thought can lead to. Hope everyone that is reading this is doing well in life or working towards it.

[@tark8516]

Whoa, did anyone know you felt that way?

[@eisenbergfilms9965]

Maybe you have OCD…

[@gregoryedwards9097]

@@eisenbergfilms9965 at 14? Doubt it. At least knowing how I was at that age. I was super unorganized and just dgaf and would always cheat on my friends papers cause I felt “why do homework if I’m gonna kill myself soon?” Which was literally how I felt about homework from 9th-10th grade. Crazy now that I think about it. I probably have OCD now though as I like to be clean and organized.

[@gregoryedwards9097]

@@tark8516 ahh I think the idea came from a talk I had w my oldest sister. We would always talk about deep subjects and I think that one just slowly started to manifest as I kept reintroducing the thought into my mind over time. Crazy how a Breeze can turn into a hurricane.

[@gregoryedwards9097]

@@user-qe7bt9dz1l yes seriously. If you stared at a goat and kept saying to yourself I’m attracted to it for a long time I’m sure eventually you’d be attracted to it lol. It’s scary but look at Weird Addictions and the crazy shit people have done in the past. Yeah we are all malleable to some degree. Others more so than others. But I wish you all the absolute best !

[@VonT68]

Its a stage,we're all playing/experiencing our parts till the light comes for us and we go home 🙌

[@bwing411]

The meaning of life isn’t understanding, it is in experiencing life itself. Pick a belief system and LIVE.

[@maggieoneil6504]

It takes some time to choose. Maybe the first half of life. Probably because you have to have time to test your options.

[@edchez4253]

I once decided that I would dedicate an entire day to sitting and thinking about my place in the universe and reality as deeply and intensely as I could. After hours of this, a very dark and terrifying feeling of dread came over me, an indescribable panic that made me think I would no longer have control over myself if I kept going. I never want to feel that again.

[@ouch000u]

Be moderate bro, 30 Minutes a day

[@mlouis7]

If you really pin point why you feel that way. Could you?

[@andrealujan2989]

Those thoughts and feelings come to me when I get bored.

[@ouch000u]

@@andrealujan2989 yeah, i think, it's boredom, because thinking with content is very engaging

[@Curtin-mf3xy]

That was the void (as some have named it). The void is a place of terror for many who venture near it. I heard a guru once say to fill the void with love and you will experience the ecstacy of the universe. I never got there myself, your experience just sounded like some others o have heard about.

[@keithvenom6484]

I’m still coming to terms that I’d been dead 13 billion years until I became alive

[@TheTroyTate]

Whoa 🤯

[@MMAneuver]

Underrated comment. I once heard Nietzsche write this as "...the living is only ~ the rarest species of the dead"

[@Noah-pr2or]

If you think of it like this, time passed by at infinite speed from your perspective until you were born. You live now then die. Time will then instantly infinitely go by the second you die. Who knows what happens after death if from our "perspective" time goes by instantly.

[@donp3635]

Aye man been a ghost followers for 6 months know and appreciate the boundaries you push and authentic level of questions . Keep it up

[@louiesimon5292]

This is Buddhism. This is The Upanishads. Somehow these folks knew this ages ago. Everyone should watch and listen to this.

[@ob9896]

I question my reality every moment of every day and I can certainly say that there is a correlation between me going through these thoughts and my mind feels like it’s going mad, but at the same time I feel like I’m just facing the reality that reality may not be base level reality. I may feel crazy but equally feel more comfortable with that fact. I think this rabbit hole has caused me some depression, but it’s depression I needed

[@vivekteega]

Man I really don't know if it is the depression I need

[@ob9896]

@@vivekteega yeah, I know what you mean, depression is making my life difficult and for the ones around me, but I can’t help but feel like I must need this if life is putting me through it. I’m one of those ‘everything happens for a reason’ believers, although I don’t know if I fully believe that haha, everything could be for no reason. Here we go, the rabbit hole has arrived again 😂

[@yeabuddy6070]

Realize that you don't know anything for sure. Don't get stuck in the thought. That is how one enters madness, obsession.

[@ob9896]

@@yeabuddy6070 you’re absolutely right, I definitely feel the obsession is what makes me feel crazy sometimes, I literally think about this stuff 24/7. I definitely agree we know nothing, but yet I still constantly search for answers

[@Robdomino]

I used to be the same, the key to get out of it is to get in touch with your body, i used to have a stammer, which essentially made me unable to communicate effectively for years, so i internalised my whole existence for the 8+ years of it, then tried to grow out of the habit of overthinking for the many years that followed after. 100% it makes you more anxious, existential and depressed, introversion and interoception are good but in small almost quantitative amounts in balance with heap loads of exteroception and externally "absorbing" your inputs. Essentially you need to start feeling your body more, do exercise, stretch, run, go and meet people, socialise. (Its difficult sometimes i know) But its one of the main reasons why some pets just seem so goddamn care free, because they cant look into the past, the future (maybe very restricted-ly so) and dont dwell on their own existence. They simply exist. And that is the key to being happy, ignorance is bliss sometimes, not a selfish kind of ignorance, but one that knows that no matter how deep these questions may be, as impossible as these answers may be to find, eventually, it all means nothing, we all mean nothing, and the point of life is to put your own meaning on shit, so be respectful of others, be respectful of yourself too, and go be the painter in your own life, adding colours and textures to the many things that bring/give or bestow meaning upon your life. And get rid of things that mean nothing to you or bring you trouble. (over thinking is one of those things)

[@deborahhebblethwaite1865]

I love listening to Mr Hoffman. I discovered this many years ago…..detach from thoughts and become the observer. It does not terrify me……I find it wonderful and calming. It opens up so many possibilities. Thanks Lex🇨🇦

[@IAmJustFlux]

This is so, so fascinating to learn someone else's mind is like this.

[@glynntranter5348]

He just described the moment when I stand up quickly sometimes (postural hypertension?) For that moment I'm just ? a being in that moment. I can only feel & think what I am physically in the reality I perceive

[@lookSOflyLIKEme1]

There are infinite frameworks, words, beliefs we can use to mark out the boundaries, but it never really changes from being and subjektive experience itself. All ideas of final truth eventually dissolve and merge back to what always has been true - you exist. All views are temporary, what a joyous thing!

[@T25de]

That’s silly

[@stricknice5260]

@@T25de Why? Life is a subjective experience and you do just "exist" and soon enough you won't "exist", and shortly after that no one will remember you or anything you did so enjoy the ride.

[@pheonixwilson5577]

Well summarized.

[@joshnordin4043]

'You' exist but do you mean by 'You'. The truth is there's only one, universal 'You'. We think we are all separate entities with no connection to each other but, in reality, the concept of an individual is not real.

[@lookSOflyLIKEme1]

@@joshnordin4043 I get what you're saying, but that's just another proposition and claim of final truth. The subjective experience is a given, even if the "self" is an illusion or not. Fundamentally, experience and being is the only thing that can't be doubted. You, or whatever you want to call it, experience "reality" and all that can change is your perception of this reality.

[@ihots1]

Very interesting talk! A discussion on faith would seem an appropriate follow-up.

[@velvetvideo]

i was in the ER with anxiety/blood pressure issues last year over this dilemma....my sympathies.

[@Kid_Ikaris]

I've known, on a visceral level, that I would die someday since I was 4 years old. It manifested as panic attacks through most of my childhood. And I still think about it in some way everyday. But despite the huge amount of suffering I went through and the resentment I have towards my parents for never getting me help, this burden forced me to find religion, and then philosophy, and now also the scientific imagination writ large. And as someone who's put more hours into this problem than anyone without the obsession ever could, I have to say: Relax. There is no motion without change. There is no life without motion. You exist because someone else's passing. Contribute what you can in this lifetime and your effort will join with those around you and ripple into eternity. And as far as the afterlife goes again: relax No one's proven that when you die you become nothing. Science will never be able to test the existence of "nothing" because it's not there to test. Find what resonates with you. Rational materialism is a reductionism that people around you will try to tell you is all there is. They're like a person walking through New York staring at a map telling you that the map is the actual city. Take even a cursory glance into your soul and you will see more.

[@julius43461]

Wow your comment really resonates with me.I used to think I am unfortunate to have to live with thoughts like that since early age. Hell I was obsessed with questions like that at least since I was 7(can't remember before that), and now I can see my son being like that and he is 5. But now I realize that most people are yet to go through existential crisis and all that comes along with it. As that is my normal for a long time I am used to it, but I've seen people hit with such thoughts recently who are in their 30's or 50's and they have little chance to recover. Just like you I found ways to cope, but most people have none of that.

[@bastian6173]

I'd be interested to know if you were able to let go of the resentment you have towards your parents as a result of your spiritual transformation? (if I may call it like that.)

[@anonimperson7778]

But Map is the actual city.beauty of the City is irrevelant for this analogy because we look for answers and truth, not beauty.

[@montanagal6958]

Arthur Miller commented on how death gives our life meaning. I liked that, makes you less fearful thinking you did all you could do to make things a little better for the next generation.

[@InfinityReptar]

Beautifully written.

[@muddymerkutio]

Started smoking DMT when I was 15 like I was trying to prove a point and have not been the same since. The title sums me up. I was always the person with a big friend group and knew everyone. then I lost trust in everyone I was around cuz I was nonstop questioning existence itself. then started thinking everyone was a bot. So I moved states after 9 years of drugs trying to “break my brain” on the search for true consciousness. Regret that a little cuz I got what I was looking for, a broken brain lol. buttt im way more focused on the shit that makes me happy now. My family/friends I have left think I’m all fucked up cuz I changed so much. After I stopped doing fucktons of psychedelics is when i metamorphosized into the way I intended but not in the process I thought(drugs). I overthink a lot now , barely talk, and crave solitude but I LOVE it and I have a pretty solid foundation of general happiness, morals, standards, boundaries. reality is what you make it ig. (Srry if it’s hard to read)

[@notimetowaste6012]

Thank you for sharing. I experienced maybe 4% of what you did and feel like I can relate in a (very) minor way. I do think you should probably try to reconnect with people at some point. You can explore and entertain "out there" ideas while still remaining grounded in the present moment and in the version of reality that we all share in some way. Your brain will remain plastic for the rest of your life. It can change, both for the worse and for the best. Of course I could be wrong about what you should do. Best wishes either way.

[@boleo1906]

literally same

[@Mylonelystudio]

Damn near everyone is a bot

[@mnm8818]

to OP understand that in a way. rant: took one/ two main experiences with a combo of drugs, then did similar. went solitude, liked it, analyse things deeply, did a 90° change of character. all for the better in my objective view

[@craighicksartwork]

15 is insane for doing psychedelics.

[@awesomecool3280]

I didn't felt like stuff wasn't right until social media. I was 27 years old when i first started to use a cell and the Internet

[@devon_lettuce_tomato8637]

I’ve done this and completely gotten lost in it. But in retrospection, it was THE only way. I got lost and was stuck in a matrix of exponentially continuous questions. Some of which I didn’t nor do I have the answers to. But the knowledge I gained from doing this, from questioning reality, is far greater in value than what I lost. I came out somewhere in the middle with a new perspective. For I now know what I want to dedicate my life to

[@dinkogreen4175]

It's a slippery slope. Sometimes you feel like, okay I've done it, there's no going back. I'm insane now. But.. then months pass by, and the newfound knowledge integrates itself into your core, and instead what seemed like insanity is now a new, higher resolution way of perceiving reality.

