Why is the void so comforting?

[Taverner]

Whether it is drinking yourself into oblivion, doing enough opiate to make all reality go away, or smoking yourself into a momentary flight - we all seek the void.

Many religious folks are doing this as well, pursuing that spiritual moment of bliss - which involves the same self-produced opioids that occur in drugs.

So we all want the void - yet if we get to the void, it kills us.

What kind of evolution is that???

[rcrush]

1. I dont know but I spent the whole weekend trippin.

Got some mushrooms and had a pretty interesting weekend. I see what you mean tho.

[Taverner]

7. For me, Shrooms and Sid were never about the void

In fact, I always felt they were a more focused attack on reality

420, on the other hand, had a little bit of both

Opiates, and in particular, Opium is all about the void. No pain, no input, no output - simply just being.

[RagAss]

2. The true void is a plenum of potential. The non-object source of all things.

The people you describe above are on the path of Maya. Pure illusion. Sounds to me like they just want to get stoned.

[Taverner]

3. There is something primordial about the void

And yes, it lies in drugs, religion and death, unfortunately

[AlCzervik]

4. I'm not much of a drinker, i can't even remember the last time i actually got drunk

weed, that's been a very long time. I don't like to feel out of control so maybe my void is a book or a movie.

[Taverner]

5. Hmmmm....interesting take

Back when I was in my 20's, the void could be a book - I read one a day

But then again, it wasn't a true void like it was with other drugs...that is, no input, no output

[AlCzervik]

6. i agree with that, when i was young a million years ago i used to smoke and high

is high, reading a book no matter how wonderful it may be is not high. I won't even take cold medicine because it makes me bounce off the walls, i just don't want to feel disconnected, i'm wrapped a bit tight and a tad tense but i'm happy. Take my coffee away and of course someone is going to die.

[BarenakedLady]

8. Good question.

:shrug:

There have been times in my life when reality was more attractive than that void. I hope to find that again.

[Taverner]

10. Is it really about that though?

It seems like with all of our various "on" switches, there is rarely the "off" one, or even merely a quiesce...

[BarenakedLady]

12. I prefer that moment

after a really good O...

I think...

Wait, I may have read that in a book. :P

[rug]

9. It has something to do with toliet training.

[no name no slogan]

11. After a while, the void stops being comforting

Not everybody wants the void after it stops being comforting.

You may find it comforting today, but there's nothing saying that you will keep finding it comforting in the future.

I quit pursuing the void when I realized that it was not comforting, and was merely a way to hide from myself, and my life.

Once I learned how to deal with my life, I stopped wanting to hide from it, and stopped looking for the void.

[Taverner]

13. What if you want the balance?

Void and Non-void?

[sammythecat]

14. Lord Byron considered that question too I think

"...and if I laugh at any mortal thing, 'tis that I may not weep"

Depending on one's belief, or lack of belief, we're either going to be ok, or we're in one hell of a pickle.

I lifted that quote from Aristus's sig line.

[MilesColtrane]

15. Some spiritually minded folk would tell you that the void can be achieved...

...without killing yourself.

That's the whole point of meditation, to make the little internal narrative inside your head shut the hell up.

They say that when that happens, you not only cease being "you", you realize that there was never any "you" to begin with. There is no separation between the inside and outside of your skin. You are a wave on the ocean. You, and everyone else, only appear to be discrete. The waves ARE the ocean.

[Taverner]

16. Having ADHD, it is next to impssible for me to meditate - God knows I've tried!

I even spent a week at a meditation retreat and did not speak for a week

I still got distracted to the point of madness

[amitten]

17. I don't like the void. Prefer reality. n/t