Comments for the darkness conjecture

Comment on basics by andrewed

andrewed — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:14:29 +0000

I think the explanation lies in our diurnal nature. We wake during the day and sleep at night. Human life is occasionally subject to extreme stress. So it is natural that we would seek darkness–more of it for longer periods–to rest and recover from this stress.

The process also happens through advanced spiritual practices, but so far, I find this approach incredibly laborious. Some traditions use darkness, but their attitude is unnecessarily fear-ridden. Please see “hygien of darkness” for more on this.

Regarding evolution, I don’t believe in it, so I don’t find it necessary or useful in understanding the process.

Comment on basics by Oscar Nelson

Oscar Nelson — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:39:37 +0000

This is a most beautiful science you are working on here. There have been successful cases of extended darkness making bi-polar and psychotic individuals see the workings of their own psychosis and overcome them. This is the mental health “breakthrough” that will be mainstream in the next decade.

The prevalence and growth of the “float” industry (sensory deprivation a la John Lily) and the use of cannabis (an ego lessening and current moment focuser) for PTSD for war veterans shows a shift from “traditional” mental health avenues. Darkness allows the brain to re-regulate, dump cortisol, increase pituitary gland function and synthesizes normal brain chemicals into melatonin, to pinaline and finally 5-meo-dmt (arguably a spirit molecule).

The fact that this function is inherent in every human is a mystery to me. Why would a biological process needing extended, unbroken darkness to happen exist? Where in evolution was this process begun? We are unwrapping a gift to humanity. Please keep going… I will try to do my part here.

Seek Within

Oscar

Comment on illuminati it may concern by andrewed

andrewed — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:34:54 +0000

Good question.

Comment on illuminati it may concern by niall dooley

niall dooley — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:01:53 +0000

who are you talking to here?

Comment on project by Chrissy Weisgard

Chrissy Weisgard — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:15:28 +0000

THE DARKNESS CONJECTURE ROCKS!

love,
chrissy (Fan and Darkness junky)

Comment on bodhisattva math by andrewed

andrewed — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:39:43 +0000

Yeah, enlightenment used to just be a natural part of life in a lot of places: the slow, invisibly produced result of living well. For example, Jean Liedloff (author of The Continuum Concept) observed it in most of the older indigenous people she met in Venezuela in the 1950′s. Now it has been made nearly impossible on such a scale by global civilization, particularly oil, drug, and gun salesmen.

And, I think there was an even greater quality of being lost before even the period you are talking about. In using darkness, that quality is what I really have in mind.

Comment on bodhisattva math by ben

ben — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 06:15:41 +0000

nice post andrew – something must be said for the peasant in the field aspect of enlightenment. “eastern” cultures have dozens of generations of exposure and direct influence by concepts back to taoism – confucianism was royal edict – it’s only the west’s “it starts and ends with us” attitude that eclipses that, and largely, within these cultures, ruined it for them.

Comment on greece by Brian Sullivan

Brian Sullivan — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 19:01:38 +0000

So, Andrew: Greece, huh? Interesting timing. Tell us more!

Comment on e-ink writing device: a plea by Neil C. Obremski

Neil C. Obremski — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 03:49:58 +0000

Hear hear! Part of what makes reading enjoyable on my Kindle is precisely that it DOESN’T have built-in distractions (aka features). Something I’d really love: an instant-on writer for dream transcription. Often the details start slipping away as soon as I awaken and my typing skills are all for naught when booting up ANY computer takes as long as it does.

Comment on serious darkness by sandro

sandro — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 08:11:28 +0000

“Also, with the conjecture I am challenging the fundamental premise of all spiritual traditions, which is that life on earth is characterized by suffering. In my view, this is only true within the context of mass psychosis, which can heal, ie, go away. It can heal because it is a disease, not essential human nature. Like you told me once, the four noble truths are relative—relative to our current situation. I’m trying to discover what is absolute about us, and I think it has a lot to do with rapture, not suffering”.

this part is just amazing.

Comment on serious darkness by andrewed

andrewed — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 20:05:02 +0000

Hi, Karena. Yeah, I understand why it might sound like that. The two locations certainly have similarities. Regrettably, the darkroom is not nearly as warm, wet, and squishy. It’s concrete and stone and I still have the problems of overaged child as I lie in bed all day. Plenty of conflicting emotions there. The point is that the effort that is being made to deal with the injury and psychosis is being made, not by me, but by the autonomic processes of the organism.

This is why I liken the darkroom, not to the womb, but to a hospital. It’s not all fun and games. But it is not an effort in the way that spiritual practice is.

