/lit/ - Literature

>>19958096
For the sake of argument though, this quote by Gorgias is self-refuting.
Anyway, do we know if there is a genuine difference between a natural mystical experience induced by meditation, prayer or whatever, and a "synthetic" mystical experience induced by powerful reality-shattering compounds like 5MeO-DMT, Salvia or high doses of ketamine?
Strangely, people tend to come to similar insights during natural mystical experiences (pic related) and during states induced by particularly powerful drugs. Whether this is meaningful or not I can't say, since as you pointed out yourself, psychedelic experiences are also dependent on your own state and are conditioned by your environment and mindset... So who's to say once experience is more meaningful than another?

I don't know about the attempts to understand reality. On a purely practical, empirical level, sure. But metaphysics?
An ant can't possibly conceptualize let alone begin to comprehend simple concepts that human beings take as granted. It seems conceited to me to assume that human reason permits any kind of overarching understanding of the nature of existence. The Jains and their concept of Anekantavada is interesting in that regard. It seems far more likely to me that the nature of things is utterly incomprehensible and cannot possibly be grasped by our limited intellect. As you said, being content with your current state of experience, and just experiencing it, might be enough.

>>19172978