Well, I know a lot of people here are now into varying spiritual practices. To be honest, I haven't attempted any form of "spiritual" practice beyond praying to the christian god, nor do I even believe in spiritual mysticism. Then today I ran into something Vanhalla wrote: "To understand something, that thing must be practiced."

So who knows...maybe I'm missing out on this spirituality stuff some people are talking up. So...I promise to devoutly practice some form of spiritual ritual for one whole month. I know this isn't a long time and most will say it's so short as to be vacuous, but I only hope to atleast catch a glimpse of what everyone is talking about and atleast give it a chance. If it is a success, then I may continue.

So, what shall I practice for this one month?

Forget a month--try to go a whole day without making value judgements on people, and accept them as they are.

Try an hour of thinking of all those against whom you bear a grudge or resentment, and forgive them. Not for their sake--it won't matter to them--but for your own.

Forget a month--try to go a whole day without making value judgements on people, and accept them as they are.

Try an hour of thinking of all those against whom you bear a grudge or resentment, and forgive them. Not for their sake--it won't matter to them--but for your own.

These sound good, but they would be psychologically/emotionally beneficial - materially beneficial. I want something spiritual, whatever that happens to mean.

Oo Oo, Try Astral Projection!!!!!

Start meditating at least once a day for a minimum of 20 minutes. I suppose I could be less specific and just say start looking inward. Really, once you start meditating, spiritual growth just happens, you don't need to learn anyting.


Start listening to your soul, and follow it accordingly. This means you need to become aware of the coincedences in your life. They are not meaningless. Every event/person has a "gift" for you, you only need to find it. This also entails "accepting everything", as everything has a message to communicate to you.


As Arms already said, stop judging people. Treat everyone as you would your highest self, after all we are all one. Seperation is a seductive illusion.


Become aware of your "character drama" and energy. This deals with the old addage, "energy flows where attention goes." This life, in its simplest form is pure energy. I am energy, you are energy, God is energy, everything is energy. We can use this energy to attract things we want (or don't want) and we can give this energy to others, both can happen consciously and unconsciously. Your "character drama" is the way by which you unconsciously obtain energy, once you become conscious of it, it tends to go away. There are four character dramas: intimidator, interrogator, aloof and "poor-me." If you want me to expand on this one just ask.



Out of all of these, the most important is the first.

Flying spaghetti monster.

There is a stripper factory in heaven, and you eat pasta and drink beer on the holy day every friday.

Creole Voodoo would be a bit of a thrill, if you ask me. Southern magic and folklore is just damned interesting. A genuine gris-gris amulet wouldn't be that hard to come by, either.

Whatever you choose, I hope you post about it. Should be an interesting experiment!

Tantric Sex? You're welcome.

I think meditation would be the simplest and most straightforward spiritual ritual to practice. I used to take a course from a taoist that meditated, so I will take what I learned from him and try it out for the month of July. And yes Angry, I will post my thoughts on the experiment once it is finished.

This reminds me of a book I read not too long ago called The Year of Living Biblically where a guy tries to follow the Bible as closely as possible for a whole year.
It was a good read and he seemed to learn a lot from the experiment, so knock yourself out.

I say go for some crazy voodoo or Santeria type stuff. Sacrifice a chicken and use its bones for an oracle or something interesting like that.

Shinto, or some very, very sexual religion.

soto zen buddhism is really nice, no-bullshit fodder for meditation. you would probably need to devote more than a month to it though.

if you read up on Master Dogen, founder of soto, he has some pretty interesting stuff to say, like how not all buddhism is about enlightenment and reincarnation. its good stuff.


whatever you choose, good luck. i look forward to reading about your progress. smiley face :)

YOU HAVEN NOW TAKEN THE FIRST STEP

You want me to tell you what to do?