Also, with the conjecture I am challenging the fundamental premise of all spiritual traditions, which is that life on earth is characterized by suffering. In my view, this is only true within the context of mass psychosis, which can heal, ie, go away. It can heal because it is a disease, not essential human nature. Like you told me once, the four noble truths are relative—relative to our current situation. I’m trying to discover what is absolute about us, and I think it has a lot to do with rapture, not suffering.

Comment on conjecture’s sixth point by nigel

nigel — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:58:47 +0000

who will dare?
i will dare!
No question….
i have so thoroughly enjoyed reading your
posts.

i began cleaning out a dingy old chook shed today to make a
dark room.

It seems like my only “way out”.
But it feels like it will be a new beginning.

Any hot tips?
i am in Australia……
i had brain injury 30 years ago…..
the strange thing is the entire planet seems to be suffering
the same, or worse symptoms than i.

if you have time to reply You may do so direct to my email address.

thanks for your posts,
Nigel

Comment on serious darkness by Karena

Karena — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:37:21 +0000

Hi Andrew, It sounds like you might be trying to build a womb to be reborn from. From the Buddha’s teachings I recall hearing strife, struggle, or suffering sometimes defined as simply as “conflicting emotions.” How is it possible to set up a worldly situation in which this will not occur? And how would that be maintained here on earth?

Comment on serious darkness by andrewed

andrewed — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:22:42 +0000

Thanks for the update, Finn. More here soon!

Comment on serious darkness by FinnPo

FinnPo — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:45:31 +0000

Well halleluia! Finally somebody breakin’ open the good life. It could interest you that my visionary cohort Anastasia has much to say about the Dolmens which were end-of-life darkness retreats. Graceful entry into ‘eternal meditation’. Here is a thorough-going link about that … http://globalpsychics.com/enlightening-you/spirituality/dolmens.shtml … Karly and I headed in in Feb for 4-5 days. She’s all about it. Me too! Next week there is a ‘conscious deathing’ woman, Ann Settino, coming down from Corvallis to to do 3 days in prep for more. Way to go. Gotta go.

Comment on first incoming link by Inside the mind of a dead salmon « Entitled to an Opinion

Inside the mind of a dead salmon « Entitled to an Opinion — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:21:39 +0000

[...] the fold. Over a year after I linked to his page hosting Origins of Agriculture, Andrew Durham said I linked to him yesterday. His blog is now called “The Darkness Conjecture“. Durham [...]

Comment on first incoming link by andrewed

andrewed — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:56:09 +0000

Oh, jeez, you’re right! So it’s just the first one I noticed within wordpress, which I changed to a few months ago. Now noted in post. Thanks!

Comment on first incoming link by TGGP

TGGP — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:28:27 +0000

Today? I could have sworn I wrote about it in a previous year!

Comment on spheres for darkness retreats by andrewed

andrewed — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 07:40:40 +0000

Peter, thanks for filling me in more and for the book recommendation. But would you tell me, how does Chia's Dark Room Enlightenment compare to it? (This is a 40+ page excerpt I found online. Finn had a hard copy.) Like I said, I had a good teacher for 10 years. It remains to be seen whether I was a good student. In any case, I grew weary of the relationship's authoritarian hierarchy. Not that some people don't know or posses substance more than others and thus have natural authority. Just that I'm not so enamored of the "Teacher" model anymore. I don't think I'll ever ditch the "elder" model, though: the respect naturally afforded older people who demonstrate reliability, wisdom, and love. I hope you will consider letting me help you with your building somehow, if only as a design consultant. The Tri-D SCIP's you mentioned could make a very cool building. The hexayurt, for example, might be a perfect configuration for the material in that it needs no frame and little cutting. Thanks for your encouragement. Please subscribe to the blog here for all my reports!

Comment on spheres for darkness retreats by Peter Field

Peter Field — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:29:10 +0000

Andrew, It sounds like you have done a lot of preparatory work already. You may be interested in a book written by the Taoist master Mantak Chia entitled The Taoist Soul Body. It is a manual for doing dark retreats, complete with the chemical changes that take place in the body and brain and their effects. It is especially useful in that it lays out what to expect day by day as the body and mind adjust to the dark. It even includes a section on what to eat and advanced meditation practices.

I also have followed my own path without the guidance of any particular teacher. Although it has been a long and winding road, I know both the right and the left paths and the strengths and weaknesses of both and can easily identify where others are headed. This is the path of the teacher, one who knows from experience, rather than one who has been led. All great teachings originated from some one who had had to figure it out for themselves. I honor your path of exploration guided by your connection to the Universe, which is the true Teacher.

I hope to start building this fall, depending on how my financial situation holds out. I plan to do my own dark retreats in my house by preparing an extra room for that purpose to gain some experience before offering a facility for others.

Good luck, bon voyage, I will be awaiting your report.