[@ob9896]

I started questioning reality at a young age, but when I really started getting a deeper understanding/perspective of these thoughts around 3/4 years ago, I remember seeing a video pop up about how you may regret ‘opening your third eye’, and whilst I’m not claiming to have done that, I definitely understand why they said that because some people can’t face these thoughts and ideas that reality isn’t ‘real’. But for me, despite it causing me a lot of issues in my mind, I feel like it’s a journey that is making me face the reality of life which in turn should benefit me, I hope. Sometimes I feel unmotivated about life because it all seems like a game and pointless, but then sometimes I experience a beautiful moment and it reminds me that life can be beautiful. I feel like I’m losing my mind with these thoughts about consciousness and that I’m living in a different mind state to people around me.

[@michaelperez9156]

i began my journey when i was like 16, im 19 now and my take is that it’s a never ending journey that begins once u realize you’ll never know everything.

[@michaelperez9156]

perception = reality, ur missing the spiritual component as well, negative thoughts could and will shape you. take control for once and become who u actually wanna be under all that. ignorance is bliss but knowledge is power, f***ing harness it and defeat the war in your mind, no one deserves to be a slave to ones mind. you’re eager to know more just like i was, just realize we’ll get all the answers, but for now enjoy the virtues of this world while also conquering our inner demons and then the world (in a good way lol).

[@ob9896]

@@michaelperez9156 thank you bro

[@michaelperez9156]

@@ob9896 no problem, here's a comment that I encountered that I think you can come back to "When you are able, in any given moment, to find the laughter, to find the love, your life as you have lived it through the filter of your mind, will be over. To know the self is to see the self, to see the self is to understand the self, to understand the self is to learn, to learn is to teach - this is the obligation set by each student as they walk the path to healing." Godspeed.

[@allensmith.aaffect.1626]

It does cause madness. Around 25 and up I realized our ego is important. I started to reach too far and started loosing myself. Felt disassociative and not real, to the point it was causing issues in daily life. . I could just as easily be tied to a bed somewhere and this all could be in my head. It was only my realization that crazy ppl don't worry if they are becoming crazy that kept me grounded. The harder I strained to remain sain, the further I slipped. Best thing to do is let go. 👌

[@04dram04]

Reality is a dream illusion. Whats important is that you study philosophy in a way that allows you better navigate this dream. Its like a never ending wave. You must learn to surf it, or you will be dragged down below the water. Buddhism and Heretics is a great place to start

[@AustinfromNashville]

Precisely what happened to me. My first panicked attack at 23 was because I had an idea that came to my head that I could be in a padded room right now and this is all a simulation ran by my brain to comfort me. Very scary stuff. Physical exercise helps a lot.

[@allensmith.aaffect.1626]

@@AustinfromNashville yes, exercise is huge for anxiety. Isn't it so weird that those thoughts can induce such intense anxiety. It's once you realize that this grasp we all keep on this shared reality is a thin veil and not as robust as I imagined. Too many psychedelic adventure into the nature of consciousness..or something. be safe ppl and hold onto yourself. .

[@Recipocrity]

What you perceive is an illusion, yet real at the same time. It's right and wrong at the same time, the eternal paradox

[@daddymcawesome363]

Keeping urself grounded

[@juanitoviejo2121]

Thank you Lex for these enlightening interviews, and for being a caring, educated man. I really appreciate Donald Hoffman as a scientist and a man. This clip is sort of his "confession" in the Augustinian sense. I'm 75+ years old and here is what I would say. Even if you have philosophical considerations about free will, choose to enact love. Love as action (patience, tolerance, kind speaking, especially when you feel rage) enact love, choose what you know is better than attack and warfare. And when you fail, choose love as apology and forgiveness. It's going to get a lot crazier; choosing to enact love will protect you from madness.

[@adamortiz8482]

An issue I have had is that I have been questioning reality since I was a kid and living in a society that tells you to be quite, take your test, pay your taxes and that is all that really matters, rediculous. Life is a kind of magical miracle of forces both visible and nonvisible, coming together based of infinitly expressing mathmatical principals that have something to do with what we call consciousness or some kind of ultimate divine mind. To this day I have a hard time finding people who actually care about these things. But it's all good, I have accepted this for what it is and now I have found a different kind of freedom within myself knowing that at the end of the day we are all like children still learning to the day we leave this planet. Best thing someone can do when they are being driven mad on diving deep into the rabbit holes of reality and potential is to take a deep breath, smell the roses, take care of your health and do what makes you happy.

[@brovix5393]

I would like to invite you to read the Quran it gives clear answers to all of your questions… it will truly put your mind at ease.

[@DoingMyBestDudePerson]

Every time I’ve found myself becoming scared of death and not being ready to go, I remind myself that this is just a stepping stone for my own consciousness. I find not knowing what’s next kind of exciting. Making sure that I feel more fulfilled with my life every single day, that way when that end does come, I’ll be ready for the next thing and feel the least amount of fear as possible for leaving everything I’ve ever known.

[@theonlineanimal6009]

I'm more scared of life. Dying is the easy part of life.

[@Kaleki935]

@The Online Animal weak minded take. It's better to be than to never have been. You still eat, right? That's because the prospect of fluctuating between happiness and misery is the game of life, and it's much better than eternal unexistence. Intrinsically we ALL recognize the value of life. Losing that is the scariest and worst part of life. Incessantly complaining because people call you names or you got propagandized into believing "tHe WoRlD iS oN fIrE", is no reason to succumb to and perpetuate trends of nihilism. You successfully got distracted, and videos like this are clearly not meant for you. Some of us were too busy pondering existence at 3 years old to even have a chance to form these distractions. (Nonetheless, even if the world has too much co2, look to what happened when dinosaurs were around. Massive amounts of co2, and HUMONGOUS plants, which eventually processed the air into the world we live in today. Copy the planet's methods which already work, massive global crisis averted and political control through nihilism erased. It's all distractions)

[@redrustyhill2]

Ready or not death comes knocking on every door.

