from Hacker News

Acid test: scientists show how LSD opens doors of perception

by 42droids on 5/19/21, 3:41 PM with 2 comments

• by girzel on 5/19/21, 9:54 PM

  I'm not sure how much of a breakthrough these conclusions are (basically, psychedelics weaken habits of perception and thought, allowing us to experience the world more directly), but it was fun to read anyway.

  I'm on year three of meditating, and the above sounds a lot like one of the primary "jobs" of meditation: to break down habitual thoughts and reactions, and apprehend things more directly. This applies more to the emotions and reason than it does directly to the senses (as in LSD), but it can result in absorptive states (jhana) that feel a lot like the oceanic flow you get from mushrooms.

  Coincidentally, my youngest daughter is nearly three years old, and it's been a weird experience watching her developing brain furiously piecing together the ego, sense of self, and habits of thought that I, forty years older, am now furiously trying to break down.

• by sas41 on 5/19/21, 4:39 PM

  As someone who can't even stand cigarette smoke, let alone do drugs, I have a particular fascination with psychedelics.

  The idea that there are things my brain is capable of, but needs a kick-start to do them just tickles my curiosity bone.

  Perhaps one day, after I retire and if it's legal, I might try it.