YOU HAVE NOW TAKEN YOUR FIRST MISTAKE

But that is OK, know this, You cannot fail.
During your experiment important it is to understand that you needn’t Do anything.
Being is not a thing.
Being is Now.
Being is Consciousness.
It would be accurate to describe our thoughts and feelings as consciousness because All Is Consciousness.
Thoughts are the same as their Source as I am the same as the Universe.
But thoughts are not their Source.
Thoughts are the fringe of this torsion sphere.
Thoughts are an interior portion of our exterior section.
That does not mean there is nothing deeper
An Essence
A Source.
Being

CONTEMPLATIVE MEDITATION

It is your choice how deep you really want to go.
I will give you a poorly done introductory blueprint that you are meant to create, fill in, and expand upon. Never accept someone else’s Truth as your own Truth without Contemplation.
You will do this for 5 sessions and then return with a paper about your research if you choose. You will reach the Source of consciousness by centering a focus in the center of your brain. Any distractions that come will disturb equilibrium of this focus.
Hold this focus as long as you can.
When a thought comes and distracts you, acknowledge the fact that it happened, then return to your center.
Hold this focus as long as you can.
If you become distracted, that is OK.
Acknowledge and return.
Practice each session for 10 min, I think you will be pleasantly surprised and you will enjoy being away from the bombardment of distractions.
Keep going for another 5-20 min if you Choose.
It is your choice how deep you really want to go.

I want something spiritual, whatever that happens to mean.

Probably something different to different people.

But this thread (http://www.totse.com/community/showthread.php?t=2137502) and article (http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0127105120080702?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0) suggest that a good dose of psilocybin mushrooms (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybin_mushrooms) combined with a good set and setting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set_and_setting) would produce a lasting effect.

Therefore I would suggest you spend at least one week of your month practicing a calm-abiding (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samatha) like meditation for at least half an hour per day. Then take a large dose of mushrooms in isolation and practice your meditation during this.

I would also suggest combining of the samatha meditation with the ritual smoking of weed (http://www.eoni.com/%7evisionquest/library/miscresurrection.html) (as has been used by the Sadhus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_use_of_cannabis#Hindu_use) for thousands of years) and short term fasting (http://www.humpjones.com/rear/entry/dear_humpasaur_does_hunger_make_you_a_smarter_huma n/)as well. If you plan on this, I suggest doing it before the mushroom trip, and carry the fasting over with that as well.

Also, if you are going to be doing this for an entire month, I suggest you stop masturbating as well, and stop cumming when you have sex, for at least two weeks (http://www.humpjones.com/rear/entry/prolactin_proof_that_god_hates_us/). This will slowly lower your prolactin levels, which will be high if you cum often.

Have fun ;), theres good info in the links.

Probably something different to different people.

But this thread (http://www.totse.com/community/showthread.php?t=2137502) and article (http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0127105120080702?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0) suggest that a good dose of psilocybin mushrooms (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybin_mushrooms) combined with a good set and setting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set_and_setting) would produce a lasting effect.

Therefore I would suggest you spend at least one week of your month practicing a calm-abiding (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samatha) like meditation for at least half an hour per day. Then take a large dose of mushrooms in isolation and practice your meditation during this.

I would also suggest combining of the samatha meditation with the ritual smoking of weed (http://www.eoni.com/%7evisionquest/library/miscresurrection.html) (as has been used by the Sadhus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_use_of_cannabis#Hindu_use) for thousands of years) and short term fasting (http://www.humpjones.com/rear/entry/dear_humpasaur_does_hunger_make_you_a_smarter_huma n/)as well. If you plan on this, I suggest doing it before the mushroom trip, and carry the fasting over with that as well.

Also, if you are going to be doing this for an entire month, I suggest you stop masturbating as well, and stop cumming when you have sex, for at least two weeks (http://www.humpjones.com/rear/entry/prolactin_proof_that_god_hates_us/). This will slowly lower your prolactin levels, which will be high if you cum often.

Have fun ;), theres good info in the links.

*Stops touching dick*

Whoa, looks like I'm not ever touching my dick again.

^ Why? That article sucks.

First of all it speaks of Hyperprolactinaemia and its relation to Erectile Dysfunction but fails to mention that the levels of Prolactin in the body that are necessary for one to have Hyperprolactinaemia are much much higher than one would get from having an orgasm.

The very wiki article it links to says that one needs to have above 450 mIU/L of Prolactin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperprolactinemia)and the levels Prolactin in the average male after orgasm was below 12 ng/mL. (http://joe.endocrinology-journals.org/cgi/reprint/177/1/57.pdf) You're not going to suffer from ED just for having sex, much less for masturbating.

It also makes claims regarding stress but yet again, the very article it links to says that Stress is cause of Hyperprolactinemia. In other words, you could have Hyperprolactinemia because you have stress, not the other way around. Again, not that you would get Hyperprolactinemia from masturbating anyway.