[@theonlineanimal6009]

@@Kaleki935 I don't think you understood the point I made at all.

[@vadimchevvie]

I am studying therapy and human consciousness, am myself undergoing personal therapy, have my job about varied human communications, and have a personal inclination for similar theoretical deep thinking as in this video. I immensely enjoy this and find your discussions touching on important, multiple-layer topics without farce or devaluation. I find this podcast and the work of Lex the best stimulating, endless, and varied piece of dialogue I encountered in, perhaps, the last 10 years. Thanks to your work, I have people and opinions to resonate with, and new ideas to process or deepen my existing ones. Thanks, Lex.

[@jeffhill1107]

Well said! I want to echo that same sentiment to Lex… I feel like today I’ve been given a gift and it is one that I should not forget and I should not take lightly but keep close to the vest and continue on the way hopefully sharing with others carefully and accurately… I think today is the day I discovered what reality really is and I really love reading all these comments from people because I can honestly say I completely understand what they’re saying, I just now have experienced I guess you would call it enlightenment. I have long wondered what is the reason for life? what’s the purpose of all this? I feel like I at least stepped towards an answer today because of this video

[@jessicakirkley3811]

Yeah, my spiritual awakening caused me to question reality and feel completely insane. It took about six months and finding some answers to what I was experiencing for me to slowly getting back a strong mind

[@YounesRizki-yd2em]

Islam is the solution and the answer. all the war against is Islam because he's the answer..

[@OurResistance]

Several years ago, I abruptly discontinued my psychiatric meds, thus developing withdrawal psychosis. One symptom of this withdrawal psychosis was that I would be constantly questioning the nature of reality. While I was constantly questioning the nature of reality, I felt like I was losing my mind! I had to go back on the meds. I would say that either questioning reality too much leads to madness or that questioning reality too much is a sign of madness! Today I realize, that it is okay to question the nature of reality from time to time, but most of the time you just have to accept that reality is the way it is! Today I am tapering off the meds very slowly, and I am doing much better. However, when look at the world around me, I feel that 90% of the things in this society are just a fake artificial construct! That is just the way it is, and we shouldn't worry about it too much because there is nothing we can do about it. Just do the best we can do.

[@wayfaringstranger8430]

I came to this realization during mediation when I was 18. He's right that it's scary to comprehend. But if everything is made up and given a purpose, then your life can be structured and given a purpose. You already have structured it and given it one.I think its this realization that truly helps people to become who they can be.

[@andrius00]

I think his main problem is that he meditates for too long. Monks train themselves from the young age for these kind of durations. The human is not supposed to sit and do nothing. The mind starts to devour itself. I think short periods are healthy, though. But there's enough time through out the day to "softly" meditate: waiting in lines (shop, hospital, concert etc.), riding a bus, eating a meal, streching, going for a walk and so on. I went for a sensory (mostly visual) deprivation for two months and started to feel scared of reality. But I went cold turkey - that's the problem.

[@girlsinacoma]

God is dead. Choose your illusion or face the abyss.

[@user-sl4ru3fk7v]

@@girlsinacomathat was pretty straightforward 😅.

[@norbertjanoscsorba38]

The real reason why simulation theory bugs everyone's mind because it is a lie, that we know deep in our heart. The truth is God was life, and He created the whole world through and for His only Son Jesus Christ. God is eternal, and we are His creation and partners on earth, who can decide to stay with Him in eternity or not. God is souvereign therefore He has been writing the plot of our history ever since. He is all-knowing because He writes the plot but if He would simulate even us and our actions as well He would contradict His own choice of giving us free will. We have free wil but we can decide to go our own way or with Him. If we follow Him, we write history for the better. If we follow our own desires, we write history exclusively for our own ego.

[@OnceTheyNamedMeiWasnt]

​​@@andrius00Why were you scared? And why not meditate for a long time? You're going to go insane eventually, you can't avoid the nightmare.

[@SamuelJFord]

I think 'illusion' is too straightforward. It's like Hoffman believes there is the illusory reality - 'the game' - and then the true reality - 'the data structure'. But our concept of 'the data structure' is still intimately shaped by human perception, understanding, language etc. Its another human idea that is in 'the game'. Put simply, we can't view the universe from no perspective at all.

[@joey_yangyin]

Very true The one vital flaw well always have as humans, and even AI. Who knows. Maybe AI will ascend humanity and create an intelligence / super awareness of its own... And maybe that intelligence will make its own aswell. But even then, everything will disappear someday, so I'm just don't trying to understand reality. It's a waste of time lol, and a waste of the one and only life we have. 🌸

[@colelehner8948]

@@joey_yangyin once you come full circle and realize it's impossible to fully understand anything and realize the point was to live and be here now you start to realize how sacred life is it was once said that the wisest among us knows that we know nothing his name was socrates many blessings on your journey 🙏

[@astrovicis]

I had this thought the other day! :) Well said.

[@Seven_of_sixes]

Illusion is the most accurate word one can describe reality as. It's an illusion because there is no fix state everything is constantly changing. As you try and touch what you have identified, it changes into something else so you are left grasping at illusions. The only thing that doesn't change is the all since it encompasses everything leaving room for no more change. This is the only thing that is real. Just how the mental structures in your mind are mere fantasy we are but thoughts in the mind of the All. If you imagine a story with a protagonist one can say that protagonist is filled with 100% with essence from it's creator. However that essence of the protagonist you created is but a drop in your infinite mind. We call that realm our creations exist a fantasy and the realm in which we exist an illusion. The only truth in us is our soul or image of the all which manifests in our mind as the highest observer.

[@jacka602]

Exactly the universe is infinite which means you can't derive it into explanation or meaning

[@murphy5285]

Ohh man… I found anxiety hidden within questioning my existence and reality. But, I realized that we only get one life! One life to experience anything and everything. I make out what I can to make the best out of my reality. I know I will die and that there’s something beyond that. Hopefully future me will understand, but for now I show find peace within the comfort of unknowing. We may never know and I think that we should be okay with that.

[@SaitamaLover]

That's a good takeaway for myself. "When I start looking withiut thinkin". Something I should start working on, because my mind is endlessly racing man

[@jessewallace12able]

This hit me when I was 20. I was playing football at the University of Oregon, and started to study philosophy. I became a philosophy major and came to the same realization through philosophy. It took me to nihilism and I have struggled with it ever since. Hoffman’s work gives me a whole new way of understanding my insight and gives me hope. Also Hoffman’s book is the real deal, it’s mind blowing, the interviews are just an appetizer in comparison.

[@TheJoker-wr1cp]

Hi I am really struggling I want to know what things made u feel better. Thank you

[@Ididntaskforahandleyoutube]

You should have gone to jail for being a Duck. Actually, "U" of O is a prison so never mind. Go Huskies!

[@mikew2331]

@@TheJoker-wr1cp you gotta either believe in a higher power and bring spirituality into your life, or be able to just let go (or both). Think of how lucky you are to actually get a chance to experience consciousness. Enjoy the ride. Live in the present moment, that's all we have. peace

[@masonredding5678]

@@TheJoker-wr1cpif you’re struggling with the nihilism concept then you’re probably looking at it very negatively and existentially. The whole “it’s all meaningless” thing can be looked at as a negative or a positive. I choose to think of it as positive. If I only have one life, even if it is meaningless, then why would I still not live it full of love, kindness, and positivity? It means something now. The concept is almost a fallacy in my opinion. It’s too future thinking rather than present thinking. I take it as it’s meant to find your own bliss in the present.

[@jessewallace12able]

@@TheJoker-wr1cp I think basically, long walks in nature with nothing but being surrounded by nature. So this for long periods. Find a place and shut off the phone and go many many times. A good year of this at least. There is a pattern in nature. This pattern will help.

[@OriginalAse]

Helping others and seeing love at its fullest is a great healer.!❤🔥✝️

[@cerspence]

It can. Any question that has you seeking an answer in a loop with no end will drive you crazy. Be mindful of your thinking habits ❤

[@kerembayrammusic]

I had to take therapy sessions at the age of 6 because I would have existential crises about questioning reality and what happens after we die. Years later I still think about it but I enjoy it now. It reminds me that I need to enjoy my life instead of being terrified by it.

[@enlightenednormie242]

Cool story bro 😶

[@Jdb63]

​@@enlightenednormie242I agree it was a cool story

[@abubaker-bn3oj]

Check religion i am born Proud muslim and islam fastest growing religion for reason and make sense

[@memestream8929]

@@abubaker-bn3oj too many holes

[@FrodoL]

@@memestream8929 There are no holes in the Qur’an. So it’s obvious the reason you are all questioning reality is because you make assumptions. Read the Qur’an and you will understand, may Allah guide you.

[@saucedrips4496]

This was an amazing episode. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@devon_lettuce_tomato8637]

It’s so relieving to know that people go through the same matrix that I have been lost in before.

[@RemainedAnonymous]

It definitely can! Many times ive done nothing BUT think about it and eventually started to feel like I was going insane.

[@twinsoultarot473]

Love this!! No - questioning reality does not lead to madness - defined as -- put you in an institution type madness. It leads you to question what TIME is! AND whether or not you can find a worm hole portal and go forward or back in it!

[@yatouzamaki4702]

I think obsessing over death and reality is a waste of energy, you’ll literally trigger feelings of fear and will panic but if you change your mind to wow I can’t believe that I’m alive I’m so grateful for the people I meet and my family and being grateful to be able to get to know your self and god. Use death to fuel your ambition we only get one life so every time we wake up let’s go out, go hard and just enjoy the day

[@tris533]

needed to read this. awesome comment

[@innerlight617]

i am happy he is healthy and well! Keep up the amazing work Dr Hoffman!! we love you!

[@NextLineIsMine]

Constraints are the essence of creativity. Living in a more limited reality, constrained by laws of physics might have been a really fun creative endeavor we chose at some point.

[@mondopinion3777]

I did some heavy thinking in my teenage years. Then I realized that the mental equipment I was using to model "reality" was essentially the same as a goose -- a brain programmed by eons of evolution to survive and reproduce in a flesh body and senses within a limited spectrum. Oddly, that changed thinking into fun, like a game, playing peekaboo with the (possible) Creator, and I began to explore the I-Thou possibilities, asking questions and waiting for answers. They came.

[@mondopinion3777]

@@15997359 Relax, friend. Give me credit before you jump. I didn't say evolution is FOR reproduction. Biological brain-programming is simply the downstream consequence of imitative reproduction. Brett Weinstein's perspective.. I think Intent and Consciousness may be built into the very fabric of reality. But all through the ages, those who experience the highest reality say you cannot express it or explain it in words. That's the limitation I found, and switched to play. Not a "system of understanding." Instead, to enter the Cloud of Unknowing -- and answers form within it like snowflakes, and emerge.

[@mondopinion3777]

@@15997359 Ah, a deconstructionist. First clean your room :)

[@lawkig]

I also did some heavy thinking in my teenage years. Then, I realised it wasn't that much thinking and not as heavy as I thought

[@mondopinion3777]

@@lawkig Funny. My sympathies.

[@hi-qk1xy]

I did some heavy drinking in highschool, then I got a DUI and realized

[@murphydaveelte]

Wrestled with ideas all my life and definitely skirted on the edge of insanity at times. Lately introduced to Buddhist teachings and realized this concept forms the whole basis of enlightenment ('awakening') which puts a whole new spin on it.

[@OnceTheyNamedMeiWasnt]

Why insanity? I feel the same.

[@Chronic-ASAP105-cx4gm]

Buddhism is just another folder for the Matrix. Asianic doesn't belong to most who live their and Asia is including Eastern- China, Japan, Korea). Central- Middle East like Pakistan, Iran, Iraq). Western- India. This is why the Arabian race got their ancestors to be accepted by the Annunaki's, which was how they got their specie's name to level up to "Human-Kind" Buddhism is kinetic energy, it's bad, something you would treat your dog in order to do tricks like it's smart enough.

[@SunlightAscendingMusic]

Great conversation. You should have Bernardo Kastrup, an Idealist, on your show.

[@Jasondurgen]

I just try not to think about this stuff. I used to do it a lot, and sometimes I still get curious of where the discussion is on topics like it, leading me to, for example, click on this video. I do my best to just worry about the current day and eating as good/healthy as I can, talking to loved ones, and keeping my body healthy with exercise, physical and mental, but it’s important to not beat yourself up about it if that doesn’t happen each and every day. Just begin again the next day. It’s helped me get through a lot of rough days, and made some journeys, such as the road to a healthy body or skill as a painter, more bearable if I break it down into days rather than weeks, months, or years. When i think about the greater meaning of everything, I just think that if death is anything like I felt before I was born, none of it will matter anyway, regardless if I learn about or acknowledge it. And that’s not to say these greater questions aren’t important to someone or just generally, and don’t mistake that for nihilism, it just helped me to let go of obsessing over things that, at the end of the day, won’t affect me eating a chicken strip basket from dq and going for a bike ride while listening to music and not feeling bad about myself. I don’t think much of that made sense but it was a stream of thought I had

[@talentlessproductions819]

Questioning reality can also lead to clarity. Just have to stop after a certain point. We are the universe experiencing itself, we just have to learn how to enjoy it.

[@jamesstaggs4160]

I'm past 30 but I still don't feel like I'm going to die. I'd gone through the realization of my own mortality at around age 19-20 as I was searching around for the answers to the big questions and after lamenting that fact for years I finally just accepted it. Strange thing is that some more years after that I got the feeling that death wouid elude me. I have zero idea why since I'd already accepted it. I'm not actually scared of dying, but oddly enough immortality frightens me quite a bit. It sounds great unitl you really examine it and find that there's some terrifying aspects of it.

[@jojo7315]

Truth is we never die.

[@EvolvedParasite]

What terrifying aspects did you find about immortality?

[@InMaTeofDeath]

@@EvolvedParasite For many humans any form of immortality would be a hell all by itself. Many of us would willingly choose nonexistance over eternal life.

[@EvolvedParasite]

@@InMaTeofDeath Why would immortality be hell? I am curious about the reasons why.

[@awwbubba3071]

@@EvolvedParasite clueless

[@nataliemanzo34]

Last time I when down a questioning reality rabbit hole I ended up having anxiety and depression. Now I question from a distance

[@RhoArtMagic]

Many of us are experiencing the spiritual existential roller coaster internally as the same roller coaster that we have collectively outpictured is coming to fruition, releasing the breaks on a lot of levels. I hope for those of us who have groomed ourselves to enjoy a thrill ride, literal roller coasters, fast cars, intimidation, power plays for fun, etc., are centering our pockets of reality, buckle up and don safety goggles. Meditate, sing, dance, play with animals, each writing our prophecy, epoch art. This passage will be steered by creativity and intuition. 😊❤

[@amule1154]

Donald Hoffman is one of the best guests ever. I listened to the entire interview and want to thank you both for this fantastic conversation))) It echos many of my own thoughts.... and terrors about reality and our limited perceptions. Like trying to explain Lao-Tzu's philosophy to an ant crawling across the floor.

[@matiashofmann6010]

I've been pushing my thoughts these past 3 years for reasons that are not part of this comment and this is the first time I hear someone talking about this subject and describe it so accurate (it is not easy to find a pal who does this kind of stuff systematically first, and it is hard to find words also). Out of fear sometimes I wish I could take time back or be not that courious and stuff,though fear is something I fight to control it as well so after anxiety goes to normal level I have no regrets. This kind of deep inspection comes with really cool perks, since you can do introspection and found novel insights times faster. You do not take stuff too serious and it is like you flow without stupid thoughts. Thing is comes with be in eternal vigilance ,wish is stressful af. Also dunno if it is worth for everyone since it is really easy to end walking a path toward self destruction. Hearing someone portraying it , feels good man.

[@jimmcfarland9318]

Questioning madness leads to reality.

[@timmy9332]

Your perception is your filter to reality. Your perspective is formed from your environment . Question and challenge your preconceptions, value systems and beliefs.

[@lifeisabadjoke5750]

I like this

[@MCJC42]

Something I have learned from learning about life is this. You need to realize unraveling reality is sometimes not the answer your looking for and to just take a step back when it's too much then continue when you feel strong

[@randydominguez666]

You definitely need to take it slow. I learned that the hard way

[@GinoTheSinner]

Sage advice.

[@mopnem]

Actually very solid advice. It’s like when someone thinks their faith keeps them grounded when there was nothing ever there but the mental framework is priceless

[@crono3339]

I was far gone into the questioning reality search trying to find answers over and over and in an oral DMT experience I had a rainbow serpent in a cathedral of glass eye beings tell me "This isn't the answer, stop asking and seeking and LIVE, time is flying by" or something to that effect. I calmed down on the occult seeking and spent more time with my family. I still seek interesting ideas and psychedelic voyage's but I'm much more content just living without trying to understand it all. I was going crazy and wanted to know too much for my human mind to contain comfortably.

[@l.-._.-._.-._.-._.-.l]

That is beautiful experience, I've been doing a lot of reading on science and religion lately but I don't know what I'm truly searching for, I've wanted to try dmt to see what's outside, or inside, my reality and maybe that can steer me in the right path. If I may ask, what is oral dmt?

[@peterhaag9344]

@@l.-._.-._.-._.-._.-.l It is DMT that is consumed orally (you eat it) as opposed to smoking it. The natives of South America are believed to be some of the first people to discover how to consume DMT which in order for it to be pharmacologically active requires enzyme inhibition.

[@o______-]

@@l.-._.-._.-._.-._.-.l don't do mind altering drugs if you're mind isn't fully formed... I mean under the age of 25. Can lead to psychotic breaks. The age range for early psychosis is 19-24 basically.

[@cryptonarekhan6536]

@@l.-._.-._.-._.-._.-.l f that try mushrooms instead

[@mahmoodabdulbaqi824]

this is true enlightenment, accepting the fact that you are already enlightened and that no amount of seeking will get you any closer than you already are. This is true submission.

[@oliwakulla3341]

I have gone crazy and crazy scared to death few times when I philosophize about existence in my mind. When you dig deep enough, at one point there is like a click when you feel the essence, but can't really formulate it, just experience it.

[@xfistedwaffle3167]

came to that realisation when i was 4. didnt know english fully yet but still asked the question "what is this?" in fluent english. think it sent me insane without knowing it.

[@norbertjanoscsorba38]

The real reason why simulation theory bugs everyone's mind because it is a lie, that we know deep in our heart. The truth is God was life, and He created the whole world through and for His only Son Jesus Christ. God is eternal, and we are His creation and partners on earth, who can decide to stay with Him in eternity or not. God is souvereign therefore He has been writing the plot of our history ever since. He is all-knowing because He writes the plot but if He would simulate even us and our actions as well He would contradict His own choice of giving us free will. We have free wil but we can decide to go our own way or with Him. If we follow Him, we write history for the better. If we follow our own desires, we write history exclusively for our own ego.

[@gunnervin]

I wonder about it every now and then and every time it sends chills down my spine. Words cannot do justice to what that feeling is. I have to tell myself that everything will be alright and to believe that is the only choice we have. Hence the belief in God is the only choice we have.

[@norbertjanoscsorba38]

There is a clear description of Scripture, when Jesus asks his disciples to tell someone to give the donkey to Him when He arrives at Jerusalem. This is how God operates, He has a will, so He works through us, but He never dominates. Satan is the one forcing you to go. God just gently asking. He wrote history from the beginning to the end which is true. But as for an average human mind it can look like simulation, it is not. If it would be we would have zero free will which is clearly stated all throughout the Bible that we have free will.@@gunnervin

[@eimantassudmonas8079]

@@norbertjanoscsorba38the free will doesn’t makes sense at all. Why God would give us?

[@yaboycoconuthead7012]

Some of y’all here would enjoy “The Book of Disquiet” by Fernando Pessoa. Also “Notes from Underground” by Fyodor Dostoevsky has good points about overthinking.

[@virjog95]

All of these concepts have been detailed in Jain, Buddhist, and Hindu scriptures and texts. Where science encounters its limitations is where these philosophies start and go into detail. I appreciate Donald's metaphor of tying this back to a modern interface and using virtual reality to explain these ideas.

[@thatn_ggajandro3197]

Hermetist/occult (Egyptian ) teachings as well

[@AdrianLoganLive]

"Where science encounters its limitations is where these philosophies start and go into detail" - Well said. Any recommendations on where someone could really dig into the meat of those philosophies and the details. Specific books, or even to start any good videos interviewing a guru where they discuss it in more depth?

[@kirkgraham1]

@Thatn_ggajandro As above, So Below. All is mind

[@04dram04]

Yep reality is a Dream, same as our sleeping ones.

[@avatardan9317]

@@kirkgraham1 what do you mean all is mind?

[@brist0pher]

Ill be 26 soon and I will say that taking psychedelics fresh out of highschool and beginning to contemplate the nature of reality really did a number on me.

[@waskesu]

pot brain soon enough. by this rate in 2 years fom now on , you won`t remmeber how fluent your ability to speak was. You will be full of eeehh .. uhhh...

[@bruhg9621]

Yep i'm 20 and I did them around 10 times at high doses from 18-19 and kinda wish i hadn't. Feels like I opened way too many doors without being secure in my original mind.

[@12brmien]

@@bruhg9621 it's the best and worst time for it. We are brainwashed sheep, and need broken from it. Keep trucking along, you will need to process a lot of things, but remember that not everything has answers and that is OK! It is okay to let things be and accept that we will never know. Sometimes you just gotta let go and breathe and be in the moment. Life is beautiful, and all of its depth makes it more beautiful. No need to to let that depth create darkness.

[@prodeddy30.]

@@12brmien 100%. at 15 I had pancreatic cancer which expanded my state of mind through ways unimaginable and matured me tremendously for my age. I’m now just shy of 18 and to summarize the past 3 years I see only benefits as facing my mortality directly in the eyes opened my own. I was intimidated at first in this process of true human self recognition and where we sit in the universe however I kept growing and growing and fell in love with pondering chem,bio,physics,calc and philosophy to help put a scale to the questioning of our existence. I just recently took a huge dose of mushrooms for the first time and the lesson I learned was portrayed perfectly by your words. I contemplate so deeply and therefore have so much to say but can’t say it all so i only wish for people to not fall into the abyss by letting pure fascination control their state of mind.

[@Heopful]

man screw psychedelics when I was 16 I smoked weed and that fucked me up for years! It's not that there's 'underlying issues' waiting to surface, breaking/changing your perception of reality, even for a moment, is enough to send you off the edge if you're the type to ruminate/experience anxiety.

[@alexanderalvarado5879]

I had a huge existential crisis of this and went deep into a depersonalization and derealization downward spiral. Through an incredibly rough year of dealing with this, I’ve come to conclude that it literally doesn’t matter, because at the end of the day I still have to get up for work in the morning, still have my parents and friends that love me. If it’s real or not, our actions have consequences, and how you make people feel matters more than questioning if it matters at all. Because I’m the end, as far as we know, we only get one shot to make this life worth it. 😊

[@sebastanoleonetti3019]

hello there, did you get out of DPDR?

[@jmcc7886]

amazing interview, one of the best, thank you

[@philtronnn]

Damn Lex. You have some of the most wonderful and stimulating conversations. I feel gratitude for getting to be here now, to be a fly on the wall during these talks. And I’ll always be grateful that the universe crossed our paths. Appreciate you.

[@uabforfindingthisbutalr6464]

i realized this a month ago, i was so deep into my mind that i started loosing touch with reality.. everytime i looked in the mirror i didnt recognize myself at all, i didnt feel human just felt like my body was a machinr and that my mind was all that mattered.. but after i got high and had a panic attack i stopped listening to those thoughts and life feels so much more real.. and amazing and clear.. anybody out there who thinks everytime and every minute.. yall need to realize this is bad and all it does is it makes you loose touch with this reality.. and makes u feel like life is worthless since ur not feeling emotion and are just in ur head 24/7

[@80mbeats]

this is called depersonalization/derealization and I've dealt with it a lot, the solution is to realize that it's just a response to anxiety and to accept it.

[@uabforfindingthisbutalr6464]

@@80mbeats yeah i wish i knew that 4 years ago but its better late than never..

[@dylanthompson2727]

Once you begin to talk to the universe, begin seeing the synchronization and affirmations, you can't un-cook that goose. Then you begin to question reality. This is where the power of mind begins to shape your reality. Where do we get our info? The interface(net). I can correlate things I read about happening 2 days later in reality. For instance I was reading the story about the "100 monkey problem". 2 days later, a truck crashes on the freeway and 100 monkeys escape from it's cargo. Then bam, monkey pox.was this by design? It def wasn't a coincidence. And definitely wasn't the last time to happen. Let me say; my life has become the lovechild of Stranger Than Fiction and The Truman Show. I'm certain I don't like it. The only solace I get any more is in accepting that there's not a goddamn fucking thing I can do about it. It's happened. I poked that bull. I will say this. I'm now a firm believer in God. Not in the usually sense but even tho I'm having a hard time believing that I haven't died and gone to hell, there is comfort in knowing that I'm never alone by just knowing he's there. Whether it's too late or not, it's given me strength to traverse this hell-scape that seems to mold itself to whatever physics or quantum theory I indulge in, with hope that he will take me out of this solipsism. Not knowing for certain anymore as to whether I'm the only conscious entity here is heartbreaking and lonely. Even worse, my internet timeline on any app or site seems to taunt me on this matter. Whether suggesting reviews of the comic "I have no mouth and I must scream", or seconds after thinking my phone has become sentient in and of itself, shows me a tweet saying "weird isn't it? Almost like it's talking directly to you." I know that if I were able to turn back time, I would stop the creation of the internet except for possibly EBS's. I would never pick this life sucking abyssal black mirror up again. Because the ONLY thing Im absolutely, steadfast certain on is that I don't know.

[@alanperish7764]

@@dylanthompson2727 I’ve never felt more connected to someone’s thoughts….you are not alone brother.

[@nemplayer1776]

I relate to that a lot. The thing to realize is that what you experience around you is all you've got. Instead of trying to outthink it, you just gotta trust it and believe in it. It's kind of funny to me that people question the belief in God, yet they don't twice think about their own belief that what they experience through their senses is "the truth."

[@user-xg7ff3dw8o]

Spiritual knowledge and realizing death is inevitable is the greatest awakening.

[@micoo5998]

I was unemployed for about 6 months because I decided to do a bunch of DMT during a time I was in a period of a long term deep state of meditation about the nature of reality, spirituality, God, and time over a 3 month period. Ended up finding Jesus, but there's a reason they're so vague in the Bible. The nature of time and its relationship to our spiritual selves is the reason that we can not comprehend any more complexities. We are told the highly important yet tiny fraction of the full truth. I broke my brain completely by meditating on these things. My worldview is completely changed, my goals have changed, and my life has completely changed. God bless all. Thanks for reading.

[@jacka602]

Hey man, would you mind sharing some of your new goals with me? I'm going through a similar stage right now but I'm facing pressure from my family to go to university and good job etc.. I'm already 20 years old and i still really don't know what I want to do with myself. I can't stand the idea of spending my prime years trying to satisfy other people but I also don't want to regret a lack of effort or wasted potential.

[@andymoreno5520]

Lex, thank you for bringing all of these incredible conversations to us schleps at home. Hearing Donald talk about almost dying from COVID was heartbreaking but such a great insight into his work matched with reality....even if reality isn't real.

[@evilpandakillabzonattkoccu4879]

It's not easy. I lived a year in a real state solipsism, where my life was dictated my the thought (literally thinking I was the only thing I knew for a fact was 'real' and that my experience of reality was in my mind, therefore... I couldn't prove anything was real, but me). it's something that others, I assume, could get trapped in. I, luckily, found my way out but.... it, frankly, took me using my psychonaut experice (which I had been practicing since childhood, without the use of substances) and the desire to learn more about reality... for me to slowly walk myself out of that mindset. when you honestly think only you exist, it'd not liberating but isolating. You "know" that you "are".....but that's it. life, in that mindset, isn't real. It's all an illusion. You're alone with you're senses and mental faculties. if any of those get damaged, you feel.... then you lose part of your reality. There is some truth in that, of course.... but it's not the correct way, imho, to view reality.