I always come up with interesting side-projects which distract me from what I ought to finish. So instead of working on my Trabant-made game, my psi book or My Upcoming Awesome Game, I started looking into enlightenment yesterday night. The reason was that I found that an American neuroscientist, Dr. Jeffrey A. Martin, has found a solid and proven way to take anybody to "non-symbolic consciousness." I've always thought this would be something I'd eventually want to do, but spending years on for instance meditation seemed like a somewhat unsound choice. Now it seems like I don't have to. His method seems straight-forward and fast. A few of his research subjects were actually able to get to a very high level of enlightenment ("location 4") in just a few days.
Btw: enlightenment is not what you think. The eastern explanation of "you are not your body nor your mind" or that you become "empty of thought" is not accurate and sounds scary to a westerner. A more accurate description is that you loose your self-referencing thoughts. Your ego. When those thoughts of how you appear, behave and say disappear, a peaceful void fills your mind. This void is at your disposal to fill with whatever thoughts you will, when you wish. At least that's how I understand it.
I'm aware that this choice will affect the rest of my life, and also that my games and books may never be finished, but I'm willing to take that risk. If I come out on the other side still wanting to make games, I'm sure they'll be more interesting.
Right now as I was jogging in the woods I had a fantastic experience - I had a taste of bliss and it was absolutely sacred, rapturous, fantastic! The reason might have been psycological (self-induced), parapsycic (presentiment of a feeling that I'm going to feel in the future) or spiritual (guides) depending on what side of the wall you're on. I'm on all three sides right now, off the fences! :)
Here's Dr. Martin's explanation of his model:
