Robert Anton Wilson On The Acceleration To 2012

[mkrnhr]

IMHO, if one opens a door without knowing what's outside, he/she invites all kind of unfriendly intruders. as above so below. If ones imagine the body like a house, or at least the inner world like a house, and the consciousness as somebody leaving in this warm and comfortable house, the analogy would show that if ones gets out to the dark and and cold leaving the door open, it can be expected that some hungry energies may enter the house and hide in some corners, or in the dark and rarely visited underbasement.

 

[cholas]

I get the feeling it opens doors, and there may be nasty things behind some of those doors.

I would agree with what you and mkrnhr have surmised here. Maybe best just to leave it at that.

I do recall the C's saying at least once: 'There are no shortcuts!'.

Seems to me that this is what most of those that partake of this chemical have been promoting it as, a shortcut.

 

[Beau]

Thanks, but I was wondering if there was something more metaphysical. Maybe even something the C's referred to. I get the feeling it opens doors, and there may be nasty things behind some of those doors.

If I recall correctly, the C's remarks were that (paraphrasing) LSD, and other synthetic substances, were shortcuts toward illumination and knowledge. The shamanic path can be accessed without any need to ingest any substance, it just isn't as easy, for lack of a better term. You can do it naturally, but as the C's are apt to say, their are no free lunches!

 

[shijing]

Thanks, but I was wondering if there was something more metaphysical. Maybe even something the C's referred to. I get the feeling it opens doors, and there may be nasty things behind some of those doors.

If I recall correctly, the C's remarks were that (paraphrasing) LSD, and other synthetic substances, were shortcuts toward illumination and knowledge. The shamanic path can be accessed without any need to ingest any substance, it just isn't as easy, for lack of a better term. You can do it naturally, but as the C's are apt to say, their are no free lunches!

Yes, I think that 's right -- the broader idea that I remember is that knowledge and experience have to grow symbiotically, and in using substances like LSD, you are forcing a jump in experience without the requisite jump in knowledge -- which is going to leave you vulnerable to dangers on both the physical and metaphysical level.

 

[Valis]

"I think this might be giving Wilson a bit too much credit - just because one is 'an intelligent guy' doesn't mean he's at all capable of seeing or really understanding anything. fwiw."

what are you basing your assumption on - that Wilson is being given too much credit? have you read his books? i've read all his books, and the one thing he stresses over and over is to not let your "reality tunnels" blind you to the fact that they are only models of reality. he constantly says "don't confuse the map for the territory" - which is a handy way of not being held in the prison of your preconceived ideas/biases/belief-structures. like laura and the c's he is always encouraging the reader to research these ideas for themselves. sure, he used hallucinogens in his research and his experiments, but so have most mystics and shamans - i know drugs like that are frowned upon here, but that is no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater. RAW is the most reasoned, balanced and intellectually honest writer in the whole field of esotericism that I've found. Especially for a historical overview of these ideas, etc. If you can get away from the fact that he has respect for Crowley, you'll see he has some really good insights into Gurdjieff, too.

Does anybody want to actually address the acceleration to 2012, or should I do it? it is quite interesting if we can stay on-topic.

 

[Valis]

I know very little about Crowley other than his reputation and that he ended up in a mental institute near the end of his life

have you got a source for that? it appears to be one of innumerable unsubstantiated rumours about Crowley that has no basis in reality. you might be confusing Crowley for one of his wives who was admitted to a mental institution.

 

[anart]

Thanks, but I was wondering if there was something more metaphysical. Maybe even something the C's referred to. I get the feeling it opens doors, and there may be nasty things behind some of those doors.

If I recall correctly, the C's remarks were that (paraphrasing) LSD, and other synthetic substances, were shortcuts toward illumination and knowledge. The shamanic path can be accessed without any need to ingest any substance, it just isn't as easy, for lack of a better term. You can do it naturally, but as the C's are apt to say, their are no free lunches!

As to what the C's had to say on the topic:

Q: I want to you have lost a fan because he was not happy
with what he considered to be "internal inconsistencies" in
that you were NOT favorably disposed toward
hallucinations produced by substances such as Mescaline
and Ayahuasca, but yet you recommend Melatonin because
it is a hallucinogen. Then, you said that spiritual powers
could not be obtained through chemicals or plant type
means, but then said that Melatonin exercises psychic
abilities. Could you comment on this?
A: Several comments: First of all, "fan" is short for "fanatic."
Secondly, melatonin does not force an alteration in
physiological brain chemicals, as do mescaline, peyote,
LSD, etc. Accessing the higher levels of psychical awareness
through such processes is harmful to the balance levels of the
prime chakra. This is because it alters the natural rhythms of
psychic development by causing reliance on the part of the
subject, thus subjugating the learning process. It is a form of
self-imposed abridging of free will. Melatonin simply allows
the system to clear obstructions in the brain chemistry
naturally, thereby allowing the subject to continue to learn at
a natural pace. And, it is by no means unimportant that
melatonin is a natural body hormone. The other substances
mentioned are, at least in part, synthetic, with the exception
of peyote. But even that is not a natural ingredient of the
human physiological being.