Please, don't believe the shit you read.

^ Why? That article sucks.

First of all it speaks of Hyperprolactinaemia and its relation to Erectile Dysfunction but fails to mention that the levels of Prolactin in the body that are necessary for one to have Hyperprolactinaemia are much much higher than one would get from having an orgasm.

First of all, no where does it claim chronic masturbation would lead to hyperprolactinaemia or to erectile dysfunction, just that prolactin is involved. The link was used to show some of the symptoms of hyperprolactinaemia, but that doesn't mean having less prolactin the required for hyperprolactinarmia in your system may not still be considered undesirable. Have you never been in situations where too much sex at once ended up giving you the old flop-wang?

There are other reasons for wanting to rid your body of excessive prolactin floating around, Rust. You see, some people have theorized that almost everything in what we could call the "Human World" is related to sex. The less prolactin you have in your system, the more sexual you become, the more 'into' the world you become, you become happier. The more prolactin you have, you become less interested in sex, the world, and happiness.

You don't think the absence of prolactin would affect someones outlook on life? You yourself suggested tantric sex. What do you think the 'orgasm within' concept does with prolactin?

You're not going to suffer from ED just for having sex, much less for masturbating.

I do not think the article claimed it would. Just that too much prolactin is related to that, and that it can be seen as undesirable for other reasons as well.

It does claim that around 400% more prolactin is produced during sex then during masturbation though, and that too much of the stuff will make you feel shitty.

In other words, you could have Hyperprolactinemia because you have stress, not the other way around.

You don't think that feeling shitty and possibly not being able to get it up could be stressful?

Hilarious stuff! First you say that the article ins't claiming that "chronic masturbation would lead to hyperprolactinaemia or to erectile dysfunction" and then you end up making just that very implication by asking "You don't think that feeling shitty and possibly not being able to get it up could be stressful?"

Please spare me the bullshit. The article was clearly suggesting that there were bad side-effects to the levels of Prolactin associated with having an orgasm, which is precisely why the article's very title is "Prolactin: Proof That God Hates Us" (i.e. "Even Orgasms have drawbacks... Grrr!") and the mentioned ED and stress which implies that this what regular masturbation results in.

Ignoring this, the fact still remains that this article showed absolutely no drawbacks of Prolactin levels resulting from regular masturbation or sex. None.

Did it show you would "feel shitty"? No. Did it show you would "possibly not be able to get it up"? No.

These sound good, but they would be psychologically/emotionally beneficial - materially beneficial. I want something spiritual, whatever that happens to mean.

I applaud your honesty courage in admitting your ignorance of the meaning of spirituality.

What I suggested IS spirituality, in it's deepest and most relevant form.

Don't get hung up on labels.

Hilarious stuff! First you say that the article ins't claiming that "chronic masturbation would lead to hyperprolactinaemia or to erectile dysfunction" and then you end up making just that very implication by asking "You don't think that feeling shitty and possibly not being able to get it up could be stressful?"

That doesn't mean that I too believed they implied too much prolactin is the same as having hyperprolactinaemia.

I wasn't making that implication. I was just asking you why you don't think those symptoms of hyperprolactinaemia would be stressful.

:rolleyes:

Please spare me the bullshit. The article was clearly suggesting that there were bad side-effects to the levels of Prolactin associated with having an orgasm, which is precisely why the article's very title is "Prolactin: Proof That God Hates Us" (i.e. "Even Orgasms have drawbacks... Grrr!")

I agree with that. If you think otherwise, type it up.

... and the mentioned ED and stress which implies that this what regular masturbation results in.

Simply because you saw it that way the first time you read it, doesn't mean they intended it to read like that. Where does the article clearly state that ED or hyperprolactinaeima will result from masturbating too much?

Because I'm not seeing it. All I see this article saying is that if I cum too often, I'll have a lot of prolactin in my system, too much of which is kinda shitty.

Ignoring this, the fact still remains that this article showed absolutely no drawbacks of Prolactin levels resulting from regular masturbation or sex. None.

No drawbacks?

Being turned on—all pistons firing, thinking fast and clear, high-energy, loving life—is exactly like being turned on, aroused, horny. When you’ve got too much prolactin in the blood stream, you’re more lazy and negative, and less interested in sex.

The more time you spend in bed porking your beloved, the more you’ll turn into an emotionally unstable dickhead and/or bitch.

Have you not experienced this yourself?

Also, like you, they suggest tantric sex. They suggested it as a way to avoid prolactin release.

That doesn't mean that I too believed they implied too much prolactin is the same as having hyperprolactinaemia.

I wasn't making that implication. I was just asking you why you don't think those symptoms of hyperprolactinaemia would be stressful.

A question that isn't relevant to the discussion. Not only have I not said that the symptoms of Hyperprolactinaemia couldn't be stressful, but whether they are or not doesn't refute my point.


I agree with that. If you think otherwise, type it up.I know you agree with that... hence my reply. The problem is not whether you agree with it or not, the problem, or rather, the reason why the article sucks, is that it doesn't provide any proof of that claim.


Simply because you saw it that way the first time you read it, doesn't mean they intended it to read like that. Where does the article clearly state that ED or hyperprolactinaeima will result from masturbating too much?

Because I'm not seeing it. All I see this article saying is that if I cum too often, I'll have a lot of prolactin in my system, too much of which is kinda shitty.Again, please spare me the bullshit. You are grasping at straws. There would be little point to call Prolactin "evil" as it did if these side-effects it kept referencing weren't going to affect normal people who masturbate but just people that that had Hyperprolactinaemia. Even JesuitArtiste suggests that he was interpreting it in a similar way.

But again, even if we ignore this - even if we accept your splitting of hairs - this does not change the fact that they demonstrated absolutely no negative side-affect from Prolacting levels following masturbation.

In the end, this doesn't help you. If anything, this makes it worse because it would mean that the central point you were supposedly trying to get accross by posting that link (i.e. "even low levels of Prolactin have drawbacks") is the least substantiated part of the article! The article atleast manages to cite a few studies regarding Hyperprolactinaemia, but absolutely none regarding any drawbacks from low levels of Prolactin.


No drawbacks?
1. Yes. They showed no drawbacks. Try not to ignore the important parts of my statements.

Not only do they not provide a reference to back up that claim, but they also repeat the same phrase " too much prolactin in the blood stream" which is the phrase they used when talking about Hyperprolactinaemia! [I wonder why I would be under the impression that the article was implying that regular masturbation could lead to ED? :rolleyes: ]

What's "too much Prolactin"? For all you know, this could be complete utter horseshit or be relevant only to Prolactin levels of Hyperprolactinaemia and not to Prolactin levels after orgasm that are within the normal range for human beings.

2. Are you, the resident Solipsist, trying to argue that you've objectively arrived at what is a "Drawback" and what isn't, and that this is it?

A question that isn't relevant to the discussion. Not only have I not said that the symptoms of Hyperprolactinaemia couldn't be stressful, but whether they are or not doesn't refute my point.

I think it is relevant, because you did say:

... you could have Hyperprolactinemia because you have stress, not the other way around.

But I honestly don't actually care.

I know you agree with that... hence my reply. The problem is not whether you agree with it or not, the problem, or rather, the reason why the article sucks, is that it doesn't provide any proof of that claim.

I think the symptoms of hyperprolactinemia are a good indication that having any excessive amount could be seen as undesirable.

If I drink less then the amount of ethanol required to kill me or even make me sick everyday for my entire life, it will still have some effects on my life which could be seen as undesirable.

Although why it needs to show proof in the first place is beyond me. Kiko, if he decides to include that in his experiment, will find out for first hand if it has any 'spiritual' benefits.

2. Are you, the resident Solipsist, trying to argue that you've objectively arrived at what is a "Drawback" and what isn't, and that this is it?

I'm not perfect. I was trying to show that they were not implying hyperprolactinemia will happen if you jack off too much, and that they never stated this, and that it is only your own subjective interpretation of it due to the way they worded the article. No where have they clearly written what you are insisting they have implied.

But I have realized that is pointless, and that I really don't care what you think rust. I didn't want others to ignore the article completely based on your misrepresentation, but that doesn't really matter to me either.

I just wanna see if Kiko tries it, and if he finds it beneficial.

I think it is relevant, because you did say:

Except:

1. Whether I think it's stressful or not doesn't make it so for everyone else. It would be on a case by case basis, so why is my answer relevant?

2. It wouldn't change the fact that stress is cited as a cause in their references, not a symptom. You're asking to extrapolate from that, and moreover, people could likely have stress already if that was their cause to begin with.

3. The answer to this question is still rooted in Hyperprolactinaemia, not in normal levels of Prolactin, which is what you were supposedly arguing.



I think the symptoms of hyperprolactinemia are a good indication that having any excessive amount could be seen as undesirable.

If I drink less then the amount of ethanol required to kill me or even make me sick everyday for my entire life, it will still have some effects on my life which could be seen as undesirable.
Yet you conveniently don't define the amount. You get to hide behind the claim "excess" amount which ends up being a circular argument: "Excess levels or bad. What are excess levels? Levels that are bad".

Drinking an excess of water can be bad. I can die from it. Does that mean that drinking the recommended daily amount is bad or "undesirable" as well?

Not only that, but now you move the goalpost and say "could be seen as undesirable". Low or normal levels of Prolactin "could be seen as undesirable"! Hell, achieving spirituality "could be seen as undesirable". These are vague goals.

Either give us an actually amount of Prolactin that causes drawbacks and offer some sort of evidence to back it up - something your link doesn't come close to doing - or you really have no point.


I'm not perfect. I was trying to show that they were not implying hyperprolactinemia will happen if you jack off too much, and that they never stated this, and that it is only your own subjective interpretation of it due to the way they worded the article. No where have they clearly written what you are insisting they have implied.Again, please spare me the bullshit. You are trying to make it look like I'm arriving at this interpretation out of thin air. I'm not.

You used this article as a reference regarding the drawbacks of lower amounts of Prolactin in the body, yet at no point in time does the article explicitly mention any Prolactin levels besides that of Hyperprolactinaemia. They in fact mention "too much Prolactin in the blood" while referencing both Hyperprolactinaemia and what you claim is a drawback of lower levels.

Just accept the article sucks, and lets stop derailing the thread further: It doesn't reference anything regarding any possible drawbacks someone would have while having lower-than-Hyperprolactinaemia levels of Prolactin.

That article does suck. I was taken in by its assertion that too much orgasm can make you get "flop dick," and was looking forward to seeing how Tantric sex can make my life and the life of my partner better, when I found this:

For once—and it’s just this once, folks—I have a simple answer: IT AIN’T GOOD. However, it is a very good and clear-cut body of evidence in support of Tantric sexuality being an obviously superior form of fuckage. Remember, prolactin gets dumped into the blood in response to the surge of dopamine that’s triggered by orgasm...meaning that prior to your Peak Experience, there is no prolactin rush.

So if you take it slow and work slowly towards a slow, ejaculation-free orgasm, then you’re getting all the benefits and none of the side effects.
What does a slow, ejaculation-free orgasm have to do with prolactin? As far as the article and Wikipedia says, it's orgasm at all that releases prolactin - not the speed at which you achieve it, or whether you ejaculate or not. This doesn't help at all, even if prolactin was something to worry about.

Excellent point.

Sexual energy absolutely HAS TO BE SAVED for any form of spiritual progress.

I am sorry, there is no other way than saving energy, for all spirituality is really just methods for saving energy, annihilation of the separative thought structure known as the "ego(s)", and perceiving worlds far, far beyond daily life.

Any masturbation, orgasmic sex, or wet dreams (my personal down fall) adds nothing but suffering and more karma to yr life.

Now, beyond that, you'll want to push yrself beyond what you thought were yr limits over and over again, physically, mentally, emotionally - everything. Go, go, go, never stop.

and yet, don't try at all.

At some point, the only way to actually continue on the path instead of just mucking around in intellectuality is to give up ALL TOGETHER. That's right, just lay down and prepare for death. No, don't try to kill yrself. That's trying, still. Give it all up...

if ye want any more specifics, etc etc....just lemme know. I'm no master/guru/whatever but I've been walking the path and I walk pretty fast. ;)

http://www.reuniting.info/science/two_types_of_libido

you can argue all ye want, but the intellect must, must, must be surpassed if one is serious about this at all. if not, yr just a black magician putzing around, wasting his bloody time.

Don't let this sidetrack you, Kiko. If it feels good, do it.

Wait! What are we talking about?!


:confused:

kabbalism

kabbalism

No! Fucking no.

Angry, if you (or any other mod) see this, please lock it down. The goal of the thread has been accomplished and now it is ridiculously off-topic and sliding back into the usual totsean histrionics.