 

[Turgon]

I know very little about Crowley other than his reputation and that he ended up in a mental institute near the end of his life

have you got a source for that? it appears to be one of innumerable unsubstantiated rumours about Crowley that has no basis in reality. you might be confusing Crowley for one of his wives who was admitted to a mental institution.

Possibly. As I stated, I know very little about him. Only what I've seen about him in a few mysticism documentaries on Discovery... so it could be one of his wives. :/

Does anybody want to actually address the acceleration to 2012, or should I do it? it is quite interesting if we can stay on-topic.

Threads have a tendency to create multiple branches depending on the subject matter and its relation to the members discussing it, so the initial topic can sometimes alter to other discussions that may or may not be wholly related, but don't let that stop you discussing the video. If you look at some of the larger threads, for example Eiriu-Eolas, there are multiple different dialogues going on that delve into multiple topics, some dealing specifically with EE, others branching out into other discussions. It's what makes the forum so interesting. So if there is anything of great interest in the video you want to address, by all means do so.

 

[shijing]

Does anybody want to actually address the acceleration to 2012, or should I do it? it is quite interesting if we can stay on-topic.

Threads have a tendency to create multiple branches depending on the subject matter and its relation to the members discussing it, so the initial topic can sometimes alter to other discussions that may or may not be wholly related, but don't let that stop you discussing the video. If you look at some of the larger threads, for example Eiriu-Eolas, there are multiple different dialogues going on that delve into multiple topics, some dealing specifically with EE, others branching out into other discussions. It's what makes the forum so interesting. So if there is anything of great interest in the video you want to address, by all means do so.

Yes, this is pretty accurate -- threads tend to be organic, and can develop in other directions within reason. If they really get lost, we will step in and refocus them. So Valis, what's on your mind about the clip, and what would you like to discuss?

 

[Laura]

I just want to say that I read RAW and thought he was pretty sharp. He had some ego going on there, but he was aware of it and tried to compensate. But, in the end, I think what happened was that he fell prey to the Cosmic COINTELPRO. I wonder if he ever read Keel? Keel and Fort came closest to figuring out what was going on without recourse to direct communications of anyone I've read. Well, Ibn al-Arabi, too, but that was a long time ago.

 

[adam7117]

Does anybody want to actually address the acceleration to 2012, or should I do it? it is quite interesting if we can stay on-topic.

Sure, why not. I'll get the ball rolling.

Wilson seems to be implying that there is some degree of acceleration towards a jump in the levels of awareness or consciousness. He talks about waking up and ceasing to be a sheep-person. That's cool with me. I would agree that there is an exponential growth in knowledge all around us and the various ways in which we exchange information makes that possible. Of course, to truly benefit from the process, I imagine, you would have to be a participant in the exchange and contribute to it in a productive way. I.e., do something for the greater good, the Universe, others, etc. Something that objectively enhances the collective's ability to fully experience Creation.

Bit by bit. In incremental steps.

But I do think that placing a time boundary on an inherently timeless endeavour is a mistake. Wilson was early to the scene, as others have pointed out so, perhaps, he is excused for making that mistake. A lot has been said on this forum re 2012 and you're welcome to explore that further. If you follow the Cassiopaean Experiment, then you already know that 2012 is a distraction.

In any case, none of that should stop anyone from hard work on the self - and continuous intake of quality information. Work on the self would tune your instrument while good quality validated information would provide food for the growing soul. Then, of course, there is being able to work with others in a network - and finally, working for the network, to grow it and to spread the information to others.

Re the video itself - only about a half of it talks about the acceleration. The other half seems to rave about LSD and how it changed the life of its inventor. So it's not very surprising that most people in the thread - especially the moderators - started asking questions.

Let me chime in on that note. It might sound like a really appealing thing to drop a trip and see all the colours and feel the unity and sounds. And, you know what, maybe the first time nothing really bad will happen - if you are lucky. But by then it is already too late - the door to "easy street" has been open. If you don't end up with psychosis the first time around, what can happen, right? So the temptation to go again is very strong. God forbid, you are in a group of people that share that "reality tunnel".

Except as you keep "experiencing" something a lot more sinister will take the place in the background. At first, you may be too strong for anything to enter and take over your body and soul (if you have it) but eventually you won't be. Your body chemistry, brain wiring and the very essence will go into a slow downward spiral until you do end up changing into a creature of sorts - one only able to care about the next "totally spiritual experience" induced by the very substance it chooses to take.

Your brain is able to produce "trips" of its own and give you much clearer insights that you will not forget. This forum is full of ideas that many people are exploring - including yours truly. Diet, breathing and meditation, reading materials, exchanging stories. I think that is the way to contribute to the growth of global awareness, to be a part of the "acceleration".

Just not acceleration to 2012 - more like acceleration to a Quantum Leap. Whenever it happens.